The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-04-04
70 The Editor aFhe Southern Patriot.

70 The Eaitor oFhe Southern Patriot.
Sra One of the Northern prints having
ml'con5trued some expressions in hastily
written letter from one of the officers of the
late l. :. schooner Revenge, relative TO
the affair between thai vessel and the Spa
nish brig Of war Joiontario-The officers
of the Revenge feel it their duty, by
PLAIN statement of facts, TO remove those
false impressions which may have gone a
broad.
On the evening of the 9th Of Jan. being
then between the Keys and the Coast OF
Cuba, discovered a sail. The fog, toseth-
or with the darkness ~ the night, prevent
cd our making out what she was, and as
It was dead calm, we out sweeps and
pulled towards her. When within haiiing
distance, we made the usual inquiries, and
received no reply, hut on repeating them
were answered by vollcy Of grape. Cap
tain Levy, then stated who we were and
demanded the renson of their firing on Us !;
he was answered by another gan. Capt
Levy, who Showed the utmost GOODNESS
aud scli-possession during the whole affair,
then addressed bis crew and told them that
nothing but his care for them Preventedhis
returning the fire, hut that from the inequa-
lfIty III point of size, there would necessarily
he dreadful slaughter, should he do so,
and that Inc valued ore Of then lives above
dozen Spaniards. We then hailed the
brig saying that nothing but sheer huma-
nFy pley"nted bis chastising jhelr BASTARD
| ly conduct on the spot, aud telling them
that he would send his boat on board of
them. We did so. Captain Levy order
ed the boarding officer tn ascertain the
cause of the aggression and to demand Il faFl
apology in writing for II. While our boat
was between the two vessels they fired
shot over her, which, however they after
wards stated 10 have gone ofby accident.
The attempted To dctaln our officer and
men ON board until morning, but Ell his
wdrtaiy demonstrating against their pro-
ceedluss, and assuring them of Captain
Leyy's determination to give them broad
side If they offered any further insult, they
agreed to seud the first Lieutenant on
board the SCHOONER.
The explanation which this officer offer
ed OF their conduct was, that by sweeping
up under their stern, they made no dubt Of
our beng Il Patriot privatcer, and AS they
Gid not like to trust boat on boaEd US,
they took that means to make US lay by
them until morning. Captain Levy deslr-
cd the Lieutenant to say to his Comman.
der from him, taat he considered his con-
duct base and cowardly in the extreme +;
that he shonld expect from him an ample
satisfactory explanation to his government,
and also personal satisfaction to himself
for the insult put upon him. The same
message was also sent on board by am of
ficer and delivered in the plauest TERMS
We lay FOR some time expecting his am
swcr, but to our establishment the Don
pocketed the afrront and went off. The
Brig as well as could be asceriained by the
officers who boarded her mounted 10 long
guns.
The officers of the L, S. schr. Revenge,
leel peculiarly hurt, that any construction
unlavorable 10 the courage or conduct of
their late commander, should be put upon
this affair. They thought and still think,
that the course which Lieut.. Levy plr-
sued, was truly Eudabe that TO hav e
contended with vessel SO unequal in force,
and belonging TO agovernment with WHICH
we were in amity, would have been an un-
warrantabie sacrifice of valuable lives
They have seen sufficient during the
cruise, to satisfy them that Lieut.. Levy
wants but an opportunity, in Il Just cause,
10 place his character above the reach of
newspaper sneers.
l.. NJ. HARRY, .Midshipmun.
J. M. ALLEN, .HidShipman.
w. SMITH, Surgeon.
ii. Ii. FERGUSON, NJ NJ
-.~SSS--.-
a court of inquiry upon capt. Evans, of
our navy, Is to be commenced on board
the Washington, at the navy yard at Brook
lNn. ON the anth inst-nt W. ...-I-.-.-