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

Duke OF Clarence, now William Tho
Fourth, King of England, was on board
In few minutes the peak Of ever,
vessel IN the feet, save ours, was low
cred, and for while nothing was hear,
ON the waste of water, but tho crack
ing OF sheaves as the haulyards spet
swiftly through the blocks, peak aitel
peak fell in honor of the royal passen
ger, but the gait Of our vessel was mo
honless, and reared its proud head
while all around had submissively fal.
len. When learned the cause of This
movement, turned towards the cap.
tain, and never shall | forget the phast.
~ smile that at that moment PLAYED
around his lips.-~"Foolsl" muttcred
! he, "minions to do homage to the boy
whose fathers foot is ON their neck;
by heavens! I'D suffer death before
my peak should bow to their effemi.
nate pup of the. purple" and he cast
his eyes jealousy along the spotless
canvass.
"John Bull seldom allows such re.
spect as this to go unpublished wills.
pered Bob Barnacle, 'ssee, they are
lowering the yawl from the davitts for
the purpose of boarding us, and if the
judgment Of an old seaman don't de.
ceive him, we shall have some heayine
of iron before this squat blows over. .
II hope nothing serious may accrue
to US" said |.
The naval veteran shook his head
impotently as he answered, "the cap
tain is like a dutch lugger in u blow"
As the veteran concluded, he moved
away, leaving rue to conjecture the
meaning of his mysterious sentence.
Again | turned my attention to the
commander; for moment he regard
ed the yawl us it left the ships side.
and then folding his arms he continued
to pace the quarter deck until its arr.
val. Our independent bearing had been
perceived by the whole squadron, and
the eyes of men of more than one ma.
ton, were turned upon us with Jealous
curlosity--and u thrill of national pride
traversed my veins as | contemplated
the proud sense of freedom we had so
nobly displayed, yet we had commit.
ted a daring if not a rash act, and
there was no alternative but TO follow
it up manfully, or disgrace the proud
pennons that floated over us. in pre-
sence of the citizens of almost oil the
christian nations of Europe; the dark
man who paraded the quarter deck,
was the sole being upon whom was
rested the responsibility of our coun-
try's honor; his command might exalt
us in the eyes of such u jealous rival,
or on the other hand it might render
US an object of contempt and ridicule;
but at that moment | felt certainty of
conviction, that our commander would
honorably finish the work he had so
nobly begun. The English yawl had
now arrived, and young midshipman
arrayed in all the naval finery of his
nation, ascended the ships side and
sprung upon the deck.
"Are your peak haulyards choked,
or has your mizen down hauls given
away, that you refuse to drop your
gait to hisgrace, the Duke Of Clarence7"
asked he as he gazed severally on those
around in order to discover the CON-
mander.
"Neither, young man" was the calm
reply of our captain.
"Then why have you dared to insult
the flag of Great Britain on the high
seas7'' demanded the youth, with an
impertinent and cocknied mir. "Are
you not fearful that we will inflict the
punishment you SO richly deserved"
A spark of fire flashed in the eyes of
our captain, but it instantly passed A.
way and he calmly replied,
"No, boy, am not fearful Of rccei-
wing punishment at your hands, nor
shall my peak or banner ever be low
cred to the cross of England while
have life to lose in it's defence"
"By saint George sir rebel, you speak
tauntingly OF my country's prowess,'
exclaimed the midshipHan, "more such
language as that might tempt us to
tear that rag of thine from the gaff and
trample il beneath our feet"
At this disgraceful allusion to our
flag, the lips of our commander quiz.
cred with concealed rage, and turning
to one of the sturdy men that lined the
deck, he vociferated. "Barnacle throw
that man overheard"
"Ay, Ay! sir" exclaimed the vete-
ran, and Selling the slight form ofthe
midshipman, he hoisted him over the
gunwale and plunged him into the sea
beneath.
A roar Of laughter onsued among
the sons of Neptune, and even the Bri.
fish seamen were observed to chuckle