Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-03

Stoo, the general question, that the public mind
a. now fast coming to thu conclusion, that impri.
Ssoninent is punishment; and that punishment is
Sonly due to crime.
8 z,,-z.z--s.-=z..-.-z--x.
8rHE STORMED FORr.-A TALE OF 1856
Il aba, tako sodger from his hi
8 Clap III his chcek highland gill;
q Say such is Royal Georges will,
3 And there's the toe,-
q He has nae thought but how to kill
81 iva AT blow "-BusSs.
s. Tho gior:eS of beautiful oriental sunset were
,sfillin ever the broad Gauges, and lending softer
CUNT 10 tho dark foliage of tho jungcs along its
Understanding here and there the dim tower of
fssome heather tcmpio with a finger of pold and
! above painting the sky with coouring richer than
g hat OF the goiIon heaven of Mahomct. Tho Bri-
Ash fleet, "a it lay with it's dark batteries frowning
japon the walls Of Rayapore, and still renkiug with
9thc smoke Of lis artillery, was motiorlcss as the
Igiassy element upon which it rested, each MA st
shnd spar casting its distinct and tlpcring shadow
= far away TO the eastward.
81 "Cve :" said Admiral Watson as he withdrew
!the glass from his eye, through which he had boon
Ssnrveyng the fortress and battered walls OF Maya
sspore, "lhesc h!rck scoundres still busy and nu-
& naroas Cur artillery bias shaken their walls
Swhat, but so long they receive ne considera BILE
%pcrsnnal injury they will hold gainst us. And
5see, thcy are swarmng like bees on yonder emi-
5nencc."
q And we arc likely to feclthor stinCs" said Col
aCiive, as shower of muskot balls swept past them
and four OF the ships company fell at their feet
a"What shall be done Admiral ~
] Before a reply could be m Ids, sailor By the
9namo OF Strahan, staggered forward uad confront
5ed the two officers.
Z why, Colonel, I'll tell Jan what's TO b" doae
y lake dozen of us, and board 'em. D-n my eyes
}if | couldn't do it myself"
4 In ordinary cases such address from Il com.
amon sailor would have been repliad to by Il round
a dozen of lashes from boatswan's mate: but tho
oddity OF tho Proposal--thc qlcer look ana tone of
.the drunken seaman, forced smile upon the whoa
thcr-boaten severitY Of tie Admir- ,'s countenancc
Gas he ordered The fellow back TO his post.
i Nhcther the Admiral took his hint from tho sail
iaors advice, or otherwise know not, bat he ac-
jtualIy ordered preparations to BIO made for ormin
iEe encmys works Col. Give 1T tin. head of some
9hundred soldiers, landed below the town. under CO.
Ever of the darkness, with orders to remain quie,
|unti about day break, and then make vigorous at
5tack upon the fortress
d ABOUT ten O'Clock that evening, a solitary figure
FIN the garb of British tar the crcumg yrations of
i whose motion, gave evidence that Arrack punch
q had by no nouns improved the awkwardness of his
sssoa legs--was seen working his way towards the
cEclnys fertilization, vcering the right and
tnen TO The lett, like boat wing against shifting
sWlnas and eddIes. 1t was none other than Straham
himself, evidently much elated by the inluen 20
60 grog to reason cody upon any thing. Insensble
sto fear but with worry definite purpose in hs
anInd, he staggered onward until he found himself
SdIrectIy under the walls of Bougee Fort strong
SiortificItion defending tho town of Mayapore.-
EStrailam after vainly endenvoring press onward
aind thereby bringing his head in contact with the
awa!, looked upward and began realize his situa-
auon. The wall at this point had been greatly ex-
opposed o tho cannon Of the British fleet and huge
dhrea ah had been laid open just before the spot where
i >traham was standing, partially revealed by the
clamps and torches which flashed wild light from
9ihe interior of the fortress. The drunken sailor
slooked at 1t with much GOODNESS incbrIation
Jwould admit Of. Burns says, somewhere in his
Tom O'Shantcr,
Z ''W' two penny we fear no .vl,
] VII usquc5augh we'll face the devil"
qand ibe conduct of Straham certainly verified this
5assertion Bestowing hearty upon his Ad-
y miral for land lubbcr and coward, he clambcred
Sup the breach and mounted upon the bastion Sc
5vcral dark yisagcd nfdcls, rendered still more hi
sdoous by the CRIME of gnnpowder, who were sitting
3qnietiy upon the PLATFORM sPrang upon their feet
aat tbs startling appartion of Straham. Discharp-
bing his pistol at the nearest of his enemies who
5Folted back with fatal wound upon the platform,
the sailor hourlshcd his cutlass, and shouted with
toHs which thrilled through every nook OF Mayapore
and reached even the camp of his comrades,
"Hurra THE place is miAe ~
Tho startled garrison returned the shout, and
isprdng to arms. Straham gavo three cheers, and
3P0t himself upon the defensive. At that Instant
half IL dozen of StrIhlm's shipnatos who ad also
sstrayed away from tho camp, hearing tho nutcry, ,
ana recognizing the voice Of ono Of their fellows
iFPrang up the breach, and repeated the cheering
ahuTra. The whole British camp was by this time
gin motlon,-'he orders Of Col Give were disrerard
scd--ail discipline was forgotten and officers and
Imcn rushed roniscuonsly to the attack. They
asCiGd the bFGICh, and the blyouct and Cutl1ss did
j5l"ody work among the inf5eia OF the garrsna--|
sln ton minutes all ovor; and British salute
from iho guns of the Bougce Fort told tic aston.
9lshcd Admiral thtt Mayspore his own
The next morning, Strahem, the hero Of the af !
stIlr, WIS brought before Admiral Watson: The
Admiral was stern, dark visagcd mana sovercI
ciP.in1rian-and however gratfcd no might have
ihccu at the capture cftb9 frt, no was sadly shock
ied az the total want Of discipline manifested in the
jdcsPcraie undertaking.
"Straham" no said, somewhat stcrnly, az nail
ilave YOU been doirg 7"
The s flor bowed stihy, scracbcd his head With
ionc hand, and twiTcd his tarp1uling in the other
i'Whv, dye see" said he wish tho utmost sinplici
3ly Of look and tone, 'to DO sure twas that Took
sthe tort-5ut ! hope there was no harm int" al
troaF Of laughter burst from the subaterB ofi,erg
i1Dd even he aduira DIT his lip but excrtiug him
isclt 10 command his counteuauce lie expatiuted onI
lihc fatal consequence which might have attended,
such mad exploit, and dismissed the offender With
IN severe rcbuke, and distinct threat that at somc
proper opportunity he should certainly be punished
for his tcnerity. i
Straham was amazed. lie bad expected praise
land promotion, he found r15ukes and threatening
3ut punishment. Indignant at such treatment, audl
totally forgetting the respect dus 10 his commander
lbe thrust his head into his tarPauIing and his hands!
5into HE pockets, and Teccj ont Of the A1mrlTs
scahin mUtcrlng as nc went, "UIrkcc, old boy, IN
I'm foggcd for this e actioa, ma the devil roast
inc if 4evcr take another fort by myself, long AS
I'm above matches"
This was too r3gch. The grim visa &c Of the Ad-!
lniral relaxed; AMI he joined loudly in the laugh'
which followed Tho re'rcatirg sailor. 1t is unno-