The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-06-12
RHoDE-IsLAND REPUBLICAN.
JOURNAL. OF A NAVAL OFFICER,
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
KEPT BIT JOHN rREvrrr, OF NEwPoRi
lConcluded.1


commenced new cruise from Dun
kirk to Calls, and from thence to Berlin,
where the same owners were fitting out a
Privateer Of twenty-five guns and two hur-
dred men, Mr.. John Evers md myself,
partly agreed to sail in the Gutter, but learn
ing from The Americans who had sailed in
their employ, and had carried in large
number of prizes, that they could never get
a settlement with The owners, we concluded
to pass through Flanders int" Holland IN
order to get to Amsterdam rs we heard
that the frigate South Carolina lay there.
We arrived at Amsterdam in March, IL
81, and the next day fell in with an old
acquaintance, Capt. VIM. Haden, of New
Bedford. He had "A ship of sixteen guns,
Letter-of-marquc, and generously offered
us passage to Boston. thanked him,
hut told him bis ship was not of force E.
nough for me, and that should like to see
quanted with the Commodore so Captain
Haden, Mr.. Evers and myselfw went aud saw
the Commodore, and we engaged to sail in
the South Carolina friga,e. She then lay
at the Texel, sixty miles from Amsterdam.
After spending some time there, we went
down to the Texel, Gnd went on board the
frigate, aud in Sept. we sailed on cruise.
We went North about, and in the North
sea VIC captured an English Privateer brig
of sixteen guns, and ordered her for France.
After cruising some time we put Into Co.
rama, in Spain, and there got supplies for
our ship. went on shore and took fair
view of the town. The buildings are chief
ly of stone, in the old style, ms though it
had been built shortly after the flood. AT
Coranna Doct. Benjamin Waterhouse and
several other American gentlemen, passen-
gers, left our ship and went TO Bilboa, in or
der to get n passage To America. We lay
there some time, and then put to sea. The
first prize we fell in with was Brig from
St. Johns, Newfoundland, bound to Lisbon,
called the Venus. Mr.. jeremiah Pearse, Of
East Greenwich, was sent her prize master,
aud went his mate. Our crew were all
frenchmen. Soon afterwards, owing to
The carelessness of the Stewards mate a
fire broke out on board the frigate. 1t was
about 8, A. NJ, when he was dealing out
the allowance Of brandy to the crew, and
had several pals full drawn out in the spir-
it-room the candle wanted snuffing, and
lie took it from the lanihern and ncciden-
tally threw the sauf into pail Of brandy.
In an instant the brandy in nll The pals took
fire, which drove the men out Of the room,
and set the ship on fire, so as to blaze eight
feet above the gun deck. Owing TO the
GOODNESS of the Commodore, with the promp,
assistance Of the Americans, they subdued
it; and when they went into the stewards
room, to look ut the damage, they found
the heads Of a number of casks Of brandy
nearly burnt through. Directly under the
brandy were about ten tons Of powder for
iunntely for them it was got under so soon
Now we are sailing in the brig VEINS
Tenneriife in sight, and the friga,e in com
pany. We arrived at Santa Cruz in Ten
erife, aud after discharging part Of our car
20, the Commodore sent us orders to deliv
er the brig to n merchant; and then prize
master Pearss and our crew, returned OF
board the frigaie, and we sailed on anolbe
cruise. We ran to the Souihwnrd, and ruI
down The trade winds till we got well Il
the Eastward, and then hauled to the North
aud nsriyed off Charleston bar and saw En-
glish colurs flying, and number OF lsrg
ships. We then bore away for Abbaco, on
of the Bahama Islands, after making whe
we run down between Abbaco and Nc'
Providence, and rs we got into the Gull
we fell in with three large ships from ia
niaica, Le,ters-of- iIarque, aud two brigi
and made prizes Of all five Of them. N
James Deck wen, prize master Of one, an
Iwent his mate, aud we all arrived safe =
Havana. After a few days stay, the Com
modore tool; possession md we went o
beard the frignte again. The Commodor
had our ship hauled into the Custom II Gus
wharf to repair, and ~e soon found tina, III
Corernmen, had hired her aud her crew, ,
go up will fleet, =, ,lin, time fiuing b