ness their misdeeds. What
extraordinary perversity such is of reason! Yes; but are not those we
mix with every day guilty of similar wickedness and madness, when in
their common conversation they call on the name of the most high God to
witness to some act of folly, if not of vice, of extravagance, of
cruelty, or senselessness?

The pirates sailed first for Leghorn, where they sold part of the
plundered cargo, and spent the proceeds in a way to excite much
suspicion. They then sailed for the island of Sardinia; but they there
found that they were already suspected. Nothing could be more foolhardy
than their visit to Malta, where the crew spent their money in rigging
themselves out in gold chains, silk waistcoats, and green coats. How
their conduct should not have excited suspicion, I cannot say; but it
does not appear that the people with whom they dealt thought anything
was wrong. It is one of the numberless examples to prove that criminals
are deprived even of ordinary wisdom. Delano, however, saw, from the
way his crew were behaving, that if he remained long at Malta, they
would inevitably bring destruction on themselves. Having, therefore,
got them on board, he sailed for Smyrna. On the voyage Myers tried to
induce them to plunder other vessels; but none they could venture to
attack fell in their way. Their rage against Myers was excessive when
they found that he had attempted to blow them up, and that he had done
so doubtless for the purpose of getting possession of a considerable
amount of treasure which had been left on shore in the hands of an agent
of Delano's. I afterwards heard that he had in all probability
succeeded, as the agent had stated that he had presented an order from
Delano for its payment about the very moment we were taking possession
of the brig, and, as he thought, being blown into the air. Search was
made for him throughout Smyrna before we left the place, and continued
for some time afterwards; but the last accounts had brought no
intelligence of him, and it was concluded that he had escaped in
disguise.

During the greater part of the trial, Delano had maintained his
confidence and composure; but at length the evidence of his own people,
and the master and crew of the _Helen_, became so overwhelming that he
lost all hope, and, overcome by the most abject fear, sunk down, and
would have fallen, had he not been supported. Recovering himself a
little, he broke forth into earnest