his way from the cabin, and was stabbed by Pepe; but the blow not proving mortal, a struggle ensued, which lasted for a short time, when he fell, and was despatched by an axe. During the continuance of this struggle, Captain Brightman rushed on deck and received a blow from Felix, which laid him prostrate. The Irish passenger met the same fate, and Robinson was supposed to have thrown himself from the cabin windows into the ocean, upon seeing the death of the Irishman. Courro was equally successful at the forecastle, and stabbed successively Potter, Gibbs, and Bicknell; Deane, who slept on deck, was not discovered in the darkness, and threw himself overboard without being wounded. When in the water, he entreated that a barrel, plank, or oar, or something might be thrown out to support him, as he was ready to sink, and these entreaties were seconded by Mr. Robinson, but all in vain and they both, doubtless, soon sank to rise no more.' [Gibbs, the black cook, who had been wounded, and Mr. Ginoulhiac, were spared; why the latter was not put to death is not well explained in the evidence.]

In the meantime, being wounded, I had made the best of my way to the rigging, which had not escaped the notice of Tardy, who called out in a loud voice for me to descend, which I refused to do; but upon repeated assurances, that if I came down my life would be spared, I at length ventured down upon deck, and was immediately surrounded by Tardy and his companions. Tardy now began to question me about the box which Felix had brought aboard, and what had become of it. I replied, that I had seen the box, and put it in the captain's stateroom, but could not tell what had become of it, if it were no longer there. Tardy then explained, that the Spaniards had applied to the captain for the box, and upon his refusal to give it up, they had resolved, instead of going to the United States to seek a precarious redress from the laws, to take the law into their own hands, and had accordingly killed the captain and had taken possession of the vessel; that, as the deed was now done, it would be useless to go to the United States, and they had determined to sail for Europe; and that, if I would assist them, they would not

only save my life, but I should be well paid for my services when the cargo was disposed of.

'Of course, this plausible story of Tardy was a mere fabrication, in order to excuse the murders and the seizure of the vessel; but as I was not in a condition to dispute the accuracy of the statement, I offered no objections to it, and consented to do that which was requested of me, whereupon I obtained permission to lie down on my mattress to take some repose. In the course of the morning, after the work of destruction had been completed, the Spaniards set up loud cries of exultation, and intoxicated with their success, walked about the deck, which, as well as the sails and rigging, was everywhere dyed with blood, and they occasionally resorted to a bottle of liquor placed on the hen-coop. They were not, however, so far gone as to neglect the clearing away of all traces of the murders. They washed the deck and rigging, and painted the sails, to conceal the blood with which they were stained. During the day, all the papers belonging to the brig were torn up and thrown overboard, and all the chests and trunks which had belonged to the passengers and crew were ransacked for plunder. The American flag was also destroyed, and materials were produced for marking a Spanish flag, which Mr. Ginoulhiac was required to put together.

Tardy, who was now in command, informed me that he intended to proceed to Hamburg, and that he was provided with papers for such a voyage; but that before sailing for Europe, he wished to put into some port to procure fresh provisions, and ship a crew, as the Spaniards were no sailors. At his request, I informed him how to steer for St. Mary's. An effort was now made to reach this port, but contrary winds prevented a landing; and after cruising about for a couple of days, I proposed to carry the vessel either into Savannah or Charleston: Tardy, however, objected to these places, where he said he was known, and he did not care for being seen. It was finally resolved to go to Norfolk, and the course was accordingly shaped for the Capes of Virginia. Tardy proposed that they should anchor in the Chesapeake, and remain there while he went to Norfolk and procured hands

and provisions. This I opposed, telling him that I was afraid of the Spaniards, who would probably take my life. He did all in his power to remove these fears, by saying, that if they attempted my life, he would sink both them and the vessel on his return. Circumstances fortunately occurred to prevent him from leaving the vessel, and my running any risk of being murdered. On arriving at the bay of Norfolk, pilot-boats began, as is usual, to make their appearance, a matter which disconcerted him not a little. As one pilot after another came up and offered his services, Tardy declined their offers, declaring that the vessel was bound for Hamburg, and that he was well acquainted with the bay. I now pointed out the danger of his refusing to take a pilot; that the refusal might excite suspicion, especially as the name of the vessel was not on the stern; and these representations induced him to allow a pilot to come on board.'

This was a fatal though an unavoidable step, and paved the way for the discovery of the piracy and murder. Having come to anchor by the guidance of the pilot at about a hundred yards from the shore, Tardy again mentioned his intention to go on shore to get hands and provisions, making strong promises to Dobson to reward him for his fidelity, and to bring him anything he wanted from Norfolk: but Dobson had already formed a plan of escape from this band of wretches. He had the address to persuade Tardy to allow him to prepare the boat for his going ashore; and getting possession of an oar, while the Spaniards were aloft furling the sails, he at once sculled away from the vessel, and, to the consternation of Tardy, got safely to land. On touching the shore, he made the best of his way to Fortress Monroe, and gave information to the officers of the character of the vessel, and the dreadful transactions of which it had been the scene. A boat was forthwith fitted out with an officer and men to visit the ship, and seize Tardy and his companions.

In the interim, the wretched Tardy foresaw the termination which was speedily to take place to his murderous career. He saw the vengeance of the law about to fall upon him, and he hastened to elude his fate. Proceeding to the cabin, and seating himself upon a box of dollars,

the accumulation of his plunder, he put an end to his existence by cutting his throat. The Spaniards had not the same clear perception of the nature of their doom, and suffered themselves to be seized, and carried on shore to prison. The ship was now taken charge of by the official aathorities; the remaining persons on board-namely, Mr. Ginoulhiac and the cook-being at the same time removed, and kept along with Dobson as witnesses on the trial of the Spanish sailors.

The trial took place before Chief-Justice Marshall, at Richmond, Virginia, on the 16th of July, 1827, and the evidence of the guilt of the prisoners was so clear, that they were condemned to death, and were executed a month afterwards.

As soon as the tale of horror which we have narrated became generally known, a very considerable degree of interest was manifested with regard to the configuration of the head of the principal actor, Tardy; and his skull was therefore made the object of measurement and analysis, in order to see if it corresponded with the principles laid down by phrenology. For the special results of these examinations, we must refer to the 5th volume of the Edinburgh Phrenological Journal: it is sufficient for us here to state, that the skull of Tardy was found to be low in front, showing a deficiency of moral and intellectual faculties, and a large preponderance behind, proving a predominance of the destructive and grovelling propensities of our nature. Possibly, these might have been modified by early culture, along with the inculcation of moral and religious sentiments: as it was, the whole career of the man offers one of the most striking instances in modern times, of a human being devoting himself, under every circumstance of life, to the destruction of his fellow-creatures.

THE FUR-TRADE.

OUR readers are most probably aware, that the furs with which the British and European markets are supplied, are VOL. IV.-E

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chiefly brought from North America. When Canada was a province of France, the colonists of that nation carried on an extensive and lucrative fur-trade, and the British, eager to participate in so advantageous a traffic, established, so early as the year 1670, a company, termed the Hudson's Bay Company, which exists under the same name till the present day, and has always possessed a large share of the traffic. Numerous other companies have sprung up from time to time with the same views; of which the North-West, the North American, and the Columbian Companies, have been the most important and successful. In all these establishments, the natives of America are the principal collectors of the furs, which they barter for arms, and such other commodities as civilized nations can alone manufacture.

It would be useless to enter into the particular history of these several companies. Only two, indeed, properly speaking, now exist-the Hudson's Bay Company having been of late years incorporated with the North-West one. The shareholders of this establishment are almost all of them British merchants, resident in London. With respect to the other companies, the North American was composed of a body of New York merchants, and the Columbian likewise was supported by the inhabitants of the United States. The latter of these companies confined its operations to the Mississippi and St. Peter's River; while the American Company held possession of the trade on the Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and the great lakes. After existing separately for many years, these establishments were united, and still continue so. The Hudson's Bay Company, again, as its name implies, trades in the more northern regions of the New World, occupying, with its numerous branches and stations, the whole range of country between the lakes and the Arctic Sea. Private adventurers and smaller firms are to be found, besides, engaged in many quarters in the fur-trade, but it can only be carried on efficiently by an enlarged combination both of men and capital. It is from this cause, rather than from privileges and charters, that the large companies have always enjoyed a monopoly, which smaller associations, rising now and then, could never disturb.