University of Virginia Library

Rowe's Fair Penitent.

“Heaven be praised for all its mercies! Catharine
is safe! Yes, my dear sir, my poor niece is
alive—well—among friends—uninjured—happy,
as she can be while separated from us. The inclosed
will tell you all—it is from my son, who is
in New-Orleans, where he has just taken a wife.
Read it, and then join with me in adoring that
Being whose `judgments are unsearchable, and
whose ways are past finding out.'

“I will not attempt to describe the unhappiness
I have suffered since Catharine's mysterious
disappearance; combined with my disorder, it
has almost reduced me to the grave; and you
may form some idea of it from your own feelings.
The astonishment of your father when he heard
of it was only equalled by his sorrow.

“Please return the inclosed, when you have
read it, and believe me to be, yours respectfully,
&c.

[INCLOSED IN THE FOREGOING.]

“Be happy, my dear mother, for I have good
news to communicate. Our cousin Catharine
Fleming is safe under my protection—the same
innocent happy being, as when we were romping
together at Ithaca. Pause, while you freely indulge
the rapturous tears of joy, and then proceed
to particulars.

“On the eleventh of September, commodore
Patterson, of the American flotilla on this station,
sailed with a small squadron on an expedition
against a gang of pirates, who have long occupied
an island in lake Barrataria, about thirty miles
from this city, and committed great depredations
on the coast—capturing the vessels of all nations
indiscriminately, and murdering the crews and
passengers. Several vessels from this port, which
were supposed to have been lost at sea, have increased
the booty of these outlawed wretches. A
detachment of eighty men, under colonel Ross,
also, went down by land, to make a simultaneous
attack, with the squadron, on the rendezvous of
these unprincipled freebooters.

“You may perhaps be ignorant that such
a fraternity ever existed in civilized America.
But such is the fact, and in the course of this letter
I shall have occasion to give a brief history of its
leader. Let it suffice, for the present, that the
expedition against them was successful—their
strong hold was taken, together with all their
armed schooners and feluccas, and a great quantity
of booty. The captain of this banditti, monsieur
La Fitte, effected his escape; but Dominique,
the second in command, with about one
thousand of his band, were taken prisoners.

“On Saturday last, the first instant, I stood on
the levee, with many of the joyful citizens, to welcome
the victorious Patterson and Ross, on their
return from the successful enterprise; when the
unexpected sight of an elegant female, leaning on
the arm of the colonel, attracted the attention of
every spectator. My curiosity was excited, and
I advanced—when Catharine sprang forward—
uttered my name with a shriek—and fainted in
my arms.

“The narrow limits of a letter will not allow me
to detail all the particulars of this happy meeting—the
exclamations—sensations—agitations—
interrogations—explanations—congratulations—
with my tender bride's commiserations—all these
things must be deferred for verbal communications.
In the mean time, however, I will give you
a brief recital of our cousin's peregrinations, since
she parted from you—at least, as far as the agitated
state of her mind has permitted her to relate
them.

“Instead of being conveyed to her sick father,
as she expected to be, she was most treacherously
betrayed into the power of a wretch who has,
at length, expiated his crimes by death. Her father
was still a prisoner in Quebec, and the companions
of her journey were the base minions of
that villainous Sandford who once pretended to
have saved her life at Richmond, and afterwards
insulted her with dishonorable proposals. While
she was fainting with terror, he bore her on
board an English privateer, of which he boasted
of being part owner, having deserted from the
American army, and espoused the British cause.

“To what part of the world he intended to
convey her, Catharine could never understand.

as the greater part of the time she was on board
the privateer, she was suffering under a raging
fever, accompanied with fits of raving delirium,
during which she would suffer no one to approach
her but a black boy who waited on the captain.
However severe this additional calamity may
seem, it was probably permitted by Heaven to
secure her from the insults of her abandoned persecutor.

“On the fifth of August, at about ten o'clock in
the morning, a thick fog, which had hung about
them for more than two days, suddenly broke
away, when they discovered two armed vessels,
under American colors, within musket shot. To
escape was impossible, and the privateer was
therefore cleared for action. A desperate and
sanguinary conflict now took place, which continued
above three hours, when captain Miller
and his first lieutenant being both slain, the next
officer ordered the British flag to be struck, and
surrendered the privateer as a prize to the two
hostile schooners. She was immediately boarded
from both, and the cowardly Sandford, having
now crawled upon deck, tendered his sword to the
ferocious-looking officer who headed the boarders.
The weapon was received, and instantly
thrust through the wretched prisoner's heart, who
fell lifeless on the deck. This was the signal
for an indiscriminate slaughter, and every man
belonging to the privateer soon floated a breathless
corpse in the deep. The black boy alone
escaped, who concealed himself in the hold, and
on being discovered after the massacre, was permitted
to live.

“Fortunately for Catharine, she was insensible
to all these dreadful transactions, and learned

them afterwards from the boy. On recovering
her recollection, she found herself in bed on
shore, with a black woman and the boy watching
by her pillow, who both testified the most
lively joy, on hearing her speak in a calm and
rational manner. Her fever was now broken,
but she was extremely weak, and it was several
days before her physician, who was also black,
would allow her to converse, although she was
laboring with the most painful curiosity to learn
the particulars of her situation. At length, however,
her nurse was permitted to answer her eager
inquiries, who informed her, with the greatest
caution, that she was on an island called Barrataria,
which was occupied by a band of outlaws,
who had declared war against a world that had
discarded them, and lived by committing depredations
on the property of every nation without
distinction. In a word, Catharine found herself
a prisoner among a band of the most daring pirates
that ever infested the ocean;—who, within
thirty miles of New-Orleans, were in the habit of
capturing vessels, bound to and from that port,
and murdering every person on board, to prevent
a discovery.

“Disagreeable as this information was to Catharine,
it was not so dreadful as her compassionate
attendants had apprehended. She was out of
the power of Sandford, and every other situation
was comparatively happy. Besides, should her
health be restored, she did not despair of prevailing
on the chief to send her to New-Orleans,
as he was represented to her as a paragon of
generosity and magnanimity—a second Charles
de Moor.

“Catharine's health gradually returned, and
she had so far recovered her strength as to be
able to walk, when she was one day honored with
a visit from Monsieur La Fitte himself; who,
after politely congratulating her on the partial
restoration of her health, begged her to inform
him in what manner he could serve her.

“By conveying, or sending me to New-Orleans,”
was Catharine's reply.

“Were such a step compatible with my own
safety,” answered he, “I would not hesitate a moment.
But, madam, consider what a risk I should
incur by such a step. A price is set upon my
head by the governor of Louisiana, and several
fruitless attempts have already been made to
earn the reward; therefore am I obliged, in self-defence,
to destroy instead of preserving my
prisoners. Do your friends reside in New-Orleans?

“Alas! no, sir—they are far distant. But if
I can once breathe my sorrowful story to a christian
ear, I shall find protection until I can write to
my friends, who must be wretched at my mysterious
disappearance.”

“Mysterious disappearance?” said La Fitte;
“Although my mode of life, madam, is not such as
can command a christian's confidence, still, if you
will consent to entrust your sorrowful story to my
ear, I pledge you the word of a soldier that you
shall never repent the condescension.”

“Catharine was willing to conciliate the being
in whose power she had been so providentially
placed, and therefore complied with his request,
and related all the particulars which were necessary
to make him acquainted with the nature of

her extraordinary and forlorn situation. When
she had finished, La Fitte exclaimed---

“Who shall say, then, that we are not the legal
ministers of Heaven's eternal justice! My
hand slew the scoundrel you describe, and avenged
the load of wrongs he has heaped upon you.
I now pledge myself that you shall be conveyed
in safety to New-Orleans the first favorable opportunity.
In the mean time rest confident of my
protection, and the respectful attentions of all
whom I command. I will now repay your confidence
by relating some particulars respecting
my own history, and that of our fraternity, with
which the world are little acquainted.

“I once held a commission under Bonaparte,
in whose victorious army I was a captain of no
inconsiderable reputation; and, but for one unfortunate
circumstance, should probably have
arisen to an elevated grade. The circumstance
to which I allude will not interest you, and I shall
therefore pass it over in silence. Let it suffice
that I felt myself injured, and consequently resigned
my commission and emigrated to America.
I landed in this country with a proud spirit, and
no adequate funds to support my dignity. Being
an expert swordsman, I opened a fencing
school in New-Orleans, for a livelihood, and acquired
considerable celebrity in the profession.

“During the troubles in St. Domingo, a vast
number of the inhabitants took refuge in Cuba;
and when the late war between France and Spain
commenced, they were compelled to leave that
island, with the short notice of a few days. Without
ceremony they entered the United States, and
most of them the state of Louisiana, with all the
slaves they had possessed in Cuba. They were

notified by the governor of this state of the clause
in the constitution which forbade the importation
of slaves; but at the same time, received the assurance
of his excellency that he would obtain, if
possible, the approbation of the general government
for their retaining this property.

“I will not weary your patience with particulars.
I was not born for the dull pursuits of civil
life—my soul always aspired to lead an army,
but fate had forever blasted my hopes of military
glory. My fellow-beings had treated me with ingratitude
and indignity, and I now declared war
against the whole despicable race. Sufficient
materials were at hand for the execution of my
scheme. Those very emigrants who had been
hospitably received by the citizens, and highly
favored by the government of their adopted country,
repaid this kindness by the blackest ingratitude,
which convinced me that they were sufficiently
base for my purpose. I soon collected a
numerous band, and in 1811, strongly fortified
this island, which is as remarkable for its health
and fertility as for the delicious fish with which its
waters abound. I have continued here ever since,
with a formidable squadron at my command,
which has more than once compelled the United
States flotilla to retreat; I have, also, a large military
force, and have dealt out large measures of
vengeance against the perfidious race whose
base ingratitude drove me to this extremity. The
strictest subordination exists in the island, both
among my military and naval subjects, who all
fear me for my courage, and love me for the liberality
with which I relinquish to them my share
of the booty we capture. The prince regent of

England cannot boast the same, or he would have
fewer enemies among his own subjects.

“About a year ago, the governor of Louisiana
advertised a reward of five hundred dollars for
my head, which pitiful offer I immediately answered
by promising a reward of as many thousands
for the head of his excellency, and my advertisements
were posted on every corner in the city of
New-Orleans. A company (commanded by a man
who had once been my intimate friend) was ordered
out to attack me here on my island, and
was suffered to approach very near before I chose
to make a display of our forces; when, on a signal
given, he instantly found himself surrounded
by a numerous host of armed men, who suddenly
emerged from the secret avenues which lead
into this bayou. And in what manner do you imagine
that I treated this man, who came to destroy
my life and all that makes life desirable to me?
I treated him, madam, as became La Fitte, the
Great Bandit of Barrataria—I spared his life—
offered him that which would have made the honest
soldier comfortable for the remainder of his
days, (which was nobly and indignantly refused)
and I then permitted him to return, with his company,
in safety to the city.

“His excellency was now convinced that we
were too strong to be taken by land, and my navy
has hitherto been larger than that which the government
has kept on this station.”

“After again assuring Catharine of his protection,
and promising to find her a conveyance
to this city, the generous pirate took his leave.
It was but a few weeks after this conference, that
his boasted army and navy were all captured by
the gallant Patterson and Ross.

“And now, my dear mother, adieu for the present.
Your lovely daughter-in-law desires to be
remembered with affection, and you may expect
to embrace us all by the first of February.