The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-05-02

brick, and the sloop of war Levant, Com.
mander Smoot, arrived in this harbor on
the l7lh, from cruise to windward OF
three and half months, during which Sc
veral ports were visited, at which no Ame-
rican frigate had ever before anchored.
The Commodore and his officers were
received with the greatest kindness and
hospitality everywhere almost; but espe-
cially at ST Pierre's Martinique, were they
welcomed with fraternal ardor-every
house was thrown open to them-no OIL
Ger was permitted to 60 to hotc!-
parties were made every morning, anu
horses provided for them 10 ride into the
try-.brcakfasts, and such break
fasts!!!! sumpluous as the feastings at "a
mancho's wedding-dinners and balls fol-
lowed in quick succession. On the other
hand, the two ships were thrown open to
all visiters-cake and wine provided in the
Commodore's cabin-and the fine little
band of the Macedonian kept constantly
, in requisition, for scarcely fair Martini
quean left the ship without having whlrled
more than once around the deck in the gid
dy waltz with some Of the gallant young
Americans.
The ships went as far to windward as
Barbados, at which place, there being
good deal of smallpox on the island, the
Commodore did no. deem it prudent to re-
main more than twemty-four hours. No
officer visited the shore, and there was no
communication with any of the authorities
of the island except the health officer;
the usual salute of twenty.one guns was
fired by the Macedonian, and Immediately
returned by the fort.
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Harvey, Com
mander-in-C Chief on the North American
station, was at Barbadoes, with his flag
on the Winchester frigate. When our
ships anchored he sent lieutenant on
board the Macedonian with the customary
offer of services, &c. but did not call on
our Commodore, or show any disposition
to be civil. Was it that the names Of the
ships sounded unpleasantly in his ears!
Or is it that all foreign officers of rank ere
determined to make our officers feel and
feel to the hearts core, too, the anoma.
lous situation in which they are kepI
with high and important commands, but
without the rank which would give them
a right to meet officers of other navics,
holding similar and not more important
commands, on an equal footing. They
must now receive that as concession.
when they receive it at all, TO which a just
government would give them right; but
tins is subject for those to discuss who
are Immediately concerned in it, and |
have something more 10 say about our
cruise.
The commerce Of the United States with
the West India islands has evidently de-
creased since was in these seas, some
ten years since. Even at the free port Of
st. Thomas's, now more frequcntcd than
any other port of the islands, except Ha-
vana, we found but 20 American vessels;
at ST. jobs Porto Rico, only seven; and
a; Cape Haytien, St. Domingo, only one
state the fact and leave it 10 politicians
TO trace the effect to its cause.
France does not allow sugar to be taken
from her islands in any other than French
bottoms. The absurd system pursued by
England with her black population has
ruined her colonies: and the two Spanish
islands, Cuba and Porto Rico, will in a
few years, if they do not already, pro-
duce more than all the other islands toge'
ther. 1t is to be observed, however, that
on the latter island the slave population is
small being only about 10000 to 100000
whites. The island is very fertile, is di-
vided into snail plantations and cultivated
principally by whites of the same manners
and habits as the peasantry of old Spain.
We 90 from this in few days for Pen
sacola; but all is dark as to where we are
to go from thence-whether down the Gull,
or as some Of US fondly hope, to the north,
nc one knows, except perhaps the Com
mo1ore, and these Commodores have an
ugly fashion Of keeping their own coun:
sell You will hardly believe it when l
tell YOU, but il is fact, that the Ontario
went to sea last summer, and even her
own officers did not know where she was
bound until they had been some days out.
This is considered by US subordinates We
ry ant,-repubIican. Think of sending ii
number of freemen to sea without letting
them know whether they are going to
England or Africa! II is truly aristocratlc
and oppressive; besides, how are the
Young officers to keep the gentlemen OF
the press informed of the intended move,
me is of the ships! Would it not be well
if Congress should pass law that the Off
GERS and men too shall lie consulted as to
their destination? As you hold the pen of
ready writer. and are the son of true