Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-23


find readable passage, even in this nara.
tive of facts and observation. Perhaps,
Mr.. Editor, the one have marked will
please this class of your readers-parlicu-
larly as Capt. Wilkes said he did not believe
the story 1t is.from the third volume -
"One day, while at the observatory, on
one of the FecJee Islands l was greatly sur
prised at seeing one whom ] took to he a
enter my tent, a circumstance 50
with the respect 10 our prescrib-
ed limit, of winch have spoken. His col
our, however, struck me as lighter than that
of any native had yet seen. He was a
short wrnkled old man, but appeared TO pos.
sess great vigor and activity. He had a
beard that reached to his middle, and but
little hair, of reddish grew color, on his
head. He gave me no time for inquiry, but
at once addressed me in broad Irish, with
rich Milcsan brogue. In few minutes he
made ME acquainted with his story, which,
by his own account, was as follows.
His name was Paddy Connel, but the ma
tives called him Berry; he was born in the
county of Clare in Ireland had run away
from school when he was little fellow, and
after wandering about as vagabond, was
pressed into the army in the first lris! rebei.
lion. At the time the French landed in Ire
land, the regiment 10 Which he was attached
marched at once against the enemy, and soon
arrived on the field ofbatlle, where they were
brought TO the charge. The frs, thing he
knew or heard, the drums struck up White
n I. ,l,al.s
over and joined the French, with the excep-
ton of the officers, who had to fly. They
were then marched against the British, and
were soon defeated by Lord CORVALLIS: il
was hard fight, and Paddy found himself
among the slain. When he thought the battle
was over, and nigh, came on, he crawled off
and reached home. He was then taken up
and tried for his life, but was acquitted; he
was. however, remanded to prison, and bus
led himself in ellecting the escape of some of
his comrades. On this being discovered, he
was confined in the Black Hole, and soon
after sent to Cork, TO be put on board a con-
ship bound to New South Wales
When he arrived there, his name was not
found on the books Of the prisoners, conse-
quenlly he had been transported by mistake,
and was, therefore, set at liberty. He then
worked about for several years, and collected
a small sum of money, but unfortunately fell
into bad company, got drunk, and lost it ALL
Just about this time Captain Sartori. of the
ship General Wellesley, arrived at Sydney.
Having lost great part of his crew by sick
ness and desertion. he desired to procure
hands for his ship, which was still at Sandal
wood Bay, and obtained thirty.fve men, one
of whom was Paddy Connel. At the time
they were ready to depart, French priva-
teer, LIE Glormnt, Captain Dubardcu, put
into Sydney, when Captain Sartori engaged
passage for himself and his men to the
Feejees. On their way they touched at
Norfolk Island, where the ship struck, and
damaged her keel so much that they were
obliged to put into the Bay of Islands for
repairs. Paddy assets that difficulty had
occurred here between Captain Sartori and
his men about their provisions, which was
amicably settled. The Gloriant finally sail
ed from New Zealand for Tonga,aboo, where
they arrived just after the capture of a YES
sci, which he supposed to have been the Por'
an Prince, as they had obtained many arti-
Giles from the natives, which had evidently
f belonged to some large vessel. Here they
remained some months, and then sailed fol
Sandalwood Bay, where the men, on accoun
of their former quarrel with Captain Sartori
refused 10 60 on board the General Welles
r ley; some Of them shipped on board thu
Gloriant, and others, with Paddy, determin
ed To remain on shore with the natives. H.
added, that Captain Sartori was kind to HIM
and at parting had gwen him a pistol, cul
$ lass, and an old good-for nothing mnsket
: these, with his sea-chest and few clothes
we're all that he possessed. He had nov
lived forty years among these savages. Ate
, hearing his whole story, told him did no
, believe word of il; to which he answered
o that the main part of il was true. but h
d might have made some mistakes, as he ha
J, been SO much in the habit of lying TO tn
Feeieeans, that lie hardly now knew whe
he told the truth, adding tina, he had no dc
y sire to tell any thing but the truth.
. Paddy turned out 10 be very amusin
N fellow, and possessed an accurate knowledg
: of The Feejee character. Some of the white
e told me that he was more than half Feejee
=, indeed he seemed to delight IN showing no
nearly he was allied 10 them in feeling an
~ propensi,ies and, like them, seemed 10 f
III his attention upon iraes. He gave me
is droll account of his daily employment
ID which it would be inappropriate to give her
u, and finished by telling me the only wish !
:. had then, was 10 get for his little boy, @
u whom he doa,ed, a small Ratchet, and Il
rs only articles he had TO offer Tor it we're fe
Of old hens. On my asking him If he did n
l. cultivate the ground, he said at once no,
of found il much easier to get his living by tel
= ing the Feejeeans stories, which he cou
Nc always make good enough for them; lhes
or and the care of his two little boys, and h
ID hens, and his pigs, when he had any, ga,
n. him ample employment and plenty of foo
He had lived much at Rewa, and until late
had been resident at Levuka, but had.
'g consequence Of his inlrgues, been expell'
ii. by the white residents, to the island Of An
e. batiki 1t appeared that they had unar
!. mously come to the conclusion that if he d
>" not remove, they would be obliged 10 pu. hi
as 10 death for their own safety. l could n
10 induce Whippy or Tom TO give me the Ct
be cunstances that occasioned this determin
q, ton, and Paddy would not communica
more than that his residence on Ambat
" was forced one, and that il was as thou
Is' he was living out of the world, rearing phi
o. fowls, and children. OF the last descripii
si sflive.slock he had for'y-eigh', and hoP