Miss Rasper's Error.

Mrs. Meek and Miss Rasper met on the platform of the Metropolitan station at South Kensington one brilliant October morning. Mrs. Meek was a pretty, down-looking widow, dressed in somewhat shabby weeds, with blue eyes, delicate bloom, and * shy, deprecating way, like that of a kitten whiGh has been ill-treated and is always on the lookout for a blow. Miss Easper was tall and handsome, dressed in a substantial-looking black silk, with the air of a woman who fears no created thing. And they both were from Mary-lcbonc. ' Well, I declare,' said Miss Easper. •Who would have thought of seeing you?' said Mrs. Meek. 1 Going to get into a Brompton 'bus,' said Miss Easper, crossing the street with a martial air that made drivers rein in their horses, and even stopped a cab that had the undoubted right of way; but who would have dared to run over a woman with a step and umbrella like that P ' Yes, I suppose so,' said Mrs. Meek, consulting a crumpled little slip of news paper in her hand. "' I want to go to No, 19' Kosemount Square, and if that is tlio nearest way — Miss Easper whirled round, with her foot on the omnibus step. 'Eh!' ejaculated she. 'No. 19, Eose mount Square ? Louisa Meek, I am going there, too !'

'To answer an advertisement for a housekeeper ?' 'Yes?'

' Dear mo !' said Mrs. Meek ; ' how very strange ! I saw tho advertisomeat, and thought perhaps I might suit.'

' Well,1 said Miss Rasper, seating her self in the best corner of the omnibus, and clicking her teeth together, something after the same fashion in which sho click ed the clasp of her portmannaie, after taking out the necessary coin, ' there's no harm in trying. I mean to try. 1

Little Mrs. Meek looked discomfited. How could she expect to succeed, she asked herself, when Maria Rasper was also a competitor for the vacant post ?

There were only three of them in tho 'bus —Miss Rasper, Mrs. Meek, and a little, modest-looking damsel in a plain gray travelling dress. Mrs. Meek looked at the third person, thinking how sweet and innocent her faco was. Miss Rasper glared at her, secretly assessing her dress at a shilling a yard, and setting down her cellar as imitation lace,

Miss Rasper handed her monoy to the Conductor with the air of one who owned tho whole omnibus. Mrs. Meek gave hers apologetically, as if afraid that she might offend the man by too great brusqueness, and tho pretty girl opposite felt in her bag, then in her pocket ; felt a second time, and a third, and then burst into tears.

Miss Easpor, who was tho voryporsonifi cation of her name in every respect, sat up gruff and stem in her corner, ' like a darning-needle stuck in a board.' She had read of tho ' confidence dodges' in the newspaper, and no doubt this was one of them. Mrs. Meek leaned over with sympathetic kindness. IMy dear, what is tho matter ?' said sho. Miss Easpcr jerked her dress. ' Don't speak to her,' said sho; 'I believe it's all put on.' • I've lost my portemonnaie,' said the young girl, 'or else I've had my pocket picked. Oh, dear, dear ! And there were five sovereigns in it, besides a lot of change.' ' Don't believe thero were five pence in it,' said Miss Easper, sotto voce. 1 Perhaps ono of you ladies would kindly lend me the fare,' said the young girl, in a flurried sort of way, ' because it's too far for me to walk, and I haven't a penny left.' ' Young woman,' said Miss Easper, loftily, ' you can't come it over me. I'm too old a bird to be caught with chaff like that.' 'I don' quite understand you, ma'am,' said the young girl, timidly. 'Don't you ?' said Miss Easper. 'If you presume to ask mo for money agiin, I'll give you in charge of the police. JNow do you understand ?' Mrs Meek looked as indignantly at Miss Kasper as it was in her mild nature to look at any one. {. • How can you speak so, Maria P' she said, eagerly fumbling in her own scantily furnished pocket. 'Do you really believe that story ?' sniffed Miss Easper, contempt trembling on her lip, and disdain breathing through her uplifted nostrils. ' Why of course I believe it.' ' Then you're one degree a bigger fool than I gave you credit for being,' retorted Miss Easper. ' It's a sell —a regular street sell. If you had read 'The Tricks and Trials of London,' as I have done, you'd understand all these things from A to Z. The young hypocrite ought to be handed over to tho police. And yet, there you are, Louisa Meek, encouraging her in her evil ways. lam surprised at you.' For Mrs Meek, seating herself by the side of the trembling and affnghtened young girl, had already paid her fare, and ■ypas whispering encouragement to her. Miss Rasper remained stiff and upright staring immovably out of the window, sooner than even by a glance countenance her friend's unseemly and ill-judged con duct.

•As green as grass,' she said to herself. I Louisa Meek is so unsophisticated that

she would fall into any trap going. She's no more fit for London life than a year-old lamb. Hero's Eosemount Square, at last; thank goodness/ She get out of the 'bus. Mrs Meek got out also; and to the infinite surprise of both, the young girl in the gray travelling dress alighted as well. •Do you stop at Eosemount Square ?' said Mrs Meek.

' Why, yes,' said the young girl; ' I livo here.'

' Seamstress, or something of that kind,' said Miss Easper under her breath. 'Perhaps, then,' said Mrs Meek, ever inclined, ivy fashion, to cling to something, ' you can tell us where No. 19 is.' The sweet, dimpled young face lighted up. 'Just here,' said she, pointing to one of the tall houses which faced them. ' Papa lives here.'

' Hump !' snorted Miss Easper again, sotto voce. ' Coachman's daughter. Protably employed in the laundry.' The young girl ran lightly up the steps and rang the bell. Tho two elder women followed, and were presently shown into an elegant reception room, where a tali, handsome lady, in a dove-colored silk morning wrapper, was sitting at her em broidery, ' Juliette V sho exclaimed, in surprise.

' Darling mother,' cried the girl, run ning into her arms, ' you didn't expect me back from cousin Clare's so soon, did you ? I meant to take you by surprise ; but, oh ! came near coming to grief, for I had my pocket picked, and should have had to walk home, if this kind lady,' turn ing with a grateful smile to Mrs. Meek, ' had not lent me the fare, although the other one —the tall one in black—told me I was a swindler, and threatened to hand mo over to the police!'

The lady's handsome brow darkoned. ITo the police ! My daughter ! Ma dam,'turning to Miss Rasper, 'may I ask what has procured mo the honor of this visit?'

'I —l came to apply for the situation of house-keeper,' stammered Miss Rasper, apparently feeling very ill at ease. ' I advertised for a housekeeper,' said the lady, ' but not one who could so brutally insult any unprotected child, least of all my daughter. James,' ringing tho bell, which was answered by a foot man, ' show this woman to the door.' And kind little Mrs. Meek got the situation. That threepenny 'bus faro was the best investment sho over made.

The Age of Piracy.

THE FAMOUS BUCCANEERS OF THE WEST INDIES.

JEAN LA.FITTE THE FiIEEBOOTER.

HORRIBLE CRUELTIES, PRACTICED B¥ THE SAVAGE SEA ROBBERS.

THIS PIRATES OF THE PAST, Ere,

INTRODUCTION

[From a paper read by J. S. Slooper, before tho Boston Historic-Gloacalo^ical Society.] In my remarks to-day before this Society, ' I propose to treat of the system of piracy which was carried on for nine or ten y?ars in the West Indies, after the treaty of peace belween Great Britain and the United States. That period has been appropriately styled ' Tho Ago of Piracy,' and it was so indeed. During tho war of 1812, quite a number of so-called ' patriot privateers,' some with commissions and .some with none, congregated at a harbor in Barataria, a small island not far from tho mouth of the Mississippi. They semn to have formed a sort of jointstock company, and carried on an extensive and lucrative business. They had for their chief the notorious outkuv Jean Lalittc, and plundered skips on the ocean, and smuggled their ill-gotten gains into New Orleans. Avowedly they preyed only on the Spaniards, but undoubtedly committed piratical depredations on vessels of ull nations. This nest of pirates was broken up in October, 1814 ,by Commodore Patterson of the United States ]N ravy. Their flotilla in the harbor at the time consisted of ten fast-sailing schooners, fully armed, ' manned and equipped. These vessels were all captured and destroyed ; all their warehouses and dwelling-housrs wore burnt. But the outlaws, numbering eight hundred or a thousand, took to their boats and escaped. The

WHOLE BODY OF SCOUNDRELS Soon after _ joined General Jackson's army, and did good service as artillerists nt tLo battle of New Orleans, for which they received from the Executive a full pardon for all their misdeeds, And what became of these men, hardened by crime and habituated to lawless aces and scenes of violence and bloodshed? Privateering was on the wane, but open and avowed piracy would furuisa moans and opportunity of indulging their fiendish propensities. Many hastened to those ports where they could continue that course of life that was congenial to their habits and dispositions. The ports of Cuba were open, the Government of that colony was wonk and showed no disposition to molest them, andsymspathiz mg friends and agents furnished every facility that could be wished. Their number increased. They were soon followed by desperadoes aud outlaws of every clime and nation—some of whom had served au apprenticeship to slave

ship 3 and privateers—and thus the capture and plunder of defenseless merchant ships the maltreatment, and sometimes murder of whole crows, became, after a time, established as a system in tho Caribbean Sea and the Griilf of Mexico, and was prosecuted on a colossal scale, which can hardly be conceived of at the present day. Some

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF SCENES That were at that period enacted in these waters will give but an imperfect idea of the number and barbarity of the outrages that were pro pet rated. As early as tho year 1815 a pilot-boat schooner was cap tured in the Gulf of Mexico by the United States schooner Firebrand, and carried into New Orleans, where the crew were imprisoned, This vessel showed a patriot flag, was full of men, and armed with a twelve-pounder amidships, swivela, mus kets, etc. It was preteuded that she was a privateer, but the Captain could show no commission. This schooner fired two shots at tho Firebrand, taking her for a merchantman, and was undoubtedly a pirate. In 1815, 181G and 1817, a num ber of British and American vessels were boarded and robbed in the neighborhood of Cuba by armed boats and schooners un der the flag of some (so-called) republic struggling for existence, and also by ves sels and boats which defiantly flaunted the black or blood-red pirato flag, with its terrible symbols in tho center. In the monch of March, 1817, a large pirate schooner on tho edge of Salt Cay Bank, captured a Dutch ship laden with a valua ble cargo. The pirates plundered the ship of §10,000 in specie and rich goods of immense value, treated the Captain and crew in the most barbarous manner, then sent them adrift in the ship's boats, and set the vessel on fire. In 1818, the

PIRATES BECAME NUMEROUS, Bold, and audacious. Many vessels were robbed. Money was the article they chiefly sought, and when they could find no money or other valuables they wreaked their vengeance on the unfortunate officers and crews. In June, 1818, the schooner George Armistead, belonging to Balti more, bound to Havana, was overhauled by an armed vessel under the patroit flag. The officers and crew were treated in tic most inhuman mariner. They beat the Captain, knocked down the men, put a knife to the throat of a passenger, and compelled him to give up his money. It was afterward learned that this vessel was a privateer named the Young Spartan. She subsequently put into Savannah, where all on board were arrested and thrown into prison. In 1810 the seas in the vicinity of Cuba seemed infested with pirates. They made their appearance on the south side of the island, and in the Windward Passage between Hayti and Cuba, and their vessels for a time found a safe refuge among the creeks and bays on the coast of Cuba in the Old Bahama Channel. In this year several piracies were committed, off the mouth of the Mississippi by the emissaries of the noted Mitchell, who had established himself with a gang of a hundred desperate scound rels in Barataria. But this nest was broken up by the United States forces in October of that year. A fast-sailing schooner called THE " CONTRADICTION," Belonging to Baltimore, was captured by a Wge manued with these wretches near the coast of Cuba, and the vessel Tas taken possession of and armed to aid in currying on their fiendish operations. They commitedm'iny shocking barbarities. A man and his wife were captured in a fishing-boat. After amusing themselves by cruelly tormenting the mau, they shot him through the head. It in unnecessary to speak of the fate of the woman. This pirate vessel was soon afterward captured by a British cruiser and carried into New Providence. The Captain and the crew were tried, found guilty and hanged with exemplary promptness. In some cases, when the pirates required recruits, the unfortunate crews of captured vessels were invited to join the miscreants. Some, to save their lives, assented, but the greater number of the sailors promptly refused, and, with their throats cut, were speedily thrown into the sea! In De cember, 1819, a memorial was addressed to President Monroe, asking the decided action of the Government in suppressing the numerous piracies in the West Indies, and giving a list of forty-four vessels robbed and other piratical exploits, copied from one newspaper in that year. This memorial was signed by Arnold Wells, Thomas Perkins, John P. Aplhrop, James Hall, Nathaniel Goddard, and Francis J. Oliver —all Presidents of insurance offices in Boston, names well remembered at this Jay. No attention appears to have been given to this petition. Piratical outrages continued to increase, indeed, this was but the beginning of a chapter of crime on the ocean, which, for atrocity, has hardly a parallel, uud which might have been then suppressed if our Government had listfucd to and heeded the timely representations of these memorialists. But the officers of the few United (States vessels constituting our squardroa op

THE WEST INDIA STATION Were not neglectful of their duties, but were indefatigable in their endeavors to protect our commerce, by cheeking pirati cal depredations. In June ]820, sixteen pirates, who had been captured by our cruisers, were tried in New Orleans, found guiltyandsenteuced tobehanged, Threats were thrown out by their associates and friends of such a character that the Gov ernor had to order out volunteer companies

to p_atrol the streets until the pirates were executed. In September, 1821, three American vessels—the schooner Milo of Bristol, Ehode Island, and brig John, both bound to Matanzas, and the sloop Collector of Rhode. Island, which was outward bound —were captured at the entrance of the Bay of Matanzas by a large open launch, which had been fitted out at Ma tanzas and was manned by a dozen, or fifteen ruthless scoundrels, armed with muskets and cutlasses. They killed the Captain and two men belonging to the schooner and took all the money and valuables they could find. They mur dered tho whole crew of the brig and set the vessel on fire. They plundered the sloop, cruelly beat and maltreated the crew, half killed the Captain to make him confess where money was concealed, set the vessel on fire and abandoned her, making off with their booty. The crew fortunately succeeded iv getting out the long-boat and got safely back to Matanzas, and gave information of pirates being in the offing.

THE AMERICANS IN PORT

Immediately communicated these facts to the Governor, and called upon him for decisive action. After some delay lie was prevailed upon to allow the Americans to arm themselves and go outside in search of the pirates. Three large boats were accordingly manned, mostly by officers of American merchant vessels, and cruised in the offing thirty hours, but without fall ing in with the pirates. They, however, fell in with an American brig bound for Matanzas. This brig was armed with two carriage guns, muskets and boarding pikes, and when tho boats made their appearance, pulling directly for the brig, with the evident intention of boarding, the captain got his guns in readiness to give a warm reception to the piratical launches, as he very naturally took them to be. But, fortunately for the men in the boats, his courage failed as tte crisis approached, and he concluded to make no resistance, hoping to be more easily let off in consequence. The boats ranged alongside, and he soon found him self boarded, not by a set of blood-thirsty pirates, but by a band of his own country men, who, when they saw the brig's armament and preparations for defence, shuddered at the danger, which, by the cowardice of the captain or of the crew, they had so narrowly escaped. In October, 1821, Lieutenant Kearney, in the United States brig Enterprise, fell in with

A FLEET OF PIRATICAL VESSELS Off Cape Antonio, the western extremity of Cuba, and captured three schooners and a sloop while they were engaged in robbing an English ship and brig. They had also just taken possession of the Aristides of Boston. The pirates aban doned their own vessels and prizes, and took to their boats, and, although followed by the boats of the Enterprise, which kept up a hot fire upon them from mus kets, they mostly escaped. In December, 1821, several vessels were boarded by pirates and plundered, just outside the harbor of Havana, almost under the guns of the Moro Castle. It was known in Havarw that three small vessels.had been fitted out from the Reglas, an_ island in the harbor, avowedly for piratical purposes. More than one hundred persons belonging to the Eeglas were be lieved to have been concerned in this abominable enterprise.

The Spanish cruisers on the Cuban station seemed indifferent and strangely inactive. There was no protection for the defenceless mariner except what he could derive from the public armed vessels of the United States and Great Britain. The Cuban Government thus far made no effort to check the frightful extension of the piratical system. When appealed to, the authorities shook their heads, and referring to the Mexican, Artigan, Cartha genian and Buenos Ayres privateers that tiad been built in Baltimore and owned and fitted out of American ports to cruise against the Spaniards, acknowledged the lex TALioKis, gravely saying, ' So much for so much.' Matanzas was one of the STRONGHOLDS OF THE PIRATES.

Vessels bound to tliafc port, or which had just left the harbor, were often plun dered, and outrages heaped on the crews. Goods known to have been taken from American vessels at sea were openly ex posed for sale iv the shops, and ruffians, notorious as pirate chieftains, whose hands had been deeply imbrued in blood, were seen walking the streets, lounging about colfee-houses, and gathering information to subserve their diabolical purposes. There was abundant reason to believe that in 1822 and 1823, after the death of Governor Mahy, and before General Vives was appointed Governor-General of Cuba, the acting Governor of Matanzas was in league with the pirates, and for a liberal consideration winked at their crimes and encouraged their outrages. In January, 1522, the pirates experienced a severe rebuff. Commander Eamagc of the United States brig Porpoise, sent iv his boats to break up a nest of pirate vessels in a small bay or cove on the north coast of Cuba. These pirates had robbed a number of American vessels off C'ipe AntGnio. The expedition was successful. Six of their schooners were burnt—the only remaining one, a fine vessel of sixty tons burden, completely armed and equipped, was retained for the use of the American Government. The whole establishment was broken up. ' Of the 150 pirates who manned the vessels a number were killed, a few were captured, but the rest escaped to the shore iv their boats. Their business

was managed m a systematic ffi .,, After robbing vessels off Cape ff they brought the goods to this,Vj/! mon rendezvous, from which thel shipped them to Havana, where they disposed of by their agents. I v thl part of 1822 %ea

TWENTY-ONE PIRATES Who had been captured by our m vessels and carried into New nT were tried, convicted, and sentenced^ hanged, but were subsequently r^' by James Monore, President 2 United States. Some of these m en } afterwards met with on the i!* Cuba and boasted of the clem en '! which they had been the 2?! objects. In less than thirty din?? they had been set free they4re?t?! old trade-robbery and murder Jl high seas. Such ill-timed dei 1 exhibiting a weakness never m S by Julius Cjßsar in his dealings »?* banditti, while it encouraged thTl^ to continue their fiendish operations * disheartening to those gallant office^ men who, in our National vessels? freely exposing their lives and tifi night and day to break up the J&! establishments and bring the villil^ justice. That policy" may 3! pronounced a mistaken one which l 7 to the pardoning of red-handed muti? and pirates. The fear of 2? punishment tor such crimes adds I! I security to life and property on thel When captured, tried and foJndJ the sentence of the law should not oS pronounced, but executed on such £ wuhoat fail and without delay as? punishment for iniquity, and a t J example to others. Yet misplacedp J thropy often throws a shield over the 1 hardened criminal, and ingenious pr e £ are.demed.aad influences of the? powerful character invoked to arrest f progress of justice, and snatch fS exemplary punishment the «JJ scoundrels 'that ever scuttled ship on a throat.' On the 15th of May lffi thebrigAurilla,of N ewYSk 2bi to New Orleans, having a mm bS passengers on board, among whom 11 several women, was fallen in with by !

TWO PIRATICAL SCHOONERS Heavily armed, off Salt Gay. The W was anchored on the Bank, and plunde! of cargo, and all the valuable articles 1 longing to the passengers. The offic and men were beaten, tortured, some them half hanger to induce them J discover where'any treasure was concetU and the women were outraged in a mm! too horrible to be imagined; About ffi middle of June, 1822, some wreckers M in with a ship ashore near fi um Cay J of the Eastern Bahamas, the crew of 4il had been murdered, their bodies haokd to pieces and hanged in the rigging A brig was also fallen in with, drifting iw near the same place, with the hatchwatj broken open, the cabin stripped of is desks and trunks, pools of blood on | decks, and not a living; creature on boaii In July, 1822, the sloop Blessing, Capfaj Smith, belonging to Jamaica, wasboaidii by a pirate schooner off Cape Cruz,. ft pirate captain was a Spaniard, the cm was of all nations and colors. Tfe carried the captain and his son. and two! his men on board the schooner, and i sisted on their confessing that there n money on board the sloop. When assiwj that such was not the case, they croel? beat and flogged the captain. Finely s plank was run out on the side, of lie schooner, upon which the unfortunatemu was compelled to walk. As ho readied the end they tilted the plank and li dropped into the sea—an old piratical custom known as

'WALKING THE PLANK.?' When in tie water, the Captain began to swim, and the pirate chief called ton musket and shot him while throwing up his hands and imploring for mercy. "1 son, only fourteen years of age, on wite ing the fate of his father, burst intoffi agony of sobs and tears, which so enraged the pirate that he knocked him opii head with his musket, took him Jjy'ti heels and tossed him overboard. The sloop was then set on fire, and the crew, ate much ill-usage, were set adrift in. aleij boat, but were soon afterward picked f, by a trading vessel and carried into Bui! Morant. In October, 1822, the Unifel States sloop-of-war, Peacock, Commanto Cassin, off the Bay of Honda, about if miles west of Havana, fell in with Hi British Government schooner, SpeeM which was attacked by a fleet of piratifll vessels, and would undoubtedly havetai captured and all hands massacred, kti not been for the timely appearance of tbe Peacock. Captain Cassin opened Jl broadsides on the pirates, and four ofW: vessels were sunk ot captured and twenty* five men made prisoners' Many ota were killed in the action, and some escapri in their boats. Two of the schooners WJ run ashore by the pirates and the crew fled to the woods. About this timei" brig PatroitofNew York. Captain HoracJ T. Jacobs, in a passage fromHaytitoM'; Orleans, was chesed off Cape Antonio b-i a pirate schooner, well armed, and p' a crew of forty or fifty men. The wW Captain Jacobs was on board, a young P; beautiful woman to whom he had recently been married, and he determined that it should never fall alive into the hands» pirates. His ship's company consisted" himself, two mates, six seamen,; a c* and a boy. His officers and crew* and all, were bent on fighting their MO' less enemy, and got ready their means'* defence, consisting of one carriagt B"P|

JH^eiriiiigg1 g^rapplQiMLeyit, June £5, 187 G.