Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-12-31
by Nasser l. Eisely.
PHILIP SPENCER.

and messmate, and who continued and cher
lshcd the former term, unit! ingratitude mark
ed by terociousuess OF feeling and hearlless de.
pravity OF character, burst asunder the chords
| ofamity, which in the beginning of his naval
career, had every seeming of being lasting"
Philip Spencer was born in Cunandaigua,
New-iork, and at the time of his awful death,
was about 10 years of age-but in strength OF
mind, intelligence, literary attainnen,s, and
bold daring, was far, far beyond hisycars. No.
thing in his history of much interest is the wri-
ter aware of, until his College career. He
was sent TO Union College, Schenectady, but
did not graduate, as his conduct there became
so notorious that lie was expelled or had leave
to absent himself. lie returned to his friends
where he remained some time. Being of
wandering turn of mind, and fond of any thing
bordering on the dangerous and marvellous, he
eloped from his home and went to New-York:
cenceallng his parentage, shipped for whaer
fitting ont at Nantucket, and <alone with many
others OF kindred feeling, but not of that daring,
reckless spirit, fearless alike of life or death,)
was sent to the latter place in a small schoon.
or.
The ship that he was to embark in not being
ready, he remained some time on the island.
During This time, and previous 10 the gale of
October, ISL, he volunteered to 60 out on the
banks in small vessel for what the whalemen
denominate Black Fish, and in that gale came
near being lost, as many were at that time as
it was, they got back to Nantucket quite a
wreck. Here told him that was surprised
that he should ever think of adopting that haz-
ardous life, sought only by those whom friends
and fortune had disrcgarded, and whose last
lingering star of hope had sank beneath the
horizon, perhaps never to re-appcar. He smi-
led at my astonishment at his desertng his
happy luxurious and delightful home and now
as look back, as often have since, think of
that smile of Spencer-yes, as | now write,
can see him as distinct as the words am pen
nng-that smile was not human. The wild
rolling OF his eyes told plainly enough, to any
one at all discerning, that something was work
''S III tiluI HcdIL tldt COu!u not suulAlt 10 lne
dull monoiony OF this peaceful, every day life.
Ills reply was that he ''Should like TO har-
poon a hale and sec the blood split" that he
was not afraid of danger and liked an aventu-
rous life" The ship being ready to receive
her casks, he was compelled, with many others,
TO work from morning ill late at night in get
ting them and her stores on board, being allow
ed only thirty minutes for their meals, which
were of the coarsest kind, and only five hours
rest at night in a miserable forecastle in close
communion with the dregs of New-York
streets. told him thought that this servile
labor and hard living, would have satisfied his
curiosity TO see the world but no-the excite
ment was TO come. In confirmation of his as.
sertions, he showed me his hands, and they,
from their horny, hardened appearance, corrob-
GRATED his statement of what he had undergone
at Nantucket. Having disposed of his ward
robe and replaced them by the coarse and home
ly Carb OF whaler, he was ready, rs was also the
ship, in two days, to sail for their cruising
grounds in the South Seas
In the interval oftime from his disappearance
from home to the time Of our narrative, his
friends had by dIligent inquiries found his
whereabouts, and knowing his uncomfortable
disposition, and his determination at all hazards
to 70 to sea, their influence and his fathers po-
sitions as one Of the Cabinet at Washington,
procured for him midshipman's appointment,
which was sent with all despatch to Nantucket,
with description of his person, &c. to ;he care
of the owner ofthc ship This AMI a letter
from his father, was placed in his hands. This
| prospect of change from drugcry to compara-
lively easy life, had not much effect OH hlm as
il would have had on most young men but by
the earnest persuasions Of the owner and cap
tain, after learning who he was, he was induced
by them to give volunteer $50 to take hi,
place in the ship.
He came on TO New-York and was there TT
ted out by his Lncle Captain Spencer, OF thu
Navy, and by him introduced on board of thu
guard-ship North Carolina, His sojourn oI
board of that ship (about four mon,hs) was pas
sed, as is much oflhe time Of some other youn!
,, lnon in like circumstances, in occasional, and
! ! am sorry to say, frequent dissipation, prime
} pally at night, but not untrequenty in the far
Of day. Here he committed an aggravated an
unlmproved assault upon his superior Office
G which was investigated by tie Commodore
t"e cabin OF that ship, "a the presence of ii
y uncle, Capt. Epencsf. and commander OF Il
naVy. The written report made BY the Insy