Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-26

nainder of the session for NIessrs. Wheaton.
Pierson and Drake from New York, who left
town for home this morning, but who had re-
auested HIM to put the question to the house.
The house refused leave.
PROTECTION OF OUR TRADE.
from Me Louisiana Advertiser of October %.
The following letter from the Navy DEPARTMENT.,
m answer to one from j. S. Johnson, ESQ our Sc
nator in Congress, has been handed us for publica
ton.
commercial gentleman of Philadelphia remarks.
that the letter is forwarded "to shcw the friends ~
Louisiana, that the Governme mt mean TO take ca..r
OIL them II they cam This is all that is ,wi,less
vernment able to protect the trade Of the Mic
sissippi from rapine and plumber:
NAVY DEPARTMENT..
September 90. 1926
SIR-four letter of the Goth inst in relation Tor
the danger and rSk with which our intercourse win,
our extreme southern ports is attended has becp rc
ceived. 1t is n subject to which the attention of
the Department has been particu iary directed for
some time past, and every cxcrtion, cornpa tbe with
its resources, has been made as well to
commercial interests, secure the lives of orr
eIzens IRON wretehes thus mereiless in their depre
dations.
To effect this oSject, squadron of sloops of war
aud schooners has been actively engaged in the
ruii OF Mexico, and along the coast of Cuba
whose operations had been very successful not oniv
IN the determination of these band,ti, but IN the
consequent Increased safety to commerce. At this
season of the year, however, it is impossible from
the operation Of the climate of those atitudes ubon
the constitutions of those employed in our ships to
afford that unremtting and efficient protection
which IS required. and advantage is taken of t,is
partial and unavoidable relaxat to renew thet
robberes, with its train of alarms There is AT
present squadron of nine vessels in the Gulf and
along the coast ct Cuba, in whose vigilance and
activity full confidence may be reposed This
squadron will shortly be reinforced by friratr n
sloop OF war, the steam-galot, and a few small
vessels, amounting in all thirteen vessels under
the command OF Com. D. Porter, whose instr, ctions
will require of him the most strenuous exsrtjons in
obtaining the object of the expedition.
The limited means given by Congress to the De-
Partmen, Interpose the strongest obstacles to the
prompt and final extirpation of this system of out
rage In relation to the convoy requested inme-
aiatc reference will be had to the Secretary of the
Navy, who will 40 doubt give to the subject the re-
spectful consideration TO which its importance euti-
ties 1t. YOU t" i'll be pleased to communicate the,
substance of this reply to Mr.. c. Price, whose let
ter was enclosed in your own.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your
ooediehi servant-for the Secretary of the Navy,
CHAS. HAY.
Hon. J. S. JOHNSON, Phad.
he LATE MURDERS BY TIE PIRATES
The brig Sophronla, Capt. Jennings, arrived
at New York, on Thursday, in Id days from
DAILY Advertiser, with the following confirma-
ton OF the melancholy intelligence published
on iIonday, and which he says, was the story
current at Havana, OH the 31st of October
Two days previous to his sailing, II was circula-
ted, that brig from New York, and two other
vessels had been destroyed by pirates, and the
crews murdered. To ascertain the truth, Can't.
Jennings made enquiries On the subject, and
from what Inc could learn, he found the vessels
captured to be the brig Laura. Ann, of New
o'K; brig Morning Star, Of do; and brig
from Baltimore, bound to Havana, and that ai
their crews were murdered. 1t appears. SAYS
Captain j. that the Laura-Ann was boarded bv
some piratlcal boats, between the Doublehead
Shot heys and MatanEas; and that while the pi-
rates were massacreing the crew. boy made
his escape into the forecastle, and worked his
way into the hold, among her cargo of beef
The noise subsiding, and thinking all was over.
lie yentured upon deck, and found the crew all
murdered, and the vessel on fire. BY the helm
OF plank, or something buoyapt, he reached
the shore, and pursued his way to Matanzas-
on his route, he got into Of the places where.
he supposed the pirates hid their booty: there
was no person near--It was a cave, and was
crowded with different articles which he i,ldeed
TO be taken out ofdifferent vessels-He quilted
the place, and being fatigued, concealed himself
in the night, and arrived the next day at Matan
zas, where he reported himself to tile American
Consul, and then went on board the United
States scir. Porpoise, in quest of the pirates.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE,
On Thursday the 18th Oct. boy of years of
age, the son of Mr.. Ladd, of Holderness. ". ri.
living near the Sandwich line, went from home
IN the afternoon, and was seen with some other
children about sunset, near dwelling house dis
tant about three quarters of a mile. He proba
bly,, soon after set out TO return home, and being
alone, and night coming on, got bewildered and
strayed into the woods. Finding that he did
not return, the family early in the evening went
IN pursuit Of BIN, assisted by some of the neigh
bours. Their search proving wholly fruitless,
they next summoned to their aid large party.
and secured the whole woods to considerable
distance. They continued the search, reinforced
by numbers from other towns, till the Tuesday
night following but all in vain. Nothing was
heard of the child, and the patience and perse.
verance ofthe company, as we may well sup
pose, was pretty nearly exhausted. But as no.
thing is so agoniziDg to the heart of parent as
such dreadful uncertainty of the fate of
child-more distressing far than even the posi-
tive assurance of his death--the COMPANY. with
feelings alike honorable 10 them, and copsoline
to the bosoms Of the afflicted parents. AGREED,
at their solicitation, TO continue the search one
day longer. They did so--and in the aft erneon
of Wednesday the child was found by Col Shep.
ard, of Holderness, in the woods not more than
half a mile from his fathers house. He had ap-
parently been dead about % hours-bavine
subslsted as long as he was able, on the leaves.
and heritage within his reach. The little circle.
around him, within which as struggling nature