The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-05-19
From the .NesO York american.

u LdhS Oub Tic snip 10 the w est 1uQleS.
III was, | believe, the Constelation.) At
the Island of st. Thomas, several of our ves-
sells of war were to rendezvous; and Com
modore Perry would there come on board
the Constellation, and take command of the
squadron, for the purpose of securing the pi-
rates from the haunts they infested. Perry
had sailed short time before in the cor
vette John Adams. Captain N. sailed on
slowly, annoyed by head winds and detain-
ed by Gains. One night he dreamed he
was standing on his quarter deck, admiring
the view of sea and sky, when he suddenly
observed that sort of confusion at the gang
way which announces the arrival of avisitor.
He looked in that direction, and saw adj
vancing, Capt. Gordon, who had died some
years before in the Mediterranean service.
He felt, as we usually do, when we dream
of the departed, consciousness that they
are dead, yet no surprise to see them alive
and performing all the actions of living men
discrepancies that dreams alone can rec
oncile. Gordon politely saluted him, and
then inquired whittier he was bound !"
Capt. N. answered, am going out as Per-
.ry's captain, who will hoist his flag on board
at st. Thomas" No." said Capt. Gordon,
shat you must not expect to see, for Perry
and you VIII be e conencsd. He 6sn POND POND
ed over the side of the ship.
Capt. N. looked in the direction deslg-
mated, and saw what appeared to be an ISL
and, with a town and fort flags of various
vessels, and of the fort, were hoisted half
mast high; minute guns were firing; ves-
sci lay out in the road, at distance from
the land, also with marks of mourning -
presently, two or three boats shot into view
from the side of the vessel nearest the land,
containing officers, and rowed slowly by
with muffied oars then another boat with
music and muffied drums, playing a dead
march and last of all, came boat with a
coffin, covered with black, military hat and
sword lying on it, and surrounded by several
officers, seemingly in deep grief; he saw
the procession glide with measured strokes
towards the town, and plainly heard the
mingled sounds Of bells ringing, music play
ing, and the cannon firing. He continued
looking, lost in anxiety and wonder, when
some accidental noise in the ship aroused
him from his sleep. He felt his mind SO
strongly impressed with this awful dream,
that to sleep again was quite impossible; he
lay restless till the morning he then assem-
bled his officers, and told them all the partic-
ulars-for sailors are proverbially supersti
tlous-they agreed to put down the day of
the month, &c.
After few days more sailing they made
the island of st. Thomas, where lay the
corvette John Adams boat soon put off
from her, when they informed that Commo-
dore Perry had died on board, of yellow
fever, and been actually buried on shore
with a procession of boats and on the very
day of the month on which Capt n had the
wonderful dream.
| may have made some unimportant err
rors in this account of time or place, as it
was told to me seven or eight years ago
boz uA0raory to tho essentials Ia cor.
rect, and | believe | tell it. without any
attempt at making fine story,) exactly as
Capt. N. told it himself to me.
FAIRLY CAUGHT. Frederick William,
father of Frederick the Great of Prussia,
painted, or fancied be painted, but his works
were mere daubs. Such, however, was not
the language of his courtiers, when deseant-
ing on the merits of the Royal Appelles.
On one occasion his Majesty favored them
with the sight of new specimen. "Sup-
pose," said the King, st that some great
painter, Rubens or Raphael, for instance,
had painted this picture; do you think it
would fetch considerable price," "Sire,"
replied the Baron de Polntz, who passed
for the most practised and the most obse-
quious of his Malesty's courters, Z" / assure
yon that connoisseur could not offer less
for such a picture, than $4,000 FORMS"
6 Well then, Baron" cried the gratifed I
monarch, "you shall receive proof of nv I
munifcence. Take the picture for 5000 I
forms, which you shall pay me in ready |
money and, as / wish to render you SER (
vice, you have my permission to sell it !
again" "Ah, sire, (cried the Baron, who !
was fairly caught in his own snare,) can
never consent to take advantage Of your
Majesty's generosity" "No reply" said
the King; 81 know that l make you
handsome present, by which you will gain
$4,000 forms or more. But your zeal for
my interest has been proved, and owe you
some recompense. Your love for the arts
as well as your attachment to nv person,
entitle you to this mark of my esteem"
SIR ISAAC NEwToN's CoURrsHIP. IT
is said that Sir Isaac Newton did once in
his life, go a wooing, and, az he was ex-
pected, had the greatest indulgence paid to
his little peculiarities, which ever accom-
pany great genius. Knowing he was fond
of smoking, the lady assiduously provided
him with pipe, and they were gravely
seated to open the business of Cupid. Sir
Isaac made few whiffs-seemed nt a loss
for something-whiffe.l again-and at last
drew his chair near to the lady-a pause of
some minutes ensued-Sir Isaac seemed
still more uneasy-Oh the timidity of some,
thought the lady-when 10, Sir Isaac got
hold of her hand-now the palpitations be-
gan-he will kiss il, no doubt, thought she,
and then the matter,js settled. Sir Isaac
whitfield with .redoubied fury, and drew the
captive lIapd near his head already the
expected salutation vibrated from the hand
to the heart, when, pity the damsel, gentle
reader! Sir Isaac only raised the fair hand,