ster, has arrived in the Port of London, with
a strange story in her log-book. Of which, after due sifting, this is
accurately the substance:--

"LONDON, 23d-27th JUNE, 1731. Captain Jenkins left this Port with the
Rebecca, several months ago; sailed to Jamaica, for a cargo of sugar.
He took in his cargo at Jamaica; put to sea again, 6th April, 1731, and
proceeded on the Voyage homewards; with indifferent winds for the first
fortnight. April 20th, with no wind or none that would suit, he was
hanging about in the entrance of the Gulf of Florida, not far from
the Havana,"--almost too near it, I should think; but these baffling
winds!--"not far from the Havana, when a Spanish Guarda-Costa hove in
sight; came down on Jenkins, and furiously boarded him: 'Scoundrel,
what do YOU want; contrabanding in these seas? Jamaica, say you? Sugar?
Likely! Let us see your logwood, hides, Spanish pieces-of-eight!' And
broke in upon Jenkins, ship and person, in a most extraordinary
manner. Tore up his hatches; plunged down, seeking logwood, hides,
pieces-of-eight; found none,--not the least trace of contraband on board
of Jenkins. They brought up his quadrants, sextants, however; likewise
his stock of tallow candles: they shook and rummaged him, and all
things, for pieces-of-eight; furiously advised him, cutlass in hand,
to confess guilt. They slashed the head of Jenkins, his left ear almost
off. Order had been given, 'Scalp him!'--but as he had no hair, they
omitted that; merely brought away the wig, and slashed:--still
no confession, nor any pieces-of-eight. They hung him up to the
yard-arm,--actual neck-halter, but it seems to have been tarry, and
did not run:--still no confession. They hoisted him higher, tied his
cabin-boy to his feet; neck-halter then became awfully stringent upon
Jenkins; had not the cabin-boy (without head to speak of) slipt through,
noose being tarry; which was a sensible relief to Jenkins. Before very
death, they lowered Jenkins, 'Confess, scoundrel, then!' Scoundrel could
not confess; spoke of 'British Majesty's flag, peaceable English subject
on the high seas.'--'British Majesty; high seas!' answered they, and
again hoisted. Thrice over they tried Jenkins in this manner at the
yard-arm, once with cabin-boy at his feet: never had man such a day,
outrageous whiskerando cut-throats tossing him about, his poor Rebecca
and him, at such rate! Sun getting low, and not the least trace of
contraband found, they made a l