CHAP. II. Author's constant predilection for going to Sea. His Father tries to dissuade him from it, by taking him to behold four Seamen hung in Gibbets. Story of their Crime and Execution. Author accompanies a Mr. Howard on a visit to the Country. Account of Mr. Howard's Uncle. I HAD not yet attained my eighth year; nevertheless such was my predilection in favour of a seafaring life, that it did not escape the observation of my father. He was much grieved at the discovery, and frequently laid before me in the most fond and anxious manner the distresses and dangers to which sailors are exposed. Giddy, unthinking, bent on marine pursuits, this had little effect on me. However, a circumstance happened at that time in Dublin, which in a great degree turned my mind against its favourite pursuit. It was as follows, I have mentioned that it was the usage of my father to walk with me on the banks of the Liffey, and the quays of the harbour. In one of these amusing and instructive little rambles which my affectionate parent always tried to turn to my advantage, he carried me (no doubt on purpose) along the South-wall, and near the Pigeon-house, `in the direction of the Light-house, where at present the wall is extended by that strong and beautiful work which adds so greatly to the advantage and ornament of the city. Here were hung in chains, on gibbets, four criminals, whose dreadful offence almost appears to have called down the avenging hand of Divine justice itself, to arrest and exhibit them, as terrible examples to individuals in general. They were purposely exposed in the mouth of the harbour as a warning to seafaring men. The exposure, and the whole circumstance of the affair proved a powerful dissuasive to prevent me, at that time, from entertaining the desire which before engaged my thoughts. I no longer wished for the sea. The story of this case is so highly interesting that it may not be amiss to relate it, as a lesson to the thoughtless, and dissipated. ་ A merchant ship, the Earl of Sandwich, bound to London from Oratova, and laden with wine, Spanish dollars, gold dust and jewels, proceeded on her passage into the English channel, when Peter M'Kinley, boatswain, George Gidley, cook Richard St. Quintan, and Andrew Zikerman, mariners, conspired to murder John Cockeran, master, Charles Pinchent, mate, James Pinchent, mariner, Benjamin Gillespie, cabin boy, together with Captain Glass, his wife and daughter, and their servant boy. In pursuance of this inhuman plot, on the 30th November, 1765, the conspirators keeping the night watch; and the master going on the quarter-deck to see if all were safe, M'Kinley and Gidley knocked him on the head with an iron bar, and threw him overboard. The noise and groans of the master brought Captain murdered with his own Glass from below, who was Having altered their course and made for the coast of Ireland, they landed on the 3d December, some leagues distant from Waterford. They then loaded a boat with treasure, and left the vessel with her ballast port opened, and the two boys who survived in her to sink, as she soon did. One of the boys following the boat was struck ou 1 the head with the gunwale, and drowned-the other lad they saw washed from the ship's deck as she overset, and filled with water. They now flattered themselves that the deceased could not disclose their secret, or the sea give any evidence against them, and having buried 250 bags of dollars, they reserved in their possession and for use the remainder, along with the jewels and gold. Yet after all this extraordinary precaution, their appearance and prodigal manner of living caused them to be looked on as suspicious individuals, and the ship which they thought could never stir from the bottom of the great deep, rose from her watery bed, and was washed near Waterford on the shore. The ship so circumstanced caused much speculation, and turned the suspicions of some persons to the murderers, who had left the neighbour hood and come to Dublin, where they continued to pass their time in great excess and expense. In the mean time two gentlemen repaired to Dublin, in the hope of apprehending them, and having taken the necessary steps, Quintan and Zikerman were secured, and being examined apart, they confessed the commission of the horrid crime; as also that their ruffjan associates, Gidley and M'Kinley, sold dollars to the amount of £300 in Dublin. By the means of the goldsmith who bought the silver, MKinley was seized, and two men who were immediately sent off to search for the buried treasure which had been robbed from the ship, fell in with and took the remaining offender, Gidley, making his escape toward Cork, from justice, which seems to have followed those murderous wretches with a swift and unerring step, until all of them were brought to that conviction and awful punishment which they so highly deserved, and which even shows that an Almighty Providence, though sometimes slow in interposing to visit the wicked for murder, is by no means regardless of the blood of man crying from the ground for vengeance! "Oh Earth Laur not there blood. my When I was eleven years of age, I began to entertain a strong desire to leave home. My father, ever anxious to comply with my wishes, yielded to an offer which presented itself, and consented that I should go with a friend of his to the country. This proposal was joyfully received by me, and preparations were accordingly made for my departure to the north of Ireland. The gentleman who thus took charge of me, was going to visit his sister a Mrs. Hinds, near Killishandra, in the county of Cavan, and some other relations which he had. in the county of Westmeath. But it was to his uncle, who was my father's great friend, that I was principally indebted on this occasion. On my father's application, he recommended me to his nephew, with the warmth of a friend, and the authority of a parent. This gentleman, whose name was Howard, was a respectable merchant in Jervis-street. He was a man well acquainted with the world and all its vanities, which he happily forsook for the more solid enjoyments of religion, and the more laudable pursuit of virtue. An account of this excellent man has been published by a learned and pious gentleman, who informs us in consequence of his giving him to understand, that an account of his life and conversion might be attended with public use, he drew up a narrative which the writer submits, for the most part, as Mr. Howard himself wrote it, and in his own words as follows: доношей “I was born in the county of Westmeath, in the king-Nawetu dom of Ireland, in the year 1721. My father was a reputable farmer, a person of great modesty, temperance, decency of conduct, and the strictest honesty. Though he gave abundantly to the poor, his substance increased. He took great pains to bring up his children, bestowing on us, what in his eyes at least was, a liberal education. "Alas! neither his care nor his example had the desired effect on me. To lie and to swear were lessons I had but too great a docility in acquiring. In the mean time, however, I made no efforts to controul my passions, but cherished them with all my might, so early (with shame be it spoken) was I the slave of sin, a servant of Satan, and a rebel against the blessed God. "In 1741, I married the only daughter of a wealthy tallow-chandler and soap-boiler, in the town of Drogheda ; lived with my father-in-law to his death, learned his business, and in right of my wife, became heir to his fortune. "My wife died in 1745, and within two years I married an heiress as before, by whom I obtained a considerable fortune, which enabled me to enlarge the sphere of my business, which I now carried on with great success. "In 1755 I was sworn in mayor of Drogheda. I now indulged in riotous excesses, which brought on that punishment which Providence has, in the natural course of things, connected with intemperance. Before the year of my magistracy was expired, I was seized with a fit of the gout, and remained three months in the utmost torture. My irreligious situation left me no resource in God; my impatience was uncontrouled, I often wished myself dead; but the God of all mercy was deaf to my wicked prayers, and restored me to health. I knew not then how to admire the riches of his goodness and forbearance, and had no idea of that unutterable kindness for which he had reserved me. "When my anguish in some measure abated, my conscience severely rebuked me for continuing in sin and rebellion against a merciful God. I determined, (but alas! in my own strength) to lead a new life, and never more to offend. The consequence was what might be expected; where there is no other dependance but in the arm of flesh. As soon as health and strength permitted, I brake through all my resolutions. "I went on in a continual hurry of business, all appearance of religion ceased, public and private worship ( |