he pronounced to be one of the smartest seamen and active commanders he had ever met with; in fact, he expressed himself as being quite comfortable, and, to all appearance, I never saw a man more gay and happy under any circumstances: yet at this very time, if we are to credit the Spaniard's account, he had commissioned a dagger for each heart;-if so, how well practised the duplicity of this desperado; under what a light heart and cheerful countenance he hid the most desperate and sanguinary designs! Among other strange things in the adventures of his roving life, with which Love used to amuse us, was that of his having in almost all the Spanish islands, and in the principal towns of Spanish America, a wife, a house, slaves, &c. ! and he assured us, that the amount of his property was so great, that, like Simon Taylor of Jamaica, he could not correctly calculate it. He found it, he said, a very agreeable thing to have a house wherever he went, and that in every place he was caressed because his means enabled him to assist the needy, and to keep up a splendid establishment; thus making things agreeable to all classes. If at any time he met with ingratitude in lending money to those who never returned it, it gave him no concern,-another cruise replenished his coffers; and as he always laid it down as a maxim applicable to the people with whom he dealt, that a sum lent was a sum lost, he never felt annoyed at the occurrence; yet he would but be doing justice to the Spaniards of Old Spain to say, that he found them generally very honest in all pecuniary matters. In the possession of such riches, from which he might derive all the comforts and luxuries of this world, it seems extraordinary that he should, notwithstanding, court a life of such constant inquietude; subject to privations of every kind,-to peril and vexation! A mind absorbed in avarice,—an eye that could never be satiated with the sight of gold,-might doubtless account sufficiently to those not knowing the character of this enterprising rover, for the constancy with which he pursued his restless career; but Love was of a very different stamp; indeed he was the reverse; he was prodigal to a proverb, with his money. Among the privateersmen, "to be as generous as Captain Love," was often applied as a compliment to others. We heard many accounts of his generous actions, and the facility with which it was possible for almost any individual, either really distressed, or assuming a condition of want, to obtain money from him; and the treatment he exercised towards his English prisoners was so generous and humane, that it obtained for him, in turn, such attention as is shown to the officers of the regular service belonging to the enemy, when prisoners of war, until the unlucky conspiracy. We were desirous of learning from himself, (as the accounts were vaaious on the station,) in what manner he effected his escape from his Majesty's ship Proselyte, which conveyed him to England, on his being captured before the peace of 1802. There happened to be, he said, a French officer, his fellow-prisoner, a resolute and active man, on board, and the night after the ship had anchored in Plymouth Sound, this man and himself contrived, whilst the captain's cabin was unoccupied, to get into the jolly-boat that was suspended astern, and silently lower her down into the water, allowing her to drift with the tide until out of sight of the frigate, when they pulled to the nearest shore undiscovered. This instance of taking prompt advantage of circumstances places the man's character in a clear light; it was impossible to reflect on the event without admiring the action, however we had reason afterwards to be displeased with him. Energy was his forte, and it was one of his observations, that a man who embarked in a hazardous course of life should never "let his head go a wool-gathering." It was also his frequent remark, in that jocular strain of expression used by buoyant spirits, and which he knew so well how to employ, that in the last war, when his health was declining from the effects of a tropical clime, we had humanely sent him to England to recover it; and he supposed it was our intention to perform the same friendly act towards him at this time; but, he added, always with great earnestness, as if confident of his power to effect his resolve, that as his inclination at present was not for a change of climate, he would lay a bet with any one among us, that before he was a month in Port Royal harbour, he would take "French leave;" and if he lost, he would most punctually cause the sum at stake to be paid to the winner. How little was it suspected, at the time, that his words would be verified! We fell in with the Bellerophon, 74, off St. Domingo, on her return to Jamaica, and took the opportunity to get rid of our troublesome guest. Sir J. T. Duckworth, the naval commander-in-chief, being fully acquainted with Love's character, had sent him on his arrival at Port Royal, on board one of the prison-ships, with orders that he should be put in irons, and have two sentinels placed over him-a precaution hitherto unpractised; and as an additional security, a captain of one of the regiments that did duty on board those ships was sent down from Kingston to take the command, with a subaltern under him, to prevent the possibility of the enterprising rover's escape; but it appears that, notwithstanding all these prudential measures, which, had they been exercised for the security of an ordinary prisoner, would have appeared not only extraordinary, but needless, this rara avis got clear off. And what is really singular, not only with the irons on, but with the sentinels who were placed to guard him, without any other person on board the ship knowing it, and without the admiral or any other officer, notwithstanding diligent search and enquiry, being able to trace how he had effected his escape, or whither he was gone! Reflecting on the escape of this wonderful privateersman, it certainly appears very extraordinary, especially as such seemingly sure measures were adopted for the better security of his person. I do not recollect the result of the investigation of this mysterious affair, or indeed if any inquiry did take place; but I think we may reasonably conclude that he must have succeeded by the aid of gold. It is probable, in the first place, that he must have had some friend or friends in Kingston, among the numerous foreigners that sojourned in that place, who provided him with the boat or canoe for transporting himself and the worthless soldiers (who, if I recollect right, were Germans) that were stationed over him, and it is barely within the line of probability that he escaped without the knowledge of the other sentinels. Gold, and flattering promises, no doubt seduced his guards; but that they should get clear of the island without leaving a trace of themselves behind is, indeed, "passing strange!" I do not know whether the officers on guard the night of his escape were blamed, but we may readily conceive their surprise and mortification when daylight appeared and discovered to them the flight of their charge: nor can we well imagine a more unpleasant situation for officers of responsibility to have been placed in. After Love's wonderful escape he was not heard of again until he re-appeared in his privateer off the island. Our men-of-war were on the alert, but none were so fortunate as to capture him. By the last accounts that were heard of this extraordinary character, it appears that his Majesty's brig Elk, whilst off the island of Navassa, between St. Domingo and Jamaica, fell in with and gave chase to Love's privateer, during which a heavy squall, attended with rain, came on and completely obscured her from view; the Elk, running off the wind without daring to reduce her sail, unfortunately came in contact with the privateer, and striking her between the masts, cut her in two, and passed over the wreck, providentially, without endangering her own safety! At this critical moment, Captain Love, with his usual presence of mind, was seen to cut away the small boat from the stern of his sinking vessel; and the time just allowed the English officers of the brig to observe that he got clear of the wreck! This circumstance was perfectly accidental, and, as I understood, happened in consequence of the Elk bearing away to save her masts (then under a press of sail) from being carried away by the violence of the wind, and the privateer having lowered her sails and rounded to the wind, as well, it may be supposed, for the same purpose, as for eluding the vessel of war in pursuit of her. When the squall ceased, no vestige of the unfortunate schooner could be seen, and it was doubtful whether Love had swamped in his little boat, or got clear off, with his accustomed good fortune. The Elk had run some miles to leeward before the squall ceased; it is therefore possible, but not probable, (unless, indeed, some vessel was at hand at the time,) that the great privateer captain may have escaped. It is true, that he might have gone before the wind in his boat, and landed on the S.E. side of Jamaica; but if this had been the case, some account of the event would have been made public. It is also possible he may have reached Navassa, and been taken off by some passer by, if the accident occurred to the eastward of that islet. The greater probability is, that he perished, and was buried in the interminable depth of that element upon which he had so long been a terror: "No tomb shall e'er plead to remembrance for thee, Or redeem form or fame from the merciless surge; The adventures of Captain Love, if they had been collected and detailed in a narrative, would have yielded, for diversity and singularity, perhaps to those of no other adventurer. Whether he was or was not a British-born subject, admits of doubt: he spoke the French language with purity, as indeed he did the English; but there was a certain je ne sçai quoi about the man, that did not bespeak him a Briton. I certainly, at first sight, should have taken him for an American of the United States, but his speech told at once that he was not a Yankee. The impression of his being an Englishman was strong on the minds of all the naval officers serving at Jamaica. Never, perhaps, was there a man, take him altogether, that appeared so complete a master of his profession, or that ever displayed more U.S. JOURN. No. 59, Oct. 1833. N energy and skill in execution, or courage and presence of mind in the moment of danger. It was his conviction, he said, that the more hazardous a game a man plays in warlike pursuits, the more he is likely to be successful; and he thought that many of the privateersmen, particularly among the Spaniards, were not enterprising or bold enough to succeed in their undertakings. Their timidity brought them often into scrapes, and ultimately led to the capture or destruction of their vessels. These observations, applied generally, may be found true. The fruit of bold temerity, however, is not always success; as much depends upon the judgment of the leader, as upon the courage of himself and followers. An officer, of whatever nation, who commands a party or a vessel, unless he be possessed of quick discernment, to take advantage of circumstances as they arise, will often find to his sorrow, that mere animal courage is not alone sufficient to insure success. Our hero was in the habit of going over from St. Jago de Cuba to Port Antonio in Jamaica, in the force traders, and thence overland to Kingston. In these excursions, he assured us that he made it his business to learn every particular respecting the vessels at the different ports; the names and descriptions of those of his Majesty's ships that he had not seen or encountered in his cruises; their rate of sailing, the character of the captains, &c. And upon these topics he has frequently conversed with the officers of the navy, at billiard-tables, coffee-rooms, &c., without their having once suspected that he was any other person than a loyal Englishman! Thus he obtained every information he could desire, and then returning to his vessel at St. Jago, commenced his cruise with certainty of success, that could not attend any of the others not in possession of such information; and which may account for his having made so many prizes, and accumulated so immense a fortune. It was universally known at Jamaica, that Jacque Matthieu, the viceking of the rovers, had repeatedly, after dark, stood in with his schooner towards the Palisados*, and dropped a small canoe with two trusty men, who, after drawing their light vessel over the spit, reembarked on the inner side, and paddled to the town of Kingston; there they remained the whole of the following day, purchasing fresh provisions, vegetables, and other necessaries, and obtaining information of the sailing and destination of the merchant vessels then lying in port. At night, when all was quiet, they returned by the same route they had come, when, by agreement, the privateer was in shore to receive them. During the absence of the frigate in search of Love's privateer, the prizes left in Cumberland harbour had a narrow escape; but the restless and enterprising spirit of a young mid belonging to the E frigate prevented any serious occurrence. At the close of the day on which the ship sailed, the lieutenant left in charge of the prizes sent a boat to the harbour's mouth to reconnoitre; she returned with the intelligence, that two feluccas were working up alongshore, and only a few miles to leeward. The lieutenant lost no time in preparing to resist them, should they attempt to cut the prizes out. He got a spring upon his *The narrow spit of land, or rather sand, covered with mangroves, that stretches from Rock Fort to Port Royal, and which forms the outer line of the Sound on which Kingston is situated. cable, and removed the men from the different vessels into the tender, leaving a mid only in each, whom he enjoined to keep a strict look-out, and on no account to show a light. Night approached before the enemy's vessels had gained the harbour; and, as they could not have seen the prizes, it was conjectured that they might be ignorant of there being any there. At 10 o'clock, the sound of their sweeps was distinctly heard, and shortly after a light was seen upon the beach. All was silent in the prizes, waiting anxiously for their advance or departure. In this state of suspense our party remained until past midnight, when a small boat was observed approaching the lieutenant's schooner. It was at first doubtful whether she came from the privateers to reconnoitre, or from one of the prizes, to communicate intelligence. She was permitted to come alongside, and Mr. R-, a midshipman of H.M.S. E, stepped upon deck. He informed the lieutenant, that, impelled by a zeal for the service, and a desire to discover what the strangers were, which he could not surmount, he had, with the greatest caution, paddled his little boat to the shore, near the spot where the light appeared. There, to his astonishment, he saw a large assemblage of privateer's-men carousing and singing à la boucanier, around a fire lighted upon the sands of the beach, near which their two vessels were anchored. He was within a dozen yards of them, separated only by some mangrove trees, through which, by the light of the fire, he could observe their movements, and it was his opinion they were rovers. Upon this information, which, although obtained without orders, was nevertheless welcome, inasmuch as it dispelled uncertainty, the lieutenant thought it his wisest plan to let the regaling Dons know that he was armed, (the launches carronade was mounted on board,) and prepared to resist any attempt that might be made upon the vessels under his charge. Accordingly, a fire from the carronade, &c., was directed towards that part of the shore where the light appeared, and which very soon had the desired effect; for a salutation at that dead hour of the night, so unexpected, as may be supposed, not only discomposed the supper party, but caused them to retire so precipitately to their vessels, that some of their fare was left behind them. In a short time after they were heard sweeping; and as the sound gradually became fainter, there was no doubt of their retreat; and I dare say, with watchful eyes in the rear, expecting the approach of some man-of-war's boats. On receiving the fire from our schooner, it is probable that their first and only conjecture was, that a British vessel of war was at anchor, unseen by them on entering: a precipitate retreat was, therefore, the only chance, as it appeared to them, they had of escape. Had they not been alarmed by the firing from our schooner, it is also probable that, when daylight shewed to their awaking eyes the group of defenceless vessels within their grasp, that, even allowing them but a small share of enterprise and prowess, they would have attacked, and, from their force and number of men, have succeeded in carrying one or two. JEAN BONPRE, |