Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-12-23

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communication with any one.
Midshipman Spencer was over twenty
years of age, and had, as we learn, been
sent home from the Brazil squadron by
Commodore Morris, with the express I'M
dcrstanding that he should resign his war
rant on arrival, as the condition of his not
being brought to Court Martial. Instead
of resigning he was, it seems, attached to
the Somers.
| The scheme of the mutineers, as said TO
be detailed in the paper found, was to MUIR
der all the officers but the surgeon, seize
the vessel, and cruise off Sandy Hook to in
tcrrupt and rob the packets, and other in
ward bound ships.
The necessity OF the immediate execution
of the ring-leaders arose, we presume. from
the fact that without the aid of Mr. Spencer,
who was to navigate, and the boatswain and
quarter-master, who were to sail the vessel
/ the conspiracy would be hopeless. If con-
fined and put in irons, without the Safeguard
Of marines, the temptation to rescue would
have been great; and in total ignorance as
the officers were of the extent of the mutiny,
this would have been a fearful hazard
We must add that this statement, though
substantially correct as we believe, does not
properly present the muiiny in so aggravated
form as the facts, when made public, will
warrant.
Midshipman Perry was despatched yes
terday morning to Washington with the
I official report and meantime, the Somers
les off the Navy Yard, aud no one is per-
mi'ted 10 communicate with her.
/
The New-York papers give different YER
slons OF this story, but the main features of
it are the same in all. The Courier and
Enquirer of Monday, has the following -
| The Wufiny on board the 4. s. Brig
SomerS.-The circumstances connected with
this proceeding, and the prompt and severe,
but Just and absolutely necessary punish
ment, inflicted upon the "RlNG LEADERS"
have very naturally absorbed public CONVEX
sation since the rumors connected with that
tragical event obtained circulation.
Now that the matter is before the public,
We feel fully authorized to give the facts Of
this extraordinary, yet entirely ius,ihable
proceeding, in the full conviction that the
truth and the whole truth, is what the public
are entitled to know, and upon which alone
can correct judgment in the premises be
formed.
The Somers sailed from this Port about
three months since, with a crew of eighty ap-
prentices, eighteen ordinary scamen, and an
orderly Sergeant of Marines who acted as
master at arms. She was commanded by
Master Commandant Slidell eIackenzie. well
KNOWN to the Navy as one Of our most ex-
emplary officers, and to the literary world,
as the author Of Year in Spain" Her
officers consisted Of Lieut. Gansevoort of AL
bany, and five or six Midshipmen, among
whom was Philip Spencer, son of the Secre.
tary of War, and two sons of Commodore
Perry
Having delivered the dispatches with
which he was charged, to the commanding
officer on the coast of Africa, Capt Macken-
zIe sailed for this port with the publicly a.
vowed intention OF touching at st. Thomas
for provisions previous to coming on our
coast at this season of the year. A day or
two previous 10 December LIST, and when the
vessel was within about five or six hundred
miles from St. Thomas, Midshipman Spen-
Ger limited part of his plans to Mr. Wales
the Purser's steward, who affected a hearty
cooperation, took an oath OF secrecy, &c.
which Spencer administered to him. when
ne was made more fully acquainted with the
plan of the mutineers. They had arranged
to raise a scuiie on the forecasiIe some night
after leaving st. Thomas, while the deck
was in charge of Midshipman Rogers, a
nephew Of the late Com. John Rogers: and
when the men engaged in il would of course
he ordered aft to account for the cause of
the disturbance, and while Mr. Rogers was
thus engaged, they were to seize, gag and
throw him overheard, with as little noise as
possible. Spencer was then TO enter the
cabin and kill Capt. Mackenzie; and others
we're appointed to be stationed at the main
hatch, through which the crew must pass TO
get on deck, and at the steerage hatch,
through which all the officers except the
Captain, must pass. All the officers, except
the Surgeon, were TO be murdered and
thrown overheard; and the crew, who were
below, were to be mustered on deck. The
two after guns were to be pointed forward.
to secure the mutlneers from an attack. and
such Of the crew who had not vet Joined
but who then elected to come in with them
were to be admitted, while the others were
ia,be thrown overheard. ~,
They were then to get out all the boats
and Tighten the vessel: after which they
were to make for the Isle of Pines, where
they 'cere to meet confederate. They were
then to cruise in search of merchant vessels.
trading between this port and Europe; which
after being plundered, and the males on
board killed, were to be indiscriminately
sunk; and if there CHANGED to be any fc-
males, they were TO be taken on board the
iSomcrS, oiotated, and retained so long as the
Pirates might desire, when they also were to
be committed to the deenl rhe arranno