The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-17
THE GREAT HoAxEE,


Deceiver or deceived, the "London Times" GER
tainy u.s. in the article which it dedcatcs to the fate
of the Missouri 1t is welcome to choose the alter
native it prefers. II is either grossly deceived ITSELF
or it is grossly deceiving others. There is no me-
dunn in the case. The facts are well established
by the practice of our own as well as Of other
vies that il is impossible to excuse itself from the
charge of gross creduIity gross imposturc.
We are willing to believe that the "London
Tines has been most ridculously hoaxed; and,
in this view Of the subject, have treated it, in
the preceding article Of our paper notable in
stance of imposition pracsed it, almost unworthy
of any serious reuaton. In this aspect of the case,
the great Times newspaper-the great paper Of the
world, as its poetcal or fancfu eulogsts would de-
nominate it--has committed complete JeIo de Sc;
and our office would simply be to drive stake
through its body, and then bury il on the Kings
highway. BUTT may be proper to treat the mat
ter more gravely, if such ridiculous charge does
not "exceed all gravity of face" and combat some
portions Of its statement which we have not already
exposed
The whole article of the 'sLondon Times" mani
tests the grossest ignorance Of facts. Il is mistaken
about the dimensions Of the Missouri-about the
number of her guns--about her shackles, most
shameessly mistaken--and about her destination.
II makes great mystery about the causes of her
conaag which is little to be attributed to
any moral retribution for the slave shackles
which she did not contain, to the incendia-
ry designs of her crew. The whole question
was investigated by the court-martial in the
case of her gallant Captain Newton; and the dsas-
ter was explained, not as work of moral retri-
button, or of any criminal conduct on the part of
her crew, but was explained upon the ordinary
laws Of nature. Accident produced her destruc-
tion-thc merest accident, without the slightest de-
sign mingling in its elements.
But the "London Times" falls into the grosscst
blunders in other respects. 1t completely misrepre-
sents the destination of the Missouri.
She bound nays this enlightened ourna to Alexan.
dria and thence China with the American plenipoten-
tary on board the Celestial court She touched Oh
braar and II said she to touch at England also;
and probably few other points Of interest In the circuit
Gus from Gibraltar 10 Pekin Humanity was prompt
Of eviiiasiion in the first stage Of her Doubtless
she designed to duse the elements Of social improve
ment wherever she touched the shore Nay was posi-
lively stated that such was part Of her mission stiff
mystery hung over her destination and over
H %hs sns In treaty with china when Sa British
lister has already included you in treaty purchased by
British for all the worldf As for the strange caastro
ground Of credit that the crew who
had burnt their vessel Anything more credible than the
purely marvellous.
The seTimes" then ADDS;
Our correspondent says the shackes presumed 10 be
intended for depot which the Americans said TO have
for their liberated slaves the African coast beyond Mog
sdor. and with which American merchantmen trade.
What will our readers think of the cautious sago-
city or the accredited authority OF this paragon of
newspapers, when they come to learn, from the
highest source in Washington, Ito which the "Lon-
don Times" processes to look for information) that
there is not single atom Of truth in all its
ingenious speculations. The Missouri was never
destined to China at all In fact why is the ''Lon-
don Times" SO absurd as to make her carry Mr.
Gushing to Alexandra, and there leave him, IL abe