The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-06-05


/ had been at l. Orient about long enou Oh,
having seen all that was worthy of notice,
when large French privateer. of thirty
guns, commanded by one Luke Ryon, an
lrishman, came in there, with an English
ship, prize, that she had taken. She was
fitted out from Dunkirk. understood she
had number of Americans on board, and
1 soon got chance to go off to her in a
French barge. | enquired for Americans,
and found but two-one from PHILADELPHIA
and the other from Virginia-both of them
under officers. | saw that the topsnils were
loose, and the ancber shc.t npeak, and
spoke to the young Phlladelphlan and ask
ed him if the ship was bound out. He said
yes, and the pilot is on board. said, how am
to get on shore' He said our boats are
all in, and we shall be n considerable dis
tance off before the pilot will leave rs. and
it is likely we shall put him on board some
other vessel. | went on the quarter deck
and spoke to the Capt as if was acquaint-
cd with him, aud told him was an Amer
can, and that came on board to see what
Americans were on board, aud had brought
no clothes with me. He smiled, and said
we shall be out but few days, and more
than likely we shall be at Bresi. Now,
thinks TO myself, Of bad bargain make
The best of it. | mnst now acknowledge old
fowl are some times entrapped. | soon
had time TO think how left my old ship
mates, Cup,. Parker, &C., in L'Orien,, and
iefi at nv lodgings all the clothes had,
und my Capt. Of the French frsia,e, nnd
none of them knew what had become Of
,ne, and from that time | never saw any
more of them.
We had left L'Oricnt but few days be-
fnre we came in the English channel, with
vessels enough in sight. The first we came
up with was an English Gutter. She run
down for US, but after getting near she did
not seem to like our appearance and haul
ed her wind for the land we soon gave her
chsce with all the sail we could pack, aud
nenred her fast, but they neared the land
faster. At this time French boy was at
the main-t top p-gallant-mast-head, and by
some accident he fell off and struck in the
water, some distance astern. We were
sailing very fast through the water, endeav-
oring to overtake the Gutter before she got
on shore, but all in vain. We lost the boy
and the Gutter ran into the breakers /; SO we
left her and hauled our wind.
Several vessels in sight, night approach
ing, and we under very easy sail. Towards
day rain and hazy weather; about n,crid-
ian saw two sail, and took them to be En-.
glish sloops-of.war. As they were standing
hard upon US, they neared us fast, and we
found our mistake when too late for us to
run, but Capt. Luke Ryon was at no loss
about this matter He ordered about twen-
~ musket-inen to fire into the FIRST ships
sails, &C., aud to fire arrows, &c, as he
was determined to run near aboard of them,
so as to set the first ships sails on fire,
WHICH OtHcVc shVcu nc blst sup
that came up we gave them three cheers un-
der full sail, and they returned them. We
then gave them n full broadside and out Of
our tops also, and she returned II as well,
and by the time we could load, which did
not exceed FIVE minutes, the other ship was
ready. We gave her three cheers and they
returned il, and at it we went. We found
the fire arms had good effect. for the FIRST
ship was seen On fire, and the last ship lay
by her more than an hour, which gave
Us good start ahead. Il was no, long be-
fore both ships were in chase Of US, and be-
fore dark they threw their shot over us, but
adark and squally night saved US that time.
Tue next morning we saw nothing Of the
ships. Onr foreyard was much shattered,
& many Of our sails and spars damaged, but
no one was killed, and only three wounded.
The next day we fell in with large ship
Of twenty-five guns md took her. She
proved to be a ship from New York, called
the Lord Dunmure, bound tn Englsnd.-
We captured in her = number Of British Of
6cers and always thought one of ihem
wss the ,rsirtor B,ncdict irnold. We took
ga, her guns Asd warlikc stores. and ran-