Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN
RECORDER.
VOL. I.
MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1820.
No. 14.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
(on Tuesdays)
BY S. GRJLYTL.d.YD fy R. M ORME,
at three dollars, in advance, or
FOUR DOLLARS AT THE EXPIRATION
OF THE YEAR.
(J"j* Advertisements conspicuously inser
ted at the customary rates.
COMMODORE STEPHEN DECATUR.
FROM THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
Mr. Elliot,—The true character of
a man is to be found in the actions of his
life. The memory of the late Com.
Stephen Decatur is dear to Americans ;
but there are not many of his country
men, l believe, who, in a moment, can
recollect all the heroic circumstances
connected with his fame. Many years
have elapsed since he first commenced
the career of glory ; and the particulars
of his renown, as in the case of other ce
lebrated men, have been, more or less,
comprehended and mingled in the gene
ral lustre of his reputation. The pre
sent appears to me a suitable time to re
call to the minds of the American people
the principal incidents in the life of that
brave and accomplished gentleman ; and,
with that view, 1 pray you to insert in
your gazette, the following Biographical
Sketch, which appeared in the Analec-
tic Magazine for June, 1813. I have
endeavoured to fill up the outline, by
bringing down the narrative of the ma
gazine to the period of the fatal duel,
i believe that you will agree with me,
sir, that it is easier to deprive the nation
of such an officer than to supply his place.
c*
Com. Stephen Decatur is of French
descent by the male line. His grand
father was a native of La Rochelle, in
France, and married a lady of Rhode-
Island His father, Stephen Decatur,
was born in Newport (Rhode-lsland) and
when a very young man removed to Phi
ladelphia, where he married the daugh
ter of an Irish gentleman by the name
of Pine. He was bred to the sea, and
commanded a merchant vessel out of the
port of Philadelphia until the establish
ment of the navy, when he was appoint
ed to the command of the Delaware
sloop of war. He continued in her un
til the frigate Philadelphia was built,
when the command of that ship was giv
en to him, at the particular request of
the merchants, who built her by sub
scription. In this situation he remained
until peace was made with France, when
he resigned his commission, and retired
to his residence, a few miles from Phila
delphia, where he resided until his death,
which happened in November, 1808.
His son, Stephen Decatur, the present
commodore, was born on the 6th Janua
ry, 1779, on the eastern shore of Mary
land, whither his parents had retired,
whilst the British were in possession of
Philadelphia. They returned to that
city when he was a few months old, and
he was there educated and brought up.
He entered the navy in March, 1793,
as midshipman, and joined the frigate
United States, under the command of
commodore Barry, who had obtained
the warrant Cor him. He continued for
some time with that officer, and was pro
moted to the rank of lieutenant. The
United States at that time required some
repairs, and, not wishing to remain in
E ort, he requested ah order to join the
rig Norfolk, then bound to the Spanish
Main. He performed one cruise in her,
as first lieutenant, and on his return to
port, resumed his station Ih board of
the United States, where he remained
until peace was concluded with France.
He was then ordered to the Essex,
as first lieutenant, and sailed with com
modore Dale’s squadron to the Mediter
ranean. On the return of that squad
ron he was ordered to the New-York,
one of the second Mediterranean squad
ron, under the command of commodore
Morris.
When he returned to the U. States
he was ordered to take the command of
the Argus, and proceed in her to join
Commodore Preble’s squadron, then in
the Mediterranean, ami on his arrival
there to resign the command of the Argus
to lieutenant Hull, and take the schooner
Pntcrprize, then commanded by that
officer. After making that exchange he
proceeded to Syracuse, where the squad
ron was to rendezvous. On his arrival
at that port, he was informed of the fate
ot the frigate Philadelphia, which had
ran aground on the Barbary coast, and
™len into the hands of the Tripolitans.
1 he idea immediately presented itself
to his mind, of attempting her recapture
0r ( J est ruction. On Commodore Preble’s
arr ival, a few days afterwards, he pro
P°9ed to him a plan for the purpose, and
volunteered his services to execute it.
he Wa ry mind of that veteran officer
« nV ^approved °f nn enterprise so
1 of peril; but the risks and difficult
, es “'at surrounded it only stimulated
e ardent Decatur, and imparted to it
* n ' i ' r . of adventure fascinating to his
»ful imagination.
jj e consent of the commodore hav
* e ° n °' ,ta * ne< L lieutenant Decatur
e ected for the expedition a ketch (the
Intrepid) which he had captured a few
weeks before from the enemy, and man
ned her with seventy volunteers, chiefly
from his own crew. He sailed from Sy
racuse on the 3d February, 1804, ac-
conuMwed by the United States’ brig
Syiflplieut. Stewart, who was to aid
witWfc boats, and to receive the crew
of the ketch, in case it should be found
expedient to use her as a fire ship.
After fifteen days very tempestuous
weather, they arrived at the harbour of
Tripoli a little before sunset. It had
been arranged between lieutenants De
catur and Stewart, that the ketch should
enter the harbor about ten o’clock that
night, attended by the boats of the Sy
ren. On arriving off the harbour, the
Syren, in consequence of a change of
wind, had been thrown six or eight miles
without the Intrepid. The wind at this
time was fair, but fast declining, & lieut.
Decatur apprehended that, should he
wait for the Syren’s boats to come up, it
•might be too late to make the attack that
night. Such delay might be fatal to the
enterprize, as they could not remain
longer on the coast, their provisions be
ing nearly exhausted. For these rea
sons he determined to adventure into
the harbor alone, which he did about 8
o’clock.
An idea may be formed of the extreme
hazard of this enterprise from the situa
tion ofthe frigate. She was moored with
in half gun shot of the Bashaw’s Castle,
and of the principal battery. Two of
the enemy’s cruizers lay within two ca
bles’ length, on the starboard quarter,
and their gun boats within half gun shot
on the starboard bow. All the guns of
the frigates were mounted and loaded.
Such were the immediate perils that
our hero ventured to encounter with a
single ketch, beside the other dangers
that abound in a strongly fortified har
bor.
Although from the entrance, to the
place where the frigate lay was only 3
miles, yet inconsequence of the, lightness
of the wind they did not get within hail
of her until eleven o’clock. When they
had approached within 200 yards, they
were hailed and ordered to anchor, or
they would be tired into. Lieutenant
Decatur ordered a Maltese, pilot, who
was on hoard the ketch, to answer that
they had lost their anchor in a gale of
wind on the coast, and therefore could
not comply with their request. By this
time it had become perfectly calm, and
they were about fifty yards from the fri
gate. Lieut. Decatur ordered a small
boat that was alongside of the ketch, to
take a rope and make it fast to the fri
gate’s fore chains. This being done they
began to warp the ketch alongside.—
It was not until this moment that the en
emy suspected the cuaracter of their vi
sitor, and great confusion immediately
ensued. This enabled our adventurers
to get alongside of the frigate, when De
catur immediately sprang .aboard, follow
ed by Mr. Charles Morris,* midshipman.
These two were nearly a minute on the
deck, before their companions could suc
ceed in mounting the side. Fortunately,
the Turks had not sufficiently recover
ed from their surprise to take advan
tage of this delay. They were crowded
together on the quarter deck, perfectly
astonished and aghast, without making
any attempt to oppose the assailing par
ty. As a sufficient number of our men
had gained the deck, to form a front e-
qual to that of the enemy, they rushed
in upon them. The Turks stood the as
sault but a short time, and were com
pletely overpowered. About twenty
were killed on the spot, many jumped
overboard, and the rest fled to the main
deck, whither they were pursued and
driven to the hold.
After entire possession had been gain
ed ofthe ship, and every thing prepared
to set fire to her, a number of launches
were seen rowing about the harbor.—
This determined lieutenant Decatur to
. emain in the frigate, from whence a bet
ter defence could be made than from on
board the ketch. The enemy had al
ready commenced firing upon them from
their batteries and castle, and from two
corsairs that were laying near. Per
ceiving that the launches did not attempt
to approach, he ordered that the ship
should be set on fire, which was done,
at the same time, in different parts.—
As soon as this was completely effected
they left her, and such was the rapidity
ofthe flumes, that it was with the utmost
difficulty they preserved the ketch
At this critical moment a most propitious
breeze sprang up, blowing directly out
of the harbor, which, in a few minutes,
carried them beyond the reach of the
enemy’s guns, and they made good their
retreat without the Joss of a single man,
and with but four wounded.
For this gallant and romantic achieve
ment, Lieutenant Decatur was promo
ted to the rank of post captain, there be
ing at that time no intermediate grade.
This promotion was particularly gratify
ing to him, inasmuch as it was done with
the consent of the officers over whose
heads he was raised.
In the ensuing spring, it being deter
i * Now Captain Morris of the Adam;.
mined to make an attack upon Tripoli,
Commodore Preble obtained from the
King of Naples the loan of six gun boats,
and two bombards, which he formed iuto
two divisions, and gave the command of
one of them to Capt. Decatur, the other
to Lieut. Somers. The squadron sailed
from Syracuse, consisting of the frigate
Constitution, the brig Syren, the schoon
ers Nautilus & Vixen, and the gun boats.
Having arrived on the coast of Barba
ry, they were for some days prevented
from making the attack, by adverse wind
and weather; at length, on the morning
of the 3d of August, the weather being
favorable, the signal was made from the
commodore’s ship to prepare for action,
the light vessels towing the gun boats to
windward. At 9 o’clock the signal was
made for bombarding the town and the
enemy’s vessels. The gun boats were
cast off, and advanced in a line ahead,
led on by Capt. Decatur, and covered
by the frigate Constitution, and the brigs
and schooners. The enemy’s gun boats
were moored along the mouth of the har
bor under the batteries, and within mus
ket shot. Their sails had been taken
from them, and they were ordered to
sink rather than abandon their position.
They were aided and covered, likewise,
by a brig of 16, and a schooner of ten
guns.
Before entering into close action, cap
tain Decatur went alongside each of his
boats, and ordered them to unship their
bowsprits and follow him, as it was his
intention to board the. enemy’s boats.—
Lieut. James Decatur commanded one
of the boats belonging to Lieut. Somers’
division, but being further to windward
than the rest of bis division, he joined &
took orders from his brother.
When Capt. Decatur, who was in the
leading boat, came within range of the
fire from the batteries, a heavy fire was
opened upon him from them and from
the gun bouts. He returned their fire,
and continued advancing until he came
in contact with the boats. At this time,
Commodore Preble, seeing Decatur ap
proaching nearer than he thought pru
dent, ordered the signal to be made for
a retreat; but it was found that in mak
ing out the signals for the boats, the one
for a retreat had been omitted. The e-
nemy’s boats had about forty men each ;
ours an equal number, twenty-seven of
whom were Americans, and thirteen Ne
apolitans. Decatur, on boarding the e-
nemy, wa9 instantly followed by his
countrymen, hut the Neapolitans remain
ed behind. The Turks did not sustain
the combat, hand to hand, with that firm
ness they had obtained a reputation for:
in ten minutes the deck was cleared :
eight of them sought refuge in the hold;
and of the rest, some fell on the deck, &.
others jumped into the sea. Only three
of the Americans were wounded.
As Decatur was about to proceed out
with his prize, the boat which had been
commanded by his brother came under
his stern, and informed him that they had
engaged and captured one ofthe enemy,
but that her commander, after surren
dering, had treacherously shot Lieuten
ant James Decatur, and pushed off with
the boat, and was then making for the
harbor.
The feelings of the gallant Decatur,
on receiving this intelligence, may more
easily be imagined than described. Eve
ry consideration of prudence and safety
was lost in his eagerness to punish so
dastardly an act, &. to revenge the death
of a brother so basely murdered. He
pushed within the enemy’s line with his
single boat, and having succeeded in get
ting alongside of the retreating foe,
boarded her at the head of eleven men,
who were all the Americans he had left.
The fate of this contest was extreme
ly doubtful for twenty minutes. All the
Americans except four were now severe
ly wounded. Decatur singled out the
commander as the peculiar object of his
vengeance. The Turk was armed with
an espontoon, Decatur with a cutlass ; in
attempting to cut off the head of the wea
pon his sword struck on the iron and
broke close to the hilt. The Turk at
this moment made a push, which slight
ly wounded him in the right arm and
breast. He immediately seized the spear
and closed with him. A fierce struggle
ensued, aiid both fell. Decatur upper
most. By this time the Turk had drawn
a dagger from his belt, and was about to
plunge it in the body of his foe, when
Decatur caught his arm,, and shot him
with a pistol, which he had taken from
his pocket. During the time they were
struggling on the deck, the crews rushed
to the aid of their commanders, and a
most sanguinary conflict took place, in
somuch, that when Decatur had des
patched his adversary, it was with the
greatest difficulty he could extricate him-
self from the killed and wounded that
had fallen around him.
It is with no common feeling of admi
ration that we record an instance of he
roic courage, and loyal self devotion, on
the part of a common sailor. During
the early part of Decatur’s struggle with
the Turk, he was assailed in rear by one
of the enemy, who had just aimed a blow
at his head with his sabre, that must
have been fatal: at this fearful juncture
a noble hearted tar, who hud been so
badly wounded as to lose the use of his
hands, seeing no other means of saving
his commander, rushed between him hi
the uplifted sabre, and received the blow
on his own head, which fractured his
scull. We love to pause & honor great
actions in humble life, because they
speak well for human nature. Men of
rank and station in society often do .gal
lant deeds, in a manner from necessity.
Their conspicuous situation obliges them
to do so, or their eagerness for glory
urges them on ; but an act like this we
have mentioned, so desperate, yet so dis
interested ; done by an obscure, unam
bitious individual, u poor sailor, can
spring from nothing but innate noble
ness of soul. We are happy to add that
this generous fellow survived, and now
receives a pension from government.
Decatur succeeded in getting with
both of his prizes to the squadron, and
the next day received the highest com
mendation, in u general order, from
Com. Preble. When that able officer
was superseded in the command of the
squadron, he gave the Constitution to
Capt. Decatur, who had, some time be
fore, received his commission.* From
that ship he was removed to the Con
gress, and returned home in her when
peace was concluded with Tripoli. On
his return to the United States, he was
employed in superintending gun boats,
until the affair ofthe Chesapeake, when
he was ordered to supercede Com. Bar-
ion in the command of that ship, since
which period he has had the command
of the southern squadron. When the
United States was again put in commis
sion, he wa3 removed from the Chesa
peake to that frigate.
The foregoing particulars were fur
nished us by a friend, as materials from
which to form a biography ; but wc were
so well pleased with the simplicity, con
ciseness and modesty of the narration,
that we resolved to lay it before our
readers with merely a few trivial altera
tions.
The present war with Great-Britain
has given Commodore Decatur another
opportunity of adding to the laurels he
had already won. On the 26th October,
1812, in lat. 29, N. long. 29. 30, W. he
fell in with his Britannic Majesty’s ship
Macedonian, mounting 49 carriage guns.
This was one of the finest frigates in the
British navy, and commanded by Capt.
John S. Carden, one of the ablest offi
cers. She was in prime order, 2 yeare
old, and but four months out of dock.—
The enemy being to windward, had the
advantage of choosing his own distance ;
and, supposing the United States to be
the Essex, (which only mounts carro-
uades,) kept at first at long shot, and did
not at any moment come within the com
plete effect of the musketry and grape.
After the frigates had come to close ac
tion, the battle was terminated in a very
short period, by the enemy’s surrender.
The whole engagement lasted for an hour
and a half, being prolonged by the dis
tance at which the early part of it was
foeght, and by a heavy swell of the sea.
The superior gunnery of the Americans
was apparent in this, as in all our other
actions. The Macedonian lost her mi-
zen-mast, fore and main top-masts, and
main yard, and was much cut up in the
hull. Her loss was thirty-six killed, and
sixty-eight wounded. The damage of
the United States was comparatively tri
vial, four killed and seven wounded ;
and she suffered so little in her hull and
rigging, that she might have continued
her cruise, hud not Commodore Decatur
thought it important to convoy his prize,
into port, liis reception of Capt. Car
den on hoard of the United States was
truly characteristic. On presenting his
sword, Dec»tur observed that he could
not think of taking the sword of an offi
cer who had defended his ship so gallant
ly, hut he should he happy to take him
by the hand.
We are sorry to observe that Captain
Carden has not been ingenuous in his
account of this affair. He mentions that,
after an hour’s action the enemy brac
ed and came to the wind, and l was then
enabled to bring her to close action."—
Now, on the contrary, we have it from
the very best authority, that the U. Stales
was close hauled to the wind, and her
commander was extremely anxious to
come to close quarters. There are o-
ther parts of Captain Carden’s official
letter that are exceptionable, hut we
shall pass them over without comment.
It is natural for a proud and gallant mind
to writhe under humiliation, and to en
deavour to palliate the disgrace of de
feat ; but a truly magnanimous spirit
would scorn to do it at the expense of a
brave and generous foe. Captain Car'
den must know that he had it in his pow''
er to close with the United States when
ever he pleased, and that there was no
movement on the part of Com. Decatur
to prevent it. Wc again repeat, that it
is with regret we notice any instance of
disingenuousness in an officer whose ge
neral character we admire, and whose
1
deportment at all times to our country
nieu has been such as to entitle him to
the highest good will.
It is not one of the least circumstan
ces of Com. Decatur’s good fortune, or
rather good management, that he con
voyed his prize, in her shattered condi
tion, across a vast extent of ocean, swar
■ning with foes, and conducted her tri
umphantly into port; thus placing im
mediately before the eyes of his coun
trvmen, a noble trophy of his own skill,
and of national prowess.
Such has been the brilliant career of
this naval hero. In private life his for
tune has been equally propitious. Ho
nored by his country, beloved by his
friends, and blessed by the affections of
an amiable and elegant woman.t He is
now in the very prime of life, pleasing
in his person, of an intelligent and inte
resting countenance, and an eye in whose
mild and brilliant lustre, spirit, enter
prize and urbanity are happily blended.
His deportment is manly and unassuming;
and his manners peculiarly gentle and
engaging ; uniting the polish of the gen
tleman with the frank simplicity of the
sailor. It is with the most perfect de
light thnt we have noticed our naval offi
cers, on returning from the gallant n-
chievements which are the universal to
pics of national pride Si exultation, sink
ing at once into unostentatious and quiet
citizens. No vain-glorious boastings, no
puerile gasconades, are ever heard from
their lips ; of their enemy they always
speak with courtesy & respect; of their
own exploits with unaffected modesty &
frankness. With the aspiring ardour of
truly brave spirits they pay hut little re
gard to the past; their whole souls seem
stretched towards the future. 1 nto such
hands we confide, without apprehension
or reserve, our national interests and ho
nor ; to this handful of gallant w'orthies
is allotted the proud destiny of. founding
the naval fame of the nation, and of thus
having their names inseparably connect
ed with the glory of their country-^
Thus far the Biographical Sketch of
the Analectic Magazine.
In January, 1015, a cruise to the
East Indies was determined upon by go
vernment, with a squadron under the or
ders of Commodore Decatur, who then
commanded the frigate President, lying
it New-York. In attempting to put to
sea in the face of a British naval force,
consisting of the Majestic razee, and the
frigates Endymion, Tencdos, and Po
mona, the President, through the negli
gence of the pilot, Btruck upon the bar
of that port, in consequence of which
her ballast shifted, and the swiftness of
her sailing was impaired. Commodore
Decatur, nevertheless, from the course
of the wind, was, in some measure, com
pelled to proceed, lie fell in with the
British squadron, which gave chase ; and
the Endymion sailing faster than the Pre
sident, came up with and engaged her.-
This English frigate, however, was bea
ten off, and would have been inevitably
captured, had not the remainder of the
squadron got up, and overpowered the
Americans. Commodore Decatur, who
was wounded in the engagement, would
not deliver his sword to the captain of
the Endymion, and surrendered it only
to the commander of the British squad
ron, every vessel of which was near,
and two within striking distance of the
President when she yielded. For some
time it was insisted that the Endymion
alone had made the capture ; but an of
ficial advertisement iu the English news
papers, notifying a distribution of prize-
money, on account of the frigate Presi
dent, among the officers and crews of all
the ships of the capturing squadron, prov
ed that this was a vain-glorious boast.
A highly respectable court martial,
upon the return of Capt. Decatur to the
United States, not only acquitted him of
all blame for the loss of his ship, but
praised his bravery and good conduct in
exalted terms of expression.
No circumstance further illustrates the
biography of Decatur until after the close
of the war with Great Britain, when a
fleet, consisting of the Guerriere, Con
stellation and Macedonian frigates, the
Onturio and Epervier brigs, and four
schooners, was despatched to the coait
of Barbary under his command, to punish
the Barbarians for some violations of the
laws of nations, in respect to the citizens
of the United States of America. War
was declared against the Barbary Pow
ers, March 2, 1815.
Decatur sailed from New-York, May
20,1816, and arrived at Gibraltar in 26
days, where be learned that the Alge
rine squadron had been out into the At
lantic, and had probably returned into
the Mediterranean—upon which they
proceeded without delay for Algiers, ie
hopes of intercepting the enemy before
he could reach that port. On the 7th of
June, he captured the Algerine frigate
Mazauda, after a running fight of 25 mi
nutes. The Algerine admiral (Hammi-
da) was killed in the action by a cannoa
ball. Two days nfterwards the squad
ron took a brig of 22 guns, and arrived
at Algiers on the 28th of June. A trea
ty was formed with the Dey, upon the
basis laid down by the American commis
sioners, by which an end was put to any
claim of tribute from the United States,
under any pretext whatever. From Al
giers he proceeded to Tripoli and Tu
nis, and obtained an indemnity in money
for suffering American vessels to be ta
ken out of their harbours by the Brit
ish, during the late war, without impe
diment—and in the former place, he ef
fected the release of ten captives, two
Danes and eight Neapolitans ; ttie latter
of whom he landed at Messina. He join
ed Com. Buinbridge at Gibraltar, sailed
for the United States in the Guerriere,
and arrived the following November.
Congress having, on the 7th of Feb'ry
1816, enacted a law, authorizing the
President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to appoint three
officers ofthe Navy, whose rank should
not be below a post captain, to consti
tute a Board of Commissioners for the
Navy of the United States, Com. Deca
tur, on his return from the Mediterrane
an, was selected by President Madison
as one of these. He was in the vigilant
and satisfactory exercise of the duties of
this office, when he was challenged to
single combat, with pistols, by Commo
dore James Barron, formerly of the fri
gate Chesapeake, & was mortally wound
ed at the first fire. He was immediate
ly conveyed to the city of Washington,
from Bladeusburgh, the scene of thus
bloody catastrophe, and died at his own
residence on the night of the 22d March,
1820, in excruciating pain, but with
manly firmness, amidst a vast circle of
friends, great numbers of whom crowd
ed to his dwelling on the first news of
his disaster. His remains were deposi
ted, on the 24th of the same month, ia
the vault of Kalorama, the well known
seat of the late J oel Barlow, esq. whence,
we understand, the corpse will be even
tually removed to Philadelphia, for final
interment. The funeral was accompa
nied with military honors, and the con
course of citizens and strangers in atten
dance, was the most numerous ever
known on any similar occasion ia the dis
trict of Columbia.
* It was dated tbe 16th February, 1804, the
day on which he destroyed the Philadelphia.—
He also received a vote of thanks sad a ttvord
for that achievement.
i Some years since, Commodore Decatur was
married to Miss Wheeler, of Norfolk, a lady ce
lebrated for her accomplishments, and at that
time a reigning belle in Virginia.
t Tile frigates United States and Macedonian
are both lying in the port of New-York, hi are
easily compurcd with each other. They have
been measured, and the following are tbe re
suits:
United States. Macedonian.
Length of deck, 176 ft. 166 ft.
Breadth of beam. 43 ft. 48 8 in.
Tonnage, 1405 1325
Each vessel has 15 ports on a side, on the
main deck ; the first carries 24 and the latter 16
pounders thereon. The carronades of each, on
the quarter deck and fore-eastle, are of tbe like
calibre; and the only further difference is, that
the United Slates had five more of them. It is
false that our frigates carry 441b. aarronades
they have only 32’s.
The gallant conduct of Com. Decatur, in cap
luring the Macedonian, has been rewarded by
numerous tokens of public gratitude. He has
received a vote of thanks and medal from Coir
gress; a vote of thanks and sword from the
state of Virginia ; a vote of thanks from Mary
land ; a vote of thanks and sword from Penn
sylvania ; a sword from the city of Philadel
phia ; a vote of thanks from Massachusetts; a
Vote of thanks from the state of NeW-York; the
freedom of the city of New-York, and has been
elected an honorary member of the Cincinnati
Society of that State. Public dinners have becu
given him, and various (Rhor satarlftmiuealf.
If we may be permitted to form ad
opinion from what we see, and especially
from what we hear, we should be fully
convinced, that the deficiency in the du
ties on imported merchandize will be
considerably larger than the Committee
of Ways and Means have supposed. At
least when the accounts are made up on
the duties arising from the imports made
this spring, we have not a doubt they will,
fall far short of these for the last year.—A
What tbe East India merchandize may
produce, we do not know, not having heard
a comparison drawn, but upon European,
and purticulaly British goods, by several
experienced merchants we have been in
formed, that the quantity imported this
spring, does not amount to half, probably
not to more than one third, of that bro’f
during the last corresponding season of
the year. We take it for granted, that
the experience of New York will forma
good ground of calculation with regard
to the importations of our other trading
ports. If so, there must necessarily be a
great deficiency in the treasury accounts
for this period.—AT. Y. Daily Adv.
BRUTAL AFFAIR.
In Wayne couDty, on the 13tb inst.
Richard Hors, was murdered, by stabe
in several parts of his body, and being
cut open with a knife, so that his entrails
were exposed to view, by James Yates,
who immediately, escaped but has, w»
are glad to state, been apprehended,
through the vigilance of the sheriff of
that county, and one or two other per
sons. On his being arrested, he stated,
as we are informed, that he had btou
aided by Henry Summerville (in wKfh
house it occured) in executing the above
horrible deed.—Summerville we under
stand, has also been arrested and com
mitted to the gaol in Camden county—a
where they both are to remain to stand
their trial at the next Superior court (hr
i Wayne county.—Darien Gat. 24(ft unit