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Georgi alii Statesman.
TERMS,—93 PER AN NUT, IN ADVANCE,]
By BURR ITT & M EACH AM.
THE GEORGIA STATESMAN
Is published weekly at the Seat of K3overn
ment, opposite the State-House Square, at
Three Dollars per ann. in advance, or Four
Dollars if not paid in six months.
N. B. Sales of land and negroes, by Ad
ministrators, Executors, or Guardians, are
required by law, to be held on the first Tues
day in the month, between the hours of ten
in the forenoon, and three in the afternoon,
at the court house of the county in which the
property is situate. Notice of these sal s
must be given in a public Gazette SIXTY
days previous to the day of sale.
Notice of the sale <}f personal property
must be given in like manner, FORTY days
previous to the day of sale.
Notice to the debtors and creditors of an
estate must be published fpr FORTY days.
Notice that application will be made to
the Court of Ordinary for leave to si II land,
must be published for NINE vioN l lts.
Ai l Letters must be POST PAip.
From the Worcester Magazine.
. I Narrative of the Attempt to Burn the British
Frigates in J\Torlh Fiver, July, 177 G.
It is related by Marshall, in his lift
of Washington, that in July, 1770,
while the American army yet had
possession of Ntew-York, Lord Howe,
who had but recently arrived before
that city with his fleet sent up two
frigates by the American batteries,
which took their stations in North
River, and thereby put a stcqi to tjhc*
communication between the armies
at Nevv-York and at Ticoideroga.
And that, to remove this interrup
tion, a plan was formed to set the
frigates on fire, by means offire ship,,
and hich, though address and courage
were manifested in the enterprise,
failed in the execution, ai.d only a
tender was burnt.
We have alluded to this event, in
order to dh justice to the character
of some of the men who risked their
lives in the hazardous attempt to
destoy these frigates, in the manner
already described. One of them is
vet living yi our* neighbourhood,
from whom we have learned the cir
cumstances attending the transac
tion, and although we are willing to
make all suitable allowance for the
coloring which an actor in such a
. cene would be apt to give its descrip
tion, yet we believe it to be substan
tially correct, as we find it corrolfori
ed by history, and other testimony
of living witnesses. The individual
to whon w allude is Mr. Joseph Bass,
of Leicester, whose narrative we will
endeavour to give, as Repeated by
himself; though qpw a humble in
dividual in society, we have i;icon
test ible proof -that he was a brave
-soldier i:i the war of our iiul pen
dcncc.
He was, at this time, attached to
the “water service,” finder the com
mand of Commodore 'flipper, who
was directed to prepare and send up
two fire ships to the British frigates.
The Commodore selected Bass to
take charge of one, and put the
other under the command of Capt.
Thomas, who belonged to New Lon
don. The vessel commanded by
Bass was a sloop, called the Polly,
of about one hundred tons burden,
nearly-new. That commanded by
Thomas, was of a small size. The
firigat slay ab-mt eight miles above
Kings bridge, but having intimaliom
thut they might b attacked, remov
ed their station towards the western
shore cf the river, where the shen
was bolder, and the water deepei
than on the east side.-
The vessels ii tended for fire ships
were prepared at Ncw-York, and
moved up the river on the day be
fore the intended attack, to a cr ek,
near Kingsbridge, which crosses ii.
from the east, called Spiking Devil
'- r Cr!{.
The vessels hn<i been prepared
with faggots of very combustibh
wood, which had J>ecn dipped in
melted pitch, and bundles of straw
< ut about a foot long prepared in
the same way. These faggots and
bundles filed the deck, and commu
nicated with a trough of line gun
powder which extended along under
the deck from the hold into the ca
bin, and into this was inserted a
match, that might be tired by a per
son in the cabin, who would have
time to escape through a door cut
in the side of the vessel, into a whale
boat, that was lashed to the ‘‘quarter”
oft he sloop. Beside these’ combus
tibles, there were in each versei It
or 12 barrels*of pitch, and a very
great, number of yards o( canvass,
cut in strips about a toot in width,
covering the yards and rigging, and
extending down the deck, all ot
which had been dipped in tin? spirits
of turpentine. Every thing bad been
so prepar and that a moment was sul
ficient to put the whole into full
blaze.
The fire ships started from the
creek about dark, with a south wind,
and a favourable tide. The night
was cloudy and dark, with occasi ' ,i
--1/ a little rain. Bass had nine men
attached to his vessel, throe o
whom he stationed in the whale-boat,
one acted as pilot, while lie station
ed himself w ith a match in the cabin
f > fio’ 4he materials. _
Resides the twq British frigates,
there were a bomb ketch'-and two
tenders in company, and moored
near them. They were at anchor,
in a line about north and south ; first
the Phenix of 44 guns; next thi
Rose of 36 guns ; then he bomb
ketch, and above that, lay the ten
ders. As the night was dark, and
4he (ire-sliip kept near the middle of
the river, they were not aware that
that they were near tiic British v s
sels, until they heard, immediately
on their ieft, the bells of the vessels,
and the cry of the serffinels of “ all’s
well” from their several decks. It
was twelve o’clock, and little did
those who were slumbering there
imagiue the destruction that hung
over them. The shore was bold,
and rose above the masts, so that
the Americans did not perceive till
that sound, how near they had ap*
proached, nor could they distinguish
the situation of the vessels enough
to ascertain their size, or which of
them were the frigates. Bass was
a considerable distance in fidvance
of Thomas,' and upon hearing the
cry of sentiels, immediately bore
down upon the line of the British
fleet. He was already very near
the bomb-ketch before he was dis
covered by the enemy, who im
mcdiatley began a severe cannonade
upon his vessel, which damaged her
rigging and mast, and some of the
shot entered the hull. But he was
now under so rapid a “headway”
that lie had no opportunity, even if
lie had been inclined, to have retreat
ed. as he saw himself near
enough to the vessel towards which
he was steering, to be sure that she
could not escape, he gave orders for
his men to take to the boat, anil
touching the match, he leaped into
the whale boat and “cast off” from
his ship. Her direction had been
too sure. The grappling irons'upon
bowsprit, yards, &c. became inter
locked with tile rigging of the bomb
ketch, and they were both almost
immediately in a blaze. The pamc
>truck crew of the ketch were see;
pouring from the quarters of that
ship in the utmost agony of consterna
tion. The fire of the burning vessel
lighted up the surrounding scenery
with a horrid glare of splendor. The
first one flint reached the deck of
the ketch from the cabin, was her
commander, who was struck dead by
a falling spar. He was followed by
two women, and one or more chil
dren, whose cries were heard amidst
the din of battle that now raged, and
the imprecations of the crew, many
threw themselves over board and
perished, while those who remained
on board, retreated to the point most
distant from the flames, but soon
sunk down into them, suffocated,
bewildered, and exhausted. Capt.
Thomas had not been so fonunate:
he was so far in the rear that the
light of the flames from Bass’s ship
showed his position to the .enemy,
and partially prepared them to meet
1 1 is attack. Not, however, daunted
by being discovered, he immediately
bore down upon the I’henix, ami
became grappled with her. He then
;o plied his match to his combusti
bles, but in such a way that lie he-
came eritangl and in bis own fire, and
was obliged to leap over board to
• scape from the flames, but not be
ing able to reach Ihe boat, lie perish
'd in the river. lie also lost five
men, while*Bass ecaped without the
loss of one. Although on tire in
several places, the Plieni.x escaped
from destruction, by cutting her rig
ging and slipping her cables, with
the loss of but few lives. Ot the
crew of the ketch, few escaped.
Nearly seventy men, besides some
women and children, were the victims
of this merciless attack. We can
scarcely cenccive a scene more ter
rible than the one we have nttomptod
to describe, or one so caculated to
awaken fear in the breasts of those
engaged in it. The hour of the
night, the uncertainty of success, the
the almost certainty of destruction,
would he enough to awaken a panic
in the stoutest heart; while the awful
destruction that awaited the victims
of success would stagger the resolu
tion of the bravest. The darkness
of the hour, the unearthly light that
gleamed upon the wild scenery
around, the roar oi artillery, and the
groans and shrieks of those perishing
in tortures at which humanity shud
ders, must have made it a scene
unrivalled in sublimity and terror.
Vet the feelings of that day were of
,i kind to delight in such*an exibition
of vengeance upon the foes to our
country. It was a spectacle on which
hundreds, and v-» uiay say thousands,
of the Americans gazed, that night,
with the deepest interest. And this
itile ban?, although they had, in a
aood degree failed in the accomplish
ment of the plan to destroy the In
gates, were received wish the war
mest acclamations ot gratitude, on
their return from their perilous en
terprise.
ll® tibieruntarte-j pacisque imponere morem, parent* *' J hj-cti# et debellofe sMperbo*. — V ik.il.
Milledgeville, Tuesday, May, 23, IB2G.
The attempt however, was not
without its effect. The frigates
moved down the river the next day,
and joined the English licet, and left
the river for a short time open for
the communication of the Americans.
GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.
About 2 o’clock this morning, ( Fri
day, ) tli ■ citizens in the lower part
ofihe city were aroused from sleep
by the cry offire. In a few minutes
afterwards the flames burst forth
from the upper story of pne of the
four story buildings of that immense
pile called the “ Exchange Build
ings,” situated on William and Gar
den-stre ts, and partly on.the site of
the old post office. .Most of the en
gines were soon on the spot, and reg
ular line formed from the East River
hut notwithstanding the greatest ex
ertions were used by the several
companies, before five o,clock the
whole of this inaguiliciciit corner
was a heap of smoking ruins. Two
buildings on William Street, adjoin
ing the Exchange building, two or
three on the north side of Garden
Street, and two two story buildings
on the south side of the latter street,
were consiil rably injured. At one
period great fears were entertained
for the post office, the fire having
communicated to the adjoining build
ing, but it was fortunately arrested
at that house. Great praise is due
to the clerks of the post office for
their indefatigable exertions to save
the letters’ and'othcr public proper
ty. All the letters, &c. were w li
tied up, and deposited in the bags
ready to be removed to a place for
safety.
For about one hourth flakes and
sparks flow in showers. The roofs
of several distant buildings took fire
but were promptly extinguished by
the activity of the fireman, several
ofimom had their cloths burnt.
The loss sustained cannot be cor
rectly asceitaincd : but we have
been infoimed Unit it is not less than
iwo hundred thousand dollars ; on
which there was an insurance of one
hundred and thirty two thousand dol
lars, in five offices, viz: $ 42,000;
$ 40’UUU ; 30’000 ; lo’OOO and o’OOO.
A hard case occurred with the first
..diice. Merchandise to the amount
ol $ m’OOO was to have been remo
ved yesterday afternoon, had the
weather been fair, the whole ot
which was deslr yed.
• The sufferers as far as wo have
been able to ascertain, are as fol
lows :
The Exchange Building were
owned by Delcvan A:Lord ; aud oc
cupied by the Marble Company,
John B Murray &. Son, Samuel
Chandler Cos. Arthur Bronson,
Timothy Kellog, Moses AuAice, A.
VV. Ilurdie tk Cos. R. L. Lord, E. C
Deleyan, A C. Rossicre, B. McGin
uess, F. A. C. Brichta, N. Castalis,
Oliver Hoisted, and the Rhode Is
land Coni Company. The houses
much iujurred on Garden street,
are owned by Mr. John West, of the
Gazette, and were occupied by Mr.
Saunders, Israel Munroe, and as of
fices by C. i). Gulden, Charles Gra
ham, William Vanhook, William 11.
Maxwell, J. P. Strong, and Isaac
Paris,Esq’s. The tire is supposed
to have originated in the third sto
ry of one of the houses in Garden
street aud there being but a slender
board partition in the fourth story
the lire in a lew minutes spread from
one extremity of the building to the
other.
We regret to state that several
persons were seriously injured, hut.
we have not been able to ascertain
whether any are dangerous.
Wc have never witnessed better
order »bany fire, than was preserved
at this, by Chief Martial Hayes and
his assistants.
For nearb*two hours the specta
cle was one of awful grandeur and
sublimity. The buildings were new
and the quantities of oil used in the
paint, added much to the fury of the
dames, which ascended in a stupen
dous column to a great height* and
illuminatad the whole city. In the
lower part of the city particularly,
the spectacle was one of uncommon
and terrific grandeur. The ringing
of the bells, the noise of the firemen
with their engines, mingling with
theroarrng and crackling of the
flames caused altogether a deep
and heavy noise like the united
sounds of the tramp of steeds in the
din of battle, and the rush of mighty
waters. The lurid light glared fear
fully upon the windows and roofs of
bouses for a great distance, while
the lofty si-i.o v.-f r r..nit 7 0i...,0t,
shone amid the gloom of night like
a huge pillar of burnished gold.
This fire has disclosed the fact,
that the owners of the building
were most shamefully taken in by
the builders, or that they attend
far more to the outward appearance,
and the magnitude of its structure
than to its durability. The whole
mass of buildings were put up with
out carrying up the partition walls
with brick, beyond the third story,
as the law requires Some of these
partitions were made of common
daal boards, of slender workmanship,
And the walls, which'appeared so
firm and beautiful to the eye, tum
bled to pieces as though they had
been laid only in sand.—We n ■ ;r
saw a building of its magnitude
sooner consumed, and from the man
ner in which it tumbled to piece*,
it was soon ascertained in be what
is called “ a fireman’s trap.
From the -Vsw-YwA American.
The great tire of Thursday* night
has caused much conversation, and
excited a good deal t>f feelinjg. The
buildings, however, were undoubt
edly not put up for sale, hut for a
permanent investment of funds, bv
their owners. Hence it was their
interest that they should be well
put.up, and they accordingly made
a contract w ith r -sponsible and ex
perienced builders, that such should
lie the case. How these builders,
on whom much blame is thrown, ac
count lor the falling of the walls, &c.
will he seen by the following expla
nation, which they give under their
names:
The Master Carpenters who were
engaged in building the stores lately
burni on the corner of William and
Garden streets, feel themselves oblig
ed, in consequence of the blame at
tached to them on account of the
destruction of those buildings, to
submit a statement of facts to the
public.
In planning these buildings, it was
a principle object to dispose of the
ground to the best advantage, and to
make the stores as convenient as
possible —Owing talheir being very
narrow in front and rear, it was found
necessary to make one opening ans
wer for two entrances to tbe upper
stories, in consequence of which it
was impossible to have the party
walls connected with the front and
rear walls, which was the cause of
their falling so easily In order to
secure the front and rear walls, gird
ers, or pieces of timber 12 inches
square, were laid into the ends ofthe
party walls, extending into the front
and rear walls over the openings,
strongly anchored at each end. The
beams that framed into these gird
ers, lying next the front and rear
wall, were also strongly anchored to
the walls. Bridgings of plank were
then let into t e beams, extending
from front to rear, making all strong
and secure.
Respecting the garretts, it was
expected that they would*not be
wanted or used by the tenants indi
vidually, and they therefore were
left in one apartment.—Besides, if
th party walls had,been carried up
to tlie roof, it would have been im
impossible to have constructed the
hoist whe* Is so as 10 have answered
the purpose, owing to the shape of
the stores. With regard to the
mortar separating from the bricks,
it is well known by every experienc
ed builder, that bricks laid in the
best lime and sand morter, and in the
best manner, will not be so cement
ed together in eight mouths, includ
ing the winter months, that fire will
not easily separate them. The un
dersigned builders who executed
tlie carpenter’s work, being present
every day while the buildings were
m progress, know that the mason
wofk was done in the best manner
and with the beat materials, by Mr.
Joseph Tucker, who has been amas
ter mason for the last ten years, and
has not been know n to do a piece
of bail work during that time. The
brick walls throughout were a brick
and a half thick, except the party
walls of the fourth story, which were
the length of one brick.
The iron columns were well sus
tained with strong stone works at the
bottom, as well as with the best
Georgia pine timber. The timber
was incased in the walls to support
them while new, but when they be
came dry, the stone work was cal
culated to support them, Without
the aid of the wood. It is well
known, that the iron columns fell last
and that the timber was so inclosed
in brick, as to be the last part of the
wood work to burn.*
We further state, that in our con
tract with the owners of this prop
erty, we engaged that the best ma
terials should be used in every de
partment, and the work done in the
most substantial and workmanlike
manner, and they paid »us our full
estimate as fir<t liandciFffK and vve
ready to ffive the most satisfac
tory proofs that our contract has been
faithfully executed
GEER& RILEY, Builders
AFRICAN COLONY.
• The Board of Managers of the
American Colonization Society,
have the satisfaction to Mate that
despatches have oeen received
from the Colony at Liberia, bearing
date 23d January, 1826. The com
munications from Mr. Ashmun, tm*
indefatigable and intelligent agent
there, are copious in detailing the
condition of the Colony, in all the
relations which it sustains. It ap
pears that there is a degree of pros
perity in the present, and security
as to the future of that establishment
which, with all their expectations*
the friends of African Colonization,
could scarcely have been led to
hope. Through the accredited me
dium. the African Repository, the
communications will be published at
large; but, in the mean lime, the
following brief statement is submit
ted.
In all the internal concerns, aipl
foreign relations ofthe(solony, there
is every evidence of growing pros
perity, strength, and security. The
health of the Colonists, that first and
great consideration, is as good as
that of any community. Since June
1825, to the date oftlie despatches,
there have occurred five deaths,
three adults and two children. Thu
scorbutic ulcers which excited some
apprehensions, have almost entirely
disappeared, occasioning but one
death. They occur as other disea
ses in the progress of acclaimation
during the first year, and exempt the
subjects of them from other and
more fatal sickness. Those who
are affected with pulmonary weak
ness and rheumatism, are entirely
freed from these infirmities. Aft r
acclaimation, the coloreu emigrants
acquire a perfect vigor of constitu
tion, accomodation to the African
climate, and ability to support every
hardship which ordinary life or con
tingencies may impose. Many of
the whites # have fallen victims : to
is added Mr. Sessions,
who died on his return to America.—
While (he black population, even un
iter the privations and sufferings pe
culiarly incidental to the sickness on
arrival, are found to bear the change
with safety—whatever tfle danger
may have been, the increasing com
fort#which emigrants meet on their
arrival, will tend to reduce it to one
of a little moment.
The Colonists arc under the in
fluence ofa mild but energetic Gov
ernment—one which is a*terror to
eiyl doers, and a protection to the
good. As the settlement has in
creased in population, commerce and
wealth, the moral charact r has ad
vanced ; the intelligence and virtue’
of the People evincing the capacity
for self-government.. The arrange
inents now making for the settlement
of families on farms, promise that
agriculture shall keep pace with
commerce ; and those ' two great
sources of support ami wealth, are
now in such happy operation at Mon
rovia, as to assure the adequacy of
the Colony to its own maiut affiance,
in its present condition. The trade
in rice, coffee, camwood, and ivory,
is already considerable, and so regu
lated as to inspire the confidence of
the .natives in the liberal and fair
dealing of the Colonists.
During the past, year two church
es have been built. Five schools
are in active operation, besides Sab
bath schools ; the children, emi
grant and native, the latter sixty in
number, are well instructed. The
adults arc busily engaged in finish
ing and improving their dwellings
and property. Mechanics receive
$2 per day, laborers from 75 cents
to gl 25, with constant employment.
The whole prospect is anamating to
the resident, and to the
numerous foreigners ivho resort to
Monrovia. A vessel of ten tons,
called the St. Paul, admirably fitted
for the coasting trade, and for pro
curing supplies, has been bilflt by one
of the colonists, according to the
plan, and under the direction of the
agent, other boats belong
to the establishment. Fort Stoclon
has been rebuilt, so as to be one ot
the most conspicuous objects on the
Cape, and with some other fortifica
tions, renders the town perfectly se
cure against any foe. Two well dis
ciplined companies, one ot infantry,
the other of artillery, present an ac
tive force, ready for any service at a
momentai warning. The emigrants
from Boston have bfccu .received as
“ brothers and sisters. r To the
American public, to the State and Na
tional Legislatures, to the free peo
ple of color, who may desire to emi
grate, the Board ofManagers declare
that a peaceful, healthful, prosperous
commul ity has been founded at
Monrovia, and was, in January, the
Li, -r i-ae» advices, in most
flourishing circumstances ; and they
do, therefore, with renewed confi
dence, declare their object worthy
of the continued patronage ofa gen
erous, Christian people, and ot its
wise and patriotic Legislators.
In consequence of a piratical act
committed on a British merchant
[OR $4 IF NOT PAHJJN SIX MONTHS.
Number- 23, Vol. 1
vessel, in Liberia *bay, and within
our jurisdiction, by a Spanish slave
trader, it became necessary for the
agent at Monrovia to interfere, and
destroy three slave factories
10 miles of the {own. In doing this
116 miserable victims were rescued
from slavery, and arc now comforta
bly clothed, fed, and in progress of
education, at Monrovia. The cir
cumstances have been minutely de
tailed to the government, and the
report to the Board, assures them
of the judicious, firm, and proper
course of the agent. The neighbor
ing tribes have congratulated the
Colonists on theq enegetic measure?,
and in the language of the agenf,
“ between Cape Mount and Trade
Town, comprehending a line of 140
miles, not a slaver now dares to at
tempt his guilty traffic-’*
A settlement thus formed on the
African coast, on a most salubrious
spot, with a fine fertile territory, en
joying the respect and confidence ot
the natives, with a Government in
systematic operation ; with a milita
ry force competent to its perfect pro
tection ; with a commcrcd steadily
improving/with Christian and civil
institutions of the purest character ;
affixing the seal of performanre to
the promises, and of reality to the
hopes of the friends of Colonization &
speaks to the people of this enlight- and
ened country, with an emphasis,
which, It is hoped, will not be lost
on (lie patriot and statesman. May
Heaven direct the attention of the
wise and good amongst us, to the
Colony of Liberia, as the means of
averting calamity from our land, ot
securing the happiness of a large
portion of our fellow r.rifatures, ol
freeing our political institutions from
their only blemish, and thus consti
tuting our nation the fairest, as it is
the freest on the globi^,..
The Board of Managers have, un
der the blessings of Providence, ac
complished an important object. It
is where they end, that tlip National
and State Legislatures- must com
tnencezjf the work is to he carried on
to its desired completion. The ap
peal is sounded from America and
Africa ; dictated by Christianity,
humanity, and national policy, it will*
be heard and answered by a nation's
approbation and energies.
From the JYeto- York American. .
The following eloquent reflection;
written m Paris by an old associate,
and colleague m Urn Chamber of
Deputies of La Fayette, M Keratrv,
will be read with pleasure, and como
most opportunely to hand.
They were called forth by the
knowledge that on the 17th June La |
Fayette was to lay the corner stone
of the Bunker Hill Monument, and
feelingly appeal to our pride, our
feelings and our recollections. We
owe many thanks to .the friend who
kindly furnished then to us.
Upon the anniversay of the 17th
Juno, 1775* and Hie laying of the
cerncr stone,.by General La Fayette,
of the monument to be erected in «
Boston to tbe heroes of Bunker 11 ill.
Nations discharge a sacred dept,
when they honour the memory of il
lustrious citizens, hi so doing, they
perform an act of self preservation,
since nothing can more strongly incite
to gtgierous devotion, that the cer
tainty its author would acquire es
escaping from oblivffin.
There is, indeed, in the acchimn
tions of public gratitude, something
so inspiring, and so almost contagious, t
as to exalt man above himsglt, and
the interests of common life. This
is sacrificed, in order to secure a
more brilliant and endurind one. It
is vain to say that these honours will
only be decreed to coldeand senseless
ashes : pe feel that vve should revise
and live again in this glorious here
after ; and thus, by a miracle of
patriotism, the general wellare of a
country is the result ot all individu
al sacrifices anil abnegations.
People capable of such sacrifices
at the moment when they were seek
ing to shake oft' the yoke of oppres
sion, whose incvinable effect it is to
degrade our species, wheresoever
they submit to it’ w re never with
out virtues. If, as »e have the
strongest conviction, God waits for
men, and subjects them, one by one,
to judgment, according to their deed.,
in the body, which constitutes the
justice of the life to come, he passes
in mass, here below, upon nations,
according to their collective merit,
and in that way makes manifest the
providential "justice of our present
economy; as he has weighed tflem
they prosper or «sink —thus hordes
have become empires—thus empires
have disappeared.
Americans of tiic North, men of
an enfranchised world, this it is that
lias permitted you to constitute your
sell'vus into a nation—this it is that
guarantees to you a perpetuity oF*
noble existence! Your civic virtues
have sprung from your laborious ha
bit 0 . and rour domestic virtues. The