Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-01-18
Greenwich HOspital-.-An affecting
sketch.
BY AN OLD SAILOR,

BY AN OLD SAILOR.
"You were with Nelson, then 2
said to prisoner with whom | hat
entered into conversation.
II was, your honor" he replied.
"But, my friend. what can you say
for the treatment poor Caraccioli expe
rienced! You remember that l sup
pose %
II do indeed" he replied. "Pool
old man how earnestly he pleaded
for the few short days which nature a,
her utmost could have allowed him -
But, SIR" added he, grasping my arm,
edo you know what it is to have q
fiend a, the helm, who, when humanity
cries out 'Port!' will clap i. hard a
STAFFORD in spite of you! one who, in
loneliness and facination. is like an an
gel Of light, but whose heart is like an
internal machine, ready to explode
whenever passion touches the secret
spring of vengeance. %
had merely put the question to him
by way of joke, little expecting the re-
suit: but l had to listen to a tale of
horror.
lyon give pretty picture, truly, old
friend said |. land pray who might
this fend be -
GA woman, your honor-one full of
smiles and sweelnesses, but she could
gaze with indifference on deed of
blood, and exult over the victim her
perfidy betrayed. 1t is long story,
but | must tell it you, tina, you may not
think Nelson was cruel or unjust
His generous heart was deceived, and
brought stain upon the British flag,
which he afterwards washed out with
his blood, at the time when there was
mutiny among the people at Naples,
and Prince Caraccioli joined one Of
the parties against the court, but after.
wards sort of amnesty was passed.
by way of pardon, to the rebels, many
of whom surrendered, but they were
all made prisoners, and numbers Of
them were executed.
"Well, one day Twas standing at the
gangway. getting The BARGE sails ready
when short boat came alongside, full
Of people, who were making terrible
noise. A! last they brought venera-
BILE old man up the side. He was
dressed as a peasant, and his arms
were pinioned SO tight behind, that he
seemed to be suffering considerable
pain. As soon as they had all reached
the deck, the rabble gathered around
him, some curslng, others buffeting,
and one wretch, unmindful of his gray
hairs, spa. upon him. This was too
much to see and net speak about
The man was their prisoner and was
secure. The very nature of his situa.
ton should have been sufficient protec.
ton, SO l gave the unmannerly fellow a
tap with this lItlle fist, (holding up
hand like sledge hammer,) and sen,
MIN flying into the boat again without
the aid OF rope. well done, Jack
exclaimed a young midshipman, who
is now post-cap,ain, well done, | owe
you glass of grog for that, it was the
best somerset ever saw in my life
Thank you for your glass o'grog sir,
said l, you see I've made tlnbier
already And indeed, your honor, he
spun head over heels, heels over head,
aslonishingly clever. was brought
up to the quarterback for it, to be sure
because they said | had used the Uhy-
hit-arm,is, but soon convinced them
that had only used my fist, and the
young officer who saw the transaction
stood my friend. and SO | got off
Well, there stood the old man as firm
as the rock of Gibraltar, not single
feature betraying the anguish he must
have felt. His face was turned away
from the quarterback. and his head was
uncovered in the presence Of his ene-
mics. The Neapolitans still kept up
an incessant din, which brought the
first lieutenant to the gangway; he ad-
vanced behind the prisoner, and push
ing aside the abusive rabble, swore at
them pretty fiercely for their inhuman-
i'y, although at the same time Selling
the old man roughly, he brough. him
in his front.
"What traitor have we here :" ex-
claimed the lieutenant; but checking
himself on viewing the mild coun,en-
ance of the prisoner, he gazed more in.
ten.ly upon him. Eth. not surely
cannot be-and we. it is" his hat was
Instantly removed with every token Of
respect as he continued--''it is the
Prince"
"The old man with calm dignity
bowed his hoary head to the sailors,
and at this moment Nelson himself,
who had been disturbed by the shout
ing Of the csptors. came from his cabin
to the deck. He advanced quickly to
the scene, and called out in his hasty