Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-05-23
THE CONVOY.

narDor Tor several DAYS, waiting ths
departure of an English convoy; tn,
day Of sailing had at length arrived
and we were waited gracefully to sea
by the trade wind, which blew fresl
and favorable, and promised with it.
continuance speedy arrival at the
United States. The fleet was compo
sed Of at least forty sail; vessels of all
nations, who had like us sought the
conveys protection from the many pi.
ratical cruisers, which at that time in.
tested the shores of the West India
Islands. There might have been seen
the clumsy Hollandcr, and the more
fragile vessel of Spain, the large un.
weildly barquc of Russia, and the light
feluccn ofthe Mediterranean, the strong
and handsome Englishman, and the
beautiful and fast sailing trader of the
United States, the high black lugger Of
Bremen, and the long low cruiser oil
Portugal; all with their flowing can.
vass set, gracefully ploughing the green
waves of the Atlantic. had embark
ed in an American snip for the port OF
Baltimore, truly noble vessel, and
felt secret thrill in my veins, as cast
my eyes along the tapering spars, suf-
fering them to rest on the well trim
med head rigging and bellying topsail.
There was not brace, stay, or haul
yard, but was drawn tight to its re.
spective place, and the light foot ropes
hung in graceful curves from the nu-
merous yards in beautiful contrast with
the running and stationary rigging.
On deck every thing pres onted as neat
an appearance as aloit; the guns were
newly painted, and bound to their pla-
ces with widely plated breeding, the
deck had been cleared of every fibre
OF useless stuff and the running rigg.
ing hung from the elects and behaving
pins in beautiful coils. When had
finished my survey of her appearance,
| turned almost inyoluntarily to the
stern, and suffered my gaze to fall on
the Star ,spaagked Banner, which roll
ed in graceful folds from the main gafT--
the guardian of all this beauty-the
protection of all this elegance.
Our Captain was a large and finely
moulded man, but the most distant and
tacit being | had ever encountered; he
would stand for hours leaning over the
taffrail and gazing in the blue deep of
the ocean, as If he could read therein
some darkly fascinating page Of futuri-
ty; his eyes were grey and deeply
sunken, yet they flowed with an almost
unnatural lustre, and seemed to search
and be satisfied of your most secret
thought with glance; to superficial
observer he appeared, a being lily cali
culated to gain the affections of man.
kind, yet every one on board loved him,
and appeared to take pleasure in exc
cutting his mandates; there was somc-
thing so singufarly and impressively
interesting in the expression of his
countenance; something SO stern, so
noble, and so decisive, that felt, as |
gazed upon him, that his like I should
never behold again. AS my eyes fell
from the banner of my country, they
encountered his; he had been observ-
ing me for some time, and ! felt that
his penetrating glance was master of
my feelings.
"American," said he, advancing,
''those hands were the first that ever
raised yon proud banner to gaff; |
fought, bled, and conquered uifder yon
stars and stripes, and while the arm
that first reared it is left me, it shall
never be lowered in submission TO cre-
ared men"
Ieould make no lswer to his speech,
| but grespeu AIS aand with a pressure
which indicated far more than words
could EXPRESS; after a moments pause,
he looked round to observe that none
were within hearing, and again re-
suned,
| eyes, stranger, | once shot man
dead for laying his hand upon the
haulyards with the intent of striking
that proud banner to foeman."
A fierce, though animated light for a
moment ilIumined his expressive eye,
and then turning abruptly away, he
strode to a distant part Of the quarter
deck, with a manner that seemed to
forbid further intercourse; this singu-
lar man had made a deep impression
on me, and | resolved to study him
weH during the voyage.
7 There was a general movement a.
mong the ships company, and the eyes
of all ON board were turned towards
the squadron, and then, inquiringly
on the captain, as if to hear and obey
his commands.
] His Britams Majesty's ship, Hyper