Alexandria Daily Advertiser

From the Farmer's Cabinet.

THE LISTENER.

That men should seek to build their own profit and advancement on the misfortunes and misery of others, seems rather inconsistent with the dictates of humanity; but in noting the manners of mankind, it requires much more labor to point out facts as they exist, than to describe things as they should be. Without discoursing, therefore, any further by way of introduction, I shall only observe, that every man's experience must have taught him that our species is by no means destitute of characters, to whom we shall do no injustice if we compare them to certain kinds of unfeathered animals, usually called birds and beasts of prey. To change the dispositions and pursuits of this description of beings, is more than my humble endeavors can be hoped to accomplish. But as perchance, some youth may be benefitted by the relation of what I have seen and heard of these biting and devouring bipeds, I shall proceed briefly to "speak of them as they are."

The most frank and undisguised, and at the same time, perhaps, the most honest and serviceable of those men of prey, whose character has yet come to my hearing, are a class of men in the West-Indies, called WRECKERS.

Of whom we are informed that they are licensed by the governor of the Bahamas to cruise among those islands for the benefit of salvage, which they receive on property they may chance to rescue from the waves.
Through the Bahama islands are very dangerous. It is well known that certain passages are precarious, though much frequented. It is said that on a small key near the passage between Cuba and St. Domingo, there have been lately planted some cocoa nut trees, with the intent that when grown they may serve as a warning to mariners to keep clear of the shoals; but some uncharitable people have insinuated, that the wreckers will never suffer these trees to grow up, lest they prove prejudicial to their trade. Whether these suspicions are probable or not, we shall leave to the readers determination, after quoting the following dialogue held by Mr. Krooman with one of this kind of gentry, whom he fell in with in passing through the Bahamas.

Krooman. From whence came you?

Wrecker. From Providence, last from Flamingo bay, in Exuma.

K. Where are you bound to?

W. On a wrecking voyage to Cuba and the westward.

K. What success in cruising?

W. Middling—but middling.

K. Are there many wreckers to the westward?

W. We lay with forty sail four months along the Florida shore.

K. Forty sail! Then certainly you must have had many opportunities of being essentially serviceable to vessels passing the Gulf Stream, by directing them to keep off from danger, with which you made it your business to become acquainted.

W. Not much of that: they generally went in the night.

K. But then you might have given them timely notice by making beacons on shore, or by showing your lights.

W. No, no, [laughing] we always put them out, for a better chance.

K. But would there not have been more humanity in showing them their danger?

W. Sir, I did not go there for humanity—I went wrecking.

So much for Sea Wreckers. If what I have heard is correct (and I fear it is) these are not the only people in the world of similar disposition, but a great many individuals in various professions, are richly entitled to the appellation of Wreckers.

The man who employs his wealth to extort exorbitant interest from the unfortunate, though he may never have been employed in picking up wrecked vessels, or been at sea all his life, may very justly be called a Wrecker.

He who employs himself in seducing the fair, is undoubtedly a Wrecker.

Unskilful dabblers in physic, who sport with life under the pretence of conferring health, may be justly styled eminent Wreckers.

Such politicians as flatter the people in order to obtain offices, and then abuse them; or seduce young men of spirit into unlawful enterprises, by flattering them with the prospects of being raised above the dull pursuits of civil life; or sacrifice duty to popularity; or violate the constitution under pretence of saving it, &c. are a notable race of Wreckers.

Editors of newspapers, who abuse the privileges of the press, deceive the people and calumniate worthy men, are entitled to rank high among the fraternity of Wreckers.

Certain beings called backbiters, tale bearers and slanderers, are a mischievous set of Wreckers.

Intruders into the office of gospel ministers,

"Who for their bellies' sake
Creep and intrude; and climb into the fold,
and feed the flock with poisonous doctrine or leave them to be devoured by wolves,

are nothing better than the most atrocious Wreckers.

Lawyers, who deceive their clients, oppress the poor, and commit such-like and other enormities for filthy lucre's sake, are Wreckers.

*: New Providence, one of the Bahamas.
Flamingo
Exuma.
Cuba.