Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-24
THE GRAPssH0T AND PRIvATEERING STORY.

The report brought by the Europa that The barque
Grapeshot awhile ago freighed New York with mus
kets By Mr. George Law, had turned privateer under
Russian letters OF marque and had captured French
vessel eff the English cost, has naturally excited consid
cradle interest but the particulars which have come
to hand incline TO the belief that the whole story from
beginning to end, is fabricaou-or at least they show
satisfactorily that ii the American barque Grape
shot which bad captured French vessel in the channel
BY the following from the English papers it will be seen
that the barquc has turned to be Russian fgate
and that, too. mere phantom ship probably
Some excitement was occasioned on Monday LIST hy
the of sailor representing himself as CASTOR
Fonque second mate Of the French brig Jeune Vile de
Marseies, and who called Lloyds agent at ST. Ives
Cornwall with the report that he had ashore during
the previous night from Russian frgate which capt;r
ed his vessel He stated that the capture took place
leagues from Card F-that the gae first h,isted Eng
sh and then Russian coor that the captain and crew OF
the brig resisted TO the utmost overpowcred and
the captain and three killed He stated that he
had himself received coup de sabra 10 his right hand
which bound up, but the wound, from all appear
ances not OF such recent date. To account Tor his
getting shore he that of the euenants was
neigbo- of his although in the Russian service and
that boat despatched with him towards the coast
and when about six miles of he requested TO srip
and jump oTerboaId that he tied his clothes in his hand
kerchef bis back and that he had dried his clothes in
the sum- whose rays however had been at all fre
quent that day they bad marks OF having been wet.
g ed
TO have gone the channel and it is stated that the Adj
miraty Instantly sent two in search Of tie aeg
ed frigate
On the 5th the excitement was materially increased
by the publication in the London Herald Of the following
paragraph:
News has reached the Admiralty that nm American
clipper, the Grapeshot had captured French merchant
ship off the Lands End The Grspeshot cleared ont M
New York the 22d March for ST. Thomas with / sac
packages board prOfessedly of hardware but
containing muskeis, supposed to be bound to Finland
and falling deoarkatiUn, then for the Mede ranean-
This will explain the story Of Russian fgate in the
Channel"
On the 9th of May, however, the editor of the London
Shipping Gazette says, that GA inquiry the Admiralty
he informed that such report on the subject had
been received there and reliance placed upon the
statement Of the Morning Herald Of the same day
or course the New York city journals have oil more or
ess to say about the Of the Gspeshot
IN the English Channel The impression is general that
other vessel has been taken for the Grapesho for
as the Courier and Enquirer observes as this terrible
Grapashot was lying az the mouth OF the Mississippi river
at tile time she said TO have been 10 the English
Channel OF course no stronger abb could be desired
The Courier adds
But, for those who may think that nothing Is impos-
sble Tor the musket We vi" further say that the Grape.
shot IS small Eastern built bark Of about $50 bur
then, not constructed with any special regard TO strength
so that the discharge Of twelve FOUNDER her deck
would not be unattended with danger TO those board
Her fitness 10 cruise the icy Of Finland NAV be
judged when recall the fact that she was cut through
by the ice in rivers last winter and sank with cargo
OF breadsiufs on board. That voyage was Abandoned
and she has been purchased by Mr. Law and loaded
unoaded muskes, which bought through the agen.
cy Of Frenchman, for the Mexican government That
govcrnmeot has not been flush lately nor does is credit
stand high 10 any money market the world and for that
reason toe Of the GTapehot has been delivered
but remains in the gulph on CALL waiting for action in
Washington on the Gadsden treaty, its ratification
would have raised the credit Of Mexico to point which
would make it safe her with tho
danger Of their going of unpaid for The New York
agent for the purchase Of these has been
aged by the recent action Of the Senate the treaty
cargo.