The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-16


sage out, nothing could exceed C!annertpn'
diligence In discharging the duties of hi
occupation. Officers. as well as mon 70
celved instructions from him in the cutlas
exercise; and his manly form and sailor-lil[,
appearance on the quarter deck, tended, il
tne opinion OF all who saw him, to fix tn,
attehtion, and improve the patriot spirits o
Tue crew. The admiral became very font
OF MN, and invited him to remain on boarc
tne ASIA, under the promise of speed,
promotion. But the warm work going for
ward on the lakes had more attraction 70,
ms enterprlsing mind, and he babe adieu tc
| lne nag ship to the regret of every indiyidu-
a. On board. From Halifax he proceeded
70 upper Canada, and shortly after his arri-
val was made lieutenant, and subsequently,
appointed to command the Confiance schoo-
ner. While she rode at anchor on the
spacious shores Of Luke Erie or Lake Hu.
t ts, r SS Commander occasionally repaired to
IN fresh provisions. In these excursions he
cultivated an acquaintance with the aborgi-
mes, and was so much charmed with mode
OF lie, fuil OF romance, incident, and danger
that ne at one time entertained serious
thoughts Of resigning his commission, when
the war was ended, and becoming deni-
zen OF the forest himself. But the fit fortu-
nately was not permanent; the tinge of ro-
nance, which formed a part of his nature,
yielded to the more patriotic impressions,
aud the heart stirring scenes in which he
was engaged. At this time he occasionally
dlned on shore, and as few men excelled
MN IN swimming, he not unfrequently plung-
ed into the water, and made for the schoon-
er without either undressing or calling for
boat. This he did for the double purpose
OF showing his manhood, and keeping his
crew in the qua Uiue. If the watch were
Negligent, and allowed him to approach the
ship unchallenged, something like court
martial was held, and the offenders repri-
manded, if not punished. But this eccen-
trlclty and contempt of danger nearly cost
the lieutenant his life. Having dined on
shore, and spent the evening rather iovially,
he proceeded to take plunge in Lake Erie
as usual. Immersion soon sent the blood
to his he'd, and before he had swan a hun
dred yards from the shore, he became so
weak, that he was unable either to retreat
or advance. In this situation he contriyed
to float, and called for boat as loudly as he
was able. For a long time his cries were
GAUTGSEGO
his firm conviction, that the watch were
ANXIOUS to leave him to his fate, as the best
means of Kidding themselves of rigid dis
clpllnarlan. In this emergency a lurking
tear that he would get back to the shore, OF
that the friends he had left would become
alarmed, induced the crew tlast to put out
boat, into which he was lifted, when on
the point OF drowning, in such state of
Weakp eaS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS l. -,-l
In the year 1917, when our fiotllla on the
American Lakes were dismantled, Lleuten-
ant Clapperton returned to England to be
placed, like many others, on half pay, and
ultimately retired to his grandfather's ma
tive burgh of Lochmaben. There he re-
NAMED till 1920, amusing himself chiefly
with rural sports, when he removed to Ed
inburgh, and shortly after became acquaint-
ed with the amiable and lamented DR.. Oud-
ney. 1t was at DR.. O's suggestion that he
first turned his thoughts to African discoy
cry; and through all the varieties ofuntow-
ard fortune, suffering and sorrow, sickness
anddeath, chung to his friend with the con-
stancy of brother. After closing his eyes
in a miserable hut, far from the decencles
and comforts of Britain, he even assisted
in digging his grave, and read, over the
lonely and hallowed spot, the beautiful buri-
al service of the Church of England. His
future progress of discoveries and dangers,
have already become matters of history, and
need not be recapitulated in our columns.
AS his papers have been preserved by his
servant, Lander, whose story we should
like to see sifted to the bottom, something
vet remains to. be told, and the results we
trust will, ere long, be given to the public,
in more appropriate language than ours.
English paper.