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the unsupported and equivocal testimony of William, it was not conceived to be a case in which our doubts should influence our efforts for preparation and defence. Measures were consequently promptly taken, to place the city guard in a state of the utmost efficiency. Sixteen hundred rounds of ball cartridges were provided, and the sentinels and patroles ordered on duty with loaded arms. Such had been our fancied security, that the guard had previously gone on duty without muskets, with sheathed bayonets and bludgeons.

"On the night of Friday the 14th, the information of William was amply confirmed by a gentleman who called on the Intendant, who stated that a faithful slave belonging to his family, in whom he had the utmost confidence, informed him that a contemplated insurrection of the blacks would occur on the succeeding Sunday, the 16th, at 12 o'clock at night, which, if not prevented, would inevitably take place at that hour. This slave also stated that one of his companions had informed him, that Rolla, belonging to Governor Bennet, had communicated to him the intelligence of the intended insurrection, and had asked him to join. That he remarked, in the event of their rising, they would not be without help, as the people from San Domingo and Africa would assist them in obtaining their liberty, if they only made the motion first themselves. That if Awished to know more, he had better attend their meetings, where all would be disclosed. After this, at another interview, Rolla informed A- that the plan was matured, and that on Sunday night, the 16th June, a force would cross from James' Island and land on South Bay, march up and seize the Arsenal and guard house, that another body at the same time would seize the Arsenal on the Neck, and a third would rendezvous in the vicinity of his master's mills. They would then sweep the town with fire and sword, not permitting a single white soul to escape.

"The sum of this intelligence was laid before the Governor, who convening the officers of the militia, took such measures as were deemed the best adapted to the ap

proaching exigency of Sunday night. On the 16th, at 10 o'clock at night, the military companies, which were placed under the command of Col. R. Y. Hayne, were ordered to rendezvous for guard.

"The conspirators finding the whole town encompassed at 10 o'clock, by the most vigilant patroles, did not dare to show themselves, whatever might have been their plans. In the progress of the subsequent investigation, it was distinctly in proof, that but for these military demonstrations, the effort would unquestionably have been made; that a meeting took place on Sunday afternoon, the 16th, at 4 o'clock, of several of the ringleaders, at Denmark Vesey's, for the purpose of making their preliminary arrangements, and that early in the morning of Sunday, Denmark despatched a courier, to order down some country negroes from Goose Creek, which courier had endeavoured in vain to get out of town.

"No development of the plot having been made on Sunday night, and the period having passed, which was fixed on for its explosion, it now became the duty of the civil authority to take immediate steps for the apprehensión, commitment, and trial of those against whom they were in possession of information.

'The number of blacks arrested was one hundred and thirty-one; of these thirty-five were executed, fifty-one acquitted, the rest were sentenced to be transported.

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Among those executed, was one free black by the name of Denmark Vesey, who was considered the leader of the plot. In the revolutionary war, Captain Vesey of Charleston was engaged in supplying the French in St. Domingo with slaves from St. Thomas. In the year 1781 he purchased Denmark, a boy of about 14 years of age, and afterwards brought him to Charleston, where he proved for 20 years a faithful slave. In 1800, Denmark drew a prize of $1500 in the lottery, and purchased his freedom from his master for 600 dollars. From that period till the time of his apprehension he worked as a carpenter, distinguished for his great strength and activity. Among his colour he was always looked up to with awe and respect. His temper

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was impetuous and domineering in the extreme, qualify ing him for the despotic rule of which he was ambitious. All his passions were ungovernable and savage, and to his numerous wives and children, he displayed the haughty and capricious cruelty of an eastern bashaw."

Among the most prominent of the other conspirators, was a slave by the name of Gullah Jack. "Born a conjuror and a physician, in his own country, (for in Angola they are matters of inheritance,) he practised these arts in this country for fifteen years, without its being generally known among the whites. Vesey, who left no engines of power unessayed, seems, in an early stage of his designs, to have turned his eye on this necromancer, aware of his influence with his own countrymen, who are distinguished both for their credulous. superstition and clannish sympathies. Such was their belief in his invulnerability, that his charms and amulets were in request, and he was regarded as a man, who could only be harmed by the treachery of his fellows. Even those negroes who were born in this country seem to have spoken of his charmed invincibility with a con fidence which looked much like belief."

Of the motives of Vesey in forming this conspiracy, "the belief is altogether justifiable, that his end would have been answered, if, after laying our city in ashes, and moistening its cinders with blood, he could have embarked with a part of the pillage of our banks for San Domingo; leaving a large proportion of his deluded fol lowers to the exterminating desolation of that justice, which would have awaited, in the end, a transient success."

The following is extracted from the testimony of a black man on the trial of the conspirators:

"About the 1st of June, I saw in the public papers a statement that the white people were going to build missionary houses for the blacks, which I carried and showed to Peter, and said, see the good they a rol to do for us; when, he said.-What of that?-live roE not heard, that on the 4th of July, the whites tre mog to create a false alarm of fire, and every black that comes

out will be killed, in order to thin them? Do you think they would be so barbarous? (said I) Yes! (said he) I do!-I fear they have a knowledge of an army from San Domingo, and they would be right to do it, to prevent us joining that army, if it should march towards this land! I was then very much alarmed.

"Last Tuesday or Wednesday week, Peter said to me -You see, my lad, how the white people have got to windward of us? You won't, said I, be able to do any thing. O, yes! (he said) we will! By George, we are obliged to! He said, all down this way ought to meet, and have a collection to purchase powder. What, said I, is the use of powder ?-the whites can fire three times to our once. He said, but 'twill be such a dead time of the night, they won't know what is the matter, and our horse companies will go about the streets and prevent the whites from assembling. I asked him-Where will you get horses? Why, said he, there are many butcher boys with horses; and there are the livery stables, where we have several candidates; and the waiting men, belonging to the white people of the horse companies, will be told to take away their masters' horses. He asked me if my master was not a horseman? I said, Yes! Has he not got arms in his house? I answered, Yes! Can't they be got at? I said, Yes! Then (said he) it is good to have them. I asked what was the plan? Why, said he, after we have taken the arsenals and guard houses, then we will set the town on fire, in different places, and as the whites come out we will slay them. If we were to set fire to the town first, the man in the steeple would give the alarm too soon.-I am the Captain, said he, to take the lower guard house and arsenal. But, I replied, when you are coming up, the sentinel will give the alarm. He said, he would advance a little distance ahead, and if he could only get a grip at his throat, he was a gone man, for his sword was very sharp; he had sharpened it, and had made it so sharp, it had cut his finger, which he showed me. As to the arsenal on the Neck, he said, that it was gone as sure as fate, Ned Bennett would manage that with the people from the

country, and the people between Hibbens' Ferry and Santee would land and take the upper guard house. I then said, then this thing seems true. My man, said he, God has a hand in it, we have been meeting for four years, and are not yet betrayed. I told him, I was afraid, after all, of the white people from the back country and Virginia, &c. He said that the blacks would collect so numerous from the country, we need not fear the whites from the other parts, for when we have once got the city we can keep them all out. He asked if I had told my boys. I said no. Then, said he, you should do it, for Ned Bennett has his people pretty well ranged. But, said he, take care and don't mention it to those waiting men who receive presents of old coats, &c. from their masters, or they'll betray us. I will speak to them. We then parted, and I have not since conversed with him. He said the rising was to take place last Sunday night, 16th June-That any of the coloured people who said a word about this matter would be killed by the others. The little man, who can't be killed, shot, or taken, is named Jack, a Gullah Negro. Peter said there was a French company in town, of three hundred men, fully armed— that he was to see Monday Gell, about expediting the rising."

122. Western Antiquities.

The numerous remains of ancient fortifications, mounds, &c. found in the Western States, are the admiration of the curious, and a matter of much speculation.

They are mostly of an oblong form, situated on well chosen ground, and near the water.

One of the fortifications or towns at Marietta, Ohio, contains forty acres, accompanied by a wall of earth from six to ten feet high. On each side are three openings at equal distances, resembling gateways. The works are undoubtedly very ancient, as there does not appear to be any difference in the age or size of the timber growing on or within the walls, and that which grows

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