Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-03-30
SKETCH.
From the London y. Service journal.
GRvIcE AFLoAT DURING THE LATE

III 10 English Harbour to refit. On thi.
occasion had an adventure which had
wsil nigh proved tragical one. A.
nAeng the crew before the mast, was one
Jonathan Williams, stout athletic
fellow measuring about six feet Q inches
height, with an outline and proportions
eyincing corresponding muscular pow
ers. This man, shortly after the COM
missioning OF the E--,had, in spite
Of his plea OF American citizenship, cor
ro5orated as ] believe, by a certificate
d naturalization, been impressed from
an English merchant ship---This was
an occurrence by no means rear; especial
ly as the similarity of language and ma
tional traits between individuals of the
two nations, leftn no leading marks where
by to discriminate between the two;
moreover these projections were easily
coanterfeited, and therefore little regard
ed. Indeed, the fact was notorious that
spurious documents Gan ordinary arti-
Gle oftraffic among the crimps in he A.
merican seaports) could at any time be
procured by our seamen for few dollars
a reasonable apology was thus offered
Cor the frequent repetition Of an actwhich
had no small share in exhausting hos
tile feeling against us in all parts Of the
Union, and which otherwise might Ger
tainly have been deemed indeTensible.
In this instance, however, there were
some collateral circumstance, which,
with the consistency and energy SO char
acteristic of truth, displayed in his I'M
ceasing remonstrance against the inius-
tice OF his detention, ailording strong
presumption favourable to Williams
claims. Some months having elapsed
ant the little attention paid to his case
aifording but faint prospect OF eman-
cipation, he determined on desertion.
Accordingly, seizing the opportunity
while the vessel was alongside the wharf
+ in English Harbor, he with two or three
others effected their escape. The only
Ehannel by which they could finally
seave the island being by the merchant
ships in the harbor of St. Johns, distant
about twelve miles, it was naturally con-
jectured that their flight lay in that di-
rection; with view to intercept them
was sent round to that place. Al t'.S
and Of a week spent in fruitlcss inquiries
in attempts to trace them, / was on the
eve Of returning from my unsuccessful
mission. when accident effected that
which my endeavours had failed iii. II
had taken up my lodgings at the tavern
in the town kept by a French woman,
among the numerous inmates of which,
principally masters Of ships, was mer-
chant, a resident of the place, with whom
| had previously been acquainted. This
tnan having occasion to visit a brig, of
which he was the owner, and which was
loading in the harbor, proposed to me
TO accompany him. 1t happened to be a
boisterous day; but the wind being fair
ana the vessel lying we'll up the sarbor
canoe manned by two negroes, which
we hired, soon waited us alongside.
| had been but am instant on board when
fugitive Williams, little expecting such
visiter, unexpectedly popped his head
upon the fore hatchway. The sudden
appearance of some terrific spectacle
would not have caused greaterrcyulsion
Of feeling and consequent expression of
countenance, than that which the sight
of so unwelcome visitor produced at
this moment. The poor fellow, pale,
paralized, and dumb from the surprise,
for few moments uttered not word.
But gradually recovering his self pos
session he seemed quietly to resign him,
self to his fate, and without Offering the
smallest resistance, walked aft to the
quarter deck as desired. Here taking
up large tin pot lying by the side Of a
cask of what appeared from the color Of
its contents TO be water, he drew off a
considerable quantity which he drank
of-This turned out to be white rum,
the effects of such stimulant may be
readily imagined. They were neither
slow in their development nor dispro-
portioned to the potency of their inilu-
ence. Such dose as he had imbibed
was more than sufficient to screw the
moral energies, already in state oil
strong excilation, to a higher pitch than
was necessary for much greater enter
prise than TIA; which he suddenly con-
ceived and as promptly executed. Hay'
ing from his assumed quiet deineanol
no suspicion Of what he meditated,l had
gone for moment to the opposite sidelo
the deck, and was looking in another
direction when turning, round | fount
my prisoner had disappeared. Watch
ing his opportunity, he had lcaped int
the canoe, clearing the gungale at ;
bound. And when looked over tn
side had already got clear Of the vessel
/ now belreld him in the attitude ofmen
acinG the two boatmen, who after Sigh
and Intellectual resistance, were retreat
ing 10 the bow of the boat. 1t was
scene for the pencil. In his red wooiel
shirt, without hat, his dark shagg.
hair, closely matted over his bronze'