The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-10-25

Alnwck Castle, Capt. Henderson, of seven hun
dred aud fifty tons, from Bristol, bound to the Isle
OF France, with cargo ofstores, pIovsiois, SC
of no use the crew Of privateer. The ship
mounted sixteen eighteen pound carronades, and
was manned by crew offorty men, all told The
guns were all doube.shotted with round aud grapes
and one broadside, well directed, would have
made fearful work with the 'Wanderer, and decd-
ed the contest against her ''.t3 7i
But Captain Henderson was accompanied by his
wife, youug and beautiful woman. to whom he
had been married but few short months. And
to this circumstance must be ascribed his reuc-
tance to engage in desperate contest with aves-
sci apparently well fitted for fighting, and evident
y his superior. With heavy heart he handed
the officer his papers, aud assisted his wife into the
boat, and with the greater part of the crew, they
were soon on board the Wanderer. The men
were placed in irons for greater security, andtem-
porarlly slowed away beneath the "quakers, I" in
the waist .f
Capt Wilcox soon ascertained by examining
the ships papers that he had captured prize of
little value. He could not spare men sufficient to
navigate her into an American port; her cargo con-
sisted bulky articles which could not be trans
ferred to the brig and he issued orders to take out
every man, with all their baggage, and set the ves
sci on fire. 1t was then that Capt Henderson ven-
tured to demonstrate in a gentlemanly manner
against such summary disposition of property, in
which he was directly interested, for he was part
owner OF the ship and cargo He suggested that
by burning the ship, his own ruin would be effec-
tually sealed, without any benefit to his captor;
and that by restoring the ship and cargo to the le-
gitimate propretors, Capt. Wilcox would perform
noble and magnanimous act, which would meet
the approval OF all good men, and which would be
in accordance with the dictates of benevolence
and justice.
This was view of the matter which was alto
getEer new to the generous hearted Yankee -
There was force in the reasoning Of the English
man, and his feelings responded 10 the arguments
set forth. He felt that it was little better than
piracy to set fire to aud destroy property belong
ing to private and deserving individuals, when far
away upon the ocean. But it is uncertain what
would have been the result had he not at that mo-
ment caught the eye of the beautiful aud accom-
plished Mrs. Henderson. She was sad--but charm
ing in her sadness; and addressed the captain in a
musical voice, which sounded to him, accustomed
for months to the gruf muttering of the sailors,
like the music of the spheres. He listened to her
attentively. while in eloquent language pleaded
the cause of her husband; and Capt Wilcox, who
with allsaiIor's gatry, adored lovely woman, was
in his turn completely yanquished He told her
to give herself no further apprehension; the ves-
sci asd cargo should be rest ored to her husband.
Such was the triumph Of beauty pleading III be-
half of humanity aud justice!
In the mean time the English sailors, who were
slowed away among the wooden guns, were indul-
ging in sundry philosophical remarks.
81 say, Ben" growed rougb-looklng tar,
with a voice like screech owl troubled with the
bronchitis "ust look the crack in this here gunr'
''Crack!" replied Ben, $50 there is. That gun
was never cast in foundry. 1t is made of a Gu
rions kind OF metal, and growed in the woods
''Aye," said adother of the crew, sand here is
one of the same kidney. Queer, kind of cannon
these Yankees use." t ....
"Cannon!" chimed ip the boatswan, sthe cam
non are all wooden ones. ~ This craft has not an
effective gun on board--all wood, all "quakers,' -
as sure as my names Timothy Twilight. Oh, we
have beea shameiuly humbugged by these rascal
ly Yankees Wheush!" and the boatswaln whs-
tied Lillibp lerpo 10 style that would have charm
ed "my uncle Toby" and astonished the corporal
This will be apretty story 10 tell in England"
resumed the boatswain .sThe ship AInwick Cas-
tie, of sixteen guns, taken and burnt by patry
Yankee merchant brig, armed with quakers, and
manned bya dozen green horns, just out of the
woods! And all this comes OF having woman
on board. They are at the bottom of all the mis-
chief that ever was hatched. For my part | hate
the sight of a-petticoat"
9f"Nor worse than every pretty girl hates the
sight of your bear-eyed. squab-nosed, wide mouth
ed, and hickory-barked phiz," replied with some
tartness, Jack Spendall, a young and handsome
sailor, with flowing locks, and bright black eye,
such as ladies love to look upon, "a pretty wo-
man is never out Of place, at sea or on shore, in
fair weather or foul7-and the man who grumbles
at tbreathng the same air with pretty woman is no
sailor, and deserves to be kicked to death by don.
keys.5a ee asr. II 4s.,.a
=, "That's true Jacl!" chimed in his gallant ship.
mates, and the boatswain was compelled to close
bis clamsbel. ,..,a..
Captain Wilcox went upon deck. with Mrs.
Henderson hanging upon his arm. He ordered
the crew aft "My lads" said he, ."you have he
haved nobly. We have captured this British
East Indiaman, Of heavy force, without firing
she isa lawful prize to the Wanderer
But we cannot man her and take her into an Amer
can port, and therefore the ship and her cargo
IRE Of no value to US, Her captain is the piinei-
pal owner of the vessel. He is q worthy man,
although an Englshmap-- the loss Of his yes
vel will accomplish bis ruin His wife, whom you
bofn vnu hos haan niaadinu al auuantly in