THE CONFLAGRATION OF MOSCOW-THE CAPTURED INDIAMAN.

ces, as if people were trying to force their way The table was laid for supper with cold meat up to the hatchways from below; a heavy thump- and wine, and a profusion of silver things all ing upon deck, and a creaking of the blocks, sparkling brightly; but it was in great disorder, and rattling of the cordage, while the mainyard wine spilt, and glasses broken, and dishes with was first braced one way and then another, as meat upset, and forks and spoons scattered about. if two parties were striving for the mastery. At She was evidently one of those London West Inlength a voice hailed distinctly," We are cap-diamen, on board of which I knew there was tured by a -."A sudden sharp cry, and a splash much splendor and great comfort.-But, alas! overboard told of some fearful deed. the hand of lawless violence had been there. "We are taken by a privateer, or pirate." The captain lay across the table, with his head sung out another voice. This was followed by a hanging over the side of it next to us, and unaheavy crunching blow, as when the spike of able to help himself with his hands tied behind his butcher's axe is driven through a bullock's for- back, and a gag in his mouth; his face purple head deep into the brain. from the blood running in his head, and the white of his eyes turned up, while his loud stentorous breathing but too clearly indicated the rupture of a vessel on the brain.

imploring mercy, as if she had been still in the | In fact they frequently landed near us, and took hands of those who knew not her name; and anon, a low, hysterical laugh made our very blood freeze in our bosoms, which soon ended in a long, dismal yell, as she rolled off the couch upon the deck and lay in a dead faint.

what provisions they wanted. Sometimes they would throw a few guineas at the women, and say if they did not think they were poor they would take what they wanted without leave. The boat we took to New London, and sold to Alas, the day! a maniac she was from that one of the American squadron, for seventy dolhour. She was the only daughter of the mur-lars, quite a sum for three boys, the oldest not dered captain of the ship, and never woke in her fourteen. unclouded reason to the fearful consciousness of her own dishonor and her parent's death.

From the Saturday Evening Post.
An Adventure,

DURING THE LATE WAR.

with six boats to the mouth of the harbour, and with two pieces of artillery succeeded in driving off the barges of the Wasp, and those of the frigate, that had come to their assistance.

Captain Howard's sloop was chased by the British sloop of war Wasp, on shore at the Salt Works. Guns were brought to her rescue.Two companies of militia, under Captain Decatur, Lieutenant Biddle, and other officers, were attending the Presbyterian church, at New London, at the time; and hearing the guns, they, One day in July, 1814, whilst fishing with two with all the congregation, left the church, exother boys, on the rocks below the Salt Works, pecting the fleet had made the contemplated atat the mouth of New London harbour, we observ-tack on the town. Captain Decatur proceeded ed a boat with eight oars, approaching the small cove to the westward of us. At first we supposed it contained a party of young officers from the British squadron,as they frequently amused themselves by shooting, on the island, at the mouth of the cove; but observing them more distinctly as they approached, we could see none but those at the oars; and our conjecture, that the crew had run away from one of the British vessels, was fully confirmed by their running off with all their might as soon as they landed. After they had disappeared, and seeing no prospect of their being pursued by any of the boats' squadron, we rowed our small skiff behind the rocks, keeping close to the shore, until within a few rods of their boat, when we landed under cover of a large rock, and proceeded cautiously to the boat. In the boat we found a midshipman, with his arms and feet tied, and a handkerchief over his mouth. We immediately relieved him, and learned that the crew had risen upon him, about ten miles off-a very easy task, as they were all armed-the boat having been despatched by the frigate Majestic, to reconnoitre a sloop, that they supposed was Capt. Howard's, laden with flour, from New York, a fact the midshipman was unable to ascertain, as the crew preferred leaving the sloop to make its way to New London, where it arrived after some difficulty, as I shall relate presently.

The midshipman, (now Captain R- of the Royal Navy, whom I have since had the pleasure of dining with) we ascertained, was one of a party that we had fallen in with two weeks previous, whilst shooting meadow hens. They then treated us very kindly, took some of our fish, and in return gave us some refreshments, requesting us to exchange our fishing apparatus for a pair of pistols.

Being an acquaintance we took him to my father's house, gave him some refreshments, &c. He remained with us during the day and part of the night; for, awaking very early in the morning, we found he had left us, leaving a note saying he would take our skiff, and in its place we might have the cutter. We were entirely disposed to connive at his escape, considering the manner he came into our possession; besides, our house was completely exposed to the whole squadron, without any defence nearer than Fort Griswold, distant seven or eight miles.

In consequence of the calm the British vessels could not approach near enough to do us any damage; the flour was therefore landed, and carried to New London in wagons; the sloop was got off and warped into New London harbour. Capt. Howard continued to run down to New York, during the war, taking advantage of the dark nights, his knowledge of the sound, and the winds. As for the boat's crew, they all escaped except one, who, report says, was decoyed and taken by a tory, who was strongly suspected of supplying the British with fresh provisions.

The British Admiral, Hardy, had offered one thousand dollars reward to any one who would bring him a deserter. He was induced to offer this large sum in consequence of frequent desertions from the British Navy. I never heard of but one being taken back, and this was the person I alluded to. It was said at the time that Richard

carried him off one night when he took his usual supply of fresh beef; that, on his informing the captain of the Ramilies who he had, he (the captain) took a rope from the yardarm, and hung the poor fellow from the boat, without taking him on board.

Richard

made a large sum of money, by fair and foul means, during the war, but never prospered; he committed suicide after the peace, from remorse, it was said.-In fact, all at once he appeared to be an altered man: he never smiled after the night he took the poor fellow on board the Ramilies. One of his fellow tories fled to Canada. On his return, after the peace, he was tried for high treason; but government not wishing to spill any more blood, did not make great efforts to convict him. Some of the witnesses absented themselves, and none felt willing that the man's blood should rest on their testimony. He was ably defended by a very eminent lawyer of New London, who named a mo derate fee, considering the services he rendered, but the man had no gratitude or principle, and declined paying him his fee, saying, "Why, squire, a man had better have been hung than to pay such a fee." He is still alive-has accumu[lated property, but is respected by no one. D.

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THE LION'S VISIT THE WRECK-THE CORN CRAKE-PROVERBS.

The Lion's Visit to the Market. We published, some time since, an account of a panther who amused himself by "keeping shop" a little while in New York, and we were pleased to observe that no evil resulted to any one from his change of business. The love of freedom and the search for ease is not confined to the Panther: other animals, long caged, seek an outlet, and enjoy the common air and common use of their own limbs." Two women, some fifteen or sixteen years since, were sitting about two o'clock of a market day, at the head of Sixth street market, then the highest or last in Market street, and while they were lamenting the heat of the day, and counting and comparing their profits at the close of their sales, one of them lifting up her eyes, sighing, said, "We shall have no more customers to-day." "No," sighed the other, "the clark will soon be along to clear us out-though by the way, what is that coming down the street?"

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"Good heavens !" exclaimed the first woman, that's a customer indeed-is it a dog, or a calf?"

"It's neither," shouted the other, "it's a lion, as I am a sinner." The two beldames seized their moveables, and shot across the street into a cellar, pulling the door close after them. Meantime, the tawny king of the forest, who had, while the keeper was taking his siesta, walked out of his cage into the street, pursued his way to the market, attracted probably by the savory smells that ascended from the beef and mutton, which a day's heat had acted on.

The lion, unlike the New York panther, despised shopkeeping; he ambled along at a round rate, his tail lifted right into the air, and his head jogging up and down, as if his whole mind was bent upon a good dinner.

May be," said his neighbor, “a squall is coming up; perhaps the clerk of the market is coming with his broom." "What is that?"

scented by the everlasting pilot fish, the jackalls of the shark-and that their destruction was inevitable if one of these monsters should discover the rich repast, or be led to its food by the little rapid hunter of its prey. A few minutes after, about fifteen sharks came right among them. The boat was again upset by the simultaneous endeavour to escape danger, and the twenty-two sailors were again devoted to destruction. At first the sharks did not seem inclined to seize their prey, but swam in amongst the men, playing in the water, sometimes leaping about and rubbing against their victims. This was of short duration. A loud shriek from one of the men announced his sudden pain; a shark had seized him by the leg, and severed it entirely from the body. No sooner had the blood been tasted than the dreaded attack took place: another and another shriek proclaimed the loss of limbs. Some were torn from the boat, to which they vainly endeavored to cling--some, it was supposed, sunk from fear alone. The sharks had tasted the blood, and were not to be driven from their feast. By great exertion the boat was again righted, and two men were in her, the rest had all perished.--The two survivors resolved, with gallant hearts, to redouble their exertions. They lightened the boat sufficiently not to be overset. The voracious monsters endeavored to upset the boat; they swam by its side, in seeming anxiety for their prey; but after waiting some time separated. The two rescued seamen, in spite of the horrors they had witnessed, soon fell asleep, and were the next day fortunately picked up by a vessel.

the north of England and Scotland in summer, and keeps THE CORN CRAKE-This interesting bird, which visits up in the meadows its cry of crake, crake, is well known, but is not easily seen. It runs with great rapidity, and is "What ails the women?" said a butcher, as he delibe-loth to take wing. When found, it has the instinct, in rately took down the last piece of unsold meat," what are to feign death. common with some other animals, and especially insects. A gentleman had one brought to him by they scampering after?" his dog. It was dead to all appearance. As it lay on the ground, he turned it over with his foot; he was convinced It was dead. Standing by, however, for some time, in s "That?-that is a lion!" shouted the other, and away lence, he suddenly saw it open an eye. He then took it he scampered, and his neighbor after him. The panic be-up, its head fell, its legs hung loose, it appeared again totally dead. He then put it into his pocket, and before came general. very long, he felt it all alive, and struggling to escape.He took it out, it was as lifeless as before. He then laid about five minutes it warily raised its head, looked around, it again upon the ground and retired to some distance; in and decamped at full speed.-Notes of a Naturalist.

Slam went the shop doors. "Look out for the lion!" screamed a good lady from an upper window. "Whes he," said a dray horse, as he turned up Sixth street with instinctive dread.

The coast was clear. The market was before the lion where to choose, and a good appetite his guide; he paused and nibbled at a fore quarter of lamb, he licked up a piece of beef, and smelled at a few radishes. Meantime his going abroad became known, and a goodly number were assembled in the windows above, and here and there some bold ones were discovered peeping round the corners of the street, and springing back as the gyrations of the lion's tufted tail gave notice of its owner moving,

Market street has not since exhibited such an absence of passengers.

The clerk of the market arrived with his squad of men, armed with besoms; but no sooner were they apprised of the state of the case, than they threw down their implements and ran.

The lion, meantime, danced along down the market, examining the varied contents of the stalls and shambles, until, to his own surprise, he was saluted by the well known voice of his keeper, who had waylaid him with the cage. Eating and exercise had satisfied the wanderer with his adventure; he stepped into his cage, and in ten minutes was fast asleep.

We had not the good fortune to witness the gambols to which we have referred, but it was told to us with so much satisfaction by one who said he saw it, that we have often exclaimed,

"When next the lion goes abroad,
May we be there to see."

In The Life of a Sailor, is a narrative of the wreck of a vessel off the Havanna. The crew took to the brat, which upset; they succeeded in righting her, and while two men were bailing her with their hats a shark was seen to approach. No language can convey an idea of the panic which seized the struggling seamen. Every man now strove the more to obtain a moment's safety. Well they knew that one drop of blood would have been

PROVERBS.

A spur in the head, is worth two in the heel.
A civil denial is better than a rude grant.
An old dog can't alter his way of barking.

A thread-bare coat, is armour proof against a highway man.

A wager, is a fool's argument.

Better wear out shoes, than sheets.

Beauty is potent, but money is omnipotent.

He that falls into the dirt, the longer he lies, the dirtier he is.

He who says what he likes, hears what he does not like. Poverty makes a man acquainted with strange bed fellows.

The horse shoe that clatters wants a nail.
Unbidden guests know not where to sit down.

A maid that laughs, is half taken.

A woman that painteth, puts up a bill that she is to be let.
A man's best fortune, or his worst, is a wife.

A woman conceals what she knows not.

A lass that has many wooers, often fares the worst.
Fanned fire and forced love, never did well yet.
Honest men marry soon, wise men not at all.

If marriages be made in Heaven, some have few friends there.

It is a good horse that never stumbles,
And a good wife that never grumbles.
Next to no wife, a good wife is best.
While the tall woman is stooping, the Kittle one hath
swept the house.

Smoke, raining into the house, and a scolding wife will make a man run out of doors,

He who has no bread to spare, should not keep a dog.
He who has but one coat, should not lend it.
Wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them.