Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-11

Il
The Promctheus Fired int ~ an
English Brig Of War.
The following imporsans letter. in the
New York papers speaks for ftsef:-
SANJUAN, Nov. 81, 1851.
To lie EdiEor.-GENTLEMEN or
der to correct any mistatements that
may be made ofthe circumstance Of the
English Brig of War Express. firing into
the Prometheus, beg of you to give the
following statement an insertion in your
paper.
At2 p. NJ went to my ship under
weigh proceed to sea, having but just
received the last of our passengers from
the Pacific steamer, including in all about
500 At this moment the city authorities
Of Greyiown,, constituted as they stated
by the authority Of the Mosquito King.
came on board the ship with police force.
and served process Of attachment on the
ship end myself, for the amount ofS123.
claimed by the Authorities for present and
arrearage Port dues, charged the ship
which we supposed to be illegally de-
mnnded. and had consequently refused to
paw them as did in the present instance.
The port dues are made up fro N the
night ofthe anchorage in the Harbor, by
the Captain Of the Ports, Fees and Pilot.
age.
hove up my anchor and dropped down
the harbor with the current; having along
side one of the river steamers, receiving
from her the baggage ofthe passengers.
The English brig of war lying shor.
distance from us, Immediately got under
weigh, made sail for us, and when within
quarter ola mile from us, fired a round
shot over the forecastle, not clearing the
wheel honse over 10 feet,--in few min
utes another shot was fred, which passed
over the stern so near that the force Of the
ball was distinctly felt by several Of the
passengers. l sent boat on board the
brig TO enquire the cause Of their firing IN
TO us. The Captain stated that it was to
protect the authorities at Greytown, in
their demands. and if we did not immedi-
ate1y anchor he would FIRE bomb shell
into US, and ordered his guns to be loaded
with grape and canister shot; at the same
time our small steamer left US, and l pro
ceeded under steam back to an anchorage
and1 anchored.
The brig stood up the harbor and an
chored very near us-sent boat on board
of us with orders that our fires should be
put out, and an officer would be sent on
board to see that the fires were extinguish-
ed The authorizes then came On board,
and under the circumstances of the case
the amount demanded was paid under pro-
test. and we were permitted to proceed to
sea by the Captain of the brig.
Respectfully; your obedient servant.
HENRY CHURCHILL.
Captain steamship Prometheus.
The first time that Mr.. Webster's eyes
fell upon the Constitution of the United
States, of which he is now universally ac-
knowledged to be the Chief Erpouxder
and Defender, it was printed upon cot
ton pocket handkerchief. according to a
fashion of the time, which he CHANGED to
stumble uponin country store, and for
which he paid, out Of his own pocket, all
the money he had-tweenty FIVE cents ;and
the evening ofthe day on which he thus OBJ
tanned copy was wholly devoted to its
close and attentive perusal, while seated
before blazing fire. and by the side of his
father and mother. What dreamer on that
night, in the widest flights of his imagina-
ton, could have seen the result of that incl
dent. or marked out the future career of
that New Hampshire boy 7
When Mr.. Webster was about seven
years old his father kept house Of pub
lie entertainment, where the teamsters, who
travelled on the road, were in the habitof
obtaining a dinner and feeding their hor-
ses /; and it is said that the incipient orator
and statesman frequently entertained his
fathers guests by reading aloud out of the
Psalms ofDavid, to the infinite delight of
his rustic listeners. Indeed, it was custo.
mary for the teamsters to remark, as they
pulled up their horses before the Web
ster house, "Come, let's go in and hear
psalm from Dan Webster Even at that
time his voice was deep, rich, and mu-
steal.