The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25

| bchpeRrhco, you nave nothing TO rear iroh Sohheh
| spirits. But as for myself. they might hang me Tor
| being so different from you and them. Therefore,
propose to you to be my representative and n re-
Enumeration for your trouble win give You ten per cent
on my fee IL you bring 1t to me- Agreed said
GRTsEs. and departed. lie WAS treated with prineeD
hospitality by the Barbarian who insisted on his re-
naming whole week with them Finally he was con-
Quoted by tho LrrrEs themselves to the banks OF the
Mississippi in superb yawl loaded with boxes OF goia
and silver. II highly amusing TO hear GRrHEs re-
late how sorgeousiy fsnsted he at Baratnria by
these innocent and prosecuted people whom no repre-
sented the most glorious fellows in the world what
| acruel misnomorH ia he would exclasm WIN mock
solsmnity. to call the most honest and polished gen
| temen the world ever produced bandits aud pirates
The next and most creditable incident in
| LAFITTE's career is also strictly historical.
On Sept. 8. 1914. about q fortnight before
Commodore PATTERsoN's attack on Bara-
taria. the British brig Sophia anchored six
miles off shore and sent to LAF1TTE boat
under a flag of truce. Two naval Captains.
LoCKYER and MCW1LLIAMs. came ashore as
messengers from Col. NICHOLS, command
Ing the British army in Florida. and from
Sir w. II. PERCY. senior officer of the
British fleet in tho Gulf. Bringing
proper credentials and in the most re-
| sponsible way. the visitors informed
| LAF1TTE OF the proposed British opera
| tions in lower Louisiana. and OF the reen-
| forcements then on the way to assist in the
| invasion: and they invited LAFITrE to take
service with the English against the United
States. Offering him the rank OF Captain. and
agratuity OF $50, 900 payable either at Pensa-
cola or at New Orleans; also ample remuner-
alton and free pardon for previous offences
to any Barbarian following him into the
| British service.
LAFITTE temporized with his tempters.
but there is no reason to believe that for an
instant he thought Of accepting their propo-
sition. The outlaw at once addressed to
| the Hon. JOHN BLANQUE. a leading men,
Der of the Louisiana Legislature. and to
| Governor claiborne, two letters setting
| forth fully the British plans and the oner
| to himself These remarkable documents
| exhibit LAFrrTEs intelligence. his COM
mund OF the English language. and his
personal view of the degree OF guilt in
| volved in tho Barbarian enterprise. I
| may have evaded the payment OF duties TO
! the Custom House." he wrote to MIR.
! BLANQuE. bat hare nerer ceased to be
| good citizen. and all the offences 1have COM
mitted ,oas forced to by certain vices in Our
| ld,rs" To the Governor he said: 81 offer
| to restore to this State several citizens who
perhaps in your eyes have lost that sacred
| title. offer you them. however. such as
| you would wish to find them. ready to ex-
ert their utmost efforts in defence OF the
country The point Of Louisiana which l
occupy is Of great Importance in tho pres
ent crisis. l tender my services to defend
it: and the only reward ask Is that stop
be put to the prescription against me and
my adherents. am the stray sheep wish
ing to return to the sheepfold." With mag
unanimous delicacy LAFrTTE added: Should
your answer not be favorable to my ardent
desires. declare TO you that I will instantly
leave the country to avoid the imputation
Of having co6perated toward an invasion
on this point, which cannot fail to take
| place." The originals OF the letters Of Col.
NICHOLS and Sir w. H. PERCY are among
the records of the United States District
Court in New Orleans. where they were
afterward filed by LAFIrrE himself.
LOCKER waited fortnight for LAFITTE's
reply and then. mistrusting the intention
OF the pirates. withdrew from the neigh
borhood OF Barataria. Meanwhile. in New
Orleans, tho news OF the impending inva-
sion. as reported by LAFTTTE. had produced
great excitement. About two months earlier
the Grand Jury had found second
indictment against several members OF the
Barataria Association. man named
JOHANNES had been indicted for piracy in
the case Of the Spanish ship Santa captured
and robbed Of SIS, 900. A second Barbarian
who called himself JOHANNoT was charged
with piracy in the case Of another Spanish
ship captured Off Trinidad. with cargo
worth $50. 900. And JEAN LAFITTE's brother
PIERRE had been indicted as ladder
and abettor in these crimes before
and after the fact. who did upon land. to
wit, in the city Of New Orleans. wilfuly
and knowingly aid. assist, procure. counsel.
and advise the said piracies and robberies."
PIERRE LAFIrTE had been arrested, and.
bail having been refused In his case. was
then prisoner In the New Orleans Gala
boose. These proceedings indicated more
vigorous policy on the part OF the author
tiles as against Barataria. and JEAN La
FITTE had actually gone to the island to
prepare for the removal OF the establish
ment to some more secure place. Such
was the situation when the British officers
arrived with their tempting offer.
In New Orleans there was wide differ
ence OF opinion MS to the propriety OF ac-
cepting LAFrrTE's proposal to enter the
service OF tho United States. Gen. ANDREW
JACKSON issued one or two fiery proclama-
lions denouncing the British for counting
an alliance with pirates and robbers" and
referring to Mr.. LAFIrTE and his COM
panions as "hellish banditti." On the
other hand. strong influence was exerted by
many prominent citizens in favor OF the
Barbarian proposition. There is story
OF a personal interview between ANDREW
JACKSON and JEAN LAFTTTE, which re-
suited in an entire change OF opinion
on the Generals part concerning the
hcllish character OF the eminent out
law. What probably influenced JACKSON
more than anything else WAS tho
advice OF EDWARD LIVINGSTON. who had
already manifested his own readiness to
trust the LArrTrEs by committing to one
Of them the care OF the safety of his own
wife and child, in case OF the success OF the