Litchfield enquirer., 1842-12-22
From Ae N. Y. Journal ot Commerce.

brig SomerS, on her voyage home from Af- rica, which were not disclosed by the off, cers on her arrival, because it was thought best that the publication should be made by the Government. Such things cannot, how ever, be kept secret. The Somers is q very fine sailer, has ten guns, and crew of about twenty able men, and forty appren- tice boys, making with the officers, some seventy-fve persons on board. Shortly be- fore the brig arrived at St. Thomas, where she put in 10 water, it came to the know ledge of It. Commandant Mackenzie, that mutiny was in preparation on board, head ed by Midshipman Spencer, a son of the
 Hon. Secretary of War; Spencer was there- upon arrested, and papers were found upon him signed by such a number of the crew as would have been able to carry out their plan by surprise.
 The obligations they had entered into, were of the most desperate kind. They had sworn that they were not afraid of blood :; that after the brig had been watered and was prepared for cruise. they would rise, take possession of her, and kill every off, Ger except the surgeon, who might be ne- cessary for them that they would then pro- ceed off the Hook of New York harbor and capture the homeward bound packets, which they expected would contain large sums of specie. Of the people on board the captured vessels, they swore that no one should be left to tell tales. After these hor- rlbIe disclosures, a court martial was held upon Spencer and those most prominently connected with him. It was impossible to know how far the contamination had spre Id though it had evidently spread to a most dangerous extent, To crush it at all haz- ards, was indispensable. The court martial determined thatnothng short of the prompt execution of the ringleaders W ould ensure the safety of the ship. Spencer and two petty officers were thereupon ordered to be HUNG ON PHE YARD ARM, ,ohicb aros done forth aoith, and such other measures taken as en- tirely frustrated the diabolical plan.
 The brig now lies at the Navy Yard, with all hands on board, all intercourse with the shore being forbidden. The full details it is impossible to obtain at present they will be fraught with terrible interest It. Mac kensie is noted for his kind and christian character, but great firmness in the duties of his office. Such an occurrence, we are happy to say, is new in our Navy, and not likely to be soon repeated. We shudder at the thought of the scenes which would have been enacted in our waters if this conspira- cy had accomplished its design.
 Spencer was about 19 years of age, and received his warrant as mdshipman on the 2Oth November, ls4l. Most sincerely do we sympathize with the afflicted family of which he was aemem6er.
 SIX DAYS LATER FROM CAMPEACHY. General engagement bet,0een the Yucatecos and
 Mertcdns i; capture bv the Mericans of the
 U. States steamer Champion and schooner
 Anna Maria. .r. a5er
 By an arrival on the 2d instant at New Or leans ot the schooner Freeland, Capt. Smith, from Cam2eachy. the Crescent City has news up tothe 22d ultimo.
 A general engagement has taken place out side the walls of the city which lasted for several hours. The loss in killed and wound ed on the part of the Mexicans, amounted to over 200. The loss-of the Yucatecos was es. timated at l5O. Both parties thinking they had punished each other sufficiently for the time being. retired from the field to recruit for another engagement.
 The Mexican army was decreasing rap- idly, :heir loss from death and assertions, amounted to over 300, since their landing at Champotan. aea .,.. .,.
 The schr. Anna Maria, Captain Peters, hence for Campeachy, laden with flour and corn. owned in N. Orleans and sailed under the United States flag, was captured by the Mexican fleet as she was entering the port. The steamer Champion, Capt. Hutton, hence
 
 ican fleet.
 The army or Yucatan was over six thou sand strong and was receiving daily rein tOrcements from the interior. The enemy asked a equalization, which was peremtorily denied, the natives hoisted red flag and ex- pressing their determination to resist the in- vading force or perish in the attempt.
 From the above it will be seen that the presence of an American fleet on the coast of Yucatan is imperiousiy demanded.
 Impostures. Ignorance is doubtless the fruitful source whence the means are deri- we'd for keeping alive Millerism, Mormonism and the other rank impostures of the day. Who are the Milierites! Who are the Mor- mons! Do we find among them persons of enlarged and cultivated minds, and of sound judgment! By no means. The unfortu- nate persons who are duped by Miller and Joe Smith are universally deficient in those attributes which alone can render men use- full and influential members of society," They are generally innocent harmless per- sons, who have not even sagacity enough to prevent themselves from being feeced by the lmposters to whom they foolishly give ear.-I This will be apparent from the following extract from the Pennsylvania Inquirer: "A gentleman recently from the Mormon region, assures us that many of the victims of Joe Smith, are English farmers, mechan- ics, and laborers. who, utterly deluded and deceived by the false prophet, confide their money to his keeping, and are not likely to hear any thing oi 1t thereafter. The Eng fish press would only perform duty by ex- posing for the benefit of Englishmen and foreigners generally. the absurdhy and pro. fligacy of this new tanaticism. Doubtless the n