American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-05-03
CONFESSIONS OF A PIRATE.
From the Buct's County Patriot, aprI II.

Fran, the Buck's County Patriot, April II.
It will doubtless be matter of surprise to many
that one whose life has been almost uniformly mark
ed b. deeds at which the sernrst heart might shud
der should openly ayow them to the world, as il he
plorisd and reJoiced in their preparation. But the
relation of such, however painful to the reader, may
h. of service to those who are balancing in their
! minds whether to continue in the honest path in
which they have been tutored from childhood, or to
break through and throw aside the preludices oil
correct instruction, and become particpators in
! crimes like my own, that only lead to infamy here
/ and misery hereafter. 1t may possibly deter the
! headstrong and minimizing from similar course,
! by convincing them that wretchedness and sorrow
are the constant companions Of wckedness. In
giving this narrative 10 the world have no private
ends to serve, because have nothing to hope or to
fear from any quarter. | am perfectly secure
/ from the grasp of legal punishment, and even my
] nearest friends are ignorant of the events of my
life 1t is but lately that have returned to honesty
. aud virtue; and feel grateful to that Providence
! Which has merciiully followed me through every
crime until it made me sensible of the error and mi
| putty OF my proceedings.
Few men can be better able than myself, to say
how improper and misapplied the mercy Of the par
doning power would be to such. II it had been cx.
creased on me | should still think the same.
know that even now merit the severest punish
meIt the law can nfct, and it at some future period
d my lille its arm OF power seizes me, cannot, con-
slstenlly with my own opinions, hope Tor mercy.
Those only who have witnessed the atrocities of Pr
RAcY can form an adequate idea OF them.-Dealh
lsslt is too mild punishment; and if the torture
aud the rack could be revived, no man more fully de-
serves the agonies they inflict, than Pirate.
was born in Philadelphia OF wealthy and respec.
table parents, and was the elder OF two sons. The
edn I yad ,yae Gle md he
opportunities | possessed of making myself con-
splcuous greats for my father held an Office OF
con derabla power under the United States, and il
my disposition had led me to desire political dis
dncIion, il was in his power to advance me al any
moment. Until the age of eighteen was passion
asly fond of study As my fathers wealth secured
M he indulgence of my iayorte pursuit, my read.
ig had stored my mind with critical knowledge
Of many, and q general acquaintance with most sub
ecli But among the variety of literary pursuits
10 which my attention had been directed, kind and
pIous mother particularly careful to impress
me with sense of the importance OF religion Her
Care hope has not been thrown away Though
my early life has not, in the strctes application. oil
the word, been what might expect from SO
guarded an education, yet, its final influence on my
character must be the criterion.
Bred. unfortunately, to no particular profession
became DESTROYS of engaging in sealaring life
The flatterng and seducng accounts which many
Of my youthful friends had given me OF the plea
sures and adye lures OF a sailor. flied my bosom
with an uncomfortable wish TO visit foreign coun
Tries ! had studied their history and manners
in books, and was anxious to see them for myself
At nineteen preached the subject TO my friends
bu with one voice they opposed 1t. In the fond
ness OF maternal love my mother hung upon my
neck and wept over the disclosure 1 had made
And my sister TOO. entreated me with tears, to stay
The other members OF the family opposed it less
but was determined to break through all lncum
Orances and go to sea. 1t seemed that there wa
one lie only to dela ain me- | was deeply and deYot
tdly attached to Mary P, the daughter of
Wealthy merchant in the southern trade. She wa
every thing that love poetry could create--th'
gentles and sweetest and most affectionate being
ever knew. l loved her with the fondness OF de
Votio and o how warmly she returned lt;-bu
The ought of SO much ideal happiness that passe'
away unen oyed stabs me 10 the very soul Her fath
esbusiness Obliged him occasionally to go by sea u
New Orleans, and thought that could but ono
Teach that city and discover him, could easily OBJ
tam a birth on board merchant vessel, This sup
Position, added 10 the fact Of his being there, in
erased my desire TO leave Philadelphia clandes
timely. Knowing the impossibllity OF sailing IN
discovered, resolved upon a different plan @
OPERATIONS To divert my mind from subject $
iepugnant to the wishes of my family and friend;
journey 10 the western country was proposed
ms was eagerly embraced, and IN the spring
1921, started horseback for Ohio. After
Pleasant ride reached Pi,tsburg-sold my horse
wrote 10 my friends what were my designs. and a
NONE could now interfere to thwart them, EN-
carked upon the river to New Orleans!
10 this first step OF wful disobedence, all III
succeeding troubles have seen, and all the crime
have perpetraed can be traced 1t was then the
every moral obligation seemed TO be forgotten, an
he lurking spirit of deprayity in my nature burs
orh from its rksome bondage When a chill
htglecs the caution and advice of pa ent he wi
rarely prosper and unless he return to that obed
shce which the laws of heaven and earth demant