344 
DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XXI.-B. P. 
brutal murder within the jurisdiction of Grey town, 
and counselled resistance to the civic authorities, for 
which, on his landing there, an indignant fellow- 
countryman threw a bottle at his head. The Com¬ 
pany’s agent also complained that a thief in the em¬ 
ploy of the Company was sheltered by the municipal 
authorities. So that by levying port dues to maintain 
order;—by the unwonted virtuous indignation of an 
American citizen, as shown by throwing a bottle at an 
aider and abettor of murder;—and, by not arresting 
a supposed thief belonging to the Transit Company, 
—the unfortunate Common Council of Greytown 
brought about the destruction of their town. 
The cash equivalent for these delinquencies was 
assessed at £5000, and the United States corvette 
Cyane, Commander Hollins, who had received orders 
“that his authority should not be so exercised as to 
show any mercy to the town or people,” was sent to 
Greytown, to destroy it. 
Commander Hollins opened fire on the defence¬ 
less town at 10 a.m. on the 13th July, 1854; 
but after six hours’ constant discharge of shot and 
shell, the gallant officer found that but little impres¬ 
sion had been made on the buildings, and therefore 
ordered a detachment on shore to set fire to the 
houses, which, being built entirely of wood, in a 
couple of hours presented to the view nothing but a 
heap of smoking ruins. The perpetrators of this 
honourable act completed the parallel between them¬ 
selves and wild Indians by committing * various m- 
* £ Gate of the Pacific/ pp. 234-5. 
