Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-11-05
INSTANTANEOUS SELECTIONS.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
an ADVENTURE DURING THE LAST WAR.

model was dcspatchcd from u poI' III Vow Eng
iond for the Eas, Indies, with full permission TO
.conturs. burn, sink, or destroy any vessels be-
,oooiou TO tho enemy, which might DO met with
:, tho outwa I'd or homewnrd bound passage 1t
,ns thought, however, that the injury which this
vessel would cause TO the British commerce, would
not be worry great, for she was far botor calcula-
tod for sailing than for f2h.ing-hcr whole arrna-
ment consisted Of only SIX twelve pound carron-
adcs while twenty five good seaman comprised III
hor effective crow. Nevertheless, the Wandorcr
nado IN imposing appearance on tho water. She
wns q long, black, ralish looking craf-hcaviiy
sparred, and ostentatiously exhibiting nino port
holes on each side. On tho high soas she would
DO easily mistaken by the enemy for on eighteen
gun brig, with all the customary means aud APP
purtenonccS.
The Wnndoror was commanded by Capt. Rich
ard Wilcox, Esq, man of great in,repldity and
resolution, and who possessed, among other char
ac,cris.ics Of thorough seaman, noble, gcncr-
Gus hoart.
On tho outward passage, Captain Wilcox fell
in with number of British armed vessels, and
was several times chased by their frgatos and
sloops Of war; from which no found little difficulty
in escaping. When no fell in with large MGR
chant ship, or a government vessel Of small size,
cithor Of which would have been than
match for tho Wandercr, with hor small arma-
mon, and complement Of mon, he would hoist tho
stars and stripes a, his trysail peak, and crowd
oil sail, Steering towards hor. with DRAG AsTERN
to rc,ard tho briggs way, and preclude the posi-
biIity Of getting within point blank shot-wliilo
in an agony Of fear, the onomy would claw off
with all possible despatch
Tho Wandcrer bound for China and rcacll-
cd Whampoa aftor short passage of one hun
dred and fifteen dnys. Sic succeeded in getting
into port. in spite Of tho British cruisers, which
at that timo stationed at convenient inter-
walls along tho whole southern coast of China, and
vhic led i'm mt nbor, of
uablo American ships, and preventing others from
leaving port. Her arrival caused quite
ton among tho English officers, and old Comno-
doro Trconai who arrived at Whampoa in tho
figato Salamandor, a few days afterwards, de-
clarcd. with knowing look, he gazed with on
admrins ego on tho fair proportions of the beau
sifu brig, that although Jonathan had fairly
wca,hcrod them by cntoring the port, yet no
would find it difficult matter to get out.
Captain Wilcox anchored his brig apart from
tho other vessels in the harbor, and took pains
conceal tho actual condition Of his armament and
crow. On shore, especially III tho presence Of
British officers. no talked largo. ard impressed
them with the IDEA that tho Wandorcr was n crack
priva,ccr of eighteen guns, and at least hun
drcd men. In tho moan time, no was secretly
purchasing his cargo of teas and Silks and by
way Of rocrca.ion, caused a dozon 'quakcrs,
wooden guns, to be manufactured on board, and
regularly mounted on carriages or slides. lIo
was thus bod on gala da vs. to show what up
pcarod TO be a formidable SC, of tooth although
the greater part of them wcrc false ones.
Ono day Commodore Trocnail, in a conversa-
ton with Captain Wilcox, cxr ressed n desire TO
90 on board tho Wandoror. Tho Yankee was
aware that tho Commodore merely wished to sat-
isfy himself Of tho efficiency OF his vessel, and
to form an opinion Of tho result Of any contest
that might take place between tho American brig
and one of tho English gun briggs then in those
NpyprthocsS ip,Iic Nv
manner any reluctance, Wilcox cordially invited
the British officer to honor the Wandorcr with his
presence tho noXt afternoon.
Captain Wilcox went Immediately on bon I'd tho
brig, had his 'Guakers' put in good trm-and
sooth TO say, they mado imposing appca rance
in their warlikc garb, and provided with tompkins,
aprons, brcechings. gun-tackles, and other trim
mings-cannon shot wero arranged conspicuously
IN racks about tho bulwarks-and sabrcs, pistols
and boarding pixies III great profusion, were
hbitcd in gallant array. Wilcox, who was sell
dom at loss for expcdicn,s, next considered how
no should make up for the occasion the deficiency
IN his crew, and finally applied TO tho few Amer
lean vessels in port. for the loan Of their crows
Tor day! This favor was readily granted
Tho Wandcrcr was soon manned by some eighty
or ninety as fno fellows ever knoited a reef
point or padoned an anchor--iwc had no chain
cablos those days)--and when Commodore
Trccnail camo on board in his barge, agrecaby
20 appointment and passed up tho accommodation
ladder and over the gang-way. and such a
crew. all neatly dressod at quarters. he promptly
decided i'll his own mind that tho Wandcrcr was
calculated TO do great deal of mischief. and
would make short work of any thing of less forco
than sloop Of war. He determined 10 tako his
measures accordingly.
Tho result cqualled the expectations of Capt.
Wilcox. who stood in as much fear of small
gun brig rs of n frgatc. but who was determined
to avoid contact with either. and trus. 10 the
nimbcncss OF his heels. if he could once &c, fair
~ out to soa An opportunity at length arrived.
furious squa set in during the night, Tho
wind blew in fierce and fi,ful gusts, aud the rain
foil in great abundance, and increased tho obscu
rliy Of tho atmosphere. Wilcox ordered tho ca
bic to be cut. and under roefcd fore,opsail and
ND. shot ike cornhin II. Of IN, Ri Of