Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-24
From ihe rhaadelphi. Journal

Ihis sook place 10 i77s
sThe e2d introduced fair weather, though the three
Kingdoms were, as far as the eye could reach, cover
ID with snow. l now resolved once more To attempt
Whitehaven; but the wind became very light, so that
tho ship would NOT in proper time approach so near
a. ] had intended 7, midnight I LETT the snip with
two boats and t%hirty-one volunteers; when we reach
ed the outer per the day began to dawn; would not,
however, abandon my enterprise, but despatched one
boat under the direction Of MIR. HILL, and Lieut.
Wallinsford, with the necessary crmbustiblcs to set
gre to the shipping on the North side of the harbour,
while / weni with the other party to attempt the
south eide ] was successful in scaling the walls and
spiking up Mi the cannon on the first fort; finding tho
seDtinels shut op IN the guard-house, they were Sc
cured without being hurt. Having fixed sentincls, l
now took with me one nun only, (Hfr. Green) and
epiked up all the cannon on the southern fort, diston,
from the other a quarter Of q miles
'On my return from this business, I naturally en-
prcted &" see thu fire of Che ships on me north side.
as well NJ TO find my own party with every thing in
restiness TO set fire Ia Inc shipping on the south; in
stead 1t this, l found The boat under the direction OF
Mr. Hall and Mr.. Wallingsford returned, and the
party in-sone confusion, their light having burnt out
Al the nistnn' when it b"came nece>sa-y.S
by the straugest fatality, my own party were
in the s'mo situa,Ion. the candies being AL burnt
out The day too came on apacn, yet l would
. 10y no mnaus retreat while any hopes ofsuccess re-
mained. Having again placed sentineis, a light
vas obtained a, a house disiolned from the town,
and fire was kndled in the storage at "A large ship.
which was surrounded by at leas, an hundred and
6ty. Others, chiefly from two to four hundred tons
uftiftu " tyng size Oy Slue, enFOnnu. unSuTrOu0-
ded By water.
There were. besides. from seventy to an hun
dred large s,ips In the north arm uf the harbour,
aground, clear OF the water, and divided from the
rest only by n stone pier of n ships height. /
should have kindled fers III other places If the time
had permitted; a. i Did not, our care was to pre-
vent tie one kindIed from being easily eXiinguish-
ed kf er some search, a barrel OF tar was found.
and poured mo he flames, which now assembled
from ali the hn:cfiwnys, The NH ib,ants began To
appear IN thousands, q d individuals ran hastily
towards us. | stood between Them and The ship on
hre, with a pisto, IN nv hand, and "rde cd them
to rHiTe, which they did with precipitation The
fumes had ,lready caught the rigging, and began to
ascend the main-mast; the sun was u full hours
march above the horizon, and as sleep no longer
ruled the world, i; was time To retire. We re-
embarked without opposition, having released q
number of prisoners. as our boats could not carry
them. After all my people had embarked, stood
upon the pier for a considerable space, yet no per
srn advanced: | saw all The emiuenccs around
the town covered with the amazed inhabitants.
when he had rowed 10 q considerable distance
from the shore, the English began TO run in vast nun,
hers to their forts; their disappointment may easily
be imagined when they found, | suppose, at least
thirty heavy cannon (the instruments of their ven
geance) rendered useless. At length, however,
they began to fire, having, as ] apprehend, either
brought down ships guns, or used one or two cannon
which lay on the beach at the foot of the walls. dis
mounted, and which had not been spiked. They fred
with no direction, and the shot falling short of the
boats, instead of DOING Us any damage, afforded some
diversion, which my people could not help showing.
by-dlscha!ging their pistols, &c in return OF the
saluic.
sooner, success would have been completes; Tot a sin
gle ship ont of more tilnu two hundred could possibly
have escaped. and all the world would not have been
able to save the town; what was done. however, was
sufficient 10 show that not all their boosted navy can
protect theif own coasts, and that the scenes of dis
tress which they have occasIoned in America NAV
be soo1 brought home to their own doors. One Of
my people was missing, and must, I fear, have fallen
ITO the enemV0 hands inter- III hnDnrfpya yu,,
pleased that in this business We neither killed nor
wounded / broughtod three prisoners as q sam
plc.'
1.-THE story of the taking of the Earl of Sslkirk's
plate Is well known. The following is the letter
which Jones addressed to the Countess immediately
after the AFFAIR."
'RANaEa. Brest, 9Th May. 1878.
'Madam: II cannot be too much lamented. that. in
the profession of arms, the officer Of fine feelings and
real s%ensibIli,y should be under the necessity of wink.
ing at any action of persons under his commend which
his heart cannot approve; but the reflection is dOnb,y
severe, when he finds himself obliged, IN appearance.
to conntenance such acts by his authority.
rms hard case was mine, when on the esd of
April last. | landed on ST. Mary's Isle. Knowing
LordSeikrks interest with the King, and esteemins.
as do, his private character, ] wished to make him
the happy instrument of allcvioting the horrors of
hopeless captivity, when the bravo are oyerpowered
and made prisoners of war.
III was, perhaps, fortunate for YOU, Madam. tint be
was from home, for 1t was my intention TO have taken
INN on board the Ranger, and to have detained him.
untb through his mems, q general and fair exchange
oil prisoners, as well IN Europe as in America, had
been effected. When I was informed by some mon
whom ! met az lah:ing, thar his Lordship was absent.
walked back to my boat, determined to leave the
island. By the way, however. some officers who
were with me, could not forbear expressing heir dis
content, observing that in America, no delicacy was
shown ny the English. who took away all sorts of
movable property; setting fire not only to towns and
TO the houses OF the rich i,hout distinction. but mol
even sparing the wretched hamIe's and mich. cows Of
the poor and helpless, atthe approach ofan inclemenl
winter That party had been with me the same NOR
hing AZ Wnitehaven: some compIaisance, therefore.
was their Que l had but a moment to think how
might crafty them, and at The same time do your In.
dyshIp Inc least injury. | charged the officers to. per-
MI no one of the seaimen to enter the house, or TO hur,
any thing about u; to treat you. Madam, nth the
ean3s, respect; '" accept OF the plate which was Of
Tered and to come sway without making q search. or
demunding any thing else.