Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-29
PROVIDENCE,
THE SHIP.
"h' how love To sec a gallant ship, ,sasy
stem 'hc bold current, and rapcl the wave" !"
ARCHHI.un WIcLI LIZ ~

Hour OF twelve, gallant shin was seen I,
double that celebrated reef of rocks, known te
m'rners' by the appcllation of " Rrenton'
i'eo'' ana as she g'ded over The foa aiming va.
'eFS' thousand conjecturcs were induced in
by those who beheld her, md Some anyiot,
was expires Sed by each, and al, for her safe.
ty.
Although tremendous gale had blown for
'he last seven days, she approa chcd the coas,
wan single recfcd topsails;-her courses worn
not hauled up, and she seemed not 70 Iabow
under the oppressive canvass which was hean-
=" 'Po" hcr IN Storm so rude" Tie Is
ianders gazed upon her with intense intcrost
ana equal admiration, and if for the momen,
they INDUCED some fears for the safety OF tho
companions OF the barge, they dwct with ad-
mifa''on, upon the unusual nautical skill which
was displayed by the Captain of tie ship, and
his mariners Contrary to established custom
sic waved not at the main-top- gallant mas,
the nag OF any nation, and displayed no insig-
MA TO denote the nation fom which she came
or the ser'iee in which she was cn,ploved
as sho ranged around the shore, sJ;,ccn,
W hoNer-iai', the seaman in the .Acnr. vas
distinctly heard 10 s.np the sound,nrs Of tho
ieaa' and when nc blwIcd out G,mrior loss
three, or "by the mark five" ,"the sllD's com
pany would indulge in a loud +, oc lorrb,,r
as IL thoy were inscnslbia of danrer, and were
perfectly acquainted with the coast. IT,,
busy hum of music, The ;arring1 the t.m.rcI
The soit and mellow notes Of the Gu,, "a, eL,;u
S'fI'HS OF the fife, and The merry shr,oAs Of tle
''o'!n' were beard, as the ship glided along the
coast whilst the gay throng HAT inhabited
her' 'Adulgcd in their spor;iyc tricks, and gave
"ay to the impulses OF happ;unss-nlcasurc and
| 'hoNghtiess mcrrimont The ship was an OBJ
Jcct OF in'ensc interest 10 all who bcleld her
ana though she mounted twentv-one euns, and
was evidently built for a mnn oc-yar v,esoy
SUN INC morrment that seemed tc pc.yada hes,
convinced The bcholdcr, that "shr was no,
i1Suloned for tho combat, or recdy gor the , 4,
ray" and that she was none otier than ,on,a
favourcd barge, like that which bore ,lc f,r..
"a
'HGo o. pleasure, :" sAI. upoa .hr ocean, .,r
IN. qualification Of some wealthy aristocro or
naughty Pince As she ne4red tie h,r,,or.
more sal. was set, and Fastening into oort. she
appeared under all sail topsails, 'op-gallant
sails, royals and steering sails; and tho act;vi-
ty with which all were manGuvrcd, won the ad-
I n'lration of the spectators; and many hardy
tars, who had traverscd the ocean, and seen
ships ofall nations, had assembled, and each
and all, swore by the god OF the seas, that
more gallant ship was never seen. Wills.
thus under heavy press of sail, she "luticd
up 10 the wind - " backed her main-topsail.'
and casting her best bower, dowscd her ton
sails, and i'll an instant, the canvass she had
spread was fured, and nothing but silence ana
solitude pcrvaded n vessel, VIII c!, ii few mo-
mcn's before, had presented scarce else tnan a
! scene Of mcrrimcnt and glco.
Tho curiosity OF t.o Islanders, was excited
in no small degree, BY the sngularity Of the
ship; and though they were anxious TO board
her, still, as they feared she might he Pirate,
! orc Of tho companions of Kidd and Logan,
they RETAINED from doing so for some davs.
and were content with watching the singular
| NY OF her movemcnts;-or rather, the sinru-
| larity of the department Of her inmates But
J their curiosity was not be restrained; and at
length, an old inhabitant, far more hardy than
the rest of his ncighbors, and who was not in
the habit of being frightened by trihcs, resolved
| TO board her; and 4" como Whist nav," said he.
Z" l Will know something of ihn history of the
strangcr' In II whalc-boat, flowed JJ six strong
! and sturdy hearts Of oak, who had long breast
ed the foaipings of the tcmpcs,s, aud dciied
the whitening blasts Of the lightning, he moved
on towards the stranger ship, and fastening his
barge TO the chains, ordered bis men TO 90 on
board; and they were in the act Of doing 80, 3,
when an officer appeared at tho gunwalc, and
in deafcnng voice, exclaimed, " stand back
or by st. Paul, I'll make corpse Of hiin who
dare cross the gunwac Of this gallant ship;
and know, yc impudent nruders, that this
! barge is not to be contaminated by the foot
steps of colonial plcbans! Stand back I say.
Or by St. John, make ghost of him that op-
poscs"' There was n stcrnncss in the manner
of the officer, which did not exactly suit the
taste of the commander Of the intriding boat,
and no longer retaining his wontcd firnnoss,
lac answered, /" 1 conc in the name Of the ls-
gal agent of his Britannia ~. 'sty, TO inquire
the namc of this vessel her place Of dcstna-
tion, and TO ascertain al, those circumstances,