Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-08-31

rival ~ t0Wns C0HSEtSdttSu "uIu gdu
taken place at The market onsthe Saturday
preceding. between himself and Z black
man; which afforded strong reasons TOR be-
lievingsthat a5eyoIt and insutreciion were
in contemplation among poriion at leas'
of our black population. The corpors,.nn
was forthwith summoned to meet at hive.
O'clock. for the purpose Of hearing the mar
rative OF the slave who had given this IN
formation to his master, 10 which meeting
the attendance Of his ExcellenCy was So
licited; with which invitation he promptly
complied. Between. however, tha hours
Of three and SO clock, the gentleman who
had conveyed the information TO the IN
teDdant, having again examined his slave.
was induced to believe, that the negro
fellow who bad communicated the inleiii
gence OF the intended revolt to .he slave
in question, belonged TO Messfs. J. y y
Paul, Broad street, and resided IN their
premises. Accordingly with prompts
tude worthy of ali praise, without waiting
for the interposition OF the civil authority,
he applied TO the Messrs. Paul's and had
the whole of their male servants commit
ted TO the Guard House, until the indlvld-
ual who had accosted the slave OF this gen.
ileman, on the occasion previously men,
toned, could be identified from among
them.
On the assembly Of the corporation at
FIVE, the slave ofshis gentleman was bro't
before them, having previously identihed
Mr.. Paul's William, as the man who had
accosted bin in the market, he then rela-
ted the following circumstances
"On Saturday afternoon las Tiny master
being out Of town. ! went 10 market; alter
finishing my business | stroiled down the
wharf below the fish market. from which
| observed small vessel i'll the stream
with singular flag, whilst looking at this
object. black man Mr.. Paul's WiIliam)
came up to me. and remarking the subject
which engaged my attention said, have
often seen flag with the number 76 on 1t,
but never with 96 before. After some
trifling conversation On this point, be re-
marked with considerable eanestness to
me; do you know that something serious
is about To take place? To which re.
piled, no. Well, said he, there is and
msnv of US are determined TO right our
selves asked him TO explain himself
VIII. n he remarked, why, we are detern''
ned to shake off our bondage, and tor
this purpose we stand on good founda-
tinn, many have Joined, and you will go
With me, I will show the man. who has
the lis, of names, who will lake = urs
down Twas so much astonished AMI hor-
ror struck at this information, that it was
a moment or two before | could collect
myself sufficiently TO tell him would have
nothing to do with this business, that was
grateful to my master for his kindness and
wished no change. left him instantly,
lest, if this fellow afterwards got into trou
BILE, and | had been seen conversing with
him in so public place, might be sns.
pected and thrown into difficulty did
not, however, remain easy under the bur
den of such secret. and consequently de-
termined to consult free man OF color,
named, -, and asked his advice.
On comforting with his friends, be urged
me with great earnestness, TO communl
cate what bad passed between Mr.
Paul man and myself and not to
lose moment in go DOING itook bis
advice, and not waiting even Tor the re
turn OF my master 10 town, | mentioned u
to my mistress and young master On
the arrival O! my master, be examined ne
as to what had passed, and ] stated to
him what | have mentioned to your
selves"
On this witness being dismissed from
the presence OF Council The prisoner ( Viii.
liam) was examined. The mode resorted
TO in bis examination was TO afford him no
intimaticH ofthe subject OF the information
lodged against him. as it was extremely
desirable in the first place to have the
testimony OF the other witness corrobora
ted as to time and place, that from the
onfessions Of the prisoner himself, it
might appear that be was at the fish mar.
ket at the period stated, and that singu.
lar flag, flying on board of schooner, had
formed the subject of his observation
After vast deal Of equivocation. be ad-
mitted all these facts. but when the rest OF
his conversation was put home to him. he
fatty denied it, but with so many obvious
indications of guilt, that 1t was deemed
unwise to discharge him. He was remain
ded for the night, TO the guard house,
it having been decided TO subject him to
solitary confinement 10 the black hole OF
the work house, where, on the succeed
ing morning be was 10 be conveyed.
On the morning OF the 3Ist he was again
examined by the attending Warden at The
guard house (having during the night
made some disclosures to Captain Dove)
on which occasion he admitted all the con-
versation which he had held at the fish
market with the witness before mentioned,
and stated that he had received his infor-
nation frs,n Mingo Harth, who was in
possession of the n1usier.roll of the Insure
gents.
With TIE hope OF still further disclo-
sures, William was conveyed to the work