Richmond Enquirer

Boston, June 3.

A little after 11 o'clock yesterday morning 2 casks of powder exploded in the after part the fine ship Canton Packet, Capt. Proctor, which was lying at a little distance from the end of Long-wharf at anchor, nearly ready to sail on a voyage to the Isle of France and Canton.

A number of men immediately went to assist in saving the property and extinguishing the flames. from the United States ship Independence and from the wharf. They cut her cable and towed her on the flats north of Long wharf, where she grounded-the fire in the mean time having been extinguished. Considerable damage was done to the hull, but we are happy to learn that one person only was killed.

We are informed that the steward, who was the cause of the mischief. had demanded leave to go on shore, and being refused he went below, and that simultaneously with the explosion of the gun powder, the report of a pistol was heard. We are therefore led to presume that he perpetrated this act from motives of revenge-for which he foolishly sacrificed his life.

This ship is between three and four hundred tons burthen, and owned by Messrs. J. & T. H. Perkins of this town. She had on board about $400,000 in specie, all of which were saved.