Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-01-13

something in your manner which offended me-
l read over to HIM what | had written down.
Ho wished inc to alter the passage in which
i said that he offered as an excuse, that he
had attempted the eamo thing on the John
Adams and Potomac" He only mentioned il
as fact, he said.
More than an hour had now elapsed. Spencer, as
ne met Cromwell, paused and asked to see Mr. Wales.
AS tic passed Cromwell he said not a word of his
innocence, nor did he make any appeal IN his favor
Spencer SAID, "Walcs, hope you will forgive mo
Tor tanperlng with your fidelity" Wales replied,
overcome with emotion, q do forgive you from the
bottom of my heart, and hope God will forgive you
also. Wales was weeping, and Spencer IN passing
met small at the g"ng-way. He extended his hand
ahd sad, Small, forgive nc for having brought you
into trouble Small answered, No. by Cd,
Spencer, | cannot forgive you" Spencer repeated
his request. Small said, How you ask that of
me after having brought me to this We shall soon
BE- before God and shall there know all about it,"
Spencer said You mus, forgive mel cannot die
without it," | went to Small and asked him not to
cherish any resantinens at such time, and asked
hun To forgive him. lie relentcd-hcld out his hand
70 Spencer and said, IL do forgive you-aad may
God forgive you also"
Snail then asked my forgiveness tool, his hand
and expressed my forgiveness in the strongest terms.
| asked hn what had done that he should seek my
life; If had been harsh either in deed or word to
HIM. Hc exclaimed "Whn, have you done Capt
Mackenzie What have ypd done to mel Nothing
but treated me like man. ol him Of the hlrh
Responsibilities under whi,h acted Of the duty /
owed my Government and the ship with which it had
entrusted me OF his defence toward his Commander
and the boys he intended TO put to DEATH and OF the
hilh dGiy | owed To tho flag Of my county,
ilGur! he exclaimed, God bless that flag and
prosper it!' Now, sad he, "cive me qnicIl and
easy dcah." Spencer SAID to Lieut.. Gansevocr that
his courage had been doubted; but he wished him to
bear witness that h, died like brave He ask
wat would be the signal for his execution. told
him tina, was DESTROYS Of hosting colors at the in
siantto show that the flag Of the So,ners was fixed
TO the mast heid aud that intended 10 beat the call
TO hJst e0ors aud then roll off and at the third ro
gun would be fred as the signal lie asked leave
TO give the signal at once acceedcd. He asked #
1t was the gun under hum told hun ii was but o:c
removed. He cstei if it would c fred by a lock and
wafer. l was told that preparations had been made
TO fire it with match; and metistsIy ordered
supply OF 1--we Goals and fresh Goals to be passed
s'antly; and then assured hn that there should be
no delay.
The time was now wearing away. Small rcqnes-
ted leave to address tho crew. Spencer having had
leave To give the sgnal was asked if he would give
Small the leave he asked He said yes. small then
sad:
"Stip-mates and top mates: Take warning BY my
example. never killed man but only sad that /
would do it, and for that am about 10 die. Going in
a Gum canaan brought me TO this. Take warning and
never 20 in Guinrman' Turning to Spencer, he
sad, IL am ready dc; are your
CronwelPs last words were, tell nv wife that
die nnoccn'i die an innocent man" From the
appearance OF this man in assuming to he innocent,
II would seem that Spencer ,oOk all the risk Of the
aflr, and Cromwell intended to profit by it,
placed myself where | could take in the whole
deck with my eye. No word given by Spencer.
He finally sad he could no, give the word, and
wished me to do ii. The word was accordingly CIV
en- aai the execution took place.
The crew ordered ait when addressed them.
called Their attention to the fate OF the young men
who had Just been hung IN their presence. / spoke
OF the distinguished socll position Spencer had held
at home, an held up before them the Of use
fulncss and professional honor to which q course Of
faithful uuy WDut have raised HIM. ha, tut
been bat few months ct sea, he had criminay as
pred TO suppiaat me III a command had earned by
thirty years of faithful service; Their own future
fortunes told them, were within their own control !;
] opened 10 them the stations of responsibility and OF
future honor to which they might rise, but told them
1t could only be step by step in regular course
called their attention also to Cromwe's course. He
had received a handsome education, and his hand
writing was even elegant; but he he had also failed
through his love of gold. The first SIS he had re-
celvei from Spencer had bought him, and the hope
Of great plumber had secured the purchase. An an
ecdoe had been told 10 Inc by Collins of Cromwell,
which carried its moral with it, and which de-
sire Collins to repeat. He did so he told them tia,
he once wsnt to India with Cromwell and that they
TOOK on board there keg of doubloons for Mr.
ThorndIkc. Collins alone knew of lis beng aboard
and kept it secret I'll they went ashore. He then
told Cromwell of IT, who laughed al him, and said
that If "he had known about it, h would have run
away with the ,cg." told the crew they had only
to choose between the two--Collns and Cromwell
Small also had been brought up - better thinge, but
Hdu Upf peen dbe 10 resist temptation, ana
invoking blessings on the flag of his country.
All hands were then called to cheer ship and gave
three hearty cheers. Three heQrtitr cheers Yer
went up from the deck of an American snip! In that
eloctrc moment veiy believe the purest and JIl!cs.
patriotism burst forth from the breasts even Of the
worst con>praIors. From that moment l. far that
1ois again completely master Of nag resss and That
eouI II, ic.h her 9ct4tetcr The honor Of my country
1cgHrl'
Dan vas pipol and noticed with feelings ofpan
that some OF the boys, as they passed the bodies
la gheI and sneered ut them. | silll desired that
Spencer should be buried IN coffin, aud ave orders
10 have built. But Lieut.. Gdiise,oort offered TO
reinqlshel mess chest he had Tor that purpose,
which was sooa converted INTO a substantial c0llia.
The watch was set AZ! the bodies were lowered.
1ney were recGNcdby their ncssmaes to be decently
laid out for burial. The MlIshipmun ass sted in tie
duty. Spencer was laid ont clothod in his complete
unoi m except his sword, VIII oh he had forfeited the
right to wear. noticed that upon the hands Of one
OF the Others n seaman hal tied ribbon, with the
name upon II OF that S0mcrs who 50 d st.ngushed
himself by his gallantry patriotism and skill. Ga
Cromwells face saOer was visible and on re-
inovlng his halr four or five discovered;
which showed that he had been where wounds were
gwen. He was sad 10 have been in SLAYER, and in
alOrO Castle in Havana and il was The general i'm
preston that he had been pirate.
\ squall Of rain soon sprang up, which rendered il
necessary to cover the bodies with taIpaullus They
were arranged according to thelr rank and all hands
were called to bury the dead The American Ensign
was lowered to hlii-mast. Nirht had now ct Ill.,
Al the lamps were left an distributed among the crew
and placed IN the bows, IN the gaHg-"ay aud IN the
quarter boat. The service Tor the dead was read and
the bodies were committed To the deep. Tho Offices
were closed by reading that beautiful PRAYER suitable
70 the OCCASION 'prcserye from the dangers OF the
seas and the violence Of enemies Bless the United
States :-wach over all that are upon the deep, and
protect the inhabitants OF the land IN peace and uuel
Through Jesus Christ our Lord"
In reading this | sacercly thanked God for the pro-
lection OF the SOmers, and felt firm faith that he
would sanction the deed OF that day. On the fol owing
tlna IL