Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-01-19

noticed on the Interchange of passing joke
as individuals passed by him, smile never
seen but on such occaSions--a strange fash
ing OF the eve.
These various recollectlons. added 10 what
had been revealed TO me, determined me To
make sure at once Of his person, though |
had be fore medita,cd allowing Mr.. Wales to
have another interview with Inn that evening,
for the purpose OF ascerianlng more Of his
plans, as had been agreed upon between
them. Ii he was really in earnest, enough
was already known AT evening quarters !
ordered, through my clerk, o. H. Perry, doing
the duty also of mldshipman and aid, all the
officers to lay afI on the quarter deck, cx-
crp'ng the midshlpman stationed pn The
furccaslc.
The master was ordered 20 take the wheel,
and those Of tho crew stationed abait sent TO
the moinmast. approached Mr. Spencer,
and 50 I'D to him, 81 learn, Mr. Spencer, that
you aspire TO the command Of the Somers"-
With deferental, but uDmoyed and gently
smiling expression, he replied, "Oh ne, sir. v
Did you not tell Mr.. Wales, sir, that you
had project to kill the commander, the
oticcrs, and considerable portion Of the
crow of this vessel, and to convert her into ii
pirate ?" may haye told him so, sir, but il
was in joke" You admit then that you told
him so 2" "Yes, sir, but in jokcP "ThlS,
sir, is joking on n forbidden subjecl~-ilis
joke may rost you yonr life ~ BE plcased
To remove your Northumberland" 1t was
rcmoyed and opened, but nothing was found
in il. ] asked him what he had done with
the paper containing an account Of his pro-
ject which he had told Mr.. Wales was in the
back Of his neck handkerchief 1T is n pa.
per containing my days work, aud have
destroyed it," III sugrar place TO
keep day's works in" ali IS convenient
one" he replied, with nm air Of Difference and
Aandncss. said 10 him, "You must have
been aware that you could qply have com
passed your designs by passing over my
dead body. and after that the bodies Of all the
officers You had given yourself, sir, great
deal to do. II viii be necessary for mr To
conhne you, sir. turned to Lieut.. Gansc-
voor, aud said, ARREST Mr.. Spencer, aud put
him in double IRONS" Mr.. Ganscvoort step
ped forward and took his sword; he was or
Gered to sit down in the stern port, double
roncd, and. rs an additional security, hand
cuifed. / directed Lieut.. Gansevoort to
watch over his security, TO order him to be
put to instant death if he was detected
speaking 10 or holding intelligence in any
way with any Of the crew. He was himself
made aware Of the nature Of these orders
also directed Lieut.. Gansevoort to see that
he had every comfort which his safe keeping
would admit Of In confdlng this task TO
Lieut.. Ganscvoort, his kindness and humanity
gsye me the assurance that il would be zen
6psiy attended to; and throughout the period
of Mr.. Spencer's confinement, Lieut.. GonsC-
wort, whilst watching his person with an
eagle eye, and ready at any moment to take
his life should he forfeit that condition Of
silence on which hls safety depended, attend
7 ed to all his wants, covered him with his own
grego when squalls of rain we're passing over,
and minisiercd in every way to his comfort
with the tenderness Of woman.
Mr.. Spencer being confined, the officers
were iemanded to their quarters, the crew
and battery inspected, the ordinary reports
lpade Ia the fist Lieutenant, and by hun tc
mo, and the retreat beaten. That night tho
officers Of the watch were armed with cul
lasses and pistols, and the rounds OF bo,
4 decks made frequently to see that the crew
were in their hanmocks, and that there were
no suspicious COLLECTIONS of individuals about
the decks. On searching the locker Of Mr.
Spencer, n small razor case was found, which
lie had recently drawn with razor in IT,
from the purser. Instead Of the razor, the
case wns found 10 contain a small paper
rolled in another; on the inner one were
strange characters, which proved to be Greek X
with which Mr. Spencer was familiar. Il
fortunately happened that there was another
midshipman on board the Somcrs who knew
TJreek-onc whose Creek. and every thing
else that he possessed, was wholly devoted
to his country. The Greek characters, con
veried BY MIdShipmnn Henry Rodgers int
our own, exhibited well known names among
the crew. The ceriain-the doubltul-thos,
who were 10 be kept whether they would o
not-arrangcd in separate rOws-ihose VIII,
were TO do The work of murder in the various
apartments, TO take the wheel, to open the
arm chests.
The following day being Sunday, the crew
were inspected at quarters at 10 O'Clock.
took NV station abaft With the intention o
particularly observing Cromwell md Small
The third or masters DIVISION, TO which they
both belonged, always mustered at morning
quarters upon the after part of tho quarter
deck, in continuation of the line fonhed 10y
crews Of the guns. The persons Of botl
were fnul,lcssly clean. They were deter
termned that their appearance, in this res
pect, should provoke no reproof Cromwell
, stood up tn his full stature, his muscles brac
i, cd, his blt,le-nxe grasped resolu,ely, hr
check pale, but his eye fixed as If Indifferent
ly at the other side. He had determine
, and dangerous air Small made very dIi
fcrcnt figure. lie appearance was ghastly
he shifted his weight from side to side, M
his bat,le-axe passed from one hand to III
{ other his eye wandered irresolutelv, bu
never towards mine. attributed his con
duct 10 fear. ] have since been led to he
icvc that the business upon which he Ia
entered was rcpugnant to his nature. thong
the love of money md of rum had been To-
. strong for his fidelity.
After quarters the church was riggcj.-
! The crew mustered up with their proye
, books aud took their seats without waltu
for all hands to be called AMI considcrabl
. before five bells. or half past 10, the usuu
: time of Divine service. the first I.leutcnau
! reported NIL hands ready, aud asked me II IL
! should call all hands To muster. told hlI
! io wait tor the accustomed hour. FIVE bell
e were at length struck, aud all hands called I
I muster. The crew were unusually attentive
: and the responses more than commonly an
/, able. The muster succeeded, aud exam
j. med very carefully the countenanccs Of th
crew, without discovering any thing tia
gave ne dstrust.
L. II. .N.. L.