Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-07-01
TIE PRIVATEER.
BY THE AUTHOR or THE ESCAPE

IT was one of those beautiful days which
oil who avigate the ocean have often expc.
ricnced within the tropics. The sun had
Jus, risen, sparkling with freshness from his
wa,ery bed, and was slowly wheeling through
q host Of gorgeous clouds, that lloatcd mairs-
tcaly along the horizon; an invgorating in
tlnenco pervaded the scene, and Il fine breeze,
that came sweeping across the sea, promised
to preserve the balmy and delicious tempcra-
turc that the cooling dews of the previous
night had impaired TO the atmosphere.
i'ha, particular part of the Cdrrihan Sea
10 which we would direct the readers aten-
ton, was, on the day described, enIivencd
BY the appearance Of fleet Of vessels Of
war, in hot pursuit of "a small clipper brig,
which held the advance at about the dis
lance o. five miles. This body of ships COM
prised part of the British West India
Squadron, and had been despatched by the
admiral Of that station to Halifax, in order to
render more efficient protection to their pos
sessions and commerce in that quarter, as
the depredalions of the American privaeers
were daily becoming more bold and frequent.
THIS squadron had been ling in close or
der during the night, bu, at the time our
scene opens, it had been bro en-, in conse-
qnrnce of the commodore throwing ont a
signal to make all sail, and endeavor to come
up with the chase. Each ship of the fleet,
therefore, in accordance with the order, made
all sail; the swiitest vessels were ranging
ahead, while the dullrr sailors were observed
dropping aStcrn, and taking their stations il,
the rear. The ship Of the commander of the
squadron, friga,e of lhe.frst class, held her
place in about the centre of the fleet; three
heavy coryettcs brought up the rear, while
the advance was maintained by body OF
smaller vessels. A beautiful eishteen-cun
brig, that had that morning formed one OF
the rear line, now led the van. She hac
passed every vessel Of the squadron success.
lively, and was now gradually dropping then
with a speed that held out every prospect o
overtaking the chase. The wind was RICH
aft, and each ship had her studdine-s sails on
on either side. Piles of white canvass rose
above the dark huls that doomed dilnly be.
meath them, and the surface of the sea seem
ed one vast expanse of snowy pyramids
Leaving the squadron to make the best O
their way, the reader must imagine himscl
upon the quarterback of the little BRIG, upo
whose capture they were all so eagerly ben
A single glance at her arrangements, an
those who conducted them, would speak he
privatcer; indeed, were that good lookin
fellow, who had just laid down the trump,
and taken up the spy-gass, atlired IN uni
form, the brig might be easily mistaken fc
q national vessel. She differs from one i
no other particular. Six beautiful long gur
IL 4
one revoves in circle amidships. TT
decks tell tales Of holy-stone and sand, al
the neatness everywhere apparent indicate
the reign Of discipline. A row of brig
boarding pixies are confined to the ma
boom by baskets Of white line, while qua
tty of cutlasses and hatte-axes glitter in Il
beckels that are fixed purposely for their r
ceptlon in the intermediate spaces of the b5
terry. Racks of round shot rown from
meath each gun-carriage, and boxes of gra
and canister, with an attendant match IL
are arranged at regular intervals along I
deck. Every behaving pin is bright, and t
brass work OF the wheel and binnacles sh,
in elegant and rich contrast with the maho
any of which they are constructed. A
mark the gay, healthy frontspeces of
sturdy tars who line the decks-a noble
of fellows, who, to echo their senlmer
would 90 to the very devil for their Office
Observe that veteran: how respectfully
touches his hat, as the commander ascent
from the cabin, and what an elegant look
man is Captain Buntline--so tall, and YET
sFacet0l--so majestic, lnl yet go prep