I was much gratified to realize the apprehensions of Admiral Graves, who, when I proposed to subject myself to his fishing regulations, observed to me, that he knew from my countenance, I intended to run away: and told me that as sure as I did, if ever he retook me, he would hang me up at the yard arm, in twenty-four hours. But he has not been gratified with a sight of me since I made my escape.

I went on shore at a safe place, and repaired straitway to my family at Wrentham, whither I had sent them, as a safe residence during my imprisonment in Boston.

Hewes relates an incident that occurred before his escape from Boston, that illustrated the nature and different degrees of patriotism, by which men may be actuated, who are professedly engaged in the same political cause.

As I was walking one day in the street, says he, I met one of the British soldiers, who accosted me in a very familiar manner, and asked me why the rebels did not make an effort to take from the loyalists the fort, of which they had the possession; you can take it, says he, if you wish to do it, without any difficulty. Just as he was speaking to me, there came along a British officer, and reproved him very rashly, for conversing so familiar with a dd rebel in the street; and with equal rashness also, accosted me for my presumption, in

speaking to one of his majesty's loyal subjects; and to punish me for my insolence, as he would term it, made a violent onset upon me with brick-bats and stones, which he kept flying about my head, until I made my escape by turning a short corner, into another street, and secured my retreat, by shutting myself up in my shop. But, apprehensive that the place of my concealment would soon be discovered, I found it expedient to abandon it, and committed myself to the safe keeping of my uncle, who resided in Boston at that time.

It appears that the soldier who thus accosted Hewes, was quite willing to fall into the hands of those who were called the enemies of his country, while his superior officer was greatly excited at every appearance of neutrality in the conduct of the soldier.

Were the emoluments of those who are clothed with authority, either in the civil or military state, reduced to the standard of compensation for the ordinary servi ces of life, the extraordinary zeal of pretended patriotism would probably be greatly abated, if not entirely extinguished.

The few months that I remained at Wrentham, continued Hewes, I was continually reflecting upon the unwarrantable sufferings inflicted on the citizens of Boston, by the usurpation and tyranny of Great Britain, and my mind was excited with an unextinguishable desire to aid in chastising them.

I had fully resolved to take a privateering cruise, and when I informed my wife of my fixed resolution, and requested her to have my clothes in readiness in a short time, by a day appointed, although she was greatly afflicted at the prospect of our separation, and my absence from a numerous family of children, who needed a father's parental care, she without a murmur reluctantly complied with my request. On the day which I had appointed to take my departure, I came into the room where my wife was, and inquired if all was ready? She pointed in silence to my knapsack. I observed, that I would put it on and walk with it a few rods, to see if it was rightly fitted to carry with ease. I went out, to return no more until the end of my cruise. The manly fortitude which becomes the soldier, could not overcome the tender sympathies of my nature. I had not courage to encounter the trial of taking a formal leave. When I had arrived at a solitary place on my way, I sat down for a few moments, and sought to allay the keenness of my grief by giving vent to a profusion of tears.

The scene of his parting with his family at this time, might well furnish for the pencilled canvas or the poet's song, a subject of intense interest. That a man, whose devotedness and tenderness of affection to his family was never questioned, should voluntarily absent himself, and embark his peace, his safety, hazard life and every thing

in the service of his country, is a comment upon his character which a Roman patriot might well envy, in the best days of Roman glory; in those days when her personal self-devotion could yield every thing to country, and, as it were, identify his own individual existence with hers.

It was in reply to a doubt I suggested to him, as to the correctness of his conduct in absenting himself from his family, so dependent, and so dear to him, for the uncertain result of an object, however patriotic and praiseworthy, and without a sure prospect of even a compensation for his services on his safe return, that he emphatically reiterated what he had before remarked, that the unwarrantable sufferings inflicted on the citizens of Boston by the usurpation and tyranny of Great Britain, had excited in his mind an unextinguishable desire to aid in chastising them and securing our independence.

When we compare the selfish rapacity with which, at the present day, the insect pretenders to patriotism would riot in the spoils won by the valour of those whose conduct was distinguished by such instances of self-devotion, which signalized that period of our history, the very blood almost freezes at the appalling aspect of our national degeneracy.

I then pursued my route to Providence, in Rhode Island, continued Hewes, and on my arrival there, im

mediately stipulated with Captain Thomas Stacy to go with him on a cruise of seven weeks. When that term had expired, and we had seen no enemy during the time, we were discouraged, and threatened to mutiny, unless he would return, as we had served out the time for which we had stipulated. The captain then promised us, that if we would continue with him one week longer, provided we did not see any thing during that time, he would return; to which we assented. The next Sunday after, we espied a large ship, which we took to be a British frigate. We were ordered to down sails and go to fishing, thereby to deceive them; and when she came by us, she took us to be only a fisher

man.

After she had passed us, our captain said to us, my boys, if you will stand by me, we will take that ship. We immediately gave chase, and overtook her about an hour after dark. The captain hailed us, and asked us where we were from: our captain answered, from St. Johns, Newfoundland. I am a King's tender, and belong to his majesty, King George. Our captain then hailed him, and he said he was from Quebec, bound to London. Our captain then said to him, come aboard, and bring your papers, that we may see whether you are a d―d Yankee or not. He came aboard accordingly, and brought his papers. Our captain then took him by the hand, and said to him, you are welcome