Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-10-21
THE PIRATES.
HAaTFoRD, (Conn) Oct. i

1Ho SoPtuku ono SsSsssSs - .
Henry, belonging to,his city. and late-
ly captured BY the pirates, reached
their homes last week. Although eve-
~ arrival brings an account OF new
ou.rages committed by the buccaneers
Of the West Indies, yet it 10 only when
they are inflicted upon our near neigh
bors and personal acquaintances. that
brings the subject home to our feelings.
It is with horror we contemplate the
narrow, hair breadth escape of Capt.
Rhodes aud bis men, who were every
man of them to have been coolly MUIR
dered the morning after they were res
cued by Capt. Graham, of the British
sloop of war; These men have all OF
them their wives and chldres, or pa
rents. and brothers and sisters In this
city and neighborheod. One OF them
returned with his arm broken by blow
with the back of a sword, another his
cheek sliced down with q sabre, and all
emasiated by starvation and thirst
The account given of these pirates, by
Captain Rhodes. is truly alarming to
every one whose business may call hlm
to adventure on these seas. Taey aP-
pear to be we'll organised body of osst-
lars. countenanced, if not aided by the
Spanish government. The port where
they were carried to was within six
miles of Havana, city not much infe.
rior to Now York, and the seat of 60
vernment. 1t is impossible this es.
tablishment should have been under
the eye of the governor for more than
two months, without bis connisancs.--
Besides, the characters of these pirates
show them to be Inhabitants OF the Ha.
vans, and to have associated with re-
spectacle society. Nothing bat their
cruelty and mode of life, distinguishes
them from the fret men Of that city
They are between twenty and thirty
five years of age, ~eH dressed, tempe
rate in drinking, and not unciva 10 their
language. This is description of men
not easily 70 be diverted from their mo.
ney making trade. They are unlike
those despersdoes whose intenperaDce
and other vices would soon ter inmate
by death. On the contrary, they are
nen of resources, careful Of life, and
when routed from one place, can settle
down unmolested in another, and at
any time ind refuge under the regu.
lar government Of the Island.
While captain Rhodes was unloading
his mules, there came on board daily
one or more men to purchase, who ap.
peared like regular bred merchants or
planters. From these facts the couclu-
sion is irresistible tina, the government
of the island 10 privy to these outrages
upon the law of nations and Of all CT.
vilized society. The government should
be made responsible for them. Such
were The sentiments of captain GA
ham, that Oh his return to Havana with
long train Of bosts which had belong
ed to vessels burnt by the pirates, that
be threatened the Governor with
making such representation to the
British government as would induce it
to take possession of the Island, un-
less a speedy check was put to these
piracies. The last accoont from there
was that an embargo was laid at Hava-
ns for three days to prepare an expedi.
ton against those free booters.---
We hope this effort may be sue
cessful, and if not, that our government
may send out all its disposabe naval
force to occupy the ports and harbors
infested by these merchants, with or
without the consent of the Spanish go.
vernment.