The New York herald., 1851-12-04

The volumes (two small octave ones) had been
the possession of the historian Gibbon.
CAPTAIN KIDD.
Judge CAMPBELL read one Of the papers Of the eve
ming, which very interesting account, co npile
from Authentic sources, of the renowned Captai
Kidd, and tended to throw what will, no doubt, +
the msjority OF our readers, be new light on tn
rubject There were, the learned Judge said, tw
names which were known all over the world, wher
ever the English language Yves spoken, and hat
been the theme Of innumerable ballads and nursery
rhymes; yet, strange to say, nothing Of the bu
their names were known to the masses. He allud
ed TO Robin Hood and Captain Kidd, who fourished
. freebooter on the land, and the other on the
water. OF Robin very little was known. The
place Of his burial was still preserved in almost the
sane wild state in the days when Sherwood forest
rssounded with the notes Of his bugle, and rang
With the shouts of his "merry men all" This
sepulchre was in the neighborhood of Hudders-
field, and near the ruins of the priory which the
bold outlaw had sought as sanctuary, and whore
he died. He was claimant to the proud Earldom
Of Huntingdon, and the following inscription has
tter carefully preserved;-
Underneath this little stone
Lee Robert, Earl Of Huntingdon;
And p,opl. calie him aRS6ln Hood
Sueh srchers as he and his men
England will never see again.
Died October, 1853" t-
He had laid In this grave more than four centuries
early part of the reign of William and Mary.
Kidd had always, from his earliest years, followed
the profession OF the sea had been naval officer
prior 70 the year l69l when he had married in this
country, and commanded a N erchant ship, belong
ing 70 Mr. Robert Livingston, and was in high re-
Ju.aton and esteem. resolution was passed 1lth
April, 1891, commenting him for services rendered
:ke public, and the Council awarded him herfor
the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds on the l4th
May following. About lG95 the ocean had become
covered with pirates, and the subject obtained, as
j: demanded, serious consideration by the govern
ntnt in England; but ell their available ships
being employe in the war, the only thing that they
conld suggest was private expedition. Kidd was
at this time in London, and it was said he would
lave had the command, if a government expedition
we're fitted out.
Judge CAMPBELL then referred to n very rare
pamphlet which he held in his hand, published in
l70l, and entitled "a Vindication Of the Earl Of
Belmont, sc" II was anonymous, but the author
Irefessed 10 derive all his information from the
Earl, aud there good reasons to suppose il
emanated from the Earls own pen. BY this ii ap-
Governor Of the Province Of New England. II Vas
because he considered him staunch and determined,
and man well fitted to suppress the pernicious
system ofplracy carried on then to frightful ex-
tent ard with impunity on those shores; On the
Earl Of Belmont coming out, Col Livingston
sought him, and had an Interview, in which he
told him be had lked with Kidd, ia whom he ex-
pressed great confidence, and who had said. that
with good ship Of thirty guns, and about one hun
dred and fifty men, he could capture most of the
pirates be knew many that had been out rowing,
and many that were going, and that, though there
Colonel Livingston) proposed that, il the govern
ment would commission Kidd, and provide him a
thip, they Livingston and kidd) would pay
Eth Of the expenses. The Earl OF Belmont sub
mi.,ed all this to the government, who could not
pSeea ship at his disposal and he afterw ards, with
other noblemen (Lords Romney, Halifax,
Orford, and others,) contributed the funds, and
entered into articles with Kidd and Livingston.
All this was done with the sanction Of govern.
ment, With whom the Earl communicated, and
those articles (not set out In tn, pamphleD were
fled In the state Paper Once, whence the Hon.
Judge had obtained copy, which he read, toge-
ther with those Of the bonds given,
They bear date Oct. TO- 1896, and in pursuance
tthem commission "a copy Of which was also
dated llth Dec. following, authorizng Kidd, as a
Iriysteer, to take all French cruisers and the
Kings enemies, &c and ship called the Adven-
ture Galley was provided. The King himself ex-
pressed his appreciation Of the expedition and,
PROMISING TO contribute c3 900, reserved certain
thars Of the expected prizes to himself, prin-
clIaily 70 show that be was partner. He after
wards excused himself, however, from advancing
The money: Thus armed with extensive powers,
Aldd sailed from London in April, 1875, and came
70 New ork, where he remained for time, in
oreated the number Of his crew, and sailed for the
indian Ocean and other parts IL was known, at
TINS time, that spain was receiving large amounts
oi treasure from American and West Indian pos.
sessions ard Kidd captured one-the Cufiad
Merchant, sailing, as alleged, under French pass,
ana carrying large amount. The Adventure
Galley, having from some cause be,ome dis
transferred Cuida1
Merchant, and, in the latter, Kidd continued his
erure IL this ship. SUPP 0sed to have been sunk up
the Hudson river, that the searches have 30 often
teen made for.
Runners now became rife that Kidd had turned
pirate, and the East India Company represented to
government that some Moorish ships having
been taken, ihey feared rePrsss would be made on
ther Orders were thereupon sent 90 all colonial
SoveTnors, and Others, to seize bidd, IL possible
At THE Junctufe, one Emmet waited on the tsrl Of
Belmont, and told him If be could oome in safety
ms nEr ~ IA linn y
was close at hand Is sloop, having lef the Cuidad
Merchant in a creek in Hspanicla The Earl pua-
ran.eed safety il his innocence should appear sss
factory. and upon this understsx ding he landed in
y ston lst June. l6A. Tho writsr OF the pamphlet
etstes that The Earl having, from the eenius. Of
kiad and Livingston, season 70 doubt their gooi
faith and acting al thsough with the concurrence
Of she Council in all thicgs, including the disposi-
ton Of the treasure brought In, 10 the amsunt Of
$1,000, caused Kidd to be seized on the 9th day Of
Juse and he was afterwards sent 10 England, whore
nc arrived ast three years after he had sailed
proudly. In the meantime, Halifax Sgmmers and
others had been ipesched, and the prncip article
against them was che granting Of that conmission.
Afer the exhibition of the articles Of impeachment.
and before the trials in tho HsEse Of Lords whore
us Weh known those n0blcmen were quilted,
MAJ vas b-ought TO trial ct tue Old Bailey, London,
m gn charges q piracy aad murder. in May, 1901.
ihe n amer in which that trial was conducted.
ahl al me attendant circumstances and excite
heht' thowsd pretty clearly there was something
% moe moved than the mere trial of a common
Esft - s.ts,V Veh os littie uOuot that tbe re.
SUI Wss sought % Influence the approaching
one 10 The House Of Peers. Captain Kidd was moi
allowed any counsel, and defended himself with
mucn ssll and aoility The particulars are ali set
cut with minuteness The charge of murder he
justified as an at Of efdefence and hat ~ nraT
on The ground, that II the ships we're Spansb tbeo
were sailing under the protection Of French pasSes
and we're therefore, lawful prizes land If So tbsy
undoubtedly were) He was unable TO produce
hose passes on bis Trial. having delivered Them 10
the Earl Of Belmont. He produoed several wit
ntsses, many Of them naval officers, TO prove the
honorable nature Of his previous character; and
there was little question that be was condemned.
not for being in bad company, but ia very distn.
rushed company II spited the interest Of the