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


SUPPRESSION of piracy in that quarter
but Which is prosecuted with increased
and triumphant success every day. Ii
we didnot know that all confidence may
be PLACED in the resolution, activity and
sasacityof Com. Porter, we might be
led 10 entertain some doubts whether his
squadron had been disposed OF IN the
most efficient manner for securing the
object declared and intended.-Bu we
at any rate owe it to the respect we feel,
in common with our fellow citizens, for
this gallant and Intelligent officer, to
wait br some explanation before we in
dulge in complaints
Il will be no noubt recollected, that
the law for the Suppression of piracy,
was passed on the 26lh of December,
1922. On the l4th of February, of the
succeeding year, fifty days after its pas
sage, ! left the Capes OF Virginia with
my squadron, which had been purchased
in different parts of the United States,
and equipped under my own immediate
inspection, during an Indictment season,
which, with excessive fatigue, brought
on disease that nearly cost me my life,
and from which it is probable l shall
neyer recover.
On the Sd of March l arrived at ST..
J Thomas, (the place of rendezvous) on
my way TO Porto Rico, where, by order
ofMe government, l had to correspond
with the authorities of the Island on the
subject of the interruptions TO our
commerce to the coasts of Colombo
and Mexico, by the Porto Rico priva-
GERS.
| The day of my arrival, despatched a
division of schooners to the south side of
P4to Rico, for the protection of our
commerce there, and the next day, sail
| ed myself with the rest Of the squadron.
| wis necessarily delayed seven days Oh
the ,oast of Porto Rico, 20 complete the
duta | had to perform there, and dur
ing that time, my presence caused the
bio cksde of the Main to be raised,
which existed to the moment of my ar
rival. i here divided my force into
small attachments, sending some on the
north and some on the south sides Of St.
Domingo and Cuba, causing every nook
and corner in those islands to be exami-
ned where it was likely pirate could
be found, but without success. After
thoroug hly securing The West Indies, /
arrived, in 45 days from the line Of my
leaving the capes u! Virginia, at Matau-
zas, in the Peacock alone, with no officer
but her captain and sailing master, and
scsrceiy men enough TO work the ship,
having sent them in the ships boats, in
search Of pirates among the Keys, abou,
three hundred miles TO vindward, with
orders to meet me a, this place. Here l
heard of the capture and fitting as pi-
rate) of a small schooner from Norfolk,
two days before my arrival, and ten days
after her capture, had visited Thomp-
sons Island, reassembled all my squa-
dron, built store houses, landed all my
stores, fitted out expeditions for the
coast of Cuba, established conveys, de-
stroyed the crew, and recaptured the pi-
ratical vessel.
There have been no piracies COM
mitted since have been on The coast
our commerce is etfecnally protected
by weekly conveys, the coast is COM
pletely lined by schooncrs and barges,
AND I have just returned from the prin-
cipal resort of the pirates, where they
have been compelled by our presence to
destroy their vessels with their own
hands, They are now (the 9th day oil
my arrival on this coast,) completely
broken up, and dare not appear here
again, while the present arrangements
exist. |, is said, that " much has been
promised and little performed" by u.s.
We have done all that could in reason
be expected of us--we have rendered
the navigation on this side of the island
secure against piratical depredations,
avenged the death OF A lien by an exam
pie that will strike them with terror we
have driven them from the ocean to the
shore, where, if they do carry on their
depredalions, they must necessarily be
beyond the reach Of punishment, as they
are never to be found embodied in any
numbers, and have no mark by which
they can be distinguished from other in.
dividuals, even by the residents of the
island, and local authorities. But let me
ask by whom so much has been promis.
ed! Not by me, nor those under my
command-we promised only to do our
duty, and we have done it; but l re-
member too well, and with sorrow, the
publicity that was given to every move
mept of the squadron, by the editors of
newspapers, although took the precau-
ton of sending around to those of New