Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-22

8 buck Beard -WhO has not heard OF Tho ftInOus Black
Bsand, the noted freebooter, who, according to vulgar eleduitS,
las buried chests Of money upon the hanks of almost every
slam, swan nine times around his vessel! The Inc history
OF this man. SO famous in the legends OF North Srrni'na, will
WiIa%son's History Of North Csroii"s. His real nsa,e was
Teach, aud he pursued his piraticai adventures on our. coast
"Govcrnor Eden, and Tobias Knight, Secretary of the Colo-
ny, we've bot, suspected of confederaung With This man.
while lie pursued his piracies, used to retire to the moutI, OF TIC
Panliro river, in North Carolina, 10 rehl his vessel Bath
IN the town of that name. without restraint; for guarded as he
was, he could no, be easily apprehendcd. He lived ON terms
ii dishonorable to associate with a robber Tobias Knight, a
member of the council, secretary OF the provice. and collector
number Of his friends. King George the First, IN the year i7I7,
was pleased to issue a exclamation, Offering a pardon to all
to any of the colonial governors. This was deemed TO be the
most expeditions method of obtaining relief fom a common
Teach, and twenty of his men, surrendered themselves 10
the governor Of North Carolina, aud took the oa,, of allegr.
went to work. But Teach was an Incorporate man, and had
long been IN the habits of idleness. In "a short time his money
vulgar eredulrsy, prone to believe a wonderful story, has passed
to his account The man who is said, and believed to have
coast. had not The means of supporting himself on shore, When
he ieit OIL cruising, wherefore lie resolved to risk his life by re-
enlisted a proper crew, aud cleared as a capu,on trader, for the
isiand OF SAINT Thomas. After a few weeks, he returned 10
gar coffee, and cotton. He made oath before the governor,
with iour OF has people, tina, hc found the ship deserted at sea;
"l"h WHICH ZIG was aloWeu 10 enter Al ths CuSiOtn house. TIC
landed ms sugar and Other goods, and hove down his sloop. 10
give her a clean bottom. at the place tha, is now called rcacirs
mole, within Ocracoke inlet Knight, who was "A collector OF
le customs. lived on PamIhco river, u few miles below The port
or Bath Teach had been at his house during these trai,sac
tons fnr he stored 20 barrels Of sugar, and two bags of coffee
in his barn. Whatever the governor ar his secretary may have
thought OF an old pirate, who alleged that he had found a tight
ship. with a valuable cargo. deserted at sea; other people were
disposed 10 view it as a piratcal adventure. The Assembly Of
Virginia offered a reward Of one hundred pounds for Teach,
ana Ten pounds Tor each OF his associates. There were two
ships OF war then al their moorines in Hampton Roads May
marc; a lieutenant IN one of tic slips, taking with him TWO
sn,aIl coasters, and a sufficient number of men, sailed in quest
OF Teach, and found him at his usual careening place.
Nhen the action began, Teach had only II men with him;
Dt he fought like a desperate, who was resolved to escape the
eipDet He was killed IN the action, and nine OF lis men =
t-,sut OF them were taken. Thirty of Maynard's men were
We're tried in Virginia Oue of them, i,asilca Hand,
turned kings evidence; and four of them were esecu.
ted, alter they had confessed the truth of Hands den
oSition. II followed, as a necessary consequence, from the
'estinlony OF iiand that secretary Knight was privy to the last
act OF piracy. Acopy ofthese examinations was sent to the
governor Of North Carolina. by the Court of Admiralty, who
alleged, thai knight should be tried as an accomplice. When
Knight was summoned 10 appear before the council, he excul-
pa'eo himself by the testimony OF n young man WIN lived with
MN IN ms mouse. This testimony was directly opposed to the
evidente II Hand; and the presumption in that case, should
have been in favor OF Knights innocence; for the testimony Of
tion oil iour negro pirates who were coudemned, could do little
INJURY TO a fair character but there was another evidence. more
to 6e trusted Than such oaihs. BY that evidence, KNIGHT,
cbaracte. was destroyed; and the governors did not ESCAPE
suspicion A letter from Knight was found in Teach's pocket
dated a few days before he fell into the hands of MAYNARD
was proof OF Knights friendship for a freebooter, and a clear
mtimaiiou ofthe governors respect There was also a sivpr
cup found In Teachs cabin, of which he had lately robbed a
boatman on the river, below Knights house"