The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-01-11
n. BELL, Editor and Proprietor.

unde. officers, and that upon such occasion
all should have their share. This hint ha
its intended effect, and | never had occa
ion TO use compulsion. Knowing that Lle'
tenant Gansevocrt viewed the matter in Ii
same light, did no, interfere with the a
rangment of the ward.room; and if ha
done SO it would only have been in the wa
Of friendly advice. 1t now appears th'
when the vessel was ordered TO the Coast {
Africa, supply ofbrandy had been ordere
on board by some who had previously bee
on the same voyage, and who thought
would be good defence against the malal
ia of that coast. By accident, as | the
thought. but by design, as subsequent deve
opments have made probable, the stewar
ordered the brandy from two different gro
GERS, so that double the quantity require
was brought on board. None of this wa
used by the mess or by any others tina
Spencer and those whom he endevere1
corrupt.
Spencer had the faculty Of thowing hi
lower jaw out of joint and Of thus playin
with it a variety of musical airs; and he wa
frequently found thus amusing the crew
In his intercourse with me he was servil
TO The last degree; but among the crew
learned that he was loudly and basphemous
ly vituperative against me and that he ha
abused me in the most outrageous and VIC
lent terms, and declared that ii would Civ
him real pleasure 10 roll me overheard from
the round top. found that he had dIawI
representation of black flag and aske'
members of the crew what they thought o
it; that he had often said the vessel could b
easily taken; that he had not long before ex
amined the hands of one Of the midshipnar
TO tell his fortune. and had predicted for hin
speedy and violent death.
These things induced me to look bacl
over all | had heard or observed of tn
Somers. When young Spencer first re
ported himself to me for duty on board m,
vessel gave him my hand and welcomed
him on board. l heard not long after tina
he had been involved in difficulty when oil
the Brazil Station. and that he had beef
dismissed for drunkenness. Upon hearing
this earnestly desired his removal from
my vessel-principally on account OF thu
young men | had with me; two of whom
were connected with me by blood, two by
alliance, and four to my especial CARE
The circumstance of his connexion with {
high and'distinguished officer of the Gov
eminent, by enhancing, if possible. hi
baseness, increased my desire to get rid oil
him.
On this point. beg that 1 may not be
misunderstood. revere authority, and il
this Republican country regard its exer
else as an evidence of genius, intelligence
and virtue. But Ihaue no respect for the
base son Of an honored father. On the con
trary, the conduct of that man who sullles
by his crimes the pure fame and the high
honor of his parent seems TO me to be fal
more base than one equally guilty from ar
humber station. But l wish nothing IL
do with baseness in any shape; least of al
on board a vessel belonging to the United
States. On this account wished TO ge
rid of Spencer. Two others soon afte
Joined the vessel, and thus seven were obi
ged to occupy the space fitted only for five
had heard that Spencer had expressed
willingness to be transferred and hoped tina
he would now consent.
desired Lieut.. Gansevoort to state t.
Mr.. Spencer that if he would apply to Com
modore Perry to detach him from the Som
e1s would second his application. Ih'
application was according made and sec
onded it, earnestly urging that it might b.
granted in order to secure the comfort OF tn
Young officers. Commodore Perry, howev
er, declined to detach Midshipman Spence
but said he would consent to detach Mid
Rogers, whom l had long known to be al
accomplished seaman, gentleman and al
officer of the highest attainments both IL
and beyond his profession The Somer
accordingly sailed with seven in the steer
age; they could not all sit down togethe
at the table; two of them had no locker
but slept upon the steerage deck, and sub
iected themselves to considerable inconve
nience, to all which, however, they readil.
submitted without the slightest murmur o
complaint, and performed every duty whicl
fell to them to the perfect satisfaction of al
the officers.
All these things | called to recollection
and endeavored carefully to review tn
whole conduct of Spencer. Ihad treate'
him precisely as treated other MidshiP
men ; though 1 had perhaps removed hin
somewhat less than the others for slight de
yiations from the strict line of his duty
This arose from my conviction that Their
could be but little hope of essentially servln!
one who had proved to be so decidedly hi
own enemy. l observed that he was in tn
habit of associating but little with the othe
officers.b but that he was continually intimat
with the crew. He was often in the habi
of Joking with them and smiling wheneve
he met them, with smile never known Blu
on such occasions and had frequentl..
observed in him strange flashing of tn
eye.
Recalling these things in addition t
what had been revealed, resolved at ono
to make myself sure of his person, though
thought that would first let Mr.. Vale
have another interview with him and obtai
further knowledge of its mutinous plans. |
he was really in earnest enough, however
was already known.