The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-04-28

discovered. close hauled to the wind, rcs-
sci at his stern which looked rather yaAish
or in common parlance, like an armed vessel
to attempt escaping if he wished It vas
in vain. 1t was mortifyns to~obserVe the
comparative speec OF tie stranger, as III ma
val pr de She boomed lightly over the waves,
tossing off the spray from her dark sGes, as
the war horse filings the foam IRON the DIT
a few moments exhibited the ports OF snip
of some force, and soon the bugie OF the ma
rines was heard above the roar OF the wa
ters, the glancing of sabres and muskets
was flashed from the deck, and without he
station the stranger ranged alongside, and
the boarding officer ascertained the character
of the vessel, and her disabilities of the voy-
age she had undertaken: The notions and
commodities of the vessel, Consisting of pro-
visions, &c. attracted the eye of the officer,
and as the countries were then at war, he
proceeded to help himscLfto squash, knock
l.g open the butter kegs and beef barrels as
though he felt himself perfectly at home.
The captain of the yatch, who, with the
assistance of beard Of three weeks growth,
had something almost ferocious III his ap-
pearancc, yet this ferocty was wholly eX-
terror, and he was in fact lover OF fun. As
he presented himself on deck, and discover
ell the proceedings of the officer, he address,
ed him in harsh tone, inquiring what he
was about. the officer informed him that his
vessel was lawful prize 10 his maiesty's
packet then bound to Bermuda. and he was
now reaping the benefit OF his capture.
The Yankee however, forbade him from
meddling with hispsoperty, and deliberately
drew forth his pencil enumerating the ar
ticlcs taken out with scrnpuious nicely
Still the officer proceeded in his duty, and
having obtained a proper amount OF the de-
licacies, left crew on board his prize, and
hawser was made fast to the yatch, and
she taken i'll tow by the captors. In three
daysthey tugged her into the port ofBermu-
da. where "A fleet of British men of war
were then lying, and she was anchored some
distance below them, and the packet pro-
ceeded to town.
! The difficulty which presented itself to
the Captain of the Packet, was simply this:
| he had no commission to cahture but only a
| letter of Marquc, yet the temptation of the
! Yankee cargo was SO great that 1t could not
be resisted; and the yatch was left below the
town for the purpose of having no onterlop-
! ing frgate to share profits, while the packet
went ND to obtain the proper documents for
capture having procured which they pro-
ceeded to take possession under their new
commission. The Secretary of the Cover
nor accompanied the captain OF the Packet
and stepped on board the Watch ''as one
having authority" The Tanke marched up
to him 3" saUQge as a meat axe" and asked
his name and capacity; the reply was. 81 am
secretary to the Governor OF Bermuda"
'sYou arc?"
81 am, and declare your vessel to he a
good prize" "Well," replied the Amcri
can Captain, "You are the very man ! wish
ed to see, have you a kniei" At this the
dandy gentleman made rctrogade motion,
to get out of the way of one whom he thought
insane, but on assurance that he should not
be harmed, he, at arms length, presented
him pcnknifc, with which the Yankee
ripped open the top of his boot and drew
from thence British license. Never was
there seen couDtenances more cho1failen
than those of the prize master and Co. Thl
paper was strictly examined, and found tc
be authentic, the appearance OF affairs was
wonderfully changed: ".And now," said the
Yankee with sneer, "1lr. Secretary 10 tn
Gope,nor of Bermuda, ,7YM your hcrmisSicn
will dress and wait on yonr master.!' The
) prize master gathered himselfup and depart
ed, sensible of the "slips between cup and
lin, "in l1fe's Journey; the Secretary politely
accompanied the Captain to the Governor:
! residence, the cargo was sold at an enor-
nous profit, as provisions were in great de
. mand; the captain of the British Packe
sent him an equivalent for the goods taken
out, at Bermuda prices, aud from being ;
, captured vessel, and the crew prisoners, sht
was changed to a welcome visitor will
: friendly freight; but the money paid TOR th'
purloining of the prize master, was rcturnc'
with an assurance that the BEET ana 6nttc
, was paid for in to7ciny, as without the disin
: ferestcd assistance of his Majasty's Packet
: the Yatch would have found the bottom o
the ocean much sooner than the Island of iSer
} muda!