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THE POOR BOY.
SC.yiCELY the day had usher’d on mankind
Its earliest dawn, when from my bed I rose,
The time December, big with murky clouds,
And piercing winds, maintain’d her cheerless reigns
Bleak was the morning, and beneath my feet,
As fast I tr'iveJPd-on the hard dry road,
The flakes of ice, transparent to the sight,
-Lay numberless; thick were the hedges hung
With fiozen dew drops; whilst the speckled thrush,
And gayer fieldfare, by the season tam’d,
Cme hovering near, and from - the hawthorn bush,
Os me regardless, pick’d tiieir scanty food.
Not far I journey’d, when before mine eyes
A boy appear’d; ragged he was, and thin,
And he had on a pair of tatter’d shoes,
Through which his feet, benumb’d withhold, I saw',
Devoid of hose, in contact with the ground;
Clasp’d were his arms around him, and he. walk’d
Shivering amain: My very bowels yearn’d
To view the wretched object so expos’d
To all the rigor of the inclement morn.
I hasten’d on, and straightway of him ask’d
To what unkindly circumstance he owed
His wretchedness. Adowu his pallid checks
The tears of sorrow at the question flow’d;
And, fixing on me such a piteous look
As fill’d my soul with sympathy extreme,
He thus his narrative of woes declar’d.
“ Hard by this place my honor’d parents dwelt
In humble state, within a cottage small,
To which the woodbine and the ivy clung,
And richly beautifi’d its rural front;
Os fortune’s favors never they possess’d
An ample share: Contentment was their own,
And by them I was wont to be beloved
With all the tenderness of a father’s soul
And a mother’s bosom, for a child can feel;
Not fourteen years this world of woe I’ve known,
And when I barely had the ninth attain’d,
My loving mother.to the dust return’d,
And left my father, at the awful stroke,
Bereft of joy. It was the will of Heaven
Lot only thus my father to afflict;
For having borrowed of a certain man
Some eighty pounds, the creditor severe
ExndVd p'lymeiiC’fong before the time
He first propos’d: Sold was my father’s all,
J o stop the threat’nings of the cruti wretch;
And from his little cottage, where before
His years so full of happiness elaps’d,
Expel I’d he was; when straight corroding grief
From morn to night upon Lis spirits seiz’d;
Fie died beneath it—and my hapless lot
Is now to bear a savage master’s s'vay,
And keep, in yonder fields, devouring birds
From seed new sown. I hither daily go,
Aiid there remain until the sullen eve
Extends her sable mantle o’er the world;
Mv woes then end not; for at home return’d,
My callous master hurries me to bed
With words austere, and bids we with the dawn,
J he earliest dawn, resume my wonted task!
Coarse too and scanty is the food I eat,
And e'en mv master’s dog is better fed
T han luckless me; for oft with liberal hand
The savory bone to Jowler is bestow’d
That gladly I would pick. Hard is my bed,
And in a high and wretched garret plac’d,
\v hose Assur’d rool admits the beating rain,
The piercing winds, the gelid flakes of snow,
And all the tempest of the wint’ry night!
On, when I think upon my former years,
And how my parents frequently would joy
1 c take, and give me, in their outstretch’d arms,
Ihe iond embrace—my very heart weeps blood!
Nor less it grieves me when I those behold,
Who, ere distress upon my parents seiz’d,
Would often to our humble cottage come,
And with us, welcome, share the homely meal,
Unkindly pass, nor once vouchsafe to yield
I'lie least assistance, or inquire my fate 1 .
Indeed, good sir, my sorrows are so keen,
1 hat Ido pray—indeed Ido TO DIE.”
Flere ceas’d the boy. Indignant I repli’d,
And are there wretches, in the form of man,
Who thus can *v a fellow creature pine
Beneath the hand of tyranny and want.
Regardless of his lot? Ob, gracious Heaven!
Permit a while the “ cruti to endure
The pangs they give!’’ Receive this im*e, p OOI .
’ 1 is all my sterile pocket can afford: ‘ ’
But had I riches 1 would take thee borne,
And feed tiiee well, and joy to keep thee clal
In garments suited to the winter s cold;
Ihou wilt not suiler long such varied jain,
But C-acl wit I take thee! Fu.li oil rrte he gaz’d,
W..list, tears of gratitude his cheeks bedew’d.
1 left him then, tormented to the soul
To view the savage cruelty of m m.
Soon I revisited die self same spot,
When pleas'd whs I to hear the haplqfs boy
Had found, but; just before, from every woe,
A place of refuge—in a Better World.
Copy cf the Convention between Lord Hawkesbury and
Mr. King, B tb January , 1802*
Difficulties having arisen in the execution of the 6th ar
ticle of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation,
concluded at London on the 4th day of November, 1794,
between h : s Britannic Majesty and the United States of
America, a/vd lii consequence thereof the proceedings of
the commissioners under the 7th article of the same treaty
having been suspended, the parties to the said treaty, be
ing equally desirous, as far as may be, to obviate such
difficulties, have respectively named plenipotentiaries to
treat and agree respecting the same; that is to say, his
Britannic majesty has named for his plenipotentiary the
right honorable Robert Banks Jenkinson, commonly cal
led lord Hawkesbury, one of his majesty’s most honorable
privy council, and his principal secretary of state for fo
reign ail airs; and/the president of the United States, by
and with the advice and consent of the senate thereof, has
named for their plenipotentiary, Rufus King, esquire,
minister plenipotentiary of the said United States to his
Britannic majesty, who have agreed to and concluded the
following articles.
Article I. In satisfaction and discharge cf the money
which the United States might have been liable to pay in
pursu- nee of the provisions of the said 6th article, which
is hereby declared to be cancelled and annulled, except so
far as the same may relate to the execution of the said 7th
article, the United States of America hereby engage to
pay, and his Britannic majesty consents to accept, for the
use of the persons described in the said 6th article, the
sum of six hundred thousand pounds sterling, payable at
the time and place and in the manner following, that is
to say, the said sum of six hundred thousand pounds ster
ling shall be paid at the city cf Washington in three an
nual instalments of two hundred thousand pounds sterling
each, and to such person or persons as shall be authorized
by his Britannic majesty to receive the same; the first of
the said instalments to be paid at the expiration of one
year, the second instalment at the expiration of two years,
and the tliiid and last instalment at the expiration of three
years, next following the exchange of the ratifications of
this convention: And, to prevent any 7 disagreement con
cerning the rate of exchange, the said payments shall be
made in the money of the said United States, reckoning
four dollars and forty-four cents to be equal to one pound
sterling. r
O
, A , rt f !e . IL Whereas it is agreed by the 4 th article of
the definitive treaty of peace, concluded at Paris on the 3d
uay of September, 1783, between his Britannic majefly
and the United States, that creditors on either side should
nuet with no lawful impediments to the recovery of the
lull value in sterling money of ail bona /de debts theretofore
contracted, it is hereby declared that the said 4th article,
so rar as it respects its future operation, is hereby recog
n.zed, confirmed, and declared to be binding and obligat
ory upon his Britannic majesty and the said United States,
and the same shall be accordingly observed with pundtua
hty and good faith, and so as the said creditors shall i tre
after meet with no lawful impediment in the recoverr of
tae full value in sterling money of their bona fide debts.
Article Iff. It is furthermore agreed and concluded,
that tne commissioners appointed in pursuance of the 7th
article of the said treaty of amity, commerce, and navi
gation, and whose proceedings have been suspended as a
foresaid, shall, immediately after the signature of this
convention, reassemble and proceed in the execution of
their duties, according to the provisions of the said 7 th
article, except only that, instead of the sums awarded by
the said commissioners being made payable at the time or
tunes by them appointed, all sums of money by them a
warded to be paid to American or British claimants, ac
co mg to the provisions of the said 7th article, shall be
made payable m three equal instalments, the first whereof
to be paid at the expiration of one year, the second at the
expiration of two years, and the third and last at the ex
piration of three years, next after the exchange of the ra
tifications of tins convention.
Article IV. This convention, v hen the same shall
Unit dfs! I"* b/ il3 n ’ a j tSt - V aiid lht president of the
J . h S !’ ° y ‘ and w,th the Jvice and consent cf the
sena.c thtieoi, and the respective ratifications duly ex
changed, shaU be binding and obligatory upon his majesty
and the said United States. In faith whereof we thj u Z
dersigned plenipotentiary* of his Britannic majesty and of
t ie G lined States of America, by virtue of our respective
fu powers, have signed the present convention, and have
caused the seals of our arms to be affixed thereto!’
Done at London, the Bth day of January, 1802.
I £* Hawkeshuky.
U Rufus King.
law case.
At the general sessions of the ceace fnr j
comity of New York, on the loffii,,* Cy
1* tried, a „ indjetaem aeamfi cam^}dr fV “
grand larceny, in dealing from a nn. Wmiam st, a
paflenger on board his vtfihi i„;„ . , amis, a
r s ty ’ te ter ot wha,vts
wtttttatelly”‘r tend
board of wl,id, he had Call l 7’ 1 “P** Stark ’
That, on his way to the vrOVI P‘ lfla 8 e ,or Savannah:
with whom he exchanged . o 'o!iolVirs 71 W ' th ’ f ™ nJ >
the cabin, the prilbner £ J
lars, which Sim*complied wfitli, taking from Us pocket a
memorandum took, which doled with a pencil, and took
therefrom a io dollar note, and from his pccket lock io
more in silver, which he gave to the prifonci: That at this
time he saw his money: He then deiired from the captaifl
a receipt, ivhich the witness wrote on one of the leaves of
the book oil the head of a barrel, and pull ed it over to
the prisoner to sign, v \ch he did: That ti e witness then
took up the book, fiiot the pencil in front cf it, put it i n
his pocket, and went from the vefTel to the house cf fo me
peribn with whom he had bufmefs, and there, taking out
the book for the .find tiire r miffed the monev: That lie re!
turned to the vefiel and made inquiries of all the people
but could obtain no info mntion: At the time of the pri!
loner’s signing ti e receipt there were two black men pre
sent, one by the name of Robert Hail, who were occupied
in preparing a fUte room for fome palfergers: That he
firmly believed the captain, and no other per-on, had his
money, and that he took it at the time he signed the re
ceipt.
r l'he attorney general 1 ere rtPed the proftcution. Mr.
Waftiington Merton, of ceunftl for the prisoner, then
offered two witnesses; the firft Robert Hall, who deposed
That he was in the cabin, law mr. Sims lend the money
to the prisoner, finv the receipt signed: T hat mr. Sims
never let the book out of his hand, but held fall by one of
the covers, between which and the firft: leaf mr. Simsfaid
his money had been: That he saw the prisoner, after sign
ing diis name, drop the pen or pencil, lie could not deter
mine which, and swore pohtiveiy that the prisoner had
nothing in his hand, and that if he had then taken the
money he muff have seen it, it was impossible he could
have taken it and he not have seen it.
The second vitnefs was Zebulon Houston, one of the
marshals of the city, who deposed, That he happened to
be on board the vefiel with a warrant for one of the men:
That he was in the cabin at the time of signing the re!
ceipt, and thought it impossible that the prisoner could .
have then taken the money and he not have seen it: That
at the time of rnr. Sims taking the book from tlie head of
the bairel the witness saw fome bank notes between the
leaf and cover: That the prisoner immediately after figu.
ing the receipt left the cabin with the witness.
Mr. Morton was then proceeding to call other witnesses,
when one of the marshals informed him he had seen the
fiift witness for the prisoner, a few days before, with up.
wards of a thousand dollars in bank notes, and with feme
Charleston pi per ccrrefpcndir.g with that deferibed by mr.
Sims, and that lie obforvtd that the moment Hall had
perceived him in court he left it with precipitation. Hall
was thereupon foarched for, but was not to be found, and
officers were dH'patched in pursuit of him. Further inti
mations being given that mr. Roberts, the deputy clerk of
the Ten Pound Court, had seen him alio with a large sum
of money, mr. Roberts was sent for, and deposed, that
Hall had been fome time before in ids court upon force
suit, and dilplaying a large sum of money in a very care
lei’s way, he adviled him to depofite it in feme place of
fafety, to which Hall acceded, and mr. Roberts accompa
nied him to ti e Manhattan bank, when he uepofited 600
dollars, but the bank refilled to take 30P dollars that he
had in Charleston paper, one note of 100 dollars, and
four of 50 each.
Upon this evidence the attorney general declared his
firm conviction of the prisoner’s innocence, and thefocurt
being of that opinion, as well as the jury, capt. Stark was
immediately acquitted.
A few moments after the officers returned with Hall,
who, after fome ewdions, conftffed t: e whole affair; that
as Sims lifted the book from the head cf the barrel the
money dropped out, wiiich, after the captain and mr. Sims
left the cabin, he picked up and put into his pocket, and
then went on ftiore and concealed it. A bill of indiftment
was prepared and lent to the grand jury, which happened
to be fitting, upoif which Hall was arraigned; a plea of
not guilty being recorded for him, his trial was proceeded
in, and, after hearing the testimony, the jury, without
retiring from the bar, found him Guilty, and the court
sentenced him to five years imprisonment at hard labor in
the state pri ion.
This statement has been drawn up, in order, by making
it public, as fi.r as pollible to vindicate the reputation of
capt. Stark, which fullered from having been brought to
answer a charge lo criminal in its nature, and of which, as
the event has manifefted, lie was perfectly innocent. And
it is requested of every printer who can spare a place in bis
paper to have the goounefs to insert it, thereby extending
the evidence which was thus providentially interposed to
exonerate a worthy and refpettable citizen, not only from \
puniffiment, but from the ilighteft lhade of fufpkion.
It may be proper to add, that mr. Riker, the diftrid
attorney, has examined the above relation, and sanctions
its publication.
SHERIFF’S SALES.
On Tuesday the \fi day of June next , will be fold by
public outcry r ‘.at the courtbovfe in this city , between
the hours cfX and 111 o'clock ,
ALL IHAI LOl OF LAND, with the Improve
ments thereon, in the city of Savannah, known by
the No. 8, bounded on Prince street to the south, Hicks’s
tithing, W right’s lquare, Percival ward, containing 60
foet in width and 90 feet in depth, occupied by Mr.
Roma, seized as the property of Edmund Wiggins, de
cealed, pointed out by the plaintiff’s attorney.
A I\\O S 1 ORY HOUSE on the lot adjoining Mr.
Cuyler to the weft, occupied by the defendant, seized as
the property of Adrian Boucher, pointed out by the plaint
iff’s attorney.
A NEGRO BOY and A FEW Y\ARDS OF COAT
ING, seized as the property of Patrick Rae, the former
pure haler no* complying with the conditions of sale.
Conditions calh.
T. Norton,, s. c. c.
Savannah , 29 tb April , 1802.
SAVANNAH: Pointed by N. JOHNSTON and CO.