Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-01-03

Philip spencer.
We copy the following particulars tho life
md career Of 'his unhappy young man, from the
New Haven Palladium, for which paper !, was
prepared 10y one who says he was once his "friond
and mossmaie, aud who continued and cherished
The former term, untl ngra,iiudc marked by Zero.
ciousnoss Of feeling and henrilcss dcprayiy ofchar.
acier burst assundor the chords OF amiiy, which in
the beginning Of his naval career, had every SEEM
ing OF beng lasting
Philip Spencer was born in Canandaigua, New
York, and d, the time of his awful death, was a.
bout nineteen years Of age, bu, in strength ofm;nd
intelligence. literary aininmenis aud bold daring,
was Gar, isr beyond his years Nothing in his his.
tory Of much interest is the writer aware Of until
has college career. He was sent to Union Col.
iege, Schenectady, but did not graduate, rs his
con5uci there became so notorious that he was
exp'l He'd or had leave to absent himself He re.
turned 10 his friends, where he remained some
time Being OF a wandering turn Of mind and
fond OF any thing bordering on the dangerous and
marvellous he eoped from his home and wen, 10
New York; conceang his parentage, shipped
Tor whalcr fitting out at Nantucket (alonc with
many others of kindred feeling but not of that dar-
ing reckless spirit, fearless alike Of life or death
was sent to the latter place in small schooner.
The ship he was to embark in not being ready.
he remained some time on the island During
this tune, and previous to the gale Of October
lsiI, he volunteered TO 90 ont on the banks in
small vessel for what the whalemen call black
iish and ~ that gale came near beng lost
Nantucket quite wreck Here told him that
was surprised hit he should cvcr think ofadop'-
inr that hazardous life sought only bvihose whom
friends and fortune lad discarded and
whose last lingering star of hope had sunk be.
meath the horizon, perhaps never to re.appear.
He smiled at my astonishment at his deserving his
happy, luxurious and delightful home: and now
rs look back, as often have done since. think
OF thai smile OF Spencer-ycs as now write. |
can see him rs distinct as the words nm now
pcnning-lhai smile was not human The wild
rolling Of his eyes told plainly enough to anv
one at all discerning, that something was work
ing in tina, heart that could not submit to the dull
monotony OF this peaceful every day life
His reply was that be should Ike to harmon
a whale and see the blood split" tina, he "was not
afraid of danger and liked an adventurous life II
The ship being nearly ready to receive her casks
he was compelled with many others. 10 work from
morning all late at night in getting them and her
stores aboard beng allowed only thirty minutes for
thclr meals which were Of the coarsest kind and
only hVe hours rest at night in miserable fore
castle IN close communion with the dreps of New
York slrceis told him that though, tina, this
servie labor and hard living would have satisfied
ms curiosity TO see The world but no--,he ex.
c"emeni was TO come. In confirmation Of his as /
s''uons ne showed me his hands, and they from /
,he'f hofny hardened appearance, corrobora,ed
ms statement of what he had UNDERGONE n, Nan.
iucket Having disposed of his wardrobe md 70
placed them by the coarse and homelv parb oT,b
whaler he WINS ready, rs was also the shin in two
Gays to sail for their cruising grounds in the
South Seas :" '''e
In the interval Of time from his dis,,ne,,,,co
from home TO the time Of orr narrliyo ~ CrianJa
had by dlllgen inquiries found his Whereabouts
ana knowing his uncomfortable disposition. and
'c '''rmhalion OF all hazaids to 90 to sen their
,p''i'hce ana hls fathers position rs one Of the
,."'"" al ashington, procured for him a Mid
s" 'Ph'h appointment, which wns sent with all
ufspa'ch 10 Nantucket, with description OF his
person &c 10 the care Of the owner OF the ship
! ms ant letter from his father. was plac in
hrs hands The prospect Of change from drudg-
FRY 70 comparatively easy life, had no, much
effect on him. as !, would have had IN most young
men bW by the rarncst pcrsuasions OF the owner
anf capian, amer learning who he was, he was
induced by them to give volunteer $50 to take
his place in the ship.
tie came 20 New foth a'u ""s NV. "l'eu oul
by his uncle. Captain Spencer, ol the Navy, and
BIZ him introduced on board OF the guard ship
Nouh Carolina His solourn on board Of tho
shin (about four monhs) was passed as rs much Of
he time 81 SOME o,heT young men N like crcum.
stances IN occasional, and | am sorry 10 say. ire
nucui dissipation. Principally al night bot not un.
frequently ia the face AZ day Here be comni,.
TOD an aggravated md unprovoksd assault unon
hes superior Officer which was INVESTIGATED he the
Commodore in the cabin OF that shin in the pre..
enee otthe uncle Csp Spencer and a command.
er Of he navy The written report made By the
lnsnlbd officer 70 the SECRETARY Of the Nav tho
from The eonnsndant Of the station. was u1heeJ.
~ taTPosfd from family influence and SPENCER
was ordered 10 the brig somers The Office, Inn,
treated resigned from the service The u,,i,e,
Dos no, ehsrge the eIeellen, commander o. the
Nonh Csrolna wih koowleire ftbe f,c,. ~