Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-19
Uartous.
From tbs BosfoH Telegraph.

The following communicates is froa9 the
Rev A. b. Presbyterian Clergyman Of this
county:
The true Harvey Birch -This gentleman.
far gone in years, whose real name is -
c. resides IN the town of G.. in the state
IT New-York, about twelve miles from 'the
Fishkill Highlands" tie IS a worthy man, pos.
sessed Of a fine farm; and for many years has
sustained the Office Of deacon in the Congra.
tional Presbyterian Church OF G.---Society.
MIR. Cooper has given US an accurate desenp-
ton OF his person. which is tall and meagTe,
and indicative Of great strength. Reserved IN
his manners. aud maintaining an invariable
rtgidi,y OF features, enc would find 1t extreme.
y difficult to discover any emotion of his mind
Tie seldom feels disposed to speak Of his hair.
breadth escapes and severe privatiuns, while
engaged IN the service Of his country, during
tie revolutionary struggle; But. whenever he
enters upon this story, it is with modesiy aud
self abssemeni, that he was so criminal Ms to
act the part of "Hushai the Archite," in the
presence Of the servants OF George the Third.
The writer OF this article has heard him utter
such expressions as those: ''ilow great has
been the mercy OF God to me, that I was not
cut off in the midst Of my career OF deceit and
wickedness: l have acted too much from the
pfthClpie mcNtlDnSQ DN fuc spoStlG raul, ftN
us do evil that good may come
10 the year l776, if remembered right, he
was e Employed as a spy by the friends Of Amer.
tcan liberty. He then lived in the county Of
Nestchesler, a little south of the chain of
mounts,ns called 'the Highlands During
his year he travelled 10 Canada and back again,
for the purpose Of learning the sentiments OF
he people concerning the war. and of ascer
tanning who we're the most active and DANCE.
rous men among the tories. To this class of
men, he protested great friendship for the
British ministry, and expressed fears that he
should hecotne a prisoner 10 the wings, who
would deprive him OF lfe.--rhe information
obtained by the spy, occasioned the arrest and
imprisonment OF several royalists.
In the year l777, he was frequently in New
York. in company with the principal officers
of Dc British army, who placed in him the
utmost confdence.-From this time 10 the end
Of the war. he was considered as a spyifor he
roy ailsis, and the princ,pa, theatre OF his oper.
atoms was in the country contiguous to New
York and the Highlands" Under different
DISCUSSES and assumed names, such as John
Smith, Harvey Wright, and Harvey Birch, he
travelled through many towns, obtaining iul-
poftant information which he communicated to
the American generals. His employment ne.
c~essarily subjected hin to perils. Sometimes
he was shot at by the friends of liberty, who
were eager to destroy one engaged, as they
thought, in the services of their enemies, Sc.
,ersi m he was their prisoner, but bis engi
nuity effected his escape.
Several companies of tories, Offered with
men from the British army. fell into the hands
ofthe Amesicans,in consequence of his adroit.
ness. 1t was customary with the British Of
6cers to steal their way into the country. and
obtain recruits from among the tories, which
we're marched TO the support oftbe British ar
my. The spy enlisted several times under
such officers, and when he had sscertained the
time fixed upon for marching to unite with the
myrmidons of King George, he never failed OF
secretly spprislng some principal officer OF the
American Army, who, Of course, was not tar.
dy in effectlng their surrender al discretion.
In such instances, the spy became a prisoner,
but favored by friends who knew his real char.
acter, he always stock French leave OF alb.
Iardy The Pirote The Portsmouth IN. HI
Commercial Advertiser, says--Ths fellow came
into Portsmouth in the Congress in the autumn
of 1918, and remained here a Considerable
time. If we remember right, he was Captains
Steward in that ship, and was called Captain
steward, on account othis French pronuncis-
be recollected. camee De in ii health. and
we have heard that this Subsequent death was
attributed to poison administered to him on
board that ship. Tardy mixed with the mos.
abandoned company here and was in frequent
broiis. He afterwards went 10 Boston, and
there arrested for stealing the pucket-
book of the late Capt. G.. w, Bslch, at Col.
ENilde's stage house, of which theft be was
and punished with 3 years c~onfine.
ment in the state prison.