The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-13
Rio de JanelrO.
Correspondence OF the Herald
Rfn ,n- .,.,a4 No,

Hoping, by receipt of this, to have the pleasure of
hearing you well, happy, and comfortable, will
now give you little of the news of my floating
empire. Nothing but pure disgust of the conduct of
certain midshipman OF ours towards our brave but
unprotected seamen, could now induce me to ex-
pose TO the public gaze, through the medium of
your spirited paper many scenes of violence, almost
daily practised by the above mentioned; but when
reported by the injured party at the mainmast,
which on board man of war is the seaman's tribu-
NAL is either passed by unworthy of notice, for
sake Of appearances is attended to with such indif-
ference, that instead of receiving reprimand, the
young gentleman is generally counenanced and
commended in his atrocity.
OF the many scenes of unmanly and ungente-
manlike conduct TO which have been witness,
will quote the following, which was performed by
young gentleman of our ship The name of this
young epauleted FOOLS of no consequence as re-
ference to his ungent!emanlike and unmanly con-
duct which blush to state in any other country's
service but nv own, might be considered out
rageous and degrading | WILL since his entrance
on board up to the present time, recount a few Of
his tricks, which, in consideration of the love you
bear me-, and from knowledge your generous
and manly disposition, hope you will expose to the
gaze OF the universal world, which, to the hardy
seamen of this Ship who have severally experienced
that 1t such conduct on the part of midshipmen
them is passed unnoticed by the arisocracy of the
sea, at least that there is friend to be found
whom neither the gaudy trapplngs of plumed
grlfhns, nor fear of mourning their censure,
Will prevent from exposing the purport of this letter
to the public eye, which can be proved on oath by
our crew, composing the number of eight hundred
men. AS dozen on the bare back is the oniy salts
faction to be expected from report of this nature
we throw ourselves on your protection, and leave
you TO decide on the matter when you read the fol-
lowing statement
On the 9th Oct, lS42, all hands got liberty at
Rio de Janeiro and. is usual on such occasions
every amused himself as each thought proper
some got drunk, some hired horses Mares mules
and asses and those who were not so fortunate as
to procure this respectable class of animals seized
on pig, goat, or any other description of quadru
ped which happened to cross their path, while
Others more romantic, travelled into the interior
for the space of eight miles, to enjoy sight of
the romantic and enchanting scenery of the neigh
bourlng mountains the beauties of which are not to
be surpassed by those of any other country in the
world. AS this was the first time the ships COM
pany had liberty for the last eleven months it could
not be thought surprising that good many returned
back inebrated. some little more or less. Of this
number was the man who ls now the subject OF this
letter. He remained ashore until his liberty had
expired, and then returned to the palace steps or
stairs, which is the usual landing place close to the
Emperor's Palace, and entered into the boat which
was sent ashore to bring of the liberty Being
one OF the first who made his appearance, and per
cevlng his companions remained ashore he said he
would return back TO the house at which he resided
while ashore, tor the purpose OF getting some tring
affair which he had forgotten, at the same time
catching hold of the iron railing which encloses the
palace square 20 assist himself to ascend the mid
shipm IN calling him i" "a id son of -h,' and
drawing his sword without any more provocation,
swore that he would cut him down if he attempted
to ascend step higher. The unfortunate man,
either not hearing, or beng little stuPihed with
drink, remained holding on. This being considered
insolence by our young hero, he deliberately hack
ed the wretched mans hands with his sword ten
twelve times, so as ldsguslng to reate) his bones
were laid bare, and the flesh literally chopped off in
slices, while the blood at the same time spirit
ed out so freely that the heroic youth actually
besmeared all over with the poor mans gore, who,
getting weak, fell back in the water, and would
have been drowned but for the interference OF the
boats crew. Seating himself, while he attempted
with his CORY hands to wipe away the tears which
trlckled down his weather beaten cheeks he said he
thought hard for who in his youth fought and
bed in his countrys defence, should now to satisfy
the caprice of mldshipman, be abused in his old
age. and be subject to such bafbarous treatment.
This occurrence was reported by the boats crew
to the officer of the deck, their return back to
the ship, but, as on all other occasions when the
cause was assigned to the conduct OF midship
man, they were sterny ordered from the mast, and,
usual on all similar occasions, threatened with
tleman. The unfortunate subject of this nhuman
treatment was put in the brig or ships prison. where
he was confined better than fortnight, brought
out, and then logged. So ended this affair, and so
IluCu IOI Tie lHlpdIlldl OF JUSTICE
here.
On the following evening this same REFER (be par
tlcular TO publish this YARN was sent ashore TO the
palace stairs on boat duty, where was honest old
portuguese smoakboatman, who in his time
sailor and was on the preceding day a witness TO
the transaction already related. He was as usual
on the look out for business, watching chance to
heave off rum skin or two into the boat unob-
sarved by the midshpman, between whom and the
former class there has existed since the memory of
man most inveterate hatred Never an In
dian jugger greater adept at his profession than
poor Joe at this of work. for it is positively
asserted, by the best authority in the Ship that he
possessed all the magic and fascinating power
ascrlbed to the boa constructor Tor he could when
permitted to range alongside, most lovingly stave
the REFER in the teeth, tip him orange, perhaps
banana, with one hand, as doce,0, while with
the other at the same time he could without detec
ton distribute and receive payment for dozen
skins of pure casash On the arrival of the boat, the
loving grin of welcome and recognition had already
passed between Joe and the boats crew, between
which parties sort of universal or countersgn Ian
guage seems to exist, is evident from the fact
that dozen skins can be bought, paid for, deliver
ed and drank without the u'terance of word or
detection of the REFER All things went on peace
ably until the mdshpman, partly anticipating
smoky's Intention ordered him to retire. Never
on the most cheerful and sunny day did the old
sugar-oaf, his native mountain, from the resting OF
some vagrant or wandering cloud on Its seepe
spired battements, undergo a more sudden aera-
ton than did old smoky's face on this occasion II
nettled him 10 the quick to think that his dignity
should be thus insulted, and that even within the
pale of his own dominion, which, at the palace steps,
Rio, includes space of about 20 yards square, all
over which are anchored at convenient distances,
floating casks or buoys, for the purpose of making
fast their boats Never was church dgnitary, or
old warrior cheftaiD, more jealous of their rights
and privileges than the smokes at Rio of theirs
1t so happened that our chivarous hero ordered his
to make fast to one of these buoys TO prevent
them from getting drunk, orhave any conversation
or communication with any other crew. Old
Smoky, who was boiling coffee at the time, |
and busily employed in arousiug his fire with an old
iron hoop, as this description Of boats are supplied
with all sorts of cooking utensils and every thing
a,eood blow out of rum, gin, or brandy-told the
REFER that he paid license Tor the buoys, and he
should not make fast to them without his permits
sion. Our hero then ordered his crew to shove off
TO the next buoy, and to take it into the boat Then
cayaerly drawing his sword, said, let him see the