Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-06-14

Nofolk unless from ST. Johns how did
you expect to hear from me again, ex-
cept by vessels spoken at sea, the COM
manders of which, if they had been as
much disposed to do justice to our vigi-
lance and activity, as to make unfounded
and exaggerated reports to piracy, would
have made some report of US on their
arrival. The circumstance of not hear
ing from us, ought to have satisfied you
we were doing our duty, not spending
our time in idleness in port. 1t is not
amongst civilized society that pirates
are 10 be found, it is among barren and
desolate islands, secret and retired
places, as far from the reach of justice as
they can get, that they make their haunts;
among the roaring of breakers and the
screams of the sea bird and it is in
such places, we have sought the free
hooters and murderers and sought them
in defiance of every obstacle through the
most intricate and dangerous navigation,
exposed in open boats by day and by
night to the baneful influence of the
climate, and in contempt OF every dan
ger, with untiring zeal, and with unceas-
ing vigilance.
But what is the amount of this force
(which has promised so much and per-
formed so little" force consisting of
eight small schooners of from IS to 40
tons, mounting each three guns, the
largest of which is nine FOUNDER, and
one of the smallest class Of Steam Boats,
mounting five guns, each carrying 80
officers and men, force very little more
than sufficient to man one of our sloops
of war, and not enough for one OF our
smallest trigates. l shall not enume-
rate the FIVE ships cutters, called barges;
calculated to carry each Is men, for
without laying up the other vessels l
should not have man to put on board
them, unless it should so chance that
could obtain crews for them out Of some
one ofour larger vessels, which happens
to be the case at present, having fortu
nately the Peacock sloop OF war with
ME, which have laid up for the purpose.
expected, it is true, to find here on my
arrival, the Congress, Grampus, Por-
pos, and Shark, but not solitary Unit
ed States vessel of war was to be found
on the station, nor has there been one
since, except those brought with me.
Ii is to the total destruction of protec-
ton to our commerce then, and 10 the
Information given to the pirates, through
the press, of my movements, that they
were encouraged to make last effrot to
obtain all the plumber possible before
my arrival; and whatever property may
have been lost, and blood shed, may be
Justly charged to others, not TO The mac
tivity of myself or those associated with
ne, for the squadron was got cut with
unparalleled expedition, and Irepeat, that
up to the day of my arrival, piracy exist
ed in full force, the harbors OF Havana
and Matanzas were filled with our mer-
chant vessels waiting for convoy. Not
one capture has been made by the pi-
rates since we came here, nor can any
intelligence be obtained of them, as they
have abandoned their pursuits, and min
gled with the population of the Islands,
or fear, are concerned in keeping their
secrets.
1t is easy for those who are now en-
loving the comforts of home, to clamor
and find fault with us que nigh, also now
have been possessed of the same enjoy
ments by not coming on the expedition,
for there was nothing obligatory on US,
and thereby have avoided the pain which
unmerited censure always brings with it,
come from whatever quarter it will !;
but impelled by sense Of duty to our
country and the civilized world in gene
raj, all personal considerations were out
Of the question; we could promise our
selves neither honor nor profit from the
expedition no reward but the satisfac-
ton of having done our duty-and from
the course taken by our newspapers, l
despair OF making any captures but l
knew we should protect the lives and
property of our fellow-citizens, and we
have done so.
About three years since, FIVE schoon-
ers mounting 60 guns, and carrying
about 500 men, were built for the sup
preston of piracy, and this force in adj
dition to frigate, three sloops of war,
brig, and some smaller vessels, together
with large British force, until short
time previous to my coming out here,
carrying altogether about 1900 men,
have ever since been cruising here. If
they could not suppress piracy with all
their means in so long a time, with
what justice can the inquiry be made