Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-11-10
mis- ELL A 81 SO
S From the New York American.
OLD KENNEDY, THE QUARTER.MaSTER.
THE CONSTITUTION AND GuERRIERE.

\ So AZ.
The Sun became more and more powerful
as II assembled towards the meridian, and was
reflected with effulgent intensity from the mir
ror-surface oftbe river As we bent over the
side and looked far 'downin the deep vault re-
Elected from above, and saw our gallant little
yacht, with her white sails and dark hull. sus-
pended WITH even hhRiIte tfacery over it, we
could almost imagine ourselves with the An
cient Mariner, "ln painted ship upon paint
ed ocean," The white sand banks quivered
and palpitated in tho suluy glare, and the at
'nosPnere oil the adjoining swamps hung over
them III a light blue vapor, the deadly miasma,
their usual covering, dissipated in the fervent
neat while the silence was unbroken save by
the occasional scream of thegull as it wheeled
aoout IN pursuit OF its prey, or the quick alarm
ed cry OF the kingfsher, hastily leaving some
dead branch upon the shore to wing its way
farther from the object of its terror. The
black boy, in perfect negro elysium, lay
stretched fast asleep, with his arm resting up
ON one OF the dogs, in the blazing sun on the
forecastle, while we ourselves roclined upon
the cushions, with. our refreshments before us,
lndolenily pulled our cigars under the awning,
Old Kennedy, perched upon the tafrrail, in true
coxswain fashion, with the tiler between his
legs. While thus enjoying ourselves, like
true disciples of Epicurus. the guitar was taxi
en- from It's case in the cabin, and accompani-
ed by the rich tones of Walter Lee, eHere,s q
health to thee, Mary" in compliment to our
Kind hostess, swept over the still surface of
me river, NIL Glssipated in the distance, and a.
nonthe "Nild Huntsman," and "Here's health
10 all good lassies" shouted at the bitch of
three deep bass voices, bounded over the river
banks, penetrating The deep forest, causing the
wild game to spring from their coverts III Con-
sternation at such unusual disturbance of its
noon-ude stiffness. awe babe dull care be
gone, and daft the time away" Old Kennc-
dy, seated at the tiller, his gray hair sinoothed
down on one side, and almost falling into his
eyes, MS cheek distended with huge quid of
tobacco, which gave an habitual drag to a
NOUN, whose expression indicated surly hon
esty and resolution, was perfect portrait of
many an old Quarter-Master still in the service.
while his scrupulously clean shirt, with its
blue collar open at the neck, discovering n
rugged throat, encircled by ring sfgray hairs.
and his white canvass trowsers. as hobt at the
hips as they were egregiously large al tie an
cies, indicated the rig in which he had turned
up Tor the last thirty years to Sunday-muster.
ne ola seaman had seen great deal OF SER
vice, having entered the Navy at the opening
oil the difficulties with the Barbary powers.
ana mad been engaged in several of the signal
naval actions, which followed i'm the subse
quent war with Great Britain Previous to
mat time, he had been in the employ of Toms
ialher, VINO was an extensive shipping mer-
chant at Alexandria, and now, in his old age.
influenced by an attachment for the son. who
rad Duilta snug cottage for him on his estate.
and vested with the full control of the Yacht
ne mad been induced to come down and spend
tne remainder of his Gays on the banks of the
fotomac, enjoying the pension awarded by
the Government for the loss Of his arm.
had previously had the hint given me.
'hal iltile adroit management would set him
10 spinning yarn which would suit nv fam
cy. so, watching good opportunity, Know
ing that the old man had been with Upll in
the fight with the Guerrero, successfully
gave kick to the ball, by remarking, .Y on
ielI rather uncomfortable, Kennedy did Won
not, as you were bearing down on the Guef.
mere, taking broad-side aud broadside from her
without returning shot. You had time TO
think OF your sins, my good fellow, as con-
science had you at the gangway - "Well,
sir,"' replied he, deliberately rolling his tobac-
co from one side OF his mouth to the other.
squirting the juice through his front teeth
with true natural grace-"welI, sir, that ere
was the first frigate action as ever was en-
gagged in, and am free To confess, I overhaul
| ed the log of my conscience to see how it
stood, so IT riought be | was called TO muster
IN the other world in a hurry but don't
think any of his ship-mates Will saw that Old
Bill Kennedy did his duty any the worse that
day, because he thought of his God, as he has
many time since at quarters. There's them,
as says the chaplain is paid for the religion of
the ship, and it's none of the sailors business;
bntf never seen TO harm in an honest seaman's
thinking for himself. Howsomever, DON'T
know the man what can stand by his gun at
such time, tackle cast loose, decks sanded,
matches lighted, arm-chests thrown open,
yards slung, marines in the gangways, powder
boys passing ammunition buckets, ship as still
as death, officers in the iron-bound boarding
caps, cutasses hanging by lanyards at their
wrists, standing like statues at divisions, enc
my maybe bearing down OH the weather
| quarter say, doesn't know the man a, SIGH
time, as wont take a fresh bite of his qud, and
give a hitch to the waistDand Of his trowsers,
as he takes squint at the enemy through the
J port as he bears down. Aud as you say at
that particular time the Guerrero las is French
Tor soger) was wearing and man nuvering, and
throwing her old iron into us, broadsde and
broadside, like as have seen them Italians in
Naples, throw sugar plums at each other in
I Carnival time. Before she was through, though
she found it was no sugar-plum work, so iar
as Old fronsides was concerned. You OBJ
serve, when we first made her out, we seer
she was large ship close hauled on the star.
board tack $50 we gave chase, and when with.
in three miles Of her, took in all our ligh