222 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[Febraary, 
one of the inseparable evils to a state of warfare. But let us be 
permitted to ask, how many innocent persons there could have 
been in the place, when almost the whole population poured out 
from the village, and rushed down to the water's edge — nay, even 
waded into the surf, flourishing their weapons, to prevent the 
escape of Captain Endicott to his ship, on board of which the 
massacre of his crew had already commenced 1 Who will say 
that all did not participate in the outrage, when every one ex- 
claimed, as he saw the preconcerted signal of success waving 
from the tafferel, " The ship is taken ! — the ship is ours !" 
We freely admit the justice and humanity of that legal maxim 
which allows ninety and nine guilty persons to go " unwhipped 
of justice," rather than one innocent being should suffer ; for it is 
perfectly applicable to that state of society in which are vigilant 
guardians of the peace, and where the strong arm of the law 
arrests the culprit almost as soon as the offence is committed. 
But it cannot be appropriately applied to the present case, where, 
as we have abundantly shown, every shadow of law and justice 
is recklessly trampled under foot ; where the lives and property 
of our citizens, while engaged in their peaceful and lawful pur- 
suits, can receive no protection from the nominal rulers ; where 
the elevation of rank and station is seldom accompanied by the 
elevation of moral character; and where the rajahs themselves 
descend to the same petty tricks that are practised by their 
meanest subjects. Lenity to such people is inhumanity to the 
honest and deserving. 
Knowing, as we do, the character of this people, the length of 
time which has elapsed since the commencement of our inter- 
course with them, and the number of vessels trading on the coast, 
the only matter of astonishment is, that they should have es- 
caped so long ! It is, doubtless, owing in part to the unceasing 
vigilance of the masters of vessels trading on the coast, and partly 
from an exaggerated idea of the physical superiority of the 
Americans, and the apprehension of the more wealthy of losing 
our trade, which to them is a matter of the utmost importance. 
But their diminished resources, in consequence of the present 
depreciation in the value of pepper, and their additional wants, 
arising from the increased consumption of opium, have of late years 
rendered many so desperate, that they are ripe for the commission 
