Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-09-09

this letter, in which the captain laud
his own character very copiousIy, be
sufficient to excuse him for the rude
ness he was guilty Of towards a gen
t,eman passenger, remains for th'
publick to decide. II is a letter writ
ten to the editor Of the National Ga
zette, and published in the last num
Der OF that paper. The Captain talk.
very fair, bur places great suthorit,
upon his own word.
No sooner had we gained the deck
Of the ship at Newcastle, than Mr..
RS irritable disposition began to show
itself, in consequence OF his overhear.
ing one passeneet ask another wheth-
er Mr.. X. had paid his steam boat
fare, (his refusal to do which had be.
come matter M pubIick conversation
on board the steam boat) for this he
sworc he would not do, by reason, as
he alledged, Of having been taken to
this city against his will, and that
they were therefore bound to return
him free of expense and 10 prevent
difficulty or detention, one of the pas
sengers actually pald Mr.. RS. passage
to Newcastle. 1t is proper for me to
state here, that the stories about the
dog and the duel, circulated in this
city after onr departure were not ex-
actly ycorrect; although it is true that
in the affair of the dog, between my
self and stcerage pas scngcr Mr.. II,
very particularly and politely request
cd OF me permission to take the ani-
NAL, and consented; and as il regards
the duel, Mr.. r. did display his pistols
upon deck, but fm what object can
not say, unless for the purpose of in
timi,!ation. On getting to sea, Mr..
rps. duerulous disposition manifested
itself in such a variety Of ways as to
defy description. 1t mainly consisted
in contradiction, severity of remark,
profanity, vulgarity, and even obscen-
ity; indeed, as regards the latter,
such was his language, that the two
gentlemen passengers who had their
families with them, atualIy desired
me to have separate table for the
ladies in their own cabin. and was
Obliged to assure them that ii he did
not mend his manners he shoaid have
another apartment and table for his
own private use. Ont of such con-
duct, which wa, either alienation Of
mind or influence Of drink, grew the
affair on deck which he has so gener-
ously rcqnested should pc taken and
judged by itself without any irrelevant
matter. This irrelevant matter is moth
ing more or less than general abuse
OF every thing and every body. 1t was
his custom to go upon decf. late at
night, and there interfere with the dis
cipline of the ship, by diverting the at.
tention Of officers, hemsman and 9th.
ers /; a practice which neither master
or passengers, so far as my experience
goes, will approve; nor while ] am
governed by my present views of duty
to my owners, my passengers and my
self, will l permit. On this OCCASION,
| politely requested him not to do so,
and was treated in the vulgar manner
he has publickly acknowledged. The
officer OF the deck afterwards told me
he remained in the precise position |
left him for half an hour, with large
hunting knife in his hand. was also
told that he said in the ladies cabin, that
bat for the presence Of the officer and
heImsman, he would have ripped the
captain up. The general conduct Of
Mr.. Randolph had become such, that
was compelled, for tho safety Of all on
board, to make such arrangements as
would prevent him from committing any
greater act of violence, should he at
tempt il but l believe he got wind of
what was in preparation, for he behav-
ed much better afterwards. | am hap
py to reflect that am very well known
in this state, and will trust my charac-
ter there and elsewhere with perfect
confidence. have been twelve years
carrying passengers across the A,lan-
tick and can truly say that John Ran
dolph of Roanoke, is the first passen-
ger I ever had quarrel with OIL board
my ship. Twill merely add. that all
the passengers, on this occasion, with
the exception Of Mr.. Randolph cx-
pressed their desire Oh our arrival at
Liverpool, to sign a paper, declaring
their entire satisfaction with my con-
duct throughout. l did not deem It
necessary to procure such testimony,
but for the fact | confidently appeal to
any ono Of those gentlemen.
Yours respectfully,
= s, BALDWIN.