HOW A NORTHERN SHIPMASTER WAS
TREATED AT NORFOLK.

West Dennis, May 4,1861.

   Permit me to give you a little sketch of the proceedings of the secessionists or pirates of Norfolk, Va. I am the master of the schooner Sprightling Sea, of Dennis, Mass., which arrived in Norfolk April 20,  from New York. It being early in the morning it was every quiet, and I commenced to discharge. At 1 o’clock P. M., the citizens were thrown into a high excitement, and commenced to seize Northern vessels and sink them in the channel for a blockade. I thought it time for me to leave. I cast off and left, but the wind being light and the tide ahead, I did not get far before I was ordered back til further orders, by Lieut. Sharp. I did so, and lay until Sunday morning, the 2lth. At 8 AM the steam tug Younaluska came along side. Lieut. Sharp and other commanding officers bade me cast off my lines, and gave me fifteen minutes to pickup my things and leave, which I did. As I had a friend there I proceeded to his house with my things and two of my men. On returning to where the vessel bad been lying to get my other two men, I found they had been pressed and taken off to work, and the secessionists were looking for the rest of us. I thought it time for me to get out of the way. I went to my friends and kept out of sight till I got a chance to get away, as the house was watched very close. I had not landed but half my cargo when the vessel was taken, which consisted of general merchandize; neither could I collect any freight on what I did land, as no one would pay any bills, and all were apparently crazy, I left in a wrecking schooner, as good luck had put her in the way, and she got a permit to pass out by being searched. As we were well stowed away, they did not find us, and I left there with twenty-five cents in my pocket. We left the wrecking schooner in our boat, which I saved in Chesapeake Bay. and were picked up by the schooner Fairfax, of New York, Capt. Mott, from Georgetown. Va., bound to New York, where we landed Monday. 29 ult., once more in the land of freedom, where the Stars and Stripes yet wave. I then took passage in the Metropolis, Capt. Brown, who gave us our passage to Fall River, and then interceded for us the remainder of our route to West Dennis. To him I owe many thanks, as I was with out money. I have been at Charleston, S. C., and to many other Southern ports since February, but never saw such piratical work before, as was manifested at Norfolk and on the Virginia coast.

Capt.J. Myrick,
Of Schooner  Spriglitling Sea