The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-01-11
From the same pons,

modore Porter, IN relation tn tl. 'am
Affair at Fasardo, will probably H. ftt0i
the subject Of official investigator a "e'one
iislI his letter 10 the Seeretary of ,ha pub
W, without remark Ma
United States Ship John Ada.
Postage Island, Nov. Is. lg1Ia
SIN: have the honor 10 inf. J
that, on my arrival at St. Thomas, ,.Or
/ Informed that Liruienant Con,, ""
Plat, OF the United States scboon"."nnaDt
gle, who had visited Faxardo. to' pea'
the east cnasl of Porto Rice ahnn,a N
miles from the sea- for the purpose ',
making inquiries respecting quantlv
dry goods supposed To have brcn dro.o.,a.
ed there by pirates, was, after being , r99H
nizcd as an American officer, by ia. n ,e'os
authorities there, imprisoned, and h'"ps'
fully treated. "V
Indignant al the outrages which b,r.
repeatedly been heaped on US BY tho ~ y
thorities of Porto Rico, l proceeded i. , aa
place, where | left the ship, and III"
with me the sehooners Campus and n"b
gle, and the boats of the John Adams nia
Captain Dallas, and part Of hi, afr; ",'u
seamen. and marines, proceeded IN ~
part of Faxardo, where, finding nren. '
tons were making to fire on ms f,on, :,
battery on shore, sent party of ,e,n@o
and marines 10 spike the guns, which w,'
done in few minutes, as the Spnn;,,d.
| fled on the landing Of the party. ,Iss
| landed with two hundred men, aud marcb
ed to the town, spil>ing on the way the am.
of a sma battery, placed for the d. fence ~,
a pass on the road, and reached The ,ou"
I il, ..I4,nt fhtrfy "a.
found them prepared for defence. M tbon
had received ininrlnation from ST.. ThomgS
ofmy intentions of visiting the place.
halted about pistol shot from their force.
drawn mp on the outskirts of the town. and
sent in 8, requiring the AIcade, or Ga.
vernon, with the Captain of the port, tbs
principal oil, nders, TO come TO me to mako
atonement for the outrage /; giving them
one hour to deliberate. They Appeared
accordingly, and, after begging pardooin
the presence of ali the oflicers,) of the Of
ficer who had been iusultcd, and expressiop
great pentencr, | permitted them To rpu,O
10 the town, on their promising To rrspe,,
all American officer. who may visit them
herea(ter-W then returned To the vessel,
and left the harbour, after being at anrIo,
three hours
AS we were getting under way, a numlo,
Of per.o. appeared on the beach, bearing
white I. <, and having with them SOM.
bullocks, and number of horses, apparent
iy laden, no doubt present from the an
thoriies of The place, which they informed
me they should send me.
There is no doubt that our persons and
our flag will be more respected hereafter
Than it has been, by the authorities ofPor,o
Rico.
Every officer and man, on this occasion.
conducted themselves IN manner TO mert
my entire appreciation.
| have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your most obedient servant,
d. PORTER
Hos. SAMrFI L. SOUTHLAND,
Secretary OF tho Navy, Washington.
-GZNG-
Interesting ID Jurors.-At the last Mayor3
Court in this city, on the trial OF person
for felony, some difference Of opinion an.
pearing to exist among the Jury, il was
greed by the counsel for the Comnoni
wealth, and the COUNSEL for the prisoner, tax
"A constable should be sworn TO keep the
Jury together until they agreed that ihey
should then seal up their verdict and 70
Jury, at the meeting of the Court in The
morning.. These conditions were accrdti
To by the Court. Soon after the jury d
retired they agreed upon, signed, and a
up, their verdict, and separated.
When the Court met in the morning. tho
verdict was read, and was found 10 be
verdict Of Guilty, signed by all tie Jurors.
One Of The JourS men said that he did mi,
a gree TO that verdict that lie WIS Of opn
ion that the Defendant was innot.nt He
was asked If hr had entertained that opinen
when he signed the Verdict. He said he
had, but that be hg signed the verdict Of
Guilty for Tie purpose OF being permitted to.
so home. The Jury, not being able to agree
IN the case were directed to be discharged.
This being done, the Juror, " no had jsta.
vowed that he had signed verdict against
his judgment for the purpose Of ensur n the
separation of the jury, was ordered % en
ter lfto recognlz unces hinsyli in t. % hun
dred dollars, and one sufficient surety III The
like IN, to answer at the next court for
the Mi, dcmeanor Of which he bad confess
ed h lo-elf guilty. The recognzancts were
accordingly entered into.
Al the present Term Of the Mayors Court
a bill of ihdrl'nent was laid before the
Grand 3ury, charging the Juror viii the
offence we have Just stated. This bill was
rsturncd True Bill. The Juror indicted
acknowledged the facts as we have stated
Il ear, and submitted tn tie sentence Of lie
Court. Appearing 10 be M ignorant man
the Court, on Tuesday last, after suitable
reprlmand, fned him ten dollars and costs,
and discharged him. The Court considered
the offence as of great magnitude involving
not only misdemeanor in the Official CON
duet III the Juror, but the guilt ofprQurym
conserving to verdict Of Guilty at a ''mr
when he was satisfied Of the Innocence " ",
the Defendant The ignofancc and io4'l
gent circumstances Of the Juror induced 'ne
Court TO pass SO lenient sentence.
DrlSs