Three reports in The Times recount, in short order, a masonic encounter at sea, the dangers of alcohol and overcrowding in prisons.ON THE evening of the 6th inst. as the sloop Three Friends, of Youghall, J. CAMPBELL, master, was coming out of Southampton, she was captured at the Start Point by a French privateer, Juret, Louis Marencourt, of St Maloes, Captain.
On finding the cargo to consist of brick and hoops, orders were given to scuttle and sink the sloop, but on Captain M’s perceiving among Mr. C’s papers a certificate from his Masonic lodge, the Frenchman countermanded his orders for sinking the vessel, entertained him with great hospitality, gave him a paper by which the sloop and cargo were to be his, and made him promise under his hand that he would endeavour to secure the release of two certain French Captains, now in Dartmouth Prison, which Mr. C is now resolved on taking the necessary steps to obtain.
On Wednesday last, D. Crowley went into the house of a publican in Mary-street, Dublin, and called for liquor, but having the appearance of intoxication was refused. However, when the persons of the shop were engaged, he took the opportunity of applying a quart to a cask of spirits, and literally drank off the entire measure, when he fell senseless and was immediately removed to his house on Merchant’s Quay. He continued in a state of complete stupefaction until Thursday night, at eleven o’clock, when the spark of life became totally extinct; leaving a striking example of the effects of intoxication.
From 4 to 500 prisoners arrived within these eight days past at the Perth depot; they were quite destitute of clothing, but upon their arrival were supplied with necessaries and made as comfortable as their situation could admit of. The total number now lodged at Perth is 3,500.