Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-23
To the Editors Of the Christian .7dvocate and
Journal &. lions Herald

GENTLEMBN-IIavingki kindly inserted my ad-
vert,sement in your paper few weeks since, and
thereby excited the sympathy Of your readers in
my behalf, hope you will not deem it too great
an intrusion, if | request you to give place to
the following brief statement hope 1t may
crafty your readers, and cause theu TO "praise
the Lord with me-"
Ihave lust returned from New Bedford, where
fond my son, and learned from him the follow
ing particulars respecting his mysterious absence.
A few weeks previous to that event. he had. an
fortunately, aud without my knowledge, formed
an ACQUAINTANCE with wicked young man, who
had been one or more voyages to sea, and who,
by his subtle articles, seduced my little son from
the path of duty. and persuaded him TO 60 to sea
also And the same dav that he left my house
thew both sailed in packet tor New Bedford,
where they endeavored to enter together on board
whale ship. But it was so ordered by wise
and mercifu Providence, that the ship in which
the young man entered did not want boy SO
small as mine They then separated; the young
man telling him to go along the wharves and in
quire who was in want of cabin.boy, and at the
same time to represent himself as poor orphan,
whose parents had both died Of the cholera IN
New York the last season. He did so, and was
providentially directed to that kind hearted gen.
tlernan. Charles w. Morgan, Esq. who was then
fitting out two large ships for three years voy-
age to the Pacific Ocean.
The gentleman had compassion upon the sup.
posed orphan, and employed him as a cabin boy
on board of the fine ship Rodman, Capt. Lewis,
and furnished him with an abundance Of cloth
ing and every necessary tor his comfort and con-
venience for a three years voyage. My. son
called himself Thomas Baker, which in fact were
his first two names. Tie had exchanged his
school bov dress for that of rough sailor boy,
all except his linen. Thus was he situated,
when the editor Of the New Bedford Gazette,
seeing my advertisement appear in the New
York papers the second time kindly copied ii in
to his; and bow who read it took notice that
the name corresponded with the initials CT. B.
w. B which he saw on the linen OF boy with
whom he went into the water to battle the day
before. This he communicated to the printer,
who together with some of my friends sought
and found my son. and gave immediate informa-
ton. Accordingly l went directly to New
Bedford, where mad several very satisfactory
interviews with the owner and officers Of the
ship: and at the same time finding nv son ex.
tremely anxious to pursue the voyage tor which
he had engaged, freely gave my consent. and
commended him to His Almighty Protector
" who alone spreadeth the heavens and ruleth the
raging Of the sea-"
And now desire TO present my grateful ac-
to my brother editors and nu-
merous friends who 80 feelingly sympathized
with me in nv affection, and kindly aided in
the researches which have thus so happily term-
mated. And hope they will enjoy reward,
transcending by far the poor thanks of an hum
BILE individual. b. BADGER.
New York, July 10Th, 1885.