Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30

are now anchored three miles within the capes.
The position they have taken is such as will rem
der an attack with the gun boats too
hazardous to be attempted. We are now
manning the gun boats; after they are manned
should tho British return to the roads. or
place themselves where they can be come at
without risking too much. 1 will have the
honor OF drawing the first blood. IL is NV
opinion that war is inevitable. Perhaps 1 think
80 because l wish ii, but it appears to me i'm
possible that those fellows would have dared to
have acted as they have unless authorized by
their government l do not think any event
but the French giving the Russians n sound
threshing will dispose the b. government
to make US reparation for the late indignity. In
fact, do not know what would be sufficient
repatriation. They cannot put heads and arms
on again. If We have a war, and can have
but a tolerable chance with them q despise
vaunting), you shall feel no humility in conse-
quence of your townsman's being opposed to
them. My friends may grieve at the issue,
but it shall be a proud grief, by God!
The Chesapeake will be ready for sea
In few days. God grant 1 may be ordered
out with carte blanche to sink, burn and
destroy. II 1 shall fail to do my duty, with
draw your friendship from me.
"Believe me TO be- with respect
Your friend, STEPHEN DECATUR, JR."
1t was Mr.. Clay who moved in the House.
to Decatur for burning the Philadelphia after
ner capture by the Tripolitans.
AHARDY SET.
HIS wlfes father was a sea captain, and from
MIN he had no doubt heard enough about mat
tiers on the deep to lead HIM to take some in
terest In what concerned our navy. Old Capt.
Ashmead had commanded the Continental
packets, Eagle and Mercury, and had various
nights with British vessels On one occasion,
while returning from st. Eustatia with a cargo
OF powder and instructions to run from every
thing. so that he might save the powder rather
than hurt anybody, he fought q British priva-
teer brig OF twelve guns for three days and four
nights. beating her off with a loss of eleven
men, and delivered his cargo to the American
army at Charleston when it had only six rounds
q man left.
They were hardy SET the sea captains Of
the old sailing vessel days. Mr.. Clay may him
self have had strain of the seaman in his
Clay, was lost at Sea while in command of the
ship Triumph. although only twenty nine
years old, in 17I6.
1t seems odd to read Of q Tunisian envoy at
the Presidents reception and of swords pre-
sented for fighting Tripolitans, but those north
African pirates were a reality, as many q poor
wretch had reason to know.
think cannot better close this article than
by quoting letter that incidentally mentions
these corsairs. This letter was addressed to Miss
Eliza Ashmead, Philadelphia, and was delivered
to my grandmother s sis ter, that being her name;
but the letter was not for her nor for her fam
lily, nor was it from any member OF her family.
Efforts were made here and in England to find
out the writer or the persons mentioned, but
without success and to this day nothing has
been discovered that throws any light on this
page of romance. 1t is as strange e. any fic-
ton.
ROMANTIC TALE.
elsie Of France, January 1, 1S02.-Af.er woes
almost innumerable am once more permitted
to inform you that I am in still in the land of
the living and in tolerable health. Indeed, my
dear sister, when l reflect on the manifold mis-
cries that have endured, L am astonished that
am now alive and feel grateful for the good
ness OF the Almighty-that God who regards
alike the king and the scavenger-that l still
exist. l have been nine different times on the
verge OF eternity since we parted. Never did 1
expect to have seen the light of another day.
but those days of despair are over and l will
try to forget them if possible.
by an old acquaintance whom met with at
Tranquebar, l mean Mr.. Tom Lavater, whom
perhaps you may remember when We lived at
Portsmouth, school fellow of mine, heard,
oh, grief of griefs, that mother loved better
than my own soul had died; it was supposed
my absence hastened her DAYS. Born down. as
L then was by sickness and accumulated dis
tress. it certainly would have killed me but for
you, my dear sister; your image stood con-
stantly by me. l saw you an orphan,
poor and distressed, though lovely and virtuous
AZ heeo oi protector ana prother. L
learned 19rther from him ;that Mr.. Danton,
the FRIEND OF our deceased father, had ad-
minls1ered 70 what little remained OF our
once ample patrlmony ana mad become
yoar guardian, whicn am extremely
giaa 10 heaf. ! place lmpncls confluence In
MN as a man Oh honor ana gentleman. AS TO
what interests myself am quite careless, both
as to prosperity and person. My feelings have
become callous through long and repeated suf-
ferings, but for you they are all alive. and may
eternal uamnaton lsht on the devoted head OF
any person VINO utpresuines to ln]ure you. my
uear LIZA, ana may heaven choicest blessings
be showered on the friends who protect you
anu are the friends OF the orphan.
II nave conceived, my dear glrl, on reflection.
that you are not SO badly OIL as at first sup
posed, as believe what Lavater informed me
lwho could have no motive for telling me
falsehoA3, who interested himself for mo at a
t .o Wi iay i"us uteuiHs Al Prisoh, chaineo
and vet il has been NV mi rortmna 70 he ai,,a,,,
deceived by the most consummate hvpocrisv of
those whom believed TO be my friends) that
Mr.. paaton nad TAKEN you into his family; that
n,ntnn - lro - p,iai'.lSI "ss anu anu young
Sta,sS 80 .1ar;o. 80 80. -. - sH0 oniteo
10 honaf;t ~ NJ " 6o.a'e.a tni.h anu tor
NJ n ;n,at ~ - tarln' - ne".n' anu tnas
aatt,a ~ I,,si. ~ T. Nv; % eoIu do ne couiu
Ihor. n;noomi 1ho,,.,t1 t.n,'sH. you' nnlcn
i naysr will 81 ,ha ;no1ansa d;s,o ".."to
D no0 ,.,,,as e., H. 49, - -sSo y. ne",
g., 80 -, -. 49,, y. ny nau,y anu
AAom sSu, 10y NOoa 6hh az q pA6ht VI ILLS MI