LAST YEARS 259 



scruples, of course, but merely as a matter 

 of policy. Torture was freely applied to 

 extort possible hidden treasure, and when 

 the vessel was thoroughly sacked the pi- 

 rates sailed away, leaving the captain free 

 to resume his course. In December, 1819, a 

 memorial 1 from prominent insurance men 

 of Boston was addressed to President 

 Monroe, calling attention to the repeated 

 acts of piracy in the West Indies, and giv- 

 ing a list of forty-four vessels robbed, copied 

 from one paper in that year. 



The "Salem Register" of Jan. 26, 1822, 



cases murder, outrage and scuttling of the vessel were 

 perpetrated in true piratical fashion. 



1 In March, 1822, Mr. McLean of Connecticut from 

 the committee on naval affairs presented to Congress 

 an interesting report on suppression of piracy in the West 

 Indies. In consequence it was resolved, " That it is ex- 

 pedient forthwith to fit out and put in service the corvette 



* Cayenne,' the sloops of war, ' John Adams,' 'Erie' and 



* Peacock ' for the protection of commerce and suppres- 

 sion of piracy in the West India seas and Gulf of Mexico 

 and also to employ the frigate * Constellation,' should 

 the President deem her employment necessary for pur- 

 poses aforesaid." 



