Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/186

162 ments of Squire by a paragraph, which I extract verbatim, as showing in an amusing light, the spirit of the times, and as Camden says, "the plain and jolly mirth of our ancestors," even in the midst of misfortunes. "We hear that the renowned captain Squire, of his majesty's sloop Otter, is gone up the bay for Baltimore in Maryland; on his old trade, it is to be presumed, of negro-catching, pillaging farms and plantations of their stock and poultry, and other illustrious actions, highly becoming a Squire in the king's navy. Some say, his errand was to watch for a quantity of gun-powder intended for this colony; but that valuable is now safely landed where he dare not come to smell it."

The same paper contains the following answer from the committee of Hampton to Squire's letter:

"Sir,

"Yours of the 10th instant, directed to the committed of the town of Hampton, reciting, that a sloop tender on his majesty's service, was on the 2d instant, cast on shore near this place, having on board some of the king's stores, which you say were seized by the inhabitants, and demanding an immediate return of the same; or that the people of Hampton must answer the consequences of such outrage, was this day laid before them, who knowing the above recital to be injurious and untrue, think proper here to mention the facts relative to this matter. The sloop, we apprehend, was not in his majesty's service, as we are well assured that you