The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-07-16

hrst shot nom the ViReeiO produced an in
Simultaneous effect on the chase her head
was thrown into the wind, and she appeared
at once resigned to her fate. Great, Of
course was the anxiety Of the captOrs to
learn her character, and comparatively keen
the modification which followed, when, in
reply to their hail, the words the Hercules
Of Boston, in the United States were
twanged across the water in unmistakable
Yankee tones. Here was lame and impo-
tent conclusion England was at peace
with the United States and if the charac-
| ter Of the stranger corresponded with her
hail, she would prove after all no prize
The eaptors. however, were Of course not
to be put off without examination and
boat was Immediately despatched from the
Hlaego to board, and see what could be
made of her. The officer who was sent
on board was received by the captain with
a good deal of bluster and swagger he
loudly asserted his rights as a neutral,
and threatened the vengeance Of Congress
if they should be infringed. His account
of himself was, that he had come out from
Boston with a cargo of 'notions,' which he
had traded away at LeghOTn ; and hnding
some difficulty in getting a return cargo, ne
had agreed with some invalid French OIL
GERS to take them home, and he was now
bound for the first port in France he could
make. This account appeared to be con-
irmed by his papers, and by the presence
on board Of several gaunt, sickly looking
| figures, who had all the appearance of 0e-
ing military invalids. There were no visi-
BILE signs Of any cargo and aIiRT
what cursory exaafnati0n, ne heutenant
returned to his ship, after telling the skip
per, more for the sake Of annoyance than
from any expectation Of its being realised,
that Captain Lone would certainly detain
him
This threat had the effect of determining
the Yankee skipper to proceed on board the
VtRcejO, and try his elOquence on the cap
tain; and in this expedition he was accom-
panied by some of his passengers. After
their several natures they asssiled Captain
Long the Yankee clustered and bullied I;
the Freuchmen were all suavity and polite
ness They were quite sure M. le Capt.
taine was much too generous TO take adVan-
tage Of the chance which had thrown them
into his hands--a few poor wounded and
disabled invalids on their way home The
English we're brave people, who do not
make war on invalids. What object could
be gained by making them prisoners As
suredly, NJ le Capitaine would not think
Of OBTAINING them. Captain Long was
sorely puzzled how to act Il must be
owned, that the circumstances were suspi
ciOus. Here was vessel Just come from
port in possession of the enemy-for the
French still occupied Leghorn-bound avow-
edly for the enemy's country, and with
enemies on board. Were not these grounds
enough to detain her? On the other hand,
the captains story might be true no ap-
pearance of any cargo had been discovered;
Captain Long doubted whether the pres
ence of the Frenchmen on board would be
sufficient to condemn the vessel and there
seemed something pitiful in making them
prisoners under such circumstances, even ii
the laws of war would have sanctioned it.
After some deliberstion, he took a middle
course, and announced that he should keep
the American ship by him till daylight,
! when, if his senior officer should be in
| sight, he should take her down to him, to
be dealt with as Captain Cockburn might
decide if, on the other hand, the MiReTee
should not be in sight, he would, on his
own responsibility, allow the Hercules to
proceed on her voyage. In the meantime,
both vessels should return towards the
point fixed on by Captain COckburn as a
rendezvous. And this he observed, ought
to satisfy all parties, as the Hercules would
be thereby brought nearer to her destination,
which was more than her captain deserved,
after the needless chase he had led the
| Vtncei0. This announcement seemed ex.
treuely unpalatable to the Yankee captain;
and from very energetic discussion which
| took place in under-tOnes between him and
| his passengers, it was evident they were
! dissuading him earnestly from some course
which he was bent on taking. This was
| pointed out to Captain Long as an addi-
lional Circumstance of suspicion, that there
was something wrong about the American
and he was strongly urged to detain her,
at all events, till he get the opinion Of Cap
tain Cockburn but he adhered to his de.
cisiOn. Ay, ay,' said he to the represen.
tations Of his first lieutenant its all very
= well for you gentlemen, You share in the
prize-money, but not in the responsibility
p Of our captures; thai rests upon me. And
as | really think there is no ground for de.
tanning the fellow, I'll not do more than !
have said
Morning came and with it's first dawn
many anxious eyes on board both vessels
were scanning the horizon in hope and fear.
) The vessels had made good much of the
distance they had run in the chase, and the
bold cliffs of the coast between Genoa and
Nice were distinctly visible from the mast
head to the north and west, but no MiaeyUe
greeted the searching gaze of the VincejO's
5 lookout. The frlgate was no where to be
seen. The first.lieutensnt of the VinceiC
having communicated this fact to Captain
Long, and made one more effort to prevail
on him to detain the Hercules, till they could
reoin their senior officer, was most reluc.
, family compelled to give the order for com.
municating to the captain Of that ship that
she was free. The American did not wait
for a second permission. Sail was made
with all speed and long before the ViaceiO
reached her rendezvous, her late prize vas
safe ia the harbor at Nice. When Captain
Long had reported 10 Captain Cockburn
what had taken place, the latter was by no
means disposed to approve of his junior q
. decision. He thought the circumstance ex-
tremely suspicious, and quite sufficient to
, have justified the detention of the Ameri.
can; and not being under the influence ol
the gaunt aspects and energetic pleadingt
of the Frenchmen, he was not inclined tC
, admit the weight Of their arguments. q
think, said he, you might as well have
brought her to me : dare say could hav,
made something of her. From the othe
captains of the squadron, too, Captain Ions
had to undergo much good-humoured rail
lery for his tender heartednPsS and Oulli