Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-21

Paradise; may the martyrs receive thee at thy
coming: and mayest thou have eternal rest with
Lazarus, who formerly poor.n He then
sprinlkled the body with holy water, aud contin-
ued-'Asi it hath pleased God 10 take the soul
OF FOUR dear brother here departed unto himself,
we, therefore, commit his body to the deep,
in the sure and certain hope of joyful resur-
rectlon on that day when the sea shall give up
| ITS dead. Let HIN rest in peace!" The Spa
| niards responded, "AInen!n and the priest re-
peating, "NIay his soul, and the souls of all the
faithful departed, through the mercy of God,
rest IN peace-Amen!" made the Sign of tue
cross; and the bow chaser, which had been
loaded and made ready for the occasion, firing,
the end of the grating was gently elevated, and
the corpse heavily plunged into the WATER
The waves parted, heavng and foarning round
| the body as II disappcared-when to sur horror
and establishment, we bcheld it the next minute,
slowly return TO the surface, deprived of the
canvas covering in which ii had been scwed.
| The dead man came up as he had gone down,
| IN an upright position, and hoated little time
with his back to the vessel; but the motion of the
water turned him round by degrees till we dis
tinctly saw his face. The head was thrown
back, and the eyes wide open; and under the
| strong stream of light poured ON tiem from the
torches, they seemed to glare CHASTITY and fear
fully upwards. His grey hairs long and dshe-
yelled, fioated about his face, at times partially
obscuring 1t; and one arm, stretched forth, and
agitated by the action of the waves, appeared as
if in the act of threatening us. When the first
burst of horror had subsidized, caught hold of
Isabella to prevent her seeing the body, and was
leading her Off when some of the men, lower
ing the torches from the main Chains, whisper
ed that it was the murdered man, old James
Gemmel. The Captain had hitherto been
looking on with the rest without having APP
parently recognized him; but when the name
struck his ear, he shrunk back, and invol.ntari-
ly exclaimed, ats a lic-it's an infamous lie.
| Who dares to say he was murdered! He went
overheard two days ago! But don't let him
come on board; for Gods sake keep him down,
or he'll take us all with him to the bottom
Will nobody keep him down. VIII nobody
shove him off! Hclm-a -lcc." he bawled oui,
waving to the steersman; but the man had de-
serted his post, eager TO see what was going on
he, therefore, ran to the wheel himself and
again issued his commands, SIet go the main
| top-sail weather braces, and bring round the
yard: Let them CO. say! His orders were
speedily executed. The vessel gathered way;
and we quickly shot past the body of the old
man.
! For several days after this, we pursued our
course with favorable wind, which drove us
| swiftly forward on our voyage.-Thc captain
now kept himself constantly intoxicated, sell
doin made has appearance in the cabin, and
lett Us altogether TO the care of the steward
All subordination now at an cnd-hs
whole time was spent among the scamen, with
whom he mixed fa,nliarIy, AMI was addressed
by them without the slightest portion of that re-
spect or Difference commonly paid to the Cap
tam OF vessel. The appearance of The men
also, was much altered. From the careless
mIrth and gaiety, and the characteristic good
humor of sailors there was suIIcnness and
gloom only visible. constant whispering
constant caba!ling was going Ola perpctu.
ali
IN agitation, or some step of deep Importance
was about to be taken. AL! socialitv AMI CON
tidence towards each other were banished In
place of conversing together in body, as for
merly, they now walked about in detached par
ties, and among them the boatswau and car
penter seemed 10 take an active lead. Yet, i'm
the midst OF all this disorder, few of our own
crew kept themselves separate, taking no share
IN the general consultation: but from the anxi-
ETY. expressed in their countenances, as well as
III that of the mate, [ foresaw some storm was
brooding and about to burst on our heads
Since Montaido's dcals, Isabella had been in
the habit of leaving her cabin after sunset, to
ENJOY the Goodness Of the evening breeze; and-in
this she was sometimes joined by the priest but
more frequently was only attended by her slave.
one evening she came up usual, and after
walking backwards and forwards on deck till
the dews began to fall, she turned to go below;
but Just rs she approached the compa non-,yay
cue oi the negroes who now, in the absence of
discipline, lounged about the quarter deck with
out rcbukc, shut down the head. and throwing
himself on It, declared that none should make
him rise without the reward of kiss. This
piece Of iDsJicnce was received with an encour-
aging laugh by his fellows; and soy raI slang ex-
pressions OF wit were uttered, which were loud
~ appiauded by those around. Without any re-
monstrance, Isabella ti!nidly stopped and would
have attempted getting down tho ladder
without disturbing tue slave; when, burn,rg
with Indignation, seized the rascal by the col
lar, AMI pitched him head foremost along the
deck. In an instant he got on his legs, AMI
pulling long clasp knife out 81 his pocket, with
loud imprecaton he made towards me- All
the other negroes likewise made a motion 10
assist him, and exnected TO be assaed on ali
hands, when the mate interfcred, and la, ing hold
OF The uarlInspike, which had Caught up TO de-
fcird myself, pushed ne back as he whispered
Are You mad, that you interfere, Fol- heavens
sake, keep quiet" And lie spoke the truth: for
the negro brandishing his knife, and surDof4 ed
by,tIls comrades, was agaiH advancing, when The
boatswain, as he to the scene OF action, ar
rested bis progress.
I'll lloD! you there, WHAT'S the snuall ion,
Avast, avast Ningo. oil hands is fair piay--sl,ip
that blade Of yours, III send my fist through
ribs and make day light shine through them
III Dinute.n | related the behaviour oftl,e me-
gro and was requesting hiu, to order the slaves
/ forward, when was cut short witlI--stThcre are
no slaves here, young mani ge are all alike free
in British ship. But Damn his ewes for an in
soent son of Il -: he pretcnd to kiss the
! pretty girl .I'll him kno'v she belongs TO his