Constitutional Whig. [volume], September 06, 1825, Image 1

About Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832

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- ' IIHMOUBAGV-Till; CONSTITUTION-STATU RIGHTS. ^
.Iu,NI.T.- RICHMOND. V]|nHMA.-|TH:sl}AyrSKI-rr.MIH.irs ISAS TOI H-HO M
. # . , ..iwtcc a
amt bridaps,., at /he dollars tar annum,
put/nhie in adi nnc
I -* Previous to a tti- 'o ilintutnci of the paper, all ar
c.iraps rau-; he paid no. And those u-.ho may uis/i to
“V ' ‘‘"4<**’» lA« Editors to that eject, at least
•• n.ty.ta yi before .*■> period rxpircs for which they sub
sc rived.
. ^ ' ‘ a IceriisirtT- 7 < rents a square Corliss') far the
hi si in.,, rt:-m, uni .00 emit f,,r inch cont I nuance.—T/rc
number of insertions mast be noted on the Mb', otherwise
i’icy will bm. continued und rhnrye,t iiccurif ino/i/.
. Idrrr!iseuienl: from the country to be. paid for in
advance, or assumed !>y \o;nr. : sponsible individual in this
place nr Manchester.
I ' .111 letters hr the Editors must be post-paid,or they
mill receive, no attention.
The4si’iiv Dkpaiitjik.vt, >
March 11, 18*25. \
V%jr::v.neas, on the .Id of March, 1825, a law was
▼ V passed by tbo Congress of the United States, of
• • .lieu me 3d, lib, am! 5i!i sections are in the words follow
ng, viz:
•“Sec. 3. And he it further enacted, That a subscription
•o tbe amount of twelve millions of dollars, of the six pur
cent, stock of the year eighteen hundred and thirteen, he,
•in<i t ic .same is hereby, proposed; lor which purpose books
'•’ail be opened at tiie Treasury of the United States, and
. ; the several loan offices, on the first day of April nest,
to continue open until the first day of October thereafter, for
•ich parts of the above mentioned description of stock ns
shall, on lire day of subscription, stand on the books of tlie
l’rcasury, and on those of the several loan offices, respec
tively; which subscription shall bo effected by a transfer to j
the United States, in the manner provided by law for
such transfers, ol the credit or credits standing on the said
books, and by a surrender of the certificates of the stock so
subscribed : I’rovided, That nil subscription by such trans
fer of stock shall he considered as part of the said twelve
millions of dollars authorized to be borrowed by the first
section of this act.
•‘.Sec. 4. Atid be it further enacted, That, for the whole
• * t any part of any sum which shall lie thus subscribed,
•' * iils shall be entered to the respective subscribers, who
shall i;o entitled to a certificate or certificates purporting
that the United States owe to the holder or holders thereof,
ids, her, or their assigns, it sum to be expressed therein, ;
•pual to tin* amount of the principal *.tnck thus subscribed, !
bearing an interest not exceeding four and one half per !
centum per annum, payable quarterly, from the thirty- :
first .lay ol December, one thousand eight hundred ami !
twenty-live; tran feriable iu the same manner as is provi- |
■ it'ii by law for the transfer of the stock subscribed, and suh
• t t > redemption at the pleasure of ttic United States, as
fallows: <uu: half at any time after the thirty-first day of
December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight;
«»d the remainder at any tune alter the thirty-fust day of
December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine:
I'rovided, That no reimbursement shall he made except for
'.u w uoic .imiicut oi siicii new certificate; nor until alter,
..C It ist six months public notice of such intended reim- \
burseincnt. And it shall La the duly of the Sectetary ol ;
:.!<■? Tieasury to causa to be retransferred to the respective j
Mitisciincrs the several sums by them subscribed beyond the :
■ uiount ol the certificates of four and one naif per cent. !
lock i-iued to tiiem respectively.
“Si:c. 5. Ai.J Ac it further titncUd, That the same j
• nds v hich have heretofore been, and now are,
- y i-lw Dir tnc payjp?nv 91interest, and for tire redemp
* inn a.i l reimbursement of tin.- stock which may he re
. mod oi reimbursed by virtue of the provisions of this act.
na it remain pledged in like manner for the payment of the
• rest accruing on the stock created by reason of such j
, ifiscriptinn, and for the redeir.ptidn or reimbursement ol
the principal of the same. And it shall he the duty of the
commissioners of the sinking fund to cause to he applied \
••ml paid, out of the said fund, yearly and every year, such
?um and sums as may he annually required to discharge
the interest accruing on the stock which may he created by j
virtue of this act. The said commissioners are, also, hereby
authorized to apply, from time to time, such sum and sum-;
»ut of the said fund, as they may think proper, towards re
deeming, by purchase, or by reimbursement, in conformity
with the provisions of this act, tho principal of the said
-rock; and such part of the annual stun of ten millions of
,'nllars, vested by law in the said commissioners, as may be
necessary and required for the above purposes, shall be
uni continue appropriated to the payment of interest and
. cricmplion of the public debt, until the whole of the stock
which may bo created under ihe provisions ol this act.
shall have been redeemed or reimbursed."
Now, therefore, notice is hereby given, that books will be
spened at the Treasury of the. United Slates, and at the
several loan offices, on the first day c.f April next, and con
tinue open mu il the first day of October thereafter, for re
civing subscriptions in conformity w ith the provisions of the
said law.
The subscriptions may be made liy the proprietors of the
stock, either in person or by their Attorneys duly authoriz
'd to subscribe and transfer it to the T nited States.
Should subscriptions of said stock be made to an amount
•receding twelve .millions of dollars, a distribution of the
said sum of twelve millions will bo made among the sub
scribers, in proportion to the sums subscribed by them res
pectively.
SAMUEL I.. SOUTH All 1),
Acting Secretary of the Treasury.
March *22 * 5.rii
THE SEVENTH Cl.ASS OF THE
ftinillHCO CelWAi
LOTTERY OF VIRGINIA,
To be Drawn on the ‘2d day of November, 1823, and
finished in a few minutes.
JLB.Cm23AX.23) B/X’XXffTTTRE. .Manager.
HIGHEST FP.TZF.
20 000 DOIsKlk'Rm
SCHEME.
1 Pri/.o of <20,000 is <2/5.000
? do 10,000 10,000
do 5,000 10,000
2 do 2,050 5,012
12 do 1,000 12,000
22 do 500 6,000
.10 do 100 3,000
*C'i do r>n 0,400
tea do 25 4,200
t ,341 do 12 10,120
.1,340 do 6 00,010
i3,000 Prizes, £103,600
10,056 Blanks.
32.736 Tickets, - - - £103,000
j^’Tickets nn l Shares may l*«u had at tli«
* /ttbrf ’r: basic Hotel, Richmond,at thefdlou ing j>, >cr. c*t.
VVhole Tickets, £ 6 00
Half do 3 00
(Quarter do 1 50
iV kages of eleven tickcls, embracing the 33 Nos.
,f the Lottery, which must of necessity draw at least
£25 50, nett,’ with so many chances for capitals, or
rjtr-ires of packages, maj Ik* had at the same rate.
Prizes in the Lotteries of New York, New-Jerscy,
•Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Norlh
i' aroliua and Washington City, w ill be received in pay
ment.
Orders enclosing the cash, or prizes, as above, free o!
.-osta^e, fijr tickct> or shares, will receive prompt at
tention, if addressed to
M’INTYKE, Richmond. hi.
JOB FEINTING.
ORDERS Yor Piloting JOBS, of every description, te
criveil nt ihe On»r<» of the CoSSTITCTKtNAL V\ Hl<
corrrrily executed, will* the utmost dispatch, in th
niTfesf manner, nod on
I THIRD EDITION.
JUST published and for sale by J. If. & T. NASH fl,..
third edition of G'.JRjYET'jTS LFCTUll Fs O v
FESt.lI.E EDUC.MO* cijrShi theTr2 ind™
rood series of a course delivered to Mrs. Garnett's pupils at
Elmwood, Essex county, Virginia. To which is added the
Gossip s Manual.
dil his edition embraces four Lectures which have not
cen published in any previous edition, and which the pub
lic one assured will he the last from the pen of Mr. Garnett
on the subject.—Price only A 1.
Juno 10—tf.
hats!
—SOG—
JOHN THOMPSON
I/as Just Received, and now Opening, at his Old Stand,
Emporium of .iFasljlous,
EIGHT DOORS ABOVE THE BELL TAVERN,
A Splendid Assortment of
CrENTLEZVTEItf’S EXiACIE <&. DRAB
HEAVER HATS,
OJ the Latest JYew-Yorlc and Philadelphia Fashions,
and of Superior Quality.
Als- on hand, a general assortment of Hats of am.
kinds, >f his own manufacture.
Military and / eimds llats made to order at short notice.
Oi.ii Mats l.lcatitd and Jh jiairtd iii the neatest man
ner, and the smallest favor thankfully acknowledged.
May JO
BACON AND LARI).
PLEASANT WINSTON, (Cary Stiect,) has on Con
signment, by the latest arrivals in the Dock, and olfers
for Sale,
JO,000 lbs. Smithfield Bacon, (Pretlow’s curing,) per sclir.
Nancy Ann,
lb,000 do. do. do. (I'liomas's do.) persc.hr. Union,!
1*1,000 do. do. do. (Ricks’s do.) per sclir.' Comet, |
IN STORE,
22,000 lbs. Siipeiim Smithfield Bacon, (Newsom's do.)
70 kegs nf hard white leaf Smithfield Laid, in small
kegs, for family use,
100 bbls. gross ■herrings, Nos 1 fv. 2,
75 do. nett do. do.
20 do. roe do. do. for family u.-e,
10 do. genuine peach-brandy, warranted 8 years old,
and also,
500 kegs Smithfield lard, put up in seasoned kegs id
small size,expressly for the V' est India mm ket. deli
verable at this place, Smithfield and No, folk, \ a.
Aug 23 — St
BACON, HERRINGS, &c.
/ have, in Store, oil Consignment,
25 000 lbs. ot Smillilu'hl Bacon,
‘250 barrels of cut herrings,
200 do gross do
50 do apple brandy
00 do rectified whiskey
10 do do gin
.25 kegs of family laid
10,000 very superior and common segars
Family floor, cider vinegar, peach brandy,
N. E. rum, N. V. beer,
Cut and wrought nails,Sic. Sec..
Which I will sell on tIre most reasonable terms.
Also—DAVIS's PLOUGHS, of oil sizes.
J A\S VVINSTON,
_July 20 ^ Makkki Briiigk.
TO THE PUBLIC.
TVc have Deceived, and have now in Store,
150 Hhds. Sugar, of various qualities, a part of
which prime
400 hag-. I.aguira and other green coffees
100 bags pepper
100 boxes soap
COO casks cut nails
200 barrels loaf sugar
20 pipes imitation brandy
10 do. superior Cognac brandy
10 do. Holland gin, superior
10 boxes fig blue
10 do. starch
1 bird, superior old Antigua rum
1 do. Cognac brandy
15 hhds. molasses
21 casks sweet Malaga wine
30 barrels Neiv-Eugland ruin
5 hhds. Jamaica do
50 barrels Kentucky whiskey
10 quaitcr casks Sicily Madeira vviue
25 kegs saltpetre
15 dozen sifters
150 kegs English lend
250 do. American do.
AND WILL RECEIVE
Vi a few days, from Doston, New- York, P/iiladeljihic,
ltallimorc, Norfolk and Providian.
50 ldids. sugars, superior
73 do. molasses, uncommonl}’ bright and fine
14 bags old white coffee
j 10 hhds. copperas
100 barrels Mackerel, Nn. C
i 150 boxes soap
| 320 hags shot
00 half boxes 90gars
30 puncheons fine Antigua rum
100 packages American Cottou Goods,of first quality;
ALSO, -a
boo konrc Rogers’ gunpowder.
\ll of which will be sold on the mo«t liberal terms.
MOXCURK, KOHINSON ic PLEASANTS,
j August 19—If.
1 TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 29Ih .ipril, 1S2.7
, T^TO riCK is hereby given,1'that on the first day ofOctobei
j J- x next, the principal of the six per cent, stork of the
| I nited States, created tinder the authority of an art ol
Congress entitled, “an art authorising a loan fora stun not
; exceeding eleven millions of dollars,”opened on the 1 hh
day of March, 1U12, together with the interest then due
thereon, will be paid to the proprietors of said stork, oi
their attornics duly authorised, at the Treasury of the
United Stntesin Washington,and at the several loan offices
on the books of which any portion of said stock may stand.
A surrender of tlie certificates of said stock will he re
quired at the time of payment, amt the interest on said
I stork will cease from and after the SOlh day ofSeptcrnbei
| next. SAM’i, h. SOUTHARD,
may 6—dot .‘1 cling Sic'y of the Treasury.
1 F7ac'Hariaii McGrvokk, administrator de bonis non
' fLA of F.lizabeth Johnson, dcc’d, and Frances his wife,
i William Trnbnc and Molly his wife, John Miller and
1 France - liis wife, Pleasant H. Baird and Mary his wife,
j F.lizabeth, Francos. Nancy McCaol, Benjamin McCaol
! and William H. McCaol, children of Sarah MrCaul, dec'll,
Take Notice, That we shall take the depositions of Ma
jor William Henley and others, at the Short Pump, in the
county of IIetirico, on the 7th day of September next, to bt
continued from day to day till completed:—On the 10th day
of the xanm nionst,. Sept, of Turner R. Henley and others, al
Poor’s Tavern, in the county of Goochland,—and on the 12th
day of the same month," depositions of Austin
Ford and others,at Moseley st., vern, (formally Mann’s,) it
the county of Hanover, to be contu,. frf>tn day to day til
completed, and to be read as evidence n. ^„-)t depending
in the superior court of chancery for the P.ichi., -d district
- in which we arc plaintiffs, and you are defendants, gi,(
, where you may attend if you please, „
’i 1 THOMAS PI- c" P
59_w4,v And J A N E his teiji
gH)C (EonstUttUoual ZZlIjtg.
REPORT OF TIIE COURT OF INQUIRY,
In the ease of C'nj>t. Porter, on the sufjcct of car tying
Specie.
Tiie Court having maturely deliberated upon the precept,
tiie communication from tire honorable the SixiiICIaU Y
OKTHK Navy, tlatctl tiie 10th instant, mid the evidence
" hicli has been submitted, agree in the following Report:
The Court, in obedience to tiie piceept and instruc
tions of the honorable Secretary- of the Navv, having
inquired into the manner in which the squadron under
the command of Captain Porter has been employed, du
ring the period of his command; and whether the said
| forces have been employed in the suppression of piracy.
|in the most effective manner in which they could be
| employed, in conformity with the orders and instructions
from the Department of the Navy, or whether they have
been engagi d in objects of inferior moment, to tbe
injury of the public* service; and, having maturely con
sidcicd the testimony which has been laid before the
T .ouit, reports the following statement as the result of
flhis investigation:
It appears to the Court, that, in the year 102*2, pi-acy
had been organized into a system in the West India seas,
preying upon the commerce of every country trading in’
that quarter (I.) In consequence of these excesses, an
, at;t of ( ongress was passed early in the succeeding ses
sion, authorizing “an additional’ naval force for its sup
pression.” This law appears to have been acted upon
in both Houses with great promptness, (2) and to have
been approved on the 20th December, 1«22. (3) Rv
this act, the sum of 160,000 was appropriated for the
purchase and construction of such vessels as might he
deemed suitable for that particular object and to fit and
equip them for immediate service.
In the preparation of this force, Commodore Porter
was personally and actively employed, and such despatch
was used, that, on the loth of February, the squadron,
consisting of the Peacok sloop of war, the steam gal
liot Sea Gull, the Greyhound of 05 tons, the Shark of
about 175 tons, the Ferret of 51 ton-, the Fox of 51
ton=. the Jackal! of 17 tons, the Wild Cat of -lb tons,
Ihe Terrier of 61 tons, the Weazel of 5d tons, the Rea
g!c of 52 tons, and the ship Decor, sailed from Hampton
Roads.
The instructions from the Hon. Smith Thompson, the
Secretary of Ihe Navy, to Commodore Porter, dated
I- ehruary I, 102 1, state the objects for which Ihe squa
dron under his command had been equipped, and the
directions be was to pursue in the attainment of those
ends. These objects appear to be tbe suppression of
piracy—the affording effectual protection to the citizens
and commerce of the United Slates—the suppression of
the Slave Trade, and the transportation of specie to the
United Slates. (1)
In these instructions it was specialty enjoined upon
Commodore Porter to observe the utmost caution, in
protecting our commerce against all unlawful interrup
tion, and in guarding the rights Loth of persons and pro
perty of the citizens of the United Slates, not to en
croach upon the rights of others, and to conduct himself
in his-intercoursc with any foreign power, with as much
moderation and forbearance as is consistent with the ho
nor of the country and the just claims of its citizens.
The cultivation of harmony and a good understanding
" ilh any foreign naval force engaged in the suppression
of piracy, is strongly recommended. The establishment
of a depot at Thompson’s Island, or Key West, is like
wise directed, in the exercise of a proper discretion.
It is particularly enjoined by the Department upon
Commodore Porter to announce hi* arrival and object
! to the authorities ot the Island of Cuba, and to obtain,
as .‘aras practicable, their co operation, or at least their
favorable and friendly support.
Another subject to which flic attention of* the squa
dron is pai (icularty called, is, the protection of the con
voy of specie from Vera Cmz and the Pay of Mexico
generally to the United States. One vessel, at least, is
directed to be kept on tin's service, to be at of near
Vera Cruz, during the healthy season of the year, and to
| be relieved as occasion shall require, both for the con
voy of trade, and to Ining specie in the United States,
confining the transportation to the United Stales only!
On the 2Gth February, Commodore Porter issued his
general instructions to the different officers, fur their
direction and government. The instructions arc in
j substance a transcript of those received In him from
the Department, more minute in their details, hut vary
ing from them in no essential particular.
! The principal object of the expedition being the snp
; pression of piracy, which had assumed, in the seas de
j signed for the sphere of his operations, no appearance
[of system and organization, and an extent which ro
, quired the utmost vigor and vigilance to break it down,
' Commodore Porter appears from the moment of his ap
! pointinent to the command of the squadron to have de
vote.) his attention most zealously to the accomplishment
of that object. After arriving in the West Indies, and
; div iding his force into separate detachments, they were
; despatched in various directions in pursuit of pirates and
I piratical establishments.
j the American Commercial Agent at Havana, dated “off
Matanzas, March 2Gth, 1823,” affords a brief sketch nl
his proceedings to that date. He says, -‘I ain now
; bound into Matanzas to wait for the boats of this ship,
■ (the Peacock,) w hich with tlio greater part of the crew
and some small schooners, have been near a week ab
’ sent among the Keys on the smith side of the Old
; .Strcighfs. We have examined all the Keys on (lie other
’ Mde, and have thoroughly scoured the north side of Porte
I Itico, St. Domingo, and Cuba, as far down as Cavr.
Con/ites. I have sent small vessels down the noril
•ode of these islands, to examine every place where :
pirate would he likely to he found, and have despntchet
the Shark to scour the coast from Cameras to Da V'er;
• Cruz. I have made the most of the force under rm
command/’
The instructions to Diet!?. M. C. Perry, dated at
j Agund.i, .March 11th, 1823, sufficiently show the na
i (ore of the service on which the Shark was specially
' despatched to flic Gulf of Mexico.
The report made hy Commodore Porter to the Score
j tary of the Navy, under date of the 28th March, 1823,
j exhibits a view of the difficulties to which he had been
I subjected, what had been done up to that period, and
j the employments of his squadron. About the begin
! ning of April lie arrived at Thompson’s Island or Key
j West.
In addition to the more active operations of the squa
I dron in the accomplishment of the objects of the expo
dition, communications were made to the constitute!
I authorities, in obedience fo the instructions from the
| Department; the objects and designs of the government
i were fully and distinctly announced, and the co-opera
tion of the local authorities requested. (5.) A good mi
derstanding nppeats to have been assidiously cultivate!
with the commanders and officers of a Ilritish squadror
at that time in the West Indies, which successfully fur
, thered the objects in view, and was productive of inu
Itualadvantage. (0)
It appears that when Comm. Porter sailed from tbi
United .States, several vessels of war w'crc cruising ii
the seas to which he was destined, to whom orders wer<
despatched to report themselves to him, and to plac
j themselves under his command, to aid in the execution
of the duties enjoined to him. This, however, did nc
(1) President’s Message to Congress, of Dec. 3d, 1822
(2) Extract from Journals of both Houses.
• (3) Act authorizing additional naval force for the siq
1 preesion of piracy.
, (? 5» Is*"*1"" in..
• * s _ rrfili ?*?»■Oifirer?*
fl'. C0T;*«r>o»’
j lake place, and (lie immediate consequence resulting
j (rom their abseuce was the inability of Comm. Porter,
; with the force at his disposal, fully to execute all the
1 objects which he had contemplated, Tiic explanation
j ot this circumstance is given iu letters from the Secrc
■ tary of the Navy of June 7th, 1823.
I During the continuance, however, t>r this state of
things, the operations of the sqoadon were necessarily
, more limited than ha I bceu originally designed; and
j .i portion of the vessels, instead of being actively cura
I gfd in pursuing pirates into the different haunts^iu
; which they took refuge, were diveited fiom this object,
i ftJr which they were specially equipped, to the not less
important one ot affording convoy to merchant vessels,
j In consequence, also, of the very limited number of
| it.on attached to the squadron, it became necessary to
have 'he Peacock sloop of war, and Decoy, Jail up at
Key West, and their olEoers and crews employed tor a
time in the smaller vessels and barges. A portion of the
force was, also, necessarily occupied in the erection of
suitable buildings, and in preparing the island for the
reception and accommodation of the lorccs employed in
the expedition. These vaiions circumstances did tm
j questionably operate to divei t the squadron from the
j suppression ot piracy: but it appears to the Court, that
I ihc affording of convoy to the incir.iiant vessels, and the
I preparing accommodations at the island cannot be con
, sidered as objects of inferior moment, or which the
j public sei vice would permit to be lost sight of, or cvtbi
post poiicd. -
i It likewise appears to the Court, that, from the period
that this squadron arrived in die West Indies, the pirates
changed, in a great degree, both their character and i
their haunts. Instead of cruising in open day, in ves- 1
scls of considerable magnitude, they abandoned this!
open and avowed system of piracy, and for some consi- ]
dcrablc period nt time, until a new system of operations
could be organised, cither entirely disappeared, or re
sorted to new places for the carrying on llicir depreda
tions.
Immediately upon ihe arrival of Commodore Porter
at I hoinpson’s Island, he commenced the necessary
i works on shore, and an expedition was prepared and <Jes
j patched, under the command of Captain Cassin, in quest
i ot a supposed pirate, who had been seen a few davs
j previous iu the neighborhood of the Island o’f Cuba.— j
j I he reports of I.ieutOnant Stiibhling, who succcded ]
! u* effecting in a very gallant manner, the captucre nt
j the vessel which had been the object of suspicion, dated
| the 8th April, 1823. of Capt. Cassin of the Oth of the
; same month, and of Commodore Porter of the lGlh,
I exhibit a lull and correct account ot their several ope
rations during- the intervening period tf time.
j i.c: |tciaiii.ii i.-nnracier oi me service m winch the
| squadion was employed, lias been fully detailed in llie
' reports made to the Department and in the testimony
j submitted to the Court. A large portion of tlie officers
. and men was employed in the small schooners arid in
I open boats—in a severe climate—exposed to the beat of
i a tropical sun by day, and to the not less dangerous dews
l and exhalations at night. The vessels themselves, from
I their size, were destitute of suitable accommodations.
and the operations in which they wore engaged neccs
; anly imposed incessant tatigue and constant exposure,
j One fact may he deserving of particular notice, as exhi
I biting a specimen of tlie nature of this serv ice. It is in
eviccnce before the Court, that Lieut. Plait was employ -
j ed lor sixty-eight successive days in an open barge, on
; the .Nortb-Vi esl Coast of Cuba, in the examination of the
! inlets, bays, keys, and other places of piratical resort,
j Two of the schooncis tvere occupied in giving ronvot
! the Havana, which tvere relieved by others whenever
! required. 1 he barges under Cnpt. Cassm wereengag
I c<l 111 ‘ laborious and critical senicli after pirates and pi
; raticnl establishments; and during this period all the dis
posable force under the command of Coin. J'mier ap
pears to have been actively occupied in the important
j objects entrusted to his care.
Dm the'J-l(h April, Commodore Porter, after detailing
the eireiim^tancos attending an expedition in which he
: had been engaged, states his belief, that there \ra-> not
. at that, time a pirate afloat on that part ofThc coast of
Cuba (Matanzas) larger than an open boat, and even that
i is doubtful. About the same period. Captain Casaiir w as
i employed iri the Fox, and with the barges, in careful
! examination of alt that part of the Coast of Cuba to t! *
[ westward or Havana, tlnoiigh the ieefs, and in the in
j lets; in the course of which two piratical vessels were
; pursued and captuied, and their establishments on
| shore, consisting of five huts, destroyed; tlie pirates
• themselves succeeded in effecting their escape, in
| consequence of the nature of the ground, which ren
■ derod a continuation of the pursuit on shore impracti
cable.
Du the 10th of May, Comm. Porter reports his pro
ceedings during the intervening time, and the operations
j in which tlie squadron were then engaged. The result
; was “the capture of a piratical sebooonerand a very line
j felucca, the destruction of one on shore, the burning of
i three schooners in tlie Itio Palmas, and about a dozen
! houses in the different establishments to leeward of Ba
I Lia Honda, and inside of the Colorado reefs and w hat,”
j he continues, “will he of no little importance in all our
j future operations, a must thorough and intimate acquniu
•! lance with the whole line of coast from Cayo Blanco,
in tin; east, down to Cape Antonio, in the west.”
I Another expedition was immediately despatched, un
; der the command of Lieut. Watson, who, after a strict
j examination ol the coasts and islands from Cayo Francis
J to Cayo Blanco, in the vicinity of Cape Ilycacos, disco
vered in Signapa Bay, a piratical schooner, which, after
a gallant action, peculiarly destructive to the pirate, he
succeeded in capturing, without having sustained on hit
i Parl Iho slightest injury. I (is report of the expedition,
! dated July 11, contains a narrative of <thc circumstau
; i cos.
I hiring tlic same period, two of (he schooners, under
the command of Dicul. .Skinner, were engaged in giving
, convoy from Havana; two were careened at Thompson's
Island; and such was (lie want of men that it became
impossible to man all the barges, some of which were,
consequently. laid up.
On (he 1 ^tli May, the Peacock sailed from Thomp
son’s Island to relievo the Shark in (lie Gulf of Mexico,
in pursuance of (he instructions of the 7lb May.^ The
particulars of this cruise arc detailed by Capt. Cassin
in his testimony before the Court.
So successful had the squadron, during this period,
accomplished the objects for which it liad been sent, that
on the Ibth May, Com. Purler fell himself authorized to
state to the Department that “not a single piralical act
had been committed on the coast of Cuba since he had
organized and arranged his forces.”
On tire 22d of the same month, he 9ta(cs that !kj is
left at Thompson’s Island alone with the Sea Gull, one
small schooner being engaged in the protection of com
merce off Havana; another at Matan/.as; two coming in
I for repairs, and all the others cruising for pirates on the
( south side of Cuba, and io the Old StreighU of Bahama.”
Karly in June, accounts having been received that a pi
ratical schooner had captured two vessels ou the south
side of Cuba, the Grey Hound, under the command ol
Lt. Kearney, was despatched in pursuit; whose report ol
' his cruise is dated August 10th.
, At this period, such was the incessant occupation ol
' the squadron under command ofCom. Porter, io wide!}
1 dispersed, and such its deficiencies in strength, (hat In
was compelled to discontinue for a time the practice o
* giving convoy off Havana, and to bestow a more r^dr
vided attention to the pursuit and destruction of pirates
The continual presence ofa vigilant force bad renderer
! the north coast of Cuba comparatively safe from ,'r
| depredations, sandthey had retired to other ' mttJ
j which it became bcccshkK' .. tV.!!Sffv , _
On the i ill. dt— r’deutenunl Newell, in the Ferret,
najhr,I to Trioidad, on tV> south side of Cu
b:i. In the course of a few day s, he tell in with an
armed piratical barge, and captured two boats, the barge
escaping up a lagoon in which it was impracticable
to continue the pursuit. The particulars of Ibe expe
| dition appear in bis report of June 25th.
In July, the Grampus, under theconunand of Lieut.
I Gregory, arrived at Thompson’s Island, and joined the
j force under Com. Porter: the details of his previous op -
erations appear in lii« report ot the Jd July.
Liciitfnat Ilitchie was then despatched to thecoast of
Yucatan, under orders of July 8th, to ascertain the situ
ation and character of a supposed piratical establish
ment in that quarter; and on the 29lh August reported
; the circumstances of his expedition.
j Shortly after the transactions that have been detailed,
, '-be y«dU>w fovur made its appearance at Thompson’s
j Island, and in tlio squadron. The fatal consequences
i are stated in the report made by the Secretary of the
I Xary to the President of the U nited States, under date
j of the 2!st .September, 182J, and in the reports of
i Lorn. Ilodgers, and the Physician who accompanied him
, to malic an examination or the Island, annexed to the
; record. Com. Porter himself, by authority of the Dc
| parlment, ami suffering fiom the effects of an attack of
the fever, left the West India seas, with a considerable
put lion of force, a;ul returned to ihc United States,
as a necessary measure "or the restoration of the health
of the squadron. To such an exteut had this disease
carried its ravages, that it was considered prudent to
direct the John Adams and Peacock to keep in compa
ny during their homeward mute, for the purpose of af
fording mutual protection.
1 he general result of the operations of this season may
be found in (he report made to the department, by Com.
Porter, on the 19th November. In this paper, it isstated
that, “on the arrival of the squadron at (.’nba, piracy
was found in full force; but by the extraordinary activity
and diligence of (lie officers and men under his command,
it was, in less than two mouths, as effectually suppressed
as it will he for several years.” Itis further" stated, “At
present, I have no knowledge of the existence of anv
piratical establishment, v * sels or boats, or of a pirate
afloat in the West indies and Gulph of Mexico. They
have all been burned, taken, destroyed and driven to
the shore.”
In reviewing the operations of the squadron during this
period of time, it apears to the Court that Coin. Poitcr,
and the forces under his command, were fully entitled
to the high commendations bestowed on them by tbo
Department, in the letterof the 28th October, 1823.
During trie absence of Corn. Porter in the United
States, llie evidence before the Court throws bill com
paratively little light upon the general^opcrations of the
squadron. By the instructions from the department, of
Oct. 2;!th. Com. Porter was directed, if the state of his
healt!i would permit, to take upon himself the gcueral
superintending direction of the equipment of the vessels
of his squadron, then at Washington and Norfolk. It
appears that the Peacock, John Adams, Sea (lull, Bea
1 gle. Grampus, Wild ( at, Weasel, and Porpoise, were
jin the United States during different portions of that
time, undergoing repairs, and recruiting their crews,
| amt, as soon as they could be equipped, most of these
small vessels resumed their stations, and returned to tho
1 accomplishment of tho general duties enjoined on them.*
Com. l’ot ter sailed in the month of February, in tho
j John Adams. From the testimony of Capt. Dallas, and
j the repo 11 of Coin. Porter of April 3th, it appears “that
'she touched at St. Bartholomew’s, St. Christopher’s,
! and St. Thomas’s; examined the south coast of Porto
Rico, looking in at the Dead Man’s Chest, and Ponce,
i touching :.t Mona, St. Domingo, Beata, and Kingston,
i making diligent inquiries and examinations for pira
tica) vt svols, and otic ling convoy and protection to ves
sels of all nations, from piratical aggrei>“inii»«”
letters of tho Secretary of tho Navy of Mav
1 /tli, 132-1, and May 31, 182-1, it appears that consider
able difficulties and delay s in preparing an additional
force had been experienced. This arose from the late
' period of the session of Congress at which the appropri
i at ion hill was passed, ft became impossible, before an
' advanced period o; the season, to commence preparing
those vessels which it had boon designed to unite to the
| squadron. It is to this circumstance that the unexpeet
; ed absence of the Hornet and Porpoise from the West
j India s,cas is attributed.
; During the month of April, an expedition was de
; tachcd under Capt. Wilkinson, in quest of pirates, and
the report of that officer, dated the 2 Itli of that month,
details his operations.
Uient. John 11. Her. with the Jackall and Wil l Cat,
j sailed, on the 2i»lh ol April, and, on the 1 2lh of Mav, re
ports ike circumstances attending his cruise. The John
Adams was despatched to the Gulf of Mexico, and her
operations in that quarter are stated in the testimony of
Captain Dallas. The Sea Gull, Terrier, Spark, Gram
pus. and Ferret, appear to have been in the neighbor
hood of Cuba and Thompson’s Island, fura’shing con
voy, and engaged in the pursuit of pirates. On the 20tb
of May Commodore Porter informs ihe Department
that the fever had made its appearance at Thompson’#
Island, and that he purposed removing the principal
part of his force to the North, about tbe middle of the
succeeding inonlli. This letter appears to be tbe oulv
I notification sent to (be Department of such lutention,
j and it was not received at Washington until June 2 1th,
I the day on which Commodore Porter reached the same
; place, on his return from the West Indies, as appears
i bv bis letter of the 23th of that month. On the 13th
J July, he is directed to despatch the Shark, Grampus,
j and Spark, to their station, as speedily as possible, and
i they, as well as oilier vessels, received oidcrs to that cf
I feet.
On tfic l-llli October, the Secret r.v of (lie Navv iu
forms (’ommoilorc Porter that “it is deemed expedient
by the I.rveutive that 3'on return as speedily as possible
to your station in the John Adams.” On tiio 21 si Octo
ber be was aga/li ordered to repair to his station, and, on
• be 2-lth of the same month lie proceeded to sea in the
John Adams. Immediately after his arrival in the West
| Indies, the occurrence took place at Foxardo, which
j has already been fully detailed in the report made bv
j tins Court in the first branch of the inquiry directed to
I be made, and which is considered as wholly nnconncct
| ed with this investigation. A minute examination was
j again made of the South coast of Cuba—which, being
effected, (he John Adams icpaired to Thompson’s I-"*
| land. An expedition was immediately organized, and
j proceeded under the command of the Commodore in
i person, in quest of pirates. Hcfore his return from this
expedition, orders were received, dated the 27th Dec.
! directing his return to the United States, with which, as
soon as the officers and men of the John Adams tnga
ged in the last mentioned expedition returned to their
j vessel, he complied.
At the time that Commodore Porter left the Wed In
j dia seas in June 1024, the schooners Ferret and Tern
or, with a barg>’, were left to cruise between 'Jhomp
son’s I'.land. Havana, and iMatanzas, and they np;io»' *o
have been activch occupied during his absence in giv
ing convoy from Havana and iVlatanzas, and in explor
ing the neighboring coasts for pirates. Other verso!,
occasionally arrived in that vicinity during the same. iu
terval. aod were, for periods of different length, employ
ed for the same objects. The Hcagle was engaged in
cruising and giring convoy in various direction- m the
neighborhood of St. Thomas. »ud appears to have f;opt
'j that quarter perfect// safe from piratical depredations.
! In another carter the Wcazel was accomplishing the
| same o* ,/9
/ ,nr aosenec of many of the officers eog.ircd in (be
I squadron during the summer of l«24—the want of ofli
j Cl?tl reports of their several operations, and the willi
I ^General Orders of Nov. 8, 1823. Lr” r f, r rn i.n C.
cretary of tf.f Navy, Dec. 8 1823.