Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-13

The ship Harvey Birch, destroyed by the
Nashville off the coast of England on the
18th OF October, was fine American built
ship of 1900 tons. When brought to by she
Nashville, her Captain, Nelson, was ordered
with his crew by Capt. Pegram of the com
federate steamer to come on board his vessel.
as be intended to burn the Harvey Birch
The men were allowed an hour or an hour
and half for this purpose, and got part of
their things out. The men from the steamer
TOOK most of the provisions, with the ships
chronometer, barometer, and some of the
charts, permitting Capt. Nelson to retain
his own chronometer, but he lost $1,000 OF
$l400 worth of personal effects, books charts,
&c. They then set fire to the ship fore and
aft, apparently in the deck houses, and the
vessel was soon in flames from stem to stern
The men were put IN irons on board the
steamer with the exception of the captain
and mate, who were treated with great po-
htsness,) and kept as prisoners until the ar
rival of the vessel at Southampton, when
10y were immediately landed in the docks,
and cot at liberty With their personal effects
On leaving the Nashville Capt. Pegram
old Ospt. Nelson that he hoped they would
not part bad friends. for what had been done
was . simple act of retaliation on the North
ern States for invading their territories, burn
ing their houses, Ill treating their women,
and stealing their negroes; and they were
bound to retaliate on the property of the
North IN every way they could.
Col. Peyton. an agent OF the Southern
Copfederacy, and hn wife, were on board the
Nashville.
Tie captain stated that the Nashville had
but in to have her top deck taken off and TO
be fitted out as vessel of war The arrival
of the vessel there. under the circumstances,
and her landing prisoners of war, as they
are called, was looked upon by many as
direct infrastisn of the Queen s proclamation
of neutrality.
Of the general excitement in England in
respect to the Nashville, letter from Lon
don to the New York Times says
1.-THE town has not yet recovered FROM the |
hook this event has caused, and is waiting |
with great anxiety to see its results. No |
One doubts that unless the British govern |
tnept acts m an honorable and straightfor- |
ward manner, there will be an immediate |
rupture. Ii is seldom that great battles, |
where the destinIes of nations were decided, |
have caused more excitement or more alarm |
among the phlegmafic people OF this city
than the arrival OF this wretched two gun, |
halfmsnned pirate. 1t is the subject OF
discussion In every counting house, in every |
hotel, on Change, and even among the few |
fashionable patrons, who, unable to follow |
the hounds, still populate the billiard rooms
Of the Travellers ard the conservative clubs.
Public opinion has not yet bad time to s-ttle |
upop q course, and it rs PLAIN that it is wal
ting for the direction which government
viii give to its current. The press gives !
out only hollow murmurs, not daring as yet
to grapple with the baroness OF the evil.
Americans seem to take the affair with GER
tain sort of GOODNESS, and not without plea
sure. There SENS to be no sort OF doubt
islt - 10 the nature of the question which
most % soon be decided, nor dc the minis
~ seem " be at all blind to the dangers
which they must now look square in the
iaee, beyond eli hope OF lodging or winkiDg
1t. No doubt those are right who say that
the refusal Of redress on their part, would be
followed BY an immediate suspension of d.
plomatic relations on ours, and that by the
departure Of the ministers from London ami
washington 1t the earliest moment possible
;oe tos news 70 reach home and return.
= NV ,of many reasoos do not believe that
- e.AH VIII como to this point :"