340 Jean Jacques Tardie. [MARCH, 



short time, and he was added to those criminals too easily pardoned by 

 the executive, the list of whom does undoubtedly sully the administra- 

 tion of justice in America. After a confinement of a few months, a 

 remission of the remainder of his sentence was granted by the new 

 governor of South Carolina, and this dark demon was once again let 

 loose upon the world. 



In a few weeks he was heard of again, and this fatal and final exercise 

 of his black art covered him with destruction. Being rejoined by 

 the two Spaniards, mentioned as his fellow-passengers in the former 

 voyage from New York, he had departed from Charleston for the port 

 of New Orleans on the Mississippi river ; thence they embarked again 

 as passengers in the brig Crawford, bound to the Chesapeak. Towards 

 the conclusion of the voyage, poison was again administered in the food, 

 and the captain, crew, and every human being excepting the three pas- 

 sengers and the mate of the vessel, lay dead upon the deck ! Tardee 

 then assumed the command ; the mate had been preserved for the pur- 

 pose of navigating the vessel, and as it was not expedient to enter any 

 of the harbours of America, and the cargo consisted of merchandize 

 suitable to a European market, it was determined upon to sail for 

 Hamburgh. It was found, however, that the remaining water and pro- 

 visions were insufficient for a voyage across the Atlantic, to procure a 

 supply of which, the vessel stood into the Chesapeak, and anchored in 

 Hampton Roads, opposite to a small fort and country town. Here the 

 two Spaniards were dispatched to the shore in a boat for the requisite 

 supplies, and Tardee and the mate were now alone in the vessel. His 

 dreadful situation flashed across the mind of the mate ; he was now for 

 the last time in sight of his native shores ; in a few hours he should 

 again be on the lonely waters of the ocean, his companions pirates, and 

 at any hour he might convey to his own lips the cup of death. The 

 vigilance and ready weapons of Tardee forbad the risk of an encounter, 

 the return of the Spaniards would be the signal for the departure of the 

 vessel, another boat containing only a single oar was alongside, the 

 Frenchman had retired for a moment to the cabin ; and the mate, descend- 

 ing to the boat, had sculled beyond the reach of the pistols of Tardee, 

 who was at last seen rushing frantic upon deck. In his boat, and with a 

 single oar, the mate soon reached the shore, and having communicated 

 the affair to the commander of the port, the Spaniards were secured in 

 the village, and a party of soldiers were soon dispatched to the brig. 

 Upon the floor of the cabin Tardee lay dead, his throat severed, in 

 despair, from ear to ear. The Spaniards were afterwards tried, con- 

 demned, and executed ; the vessel is now peacefully trading along 

 the coasts of America, and I recently was in that cabin where ended 

 the crimes and existence of Jean Jacques Tardee ! 



