Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-01-14
From the Phaiel pha Saturday Courier.
THE KENNEBE &C SLOOP AND ENGLISH
CRUISERS.
BY J. II. I.GRAlrAN.

l
rival in New England, either for It's historic asso-
ciaiions or tho boauty of its natural scenery. 1t
rises among the passes of tho highlands that form
tho northeast boundary between tho United
Sta,os and C1nlda, and after flowing through
romantic region for many leagues enters valley
OF SURPRISING beauty, through which it mca nders
between level In.orvales Of the richest verdare.
The wator, Of the river rosnarlab bic for thor
ilmpd transparency, wliIio in body their APP
penrance is nearly black. Tho hills that rse on
either shore b Id and molly wo7dcd and
/ here and There frown above tho silently gliding
wave, dark granite prcclplces, clad with moss
and the graceful wranths Of the mountain vines
! whose beauty is cvcr-vcrdant. Falls and RI pids
characterized by widnoss and oven sublimitv, at
intervals break the dark rolling tide of this beau-
tifu river, and with their roar awaken the
echoes OF the forcst-clad hills
Numerous pictlrc5auo villages adorn ia banks
and substantial farm-houses, with up'ands and
low!anls shining with godcn gram. meet the eve
at every league. The capital Of tho State, Au-
gusta, stands upon fine tab,o or plateau. seven
tv feet above tho river, in the bottom Of cnbrn
cling hills and commanding some of tho lowell
est scenery IN the north. lis waters cnlivcn-
cd by tho canvass Of thriving commerce, and It's
outrageous streets Of villas indicate population
of wealth aud refined taste.
/ Below the capital tho river lavcs the shores Of
other far towns, rivals IN prosperity of the CAPT
tai, ana reflects rpon its CLASSY bosom from either
!
the sea 1t leaps all At from deep gorge, IN
whose rocky arms II has boon for some minutes
conlineJ and spreads out into n noio bav, lorguc
IN breadth At tho SO ithern side of this broad
cXpanso II enters another narrow pass between
rocky iscts, and sweeping along few moro miles
further, with stately motion, passing the hand
some town OF Bath, it rolls between oiden-time
torrcsscs, to discharge It's shining waters drown
! into the blue ocean.
1t Is in the vicinity of Bath, and ono of these
fortrcsscs at the mouth of the river, that We lay
the scene OF our story. IL We have fingered to
discourse Of Inc fair kcnncbec, it is because our
heart Is with this beautiful river. Upon its banks
! We spent our boyhood, and in maturcr ago VIC
have chosen II as summer home. Wo love
lis dark waters, It's green wooded bills. its smiling
valleys and lis rocky cliffs. In no land have we
| found river of such surprising beauty! The
Hudson IL mn Ics.lc and grandly beautiful in its
features; tho hennebec is the IIu lson in minia-
turc; and if tho tasteful traveller will como and
visit l; IN the spring and summer time, when the
sun IS bright and the wiids STILL he will gaze
upon It's pleasant shores and bcautcous winnings
with scarce less pleasure, than he has felt when
passing up the Hudson.
| There IS Il fortress near the mouth of this river
just tho skirts oftho soa. called For, Hume
well. 1t is now disnantIcd, and is celebrated
resort in July weather for tho kenncbcckcrs. 1t
was erected during the last 10 defend the en-
trance 20 tho rvor. /, is situated upon low
bench. which. half Il mile northward, is comman-
I dcd BIZ n bol hcadiand Il hundred feet IN height.
on which also frown tho ruins Of n battery. The
: scenery around Is mrde up of rocky islands, bold
hoadlands. the river penei rating far inland, tho
| ocean spreading lis bosom away south and east
I wardlv. over and forever hanvng. $ if it were
I tho ear,h's great heart! \ few Gslcrmcn's huts
dot the sides Of tho shores. anl the tower of the
Seyuin light house g'itters white upon tho head of
tho porpoisc-shapcd island. The fishers slli
rocks lightly on tho son, anl upon the hazy hor.
n two II ! sfnn hat hov m
fixed like shining plnnaces of white marble lift
ing their tops above the placid bosom Of the
ocean.
At tho period of our story. which noar tho
close of the last war. two BRUSH armed vessels
had been cruising off tho mouth of tho river for
somc days. occasionally running close in with the
fort so as TO draw its fire and then lacking and
standing soaward again. Gao of these vessels
was slonp of war, and the other brig of six
teen guns. They were effec tua!ly blockadlng
tho rivor, and for soma time vessel had either
como out gonc in. Every thing brought
to. even the small fishing boat, and tho strlc:est
vigilance maintained from tho very first day
of their arrival on the coast.
Ono morning in June. Just $ tho sun ri
sing from tho sea, fnging his fiery spears far i
cross Tho sparkling waves. kindiinG up OBJ
jet upon which they lit. the English vessels
| were seen standing in towards the mouth Of the
river under top-gnllant sails with the wind free
i on tho starbo1rd quarter They were abou. 4
\ half mile apart. their courses convcrgng to 4
point. This point was small ke1nebec stoop.
hucginG close TO tho land. and cndeavoring To
make the entrance of the kcnncboc. Her broad
nlain-sail was flung TO the wind like great white
wing. and she sweeping along across tho wat
or like gull flying before q storm. She Ind
been discovered by the cruisers only few min
utes before. when they tackled together and Press
ed after her TO intercept her. making sail they
went. Fifteen minutes more of the obscuritv OF
morning. and tho adventurous sIoop would have
got into the river. and under the guns of the for
unsecn or seen too late TO be cut off.
|, was beautiful sight 70 behold tho three YES
, sis IN motion; one small. unnamed. and with bit
three sas to help her flight. bounding along close
under the land-the others tall. frownng with
batteries, and covered with canvass from deck L