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the Sun. Venus will be an evening-star for the month. On the 1ft. her elongation from the Son will be 42o 28', and on the 28th 45° 38'. As feen through a telescope, her gibbous appearance, which on the 1ft of the month will be the fame with that of the Moon when the is within 223 degrees of her last quarter, by the end of the month will have increafed fo as to resemble the Moon about fifteen hours before the arrives at her last quadraturę. Notwithstanding this constant diminution of illumination as it respects her dik, her luftre will be conftantly increafing on account of her rapid approach to the earth enlarging her apparent diameter. On the 18th fhe comes into conjunction with the of the Fishes, of the fourth magnitude, when their difference of latitude will be 22 minutes, the ftar being to the north. Mars may ftill be feen in the morning. Through the month he will rapidly increase in his apparent magnitude, his gibbous appearance and distance from the Earth conftantly decreasing. On the evening of the 1ft he rifes at eleven o'clock, and on the evening of the 28th at 39 minutes paft ninc. Jupiter may be feen every favourable evening in the weft, foon after fun-set, but with fome difficulty towards the end of the month on account of his then being within a few degrees of his conjunction with the Sun. Saturn will be up in the mornings feveral hours before fun-rife. On the 1ft the difference of longitude of this planet and the Scorpion's heart, a ftar of the firft magnitude, will be 4° 32', and of latitude 6° 31′, and on the 28th the difference of longitude will be 3° 22′, and of latitude 6° 36′. It must be obferved that in both cafes the ttar is more advanced in longitude, and to the fouth of the planet. The Georgium Sidus will be ftill a morningftar. On the morning of the 1ft he rifes at eighteen minutes before one; on the evening of the 14th at 47 minutes past eleven; and on the evening of the 28th at 53 minutes past His nearest approach to the a, in the fouth scale of the balance this month will be on the 13th, when their difference of longitude will be 2° 45′, and of latitude seven minutes. During this month that very remarkable star, the ẞ in the constellation of Perfeus, otherwife named Medufa's head, may be obferved feveral times to increase and decrease in brightness. At its full fplendour it is a bright star of the fecond magnitude, nearly equal to the a in the fame constellation; but in the space of about four hours it gradually decreases to a star of the fourth magnitude, and afterwards in the fame fpace of time as gradually recovers its light, which it retains about two days and a half, and then begins to lofe its light, and afterwards to recover it, as before. The times of its least brightnefs which will be vifible to Great Britain are the following: the 1st, at six, evening; the 13th, at a quarter past five, morning; the 16th, at a quarter past two, morning; the 18th, at eleven, night; and the 21st, at half past feven, evening. If four hours be fubtracted from the above times it will fhow the beginning of the decrease of the star's light; but if four hours be added, the fum will be the time of the end of the phenomenon. But of all the variable stars whose period of light is known, there is none whofe brightness at one time is fo strikingly contrasted with its brightness at another time, as that very remarkable star in the Whale's neck, named by Bayer. It is fometimes fo bright as to surpass either the a or in the fame constellation, which are stars of the fecond magnitude, and at other times it is as faint as a telescopic star of the tenth magnitude. It is now (Jan.) equal in brightness to the a of the Fishes, of the third magnitude, and is expected to arrive at its greatest lustre in the month of March.

ten.

Errata in the Astronomical Anticipations for January.-Line 10, for "24 minutes" read 21 minutes. Ditto, for "more than" read more north than. Line 11, for 5 minutes" read 57 minutes.

To Correspondents

We had determined to print the Answers to COMMON SENSE on the subject of Popular Remedies in our Supplement, but, on examination, they proved fo few in Number that we shall prefer to give them place among other correfpondence in an early Magazine.

The Purchasers of the Monthly Magazine have long paid it the compliment of considering it as the cheapest work extant, and the Poprietor having been gratified at having it viewed in that light, it becomes a very painful duty to him to be under the necessity of giving notice of an unavoidable advance in its price.

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When, however, it is stated that Paper has risen within the last twelve months upwards of 20 per cent, and that all the expences attending the production of such a work have risen in a similar ratio within the last three years, it may conceived that the public at large will be satisfied of the reasonableness and necessity of the advance of this, and the other principal Magazines, from ONE SHILLING and Sixpence tO TWO SHILLINGS.

THE

[2 of VOL. 27.

No. 182.]

MARCH 1, 1809.

"As long as thofe who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving to their Opinions a Maximum of "Influence and Celebrity, the most extensively circulated Mifcellany will repay with the greatest Effect the. "Curiosity of thofe who read either for Amusement or Inftruction." JOHNSON.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

For the Monthly Magazine. An ACCOUNT of the SUFFERINGS of the CREW of TWO SCHOONERS, part of the SQUADRON of GENERAL MIRANDA, which were taken by TWO SPANISH GUARDA-COSTAS, in June, 1806; written by ONE of the SUFFERERS who made his escape. [The world knows little of the extraordinary expedition of General Miranda, to the Spanish Main, in 1806; but it will be remembered that he arrived in the Gulf of Mexico with an armed Brig, and two Schooners, and that in a rencontre with two Guarda-Costas, the Schooners were both taken. We are now enabled to lay before our readers, the particulars of the treatment their crews met with from the Spaniards. The trials tend also to throw some light on the expedition itself.]

ΤΟΝΑ

NOWARDS the end of June, the Lieutenant-Governor of Caraccas, accompanied by four assistant officers or judges, together with an interpreter for each officer, arrived at Porto Cavello, for the purpose of taking the examination of the prisoners. They assembled in the guard-house, within the walls of Castle St. Philip, in a large room fitted up for that

purpose;

in this room were

placed five separate benches with desks;

at one of which was seated the lieutenant-governor, with an interpreter; at the other four, each of the other judges, with an interpreter also.

The ordinary appearance of the place, together with the undignified looks of the judges, could scarcely induce the prisoners to believe, that this was the tribunal before which they were to be tried for their lives. Nor were they a little surprised, when they ascertained by the course of the proceedings, that they were to be compelled to give evidence, under oath, against themselves, and against each other; and upon this testimony alone they were to be convicted.

The judges being ready to proceed, caused five of the prisoners to be brought up in the first place. They were informed of the charges exhibited against them, viz. piracy, rebellion, and of murdering MONTHLY MAC, No. 182.

one of his Catholic Majesty's subjects; they were then asked to describe the manner in which oaths are administered in their own country; which having done, they were requested to lay their hands upon the Bible and administer the oaths to themselves, agreeably to the inanner in which they had been accustomed to

swear.

The five prisoners were thus distributed, one to each judge, seated at his respective desk, all being in one room, and some little distance from each other.

In the middle of the floor, lay a number of arms, and instruments of war, such as guns, rifles, axes, pistols, pikes, swords, and shovels; also, Miranda's colour, uniform clothes, and a number of his proclamations; all which were taken from on board of the schooners.

The judges commenced their exami nation by their interpreters, who put the questions in English, and gave the answers to the judges; they continued to five hours, when they were returned to examine them for the space of four or the prison and five others brought up in their places. In this manner the exa mination proceeded for the space of two weeks before it ended,

tions and answers, put to one of the priThe following were the general quessoners, who has since regained his li berty.

Q. How old are you?

A. About twenty-two years.

Q. Where was you born, and where do your parents reside?

A. I was born in the state of Massachusetts; my parents reside in New-York.

Q. Why did you leave New-York?
A. To seek my fortune.

Q. Who engaged you to go on board of the Leander?

A. Colonel Armstrong.

Q. Where was you engaged to go?

places, not disclosed to me at the time of the A. To Jacmel, and from there to other

engagement.

Q. Did you know that you was coming here?

A. No. Porto Cavello was not mentioned. Q. Did Miranda also engage you to go on board of the Leander? A. I did

2

A. Yes, and this may be one of them, but I did not know the purport of it, as I am igé̟ norant of the Spanish language.

Q. Do you know what that word means ? (pointing to the word, Madrid.)

A. It means, I presume, the capital of Old Spain.

Q. Is that all you know of it here?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you know those articles? (pointing to the war-like instruments lying upon the floor.)

A. I have seen the like before, perhaps the

same.

Q. Did not those persons who went on shore, go there for the purpose of distributing thase proclamations?

A. No, they went for amusement. 2. Is not that your regimental coat? A. I do not know; it may be the coat that I was obliged to wear.

2. Did you understand that Miranda fitted. out his expedition by the consent of your government?

A. No, he kept his object and operations. concealed from the public. It was a private undertaking of his own.

Q. Were not the principal persons who embarked in Miranda's expedition, bankrupts and broken merchants?

A. I was not acquainted with their cir cumstances; there might be some of this description.

A number of other questions were put, and answered, but being of a trifling nahere inserted. ture, comparatively speaking, are

not

A. I did not know there was such a person until the Leander had left the port of NewYork.

Q. In what capacity did you enter on board of the Leander?

A. As a printer.

Q. How came you to change that capacity, and accept of a military commission under Miranda?

A. From motives of personal convenience. 2. Was you not a lieutenant in a rifle regiment, under Miranda, as mentioned in this paper, (shewing him a list of officers com. missioned by Miranda, and which was found in the possession of one of the officers.)

A. Yes, but did not know then that I was coming to this place.

Q. At what place did you stop on your voyage?

A. At St. Domingo, and the Island of Aruba.

2. Did you not go on shore at Aruba in uniform, in company with other officers, and did you not manœuvre there for the purpose of making an attack upon the Main?

A. We manœuvred there, for the purpose of making an attack upon some place, which Miranda had in view; but what place, many of his men did not know.

Q. Did you not come to the Main for the purpose of assisting Miranda in fighing against this government, and in revolutionizing the country?

A. It was represented by Miranda, that no fighting would be necessary to effect the object, (whatever it was) he had in view.

Q. What was the real object of Miranda, in coming to the Main?

A. I do not know; but understood it was to better the condition of the Spanish people.

Q. Do you know the names of any persons here, who were expected would join

Miranda?

A. I do not.

2. Were there any private signals made to you from the shore, by any persons residing

here?

A. I saw none.

2. Was the Leander boarded on her voyage by any English vessel?

A. Yes, the Cleopatra.

Q. Was there any private conversation

between the commander and Miranda?

A. Yes, but what the purport of it was I do not know.

Q. Did Miranda go on board of her and stay several hours?

A. He dis, he stopped one night on board. 2. Was the Leander armed, and loaded with arms and war-like stores?

A. Yes.

Q. How many stand of arms had she on board?

A. About twelve hundred.

Q. Did you not erect a printing press at Jacmel, and print a number of proclamations, and is not this one of them? (sherwing him one of the proclamations, in the Spanish language.)

After they had finished examining the prisoner, he was then told by his judge, that if he would relate every thing he knew relating to the expedition, the

names of those who were concerned in it, and those that were expected would join Miranda, his chains should be taken off, and he set at liberty, and sent home to America. To which he answered, that he had disclosed all he knew of consequence, or particularly recollected.

The following were questions put to another prisoner, who has also effected his return home.

Q. What religion are you of?

A. The presbyterian persuasion.
Q. Where was you born and brought up?
A. In New-York.

Q. Who engaged you to embark in Miranda's expedition?

A. One John Fink, of New York, butcher. 2 Did you know Miranda, in New-York? A. No, I did not know him until 1 was six days at sea.

Q. Where was you engaged to go?

A. was engaged to go, in the first place, to Alexandria, where I was to land, from thence I was to march to Washington, where I was to be equipped with a horse, saddle, and bridle, and in company with other per

sons,

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Q Was you not occupied in Jacmel, in putting handles to pikes?

A. Yes, I was obliged to do it.

Q. Did you not bring those axes (pointing to some on the floor) for the purpose of cutting off our heas, and those shovels to bury us? A. I never knew what use was to be made of them.

Q. Do not you think you deserve hanging? A. No, what I did I was obliged to do, contrary to my will.

Q Do not you think you ought rather to die than he compelled to commit a crime?

A. No, I have always understood that self-preservation was the first law of nature. Q. Why did you not all rise and take command of the schooner, after you disco

vered her intention?

A. We did attempt it once, but failed; we had agreed to attempt a second time, cn the evening of that day we were taken.

After the examination of all the prisoners was gone through, they were again brought up the second time, when similar questions were put to them as before,

and similar answers made.

The examinations were then taken by the lieutenant-governor and judges, to Caraccas, where (as was understood) they were laid before a military court, assembled for the purpose of pronouncing judgments. They remained under their consideration for several days, before any thing was determined upon.

During which time the prisoners remained in confinement, suffering almost every deprivation, and reflecting upon what would be their doom. Some were entirely indifferent, and were willing to meet death, rather han endure their situations. Emaciated, sick, and obliged to endure filth, bad air and unwholesome food, many were tired of life.

On the 20th of July, about eleven o'clock in the morning, the prison doors were thrown open, which presented to our view a large body of armed soldiers, drawn up round the prison door with muskets aimed towards us, loaded, cocked and bayonets fixed; all expected instant death. However, we were ordered out, and placed in a line for marching; the soldiers on each side with their muskets pointed towards us. There was little danger of the prisoners escaping, being u irons, and so weak and cinaciated as

to just be able to walk. They were then ordered to march forward, which they did, though slowly as their ancles were still in irons. In this situation they were marched into a yard, walled round, and ordered upon their knees; fronted by the soldiers at a little distance with their muskets still aimed at them and ready to fire. Every moment the word fire was expected.

Shortly appeared the interpreter, accompanied with one or two officers, and two or three Roman catholic priests. The following persons being called, Francis Fruarson, Daniel Kemper, Charles Johnson, John Ferris, Miles L. Hail, James Gardner, Thomas Billopp, Thomas Donohue, Gustavus A. Bergud, Paul T. George. The interpreter then read to them, from a paper which he held in his hand, the following sentence:

"In the morning of to-morrow, at six o'clock, you and each of you are sentenced to be hung by the neck untfl dead; after which your heads are to be severed from your bodies and placed upon poles and distributed in public parts of the country."

The following persons were then called and sentenced to ten years imprisonment, at hard labour, in the castle of Omoa, (near the Bay of Honduras) and after that time, to await the king's pleasure. John T. O'Sullivan, Henry Ingersoll, Thomas Gill, Jeremiah Powell, John Hays, Jolin Edsall, Daniel M'Kay, Bennett B. Vegus, Peter Naulty.

John H. Sherman,
David Heckle & Son,
John Moore,
John M. Elliott,
Robert Saunders,

The following persons were sentenced to the same punishment, for the same length of time, at the castie of Porto Rico.

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Those persons who were sentenced to Omoa, were principally officers and noncommissioned officers, under Miranda, Those sentenced to Porto-Rico, were generally privates and mechanics, and those sentenced to Bocca Chica, were generally seamen.

On the morning of the 21st of July, about six o'clock, the prisoners were alarmed by the noise of an assemblage of Spanish soldiers at the door of the prison; when presently the door was thrown open, and discovered to their view about three hundred soldiers, with muskets loaded, bayonets fixed, and arrayed in two lines on the right and left of the prison door, facing inwards, and in a position of charged bayonets.

The prisoners, after being ordered to put on what clothes they had (which were nothing more than a piece of a shirt, and a pair of ragged pantaloons; some had not even those articles) they were lashed two together by the elbows, and placed in a line, between the soldiers, for marching. The ten prisoners to be executed, were then brought out and with their hands lashed fast before, and with white robes on, that extended from the lower part of their necks to their heels, and a white cap upon their heads, were placed in front; in front of them, were placed the three catholic prisoners, attended with three priests, carrying in their hands the holy cross, and accompanied with attendants carrying the sacrament, wax candles and other impleinents of the church. In this situation the prisoners, with their irons upon their feet, marched slowly along between the lines of soldiers, out of the walls of the castle, to the gallows.

Castle St. Philip is situated upon a large level space of ground, in the harbour of Porto Cavello, and separated from the town by a narrow arm of water. The walls are nearly a quarter of a mile in circumference; about fourteen feet high, and about thirteen feet thick, forming also the outward walls of the prison; mounted with about fifty pieces of large metal. Outside of the walls, and fronting the town, is a large area, for the purpose of exercising the soldiers, &c. upon this spot the gallows were erected, being about forty rods from the prison,

The gallows were about twenty feet long and fifteen feet high, and separated in the middle by a post, making two divisions and two pair of steps, one for the Roman Catholic prisoners, as directed by the priests, and the other for the presby

aus, or hereties as they were called.

Whence it appeared that they could separate their bodies, if they could not their souls afterwards. About half way up the middle post were placed Miranda's colours; underneath them lay the instruments of war, taken from the schooners, together with the military coats, hats, and feathers, of the officers.

After the procession reached the gal lows, those to be executed, were taken in the front, the other prisoners were drawn up in the rear, so as to be in front of each other as they ascended the steps. Immediately round the prisoners were drawn up two or three companies of uni form soldiers, principally Old-Spainers; in the rear of those were several compa nies of militia, the greater part of whom were natives of the country. At a little distance in the rear of these, were drawn up several companies of artillery; and along the shore of the town of Porto Cavello, were stationed a number of companies of cavalry. From this extensive military force, brought to attend the execution, some concluded that an opposition was feared from persons friendly disposed to Miranda, but nothing of that kind was manifested.

Being ready to proceed to the execution, the prisoners awaited their fate with a composure of mind that seemed to evince a reconciled conscience. Not the least intimidated, they discovered a firmness and resolution indicative of soldiers.

Mr. Farquarson being first selected to meet his fate, was led to the steps of the gallows, by a negro slave, who acted as the jack-ketch of the day, and for which he was promised his liberty; his irons were then knocked off, and he led up to the top of the scaffold, where he was seated, fronting his fellow-prisoners; the ropes being placed round his neck, he rose upon his feet and took a final farewell of his companions, wishing them a better fate. The negro then gave him a push from the top of the scaffold, and launched him into eternity. Immediately the negro let himself down upon the ropes, and seating himself upon the shoulders, with his feet hanging upon the breast, beat the breath out of the body with his heels; then jumping down, caught the body by the feet, and pulled it towards one end of the gallows to make room for another.

In the same inanner they proceeded to

*The Spaniards use two ropes in their manner of hanging: one something smaller than the other, and a few inches shorter, which serves to break the neck, while the other sustains the weight of the body.

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