Litchfield enquirer., 1854-05-25
Mis;ce,ijapy.
Execution of Kidd the Pirate.


 On the 12th of May, one hundred and fifty three years ago. tie celtbrled pirate Kidd was hung in England fer the crime of murder. As sketch of the life of the pirate may be interesting at this lime. though not altogether new to our readers we make a few extracts in relation to him from Valentines History of tae City g New York;" ~ aefs4# "1he slave trade. being legitimate pursuit and followed as regular branch of foreign trade for many years, was ex> ceedingly profitable. lhoughs somewha, hnza' dous. owing to piratical adventures, who followed them into their remote tra, ding places, and often robbed them of their stores and money used in the pur- chase of the negroes. This practice be- came so great pest to the mercantile in. terests, that efforts were made by inf1uen. tial merchants of New York to induce the Enelis ministry 10 assist them in fitting out e uising vessel properly armed. 10 act against the pirates. Col. Robert Liv- ingston. of New York, an active and in> Auential citizen. brought this matter be-. fore the English government; and intro duced Captain William Kidd, of New York. as an efficient and we'll known conl> mander, whose fitness for such service was well understood in New York. He was man of family. and had resided in this city. for several years. It was pros posed to engage in this enterprise on the footing of a pr,vate adventure, although it was also desirable, for some purpose, that the scheme should receive the off cial countenance of the government. The King. Lold SomeIs, the Earl of Romney, the Duke of Shrewsbury. the Ea,lof OK ford. and Lord Bellamont, joined in ma king up the necessary expense of pro- per vessel; Col. Livingston also contri bulibga proportion. The profits were 10 be divided among the ownets of the ship allowing liberal share to Kidd. .1 "A commission was issued December II. 1895. under the great seal of Eng land, directed to the trusty and well- beloved Capt. William Kidd, commander cf ,he ship Adventure Galley He set sail from Plymouth, in Apiil, 1896, and arrived on the American coast, where he continued for some time, occasionally en- tering the ha, bor of New Yo,k k. and visit. ing his family in the city. He was con. s'dered useful in protecting our commerce for which he received much applause. and the assembly of the province voted him the sum fiwo hundred and fifty pounds as a complimentary yreturn for his servicss -s [. Soon after this beleft this vicinity for moie active operations onibe coast of Af- rica, and it was not long ere the astonnd. ing news arrived that Kidd had commen- ced the tiade which be had been enga- ped to tubyerl. and had committed sev. eral pilaeies. The report of these facts coming to the public knowledge in Eng land. the circums,ance was made sub ject cf'a violent attack upon the govern> ment by the soprosisioh party. and in tie excess of party zeal. it was alleged lha, the fhlng himself. and those concerhed in the expedition, were priyy to the pirati. cal adyeptnres and shaIeIs in, it's profits IhIs charge having some color of found- alton. ftOm tie actual circumstances ol the case.o made the gueslIon a subject ol state inquiry; and thus the name of Kidd though perhaps personally less obnoxious lo the Odious characteristics of his pFo- session than many others ip history. be-