The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1807-01-20 00:00:00, page 2

amine witneflv* before the gram] jury, he ne
ver would have run the country to the cxpence
of calling a grand jury. The judge obftrved,
that opinion was out of court, a>u| ofcouife
mu way binding on the court. Of eourfc the
jury examined the witneflVs without the aid of
Mr. Daviefti, and under the peculiar reftriftions
in the judge’s charge.
I could but remark fometbing in the manner
an.l decifions of the honorable judge, which
induced me to believe, his mind was not as
free from bias as it Ihould be. livery aft, every
determination he gave, Went to prove he felt
deeply interelled in the acquits! of col. Burr.
A predetermination to thwart the proceedings
ot Mr. Daviefa, and hamper enquiry at to col.
Burr, was plainly vifible to the phyfioguomift,
in every line of his face ; and to the clofe ob
ferver in hi* every a (ft. It will be remembered
by my readers, that the judge had but a few
days prsvious to this, on examination before
the committee appointed to enquire into Se
baftian’s condu<5], deeply implicated himfelf, in
a former attempt to feparate from the union,
and even admitting the judge was clear of any
connexion with Burr’s feheme, (for the lake or
argument) he tmift have had a fellow feeling for
fo great, good and perfecuted « man, who it now
engaged in an entrrprize againft the interefts of
his country. I would not wifli to be under,
ltood as i-quitting judge Innes of being engag.
cci in tne icticme of diitimon, with co). Burr;
far be it from me to give celebrity to an opinion
fo very different from the one I entertain, in
the face of circumltances which are certainly
calculated to generate fufpicion In thebofoms
of the mod uufufpetfting. Some of them are
even woithy the ferious attention of the people,
and I conceive myfclf bound, as an impartial
editor, to give them to my fellow citizens,
who, fiom their remote lituations, are de
prived of a perfonal knowledge of what is go
ing on, at the feat of government. During the
timecol. Burr lay under the ignominy of the
Charges of the attorney for the U S. col. Inna,
and Burr were almoft cotiftantly together of
an evening, at John Brown’s, and the moment
the grand jury returned without finding a true
bill, preparations were gone into, and a ball
was given to col. Burr, at which the families of
judge {ones, and John Brown attended, even
to a child ; but when a ball was given in honor
of the union, not one of them attended ; not
becaufe they were not prepared, for on the fame
evening they attended a party at George
Greer’s, a merchant of this town ; who, it
may be rrquifite to temark, waj himfelffrom
home. Thefe circumftances, when combined
with the judge’s explofion before the commit
tee who fat on Sebaftian, have a tendency to
convince my mind, that fome improper motives,
which lay concealed, like col. Burr’s projects,
beneath the veil of uncertainty, have operated
on this honorable judge. The people will de
termine ; it is only my province to lay before
them information which I deem important,
with my remaiks, and they mu ft utimately de
cide and determine the innocence or guilt.
When the grand jury returned their finding,
and very remarkable and unprecedented ad
drefj into court, Mr. Allen role, and defired
l-.ave to copy it. that it might he publilhed ;
for lie felt uneafy himfelf, as men with whom
be was intimate were implicated. He defired
therefore that it might betaken out, to Ihcw
that there was no fliadow of fufpicion.
Mr. Daveifs faid he fully a (Tented to the co
py and publication. I know, faid he, that
much parade of innocence will be affected ;
n*r me, I repofe upon events. The public
mind maybe carried off—but yet in a few
months it will fee this project as it really is.
My conviflinn is not Ihaken. The grand jury
feem to have aimed a blow at the root of rumour
at:dsuspicion. Let the court fix the difgrace on
me or on them.
I will venture to aflert, that the addrefa of
the grand jury is altogether unprecedented, and .
cotiftquently improper. Why was it neceflary !
to depart from the common courfe of proceed
ing ? Whenever in any cafe it is found necef- |
fary to leave the ordinary practice and regular,
mode of proceeding, fomething has occafioned l
it, and you m.iy begin to look fomewhere for ;
a motive which has produced this departure!
from eftahltdied euftom. Why then I a fie, in
this cafe ditl the jury travel out of the eftablifh
ed courfe, which from time immemorial has
been pmfued, as well by the grand jurors of
Kentucky, as of every other country, from the |
dawn ofjm ifprurltnce ? And what, but an i-j
<ua of its impropriety, induced one of the jury- [
men to pofitively reftife higfignature to it ? Did !
the jury think if necefiary to remove fufpicion '
from the character of col. Burr, for them to
tranfcenJ the lifual limits of their duty by eulo
gifing the man whom they could in their capa
city as juror*, only condemn or acquit from the
evidence before them ? And why, I again re
peat, this uncommou vindication ? Why this
eulc.gium ? Did the jury attend to the proceed
ing.. before the court ? Did they not fee every
nerve exerted by col. Burr and his counfel to
fnpprefs enquiry ? D >en this look like inno
c nrr ? T think not. And I truft toe great bo
<!y of the people'ill Kentucky will join me in
Ophiioo, that the jury have, by their lingular
adore!* ft lengthened the irle.i which is entertain
ed that Cm. B. i* now engaged in a project ini
mical to the perpetuity of the union. Was
there no evidence which though not legal,
might yet be convincing to private individuals?
Rut col. Bmr i« a man of fo much importance
tnthe community, and his innocence,and even
his exemption from lufpicioii fo clTeutiail'/ re
quifitr, that the jury drew up mi atldrefs, nut
only declaring him n f guilty, which was the
pmp r fl ipping p'aee, but they goon to declare
hi.n i !.-m ' f fnfptetr.n. 'Finn imne flip farther
11,in | l eiirve any grand jury in the If. States
have gone. And I would a(k the jury (tor ma
ny of them have been on a jury before) whether,
in i ijuumg any oMcutr Imitvidu il, they would
harw n*a ** the t'nr.e .whirr fs f And whether
thrv ru • 1 I fry, candor will force them to
sn4 vrr b, tni negative.
iviv iv*lings pave been deeply intprrftcd tn
thi- up.), .'t tfloue which wd! i;i my opinion mt.
41,ialiy, l tp'pr li d fatally *fT>Ci the profprrity,
Hl,rr:y anil iHppmifs of my country, and l
have hrt n *r«l t«ryor.:1 rpy orgiii |l intyntfon in
tnakh'C thef,/ rctnaiki, by a patriot'*: wifh to
eojert rpy ft'l.*w cit'^M.* agau.lt the fernt
plan, i»t" rol, I’.urr, and Inprevtijt tJjrm :f
hie from Iwing lulled i"" feitouy l>v the pecu,
Jo,r ad<ir«fs tJi th? go*.,I J..ty, J cannot here
Vopclofie without rm>«rk.,»g tl.-- thor.ipgh cut*
rl*tiu„ pr.-iluc.-d on 4»«y *I»M of the #yd; ,4
r^J rti.rr, \'-v ftie proceedjug* in C4J.ii«< *.mj tie
mV-af. of tlr grvrml jmy. f.vcty 4ttrn.pt v/m
upl, jV"f *»;mJ bis counjVJ in powri to
tiirp 4 lb ppt-r, fciHiub y | difft'-'JiJ' ic# wire
dh,»wr. i,i !hr k* iy of thr public *4iof..ey, and
~*.ol!~i.a a;.p- ar-/» in he L'ft undone wl.u.b uugU
4.1 a;.y “,rybar'«f; him, or prerrpt L:» ar.
vivbg at' the truth. And hen -.gain j Cit.cgl
b,jJ . *ts<: i *oy r4.narst bypbfv.ying Uie ap
soap nf preii ■ ej.i'i.tatip'.1 Hi -,if i "I ortblt jmtjji
it * hayr cpb b‘.'f * q!»;!t?d with eclat,if poflibir
Tiu fudge *vw» uhlervetlio t<mark, and w>t»
aftumb^V J :dt vyd whillt (tie honor wa«
, -i.v I-., -rarrited that on the tormei
••» «*»rr rilW, hi
cc», by a jpintcd ponntiet, a turn to political
events ; and wherever i!»e female foeicty i» eii
lightened, they are the MoA tfT,ilual cluck up
j on the licrotitMifnphi of political faiijons, that
i rau he formed. i/crc they appeared to fee!
' the ind'ivuty vvhhh had been -done to their
■ ord**r, by a portion of <hc«xfeiye*^ and every
rg'-rtion wa< made <y ret.rievr their wonted
(tatjon, and i>ref«.nt tkernfclve* to admiring na
Hon«* a» a band of firm aud immoyeable Amo
I •« an lafbea, who coulfl not be induced* by the
/on,'d of be+vmly OUiuc, \(j deviate from that
lime tJpatriotic re-tiiud*# which they h*dde*
to ndned to purfur
i j T*n«s«sf.
kNOXVrr.LK, January s.
>' On Monday laft, an exprefs from the eitv r>f
' * »-V I • <• '
And have a findinj*. Mr. Bavicfs had dated to
the court the reafoiit why he co'.ld not proceed
agHinft col. Burr, and yet the jftdge regrctVrd
he had not forced the jury to go out and bring
a finding without evidence. What could be
the objert, is a queftion which prefents itfelf to
the mind of every reflecting man, of having a
finding upon the indictment and the bare affi
davit of Mr. Daviefs, without other evidence ?
Nopoflihle end could be anfwered except the
dlfplay of innocence which fuch an event like
the late orte wolild have enabled col. Barr to
make* And this is certainly the face which the
fubjelt wears. The judge appears from the
whole tenor of his conduct, to have predeter
mined that Burr fhould come ofT with eclat,
and he therefore regretted that on the firft call
of the grand jury he had not cltared him by a
finding on a mere blank paper of not guilty.
The executive will fliortly be in poITVflion of
this judge’s evidence before the committee wlto
fat on Sebaftian, and will then I trull be ena
bled to judge of his motives, and can account
for things which now appear to want explana
tion. The cafes of Burr and Innes will be be
fore them and their country ; their fellow citi
zens of wrftern America expert them to art
with decifion and energy upon them : as upon
them perhaps depends the future happir.efs and
profperity of our country.
J he day after the adcirefs or the grand jury
was given in, tickets were taken about town,
announcing a ball at captain Taylor's, in honor
of Mr. Burr on Monday. But here was a fad
falling off, not from ary fault of P r. Burr, for
he maintained his full dignity, to wit : he was
out of town on Monday, and did not come in
until fupper time, when the dancing people
were a little down in the mouth, and revived
their drooping fpirits. But (till he wanted fome
fupport to his own ; for only a very few gen
tlemen attended ; the grand jury and their »d
drefs notwithftanding. A number of ladies
was there to wit : all thofe of the families of
the honorable Harry Inncs, judge of the fe
deral court, John Brown, fee. See. even down
to a child. Mark, fellow citizens, the JUDGE !
This man is a traitor at heart.
Several of the true Americans felt deeply dif
trefled at thefe tmnfaCtions. An addrefs of the
grand jury obvioufly produced by fomeinftru
mentaiity this ball; and much fictitious and
fome real public clamor, finccrely aftcCted ma
ny real patriots and friends to Mr. Daveifs.
They felt indignant at the conduct of fome of
their fellow men ; and the fame night it was a
grecd by a number of the firfl characters of our
country, to give a ball on the Thurfday night
enfuing, at Buffi's hotel, in honor of the UNI
ON, ami as a mark of approbation of the firm
ness and vigilance of the attorney for the United
States, Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, Esq.—
The following gentlemen officiated as managers
on this occafion :
Colonel James F. Moore, a member of the Se
nate.
Maj. gen. Samuel Hopkins, a member of the
houfe of reprefentatives.
John Pope, fenatorto Congrefs.
John Rowan, feerctary of ftate.
Gen. Green Clay, fpeakcr of the fenate pro
tern.
Col. Jilfon Rayne, a member of the fenate.
Col. Henry Ctift, a member of the houfe of re
prefentatives.
George M. Bibb, a member of the houfe of re
prefentatives.
Samuel M'Kee, a member of the houfe of repre
lentatives.
Captain Richard Taylor,
William Trigg.
They ordered Mr. Bufh to fpare no expence,
nor put any limits to his preparations.
When the evening arrived, about 30 ladies
appeared, about gofhort of a full affembly ;
among them, many of the ladies of this place,
who had pofitively refufed to go to Mr. Burr’s
party—about 60 or 70 gentlemen attended :
the governor, fecretary of (late, the fpeakrrs
ofthefrnate and houfe of representatives, and
many of the leading members of both houfeg.
The party was fo very cordial and convivial,
that every one remarked and l'pokc of it to
their companions ; and, if a young man may
be indulged in the remark, it feemed as if a
fpark of the fire of’76 had dropped down
among them. The only circumftance which
took from the pleafure of the company, and
when immediately preffmgupon the attention,
appeared a blot upon the fair fiieet of enjoy
ment, was the prefence of a fpy, a moft defpir a
ble tool of the Spani/h Americans and prrfent
Burritrs. And even this was but as the cloud
of an April day; and the bright effulgence of
unqualified joy, burft from behind the noxious
vapor, and difpelling it from the remembrance,
re-illumined the feftive feene.
When flipper came on, it was m.mifeft that
not only Mr. Bufh had followed the directions
of the managers ; hut the fplendid elegance of
the fupfier, and the mafterly difplay of taftc
in its arrangement, evinced the ability and at
tention of Mrs. Buffi, under whofe hands the
pile had rifen. A more elegant and more bril
liant flipper never has been feen in Frankfort.
When the ladies retired, the governor and
ferretary declining any toaft (for reafons of po
litical delicacy, **'e fuppofe,) the fpeaker of the
Senate, general C’ay, drank “ The patriotic
ladies of Frankfort,” which went round with
loud and reiterated peaU of applaufe.
Mr. Will'am Logan, fpeaker of the Houfe of
Reprefcntativer, then dr nk, “ D urination to
all confpirjcies” which was received with re
peated acclamations of applaufe. The poor
fpy, after all his works* drank it too. Many
toafta, all of political allufion, were drank, and
received with moft cnthufnftic applaufe. Old
ma|. gen. Hopkins drank “ The revival of the
true American fpirir.”-Mr. John Pope, “ The
eagie with thefeventem ftars.”
The company retired from the room about
three o’clock.
Too much cannot be faid in commendation
of thnfe ladies, who, regarding the dignity of
their character, and the reputation and welfare
of thtir coun'ry, refufed Jo dance attendance
upon Mr. Burr, or degrade their ftate by at
tending the ball which was given him. Thcfe
were the ladies who gave by their prefence a
general pleasure at the ball, in fconor of the u
niou of thtir country, f n every civili/Vd coun
try, altho' tlie ladies arc denied an imm« diate
ham! in the adminiftraticn nf.the government,
yet it is ui H eir power to giye in many inftan
: New.Orle.1ns; a fuiall mail tif vrkMi he was
the bearer, is only to be opened at Knoxvile,
' Naftivifle, Fort-Adams, and New-Orlcans—His
credentials require he fltfll he furniflicd with
fleet horfes fo as to cnanle him to travel 1*20
tniles in twenty-foOr hours. The rider w ho
brought the mail to this place, was unable thro*
fatigue to go any further, another was pro
cured who went on in 15 minutes. By this
conveyance a letter was received by Governor
Sevier from the War Department, the contents
of which requefled his vigilance in preventing
any expedition that might be fitting out in the
Weftern waters. The Secretary acids, that it
had been reprdented at Pittfburgh, by thofc
fuppofed to be engaged in the enterprize, that
two regiments of TeHneflec citizens would join
the expedition at the moath of Cumberland ri
ver. Ken. Guz.
A report has been in circulation, and has re
ceived confiderable currency in this place that
Gen. Wilkinfon has received orders to proceed
immediately to Wafhington city. What mo
tive ha9 dictated this ftep wc are not able to
fay. lb.
Col. Burr arrived in town on Wednefday laft.
It is laid he intends proceeding in a few days
to Natchez. Ib.
Col. Burr arrived on Sunday evening laft, at
Gen, Jackfon’s about 9 miles from this town;
and has been in this place fevcral times this
week. He appears to be preparing for fomc
movement, we know not where. Should he
attempt any hoftile movement, wc will m .ke it
known. Ten. Guz.
NASHVILLE, December £7.
Col. Burr embarked from this place for New
Orleans on Monday laft, with two large flat
boats, which did not appear to be loaded.
Impartial Review.
CHARLESTON, January 8.
BURR's CONSPIRACY.
Every day throws mor« light on this highly inte
rfiling fubjedl By the arrival yefterday of the fchr.
Amelia, captain Brooks, from New-Orleans, we re
ceived the papers of that city to the 12th ult. By
thefe papers we learn, that on the 9th ult. in confe
quence of a previous invitation from his Excellency
the Governor, the Merchants of that place aflemlded
at government houfe, for the purpofe of confnlting
with him on fome points of great importance. His
Excellency in a very few words explained to the gen
tlemen, the objedl of the military preparations mak
ing there, which are in defence of a premeditated
attack on the Territory, by a formidable party of men
afleinbling nn the Ohio, headed and led on by fome
of thefirft characters in the union.—He informed
them that the principal objeifl of sailing them toge
ther, was to deliberate on the bell plan of procuring
for the public fervice a number offeamen, fuflkient to
mann the Gun-Boats and other crafts, intended to be
armed. Th* he conceived an appeal to the mer
chants themfelves, would at this hour of danger, be
preferable to an impredment, and he was perfuaded
they would difplay their patriotifm, by adopting the
bell and mod immediate meafures, to enable Com
modore Shaw, to procure the hands neceflary.
After governor Claiborne concluded his obfervati
oils, general Wilkinfou, who attended the meeting,
informed the gentlememen of the nature of the plot
and the manner it had been difdofed to him, and on
this occafion made a very impreflive and affedting
appeal to their feelings. He departed from that in
feparable line of military condudl which he has always
obferved, by informing them as well of his plans of
offence as defence, and expatiatad largely on the want
of authority to execute to their extent his views and
meafures. He particularly related the objedl of the
invaders to be the rcduSion of that place, in order,
with the booty they might find in it, to make an at
tempt on Mexico, and if they fucceeded, to ferve the
weflern dates from the union ; that the attack was
to be made at well by land as by fea, and concluded
by denouncing the leader, Aaron Burr, and pledged
his own life in our defence.—The governor and ge
neral having retired the meeting proceeded to deli
berate on the bed plan to co-operate with govern
ment, wh< n it was unaninroufly agreed that an em
bargo ought to take place, which has lince taken
plat*. The governor left the meeting of the mer- j
chums io coufuit with coioneis BellrchaiTe, ?vI:Carty
and Dorficre, relative to the militia.
The battalion of Orleans Volunteers have received
orders to hold themfelves in readinefs for duty at a
moment’s warning.
It was Hated at New-Orleans, when the Amelia
failed, that the adherents of Burr amounted to 7t OO
men ; and it was believed that his forces would con- ,
fiderably exceed that number. The attack, it was
expelled, would lie made between the 20th and flOth
December. The two Gun Boats had proceeded up
the river, as far as Iberville ; and were to afeend as
high as Polnt-Cmipee ; and two bomb-ketches were
alto ready to follow them. -Com. Shaw had purcha
fed the fchooner Ranger, of Baltimore, mounting 16
guns, for the fervice of government. Gen. Wilkin
fon had given orders to have all the forts repaired, the
city picketed in, and put iu a complete flate of de
fence.
In addition to the above particulars, we learn that
ftveral perfons have been arrefleil in the city of Nrw
Orleans ; among them were a Dr. Boliman, and
Mefirs. Ogden, and Swartwout.—Dr. Boliman has
been brought on to this place, in the fchooner /Ime
lia, as a Bate prifoner, under the charge of Lieutenant
Wilfon, and a guard of Soldiers; he was yefterday
landed and left in the fafe keeping of the comman
dant at Fort Johnfoti. It will be remembered by our
reader* that Dr. Boliman wa* one of the Gentlemen
whofo gallantly attempted to releafe the Marquis de
la Fayettefroni Mugdeburgh. His family is in Phi
ladelphia.
We are informed that the commanders of the Gun
Boats, now in this port, havs received orders from
Government to fail Cur New-Orleani.
Courier,
NORFOLK, January 14.
FRENCH CORRESPONDENCE.
The article under this head,occupies a very eonfi
derahle portion of our paper of this day, confiding of
five letters from Admiral IVillau.net, viz one to the
•nnijlcr */ marine in France,Ontt to general Furreau,
the French nsir.iBer at Walhington, and one to com
modore Barney, It cannot be foppofed that we
(hould offer futh documents to the public, without
ohfervation. With jrefpedl to rise authenticity of
thels letters, we have no doubt; and our reader* may
he allured tjwt we have not ronfented to their publi
cation, hut under a firm cnoviiSion that they are ge*
mime ; the tranllatiom, in fume inflances are too li
-rural to be elegant, and the proper names in the ori
! ginals are very diflicult to make out,truth ha* been
1 mtire aimed at than elegance. Thefe letters derive
I .'.heir inttreft from the circumflaiice (A their being
I written wirhot being intended for public anfpedlion,
| and of courfe the fetitiments of the writer are freely
i exprefled. It may probably be remarked that a part
I nf theft letter* do not inttreB the public, and might
i therefore have been omitted.; hut for re afons which
we think are cocdvBve, fiich a courfe-eould not hare
been purfxed without Wizarding a charge of feppref
fion. In ope iulLi.ee only hat any pan of the letters
been omitted, and the caufe of omilteil is fully, ar,d
w? truft fatisfadforily explained-—the remark* which
we havi to offer, will come better after the reader
ha* perufed the corrrfpunutnee ; we (hall therefore
;„r„^. • »
French coRfe.Ef.rGNL encii.
t CuHiMMiU *tt J f . r the P.ht:: Z.r,i£.r. /
Tran iamons.
No 1.
Faint tl'f Htrviinnt.flO.b Sr ft. 1 L . i'i
Ta hit F.xetUrnex the ill lifter if f in line at /‘aril.
. Mr I.u’kd,
1 informed you of my intended departure f. orn Mar
tinique on the C;»th June, but I was obliged to d^votr
two days f«»r the further accommodation of the vet
feU not ready for lea : meanwhile I hurried «m the
repairs of the Valvureufe frigate, and rhe along with
the other fix (hips of tiie fqiiudroti waa ready to put to
fearhe 111 July.
T he enemy well informed of the arrival of our
fquadron oil the windward illunds, rapidly appeared
off Dominique, where they were well firuated bv
their neighbouihood to St. Chritlopher’s.
I was well aware that Enj>lii'i convoys of Well-In
dia trade would uot be ready to aflemble before the
III of Augull at Tortola, and after the depaiture of
the French fquadron. In the night of July the :5d I
captured in my paflage three merchant vtlftls—a
fleet of merchantmen at anchor ofl St. Chriflopher’s
cut their cables and joined convoy under adm ral
Cochrane—they were in number 88 (hips. I failed
along the coall of this ilium! within half cannon lltou,
but found I timid cfFeiSl no important fervice, for I
prefumeil the fleet from Sr. Chriflopher’s had been
thence tlcorted to form a junction %%ith the merchant
men at 1 or tola. I forno-d the defign of going in
there, but nay Martinique pilot was r»* capable of
carrying in the Iquadruu ; 1 therefore refolved to go
to St. Martin’s, and I proceeded wiih my prizes to
wards that ifland.
On the 4th in the morning, being at the entrance
of Tortola, I hail already taken the Fly, a fmall veil'd
belonging to the Engldu admiral-, which I fent to re
connoitre, and by her was informed there were no
veffcls in the road. During the day the enemy hav
ing puffed out, I refolved the next morning to pur
fue the couvoy through the ftraits of St. 'I homas de
dt. Croix. In the courfe of thrfe laft 21 hours the
fquadron repaired the damage it had fufiend in the
night. In the morning I faw right to windward 12
fail, about 4 leagues off, confining of 4 fail of the line,
5 frigates, and corvettes and brigs, not doubting it
was admiral Cochrane’s fquadron, w hich were com
ing to colled! the convoy. 1 lay by for him till 8
o’clock in the morning, not being able to give chace
to the Euglifli, who were then to windward, without
lofitig time. But I formed my fquadron in two co
lumns, under topfails, only keeping the frigate a-head,
and in this order I paffed the ftraits. Admiral Coch
rane followed me at a confiderable diftance, carefully
preferving the weather gage. About three quarters
pall one, l was before the Daniflj ifland of St. Tho
mas. 1 now hoilled my colours and my flag, and
the enemy by 2 o’clock not more than three leagues
off, lay to, at the mouth of the paffage. I likcwife
hove to, fent the Pratique to Martinique in the
Monche. (the Fly) and waited for the enemy, but he
flood to the fouthward, and I proceeded to leek the
convoy. Indeed, my lord, I expedit'd to have feen
mention of my name in the details of this affair, of
which the Engliih newfpapers rendered a very incor
redl account.
On the 9th 1 boarded a brig of the convoy, which
had been feparated from the reft at leaving the land.
I made diligent fearch, but without fuccefs, during
feveral days, for the body or the fleet of merchantmen,
until I found myfelf in the latitude of 28, 80, without
feeing a fail t I therefore concluded this little convoy
had proceeded to unite itfelf with the grand Jamaica
convoy, towards which 1 repaired, in the hope that by
entiling in the Bahama ftraits, I Ihould eventually
fall in with the Jamaica fleet on or about the 111 of
Augufl, as the fatd fleet generally fails for England at
two periods. By thus Banding to the weftward, I
lunerea tne coniequeuc* <>i tnis proceeding, lor heavy
gales of wind came on, and my (hips were feveral
times (truck with lightning, and my fails being all
fplit or blown away, I did not foon enough get into
the longitude of 78 degrees. Onjulvlyrh I found
we were in 7C longitude, and was informed about a
week afterwards, that nearly at this time the firft con
voy had paired me to the eaftwaid. at the diftsiue of
40 leagues,and that the fecond convoy could not have
been far from failing like wife t hut juft at this time I
heard that admiral Sir John B. Warren had arrived
in the Weft-Indies, and only eight days after my firft
failing. I cenje&ured that admiral Warren would
proceed to Newfoundland, where I nifant to let him
go quietly. July 28th, at lun fet, -ue fans a large fiip
to •windward, and two brigs ; I fuppofed however
thefe might be Sir J«hn, and I made the fignal to
clofe the Iquadron and keep to windward, intending
next day to engage this admiral to advantage. A
fchooner, however, which belonged to thrfe vefl'els to
windward, and which 1 boarded at midnight, after
wards informed me that it was part of a convoy of
Americans, confiding of 8 fail, under the efcort of
two fmall frigates, bound to New-York, laden with
coffee, &c. &C. by the revolted negroes of St. Do
mingo, This news uot being difcloled to me by the
mafter of the fchooner, till fome days after the con
voy had time to efcape to the northward—indignant
at the condutft of the Americans, I immediately put
the mafter of the fchooner in irons, and all bis people,
and made fail in fearch of laid convoy, determined to
hang at the yard arm the captains and fupercargoes in
the face of tht-ir countrymen,at New-York—but be
ing nearly off Cape Hatteras, the weather changed,
and the gathering ftorm left nte no hope of arriving
off New-York in time to intercept thefe pirates; and
on arriving off the Cape, a gale of w ind obliged me to
haul to windward, and wait till rt was parted, whith
when it was over, enabled me to (peak a veffel, by
which 1 was informed that the laid convoy bad put
into th« Cbefapeake and D*-law are. By this time *i
had arrived within 10 leagues of Long Ifland. I
then made fail for my rendezvous in lat. 27, and fi7
long, which might prove the r«ut* of admiral Coch
rane, proceeding from the Windward (Hands with his
convoy for Europe, in the courfe perhaps of the firft
fifteen daysof Atigtift. On the Kith of Auguft,being
nearly in the propofed icodezvous, f invited on
board my fliip all the captains to celebrate Naooleon
the firft, and now learning the condition of their fhips,
I confented from the dif.tbled (late of all the vefftls to
proceed on the 2<)th to St. Jean Portt* Rico, from
whence I propofed failing the lftofOi2ober.
My defign was to proceed direifl to Newfoundland
to deftroy the F.ngfifti Fifbery, &c. making my
rendezvous afterwards tiff the fait- bank diflant 100
leagues F.. and in the latitude .32 N. to ftcrr for fome
port in France, whs-re I hoped to arrive by the end
of Odlober, but this plan was difcoiieerfrd by an hor
rmle tentpeit which overtook us on the lmh atul
i SOth Augufl, 'I he Veteran whicii Was milling, J
hope met better fortune than the rett of my hjuudton
iV any vefTeUof the enemy perKheil others were great
ly damaged and their convoy ditpcrled. 1 got down
I my tcp-gallant-miOs, and all my lh;ps in fight hy .5
| o'clock, were frying under their furefailsand mizeus
only, hut in left than in one hour afterwards every
i fail was blown away, and hy 7 o'clock the violence of
, the gale increafiwg we feud did before the fra. • Such
' of my Oops whofe rudder* wtre damaged Jtroacherl
, too, and were the Crft «!-.f.ss ifted; X'tifb were the fate
j of the Foudroyant attd Impeteuee, which l>y U o'clock
were entirely dtfmafle !, v *. without a fingla Rump
left—after blowing thus for 'Mi. hours a hurricane
(w hich 1 never have known an.y fling mure dreadful)
the wind ahatej, lsut the fea which was tremendous,
| frequently fell on hoard our vefTel*.—llud-r ikrltcir
\ cumflsnce*, it w:u impdir-hb: for metoXsv* any »>art
; of the wreck, h n to enable me to rig sury
i confeipiently it was not before the lifoh that I w as at
; all able to direct the c«iur.(e of the Fcudroyxit tiu
iwardstheS. S. W. About two league* from the
I entrance of the Havanna, when arrived thua far, an
[ tnghftt Mall divittan Mon of mar accompanied by
J a large frigate fhewed a difpofitum to art.irk my fhip,
j but in the cousfe of half an bout, after fifing r.t them
I .50 (hot,, they retreated to repair their damage.
I CouL! I have tacked, or been in a fit nation to make
fail, the I ngiifli jcaptaiii would, by a .prompt furren
• tier, have paid the forfeit of bis imprudent hardi
hood, this was on the 15th amber and on the
fame day 1 got into the Havant.a. T'kc <WUprnjrtde0
! condition of my (hip and particularly the ivrtidtdqua
‘•■'y «/**> determjm d me to halier, my retuhi
France and not wait till October, hut the nunierc"*
iquadron* of the enemy cruiGng in the Gulph.ard be
j fore our principal ports induced me to cntitiuue out
, during all the long days of fumnier. A ten months
• crude would have proved fufficient to ruin fail* and
| riKginR»had they been even new when 1 Grfi failed
; but I needed mot this hard trial t» convince me of themisera
lit equipment of the squadron J was to command, for
.scarcely bad bis Imperial AfajeJIy's squadron put to son
j before they proved leaky aud unjit for sea—mcjl painful is
j it to me to lepief.nt to you, at this late day, tbtfe miftra
I lie equipments, no doubt very contrary to your intentions
•i«£tbe wife of bis Imperial Majefty, bellowed upon
relative to which 1 fhould have rtiad~
Vron^Vprefeotation* could I have known- it before
ni^Mwp art lire from France ; bur it was not permitted
me to demand any thing, neither to enquire into
what wasrequifite for the feennd Iquadron, before the
I Grfi completely unarmed wasordertd to fea, nor was
j it till after failing, I difeoveird the very had condition
jofmyfhips. Notwithlianding which dilirefTmg c«r
* cumliatice* I reckoned upon returning fortunate to
Frauce,and of convincing you, my laird, by the re
ports you would have received, on me arriving in
port, of the lamentable flare of my fliips. Since my
arrival at the'Hevannu, I have, by the nuift feerrr |y
careful means, forwarded orders to luch of his I nine ri
al majelly's Ihips. a* were faid to he arrived in difiVr
ent ports in America and l'orto Rico, requiring Imni
the>r commanders an immediate report of the Pate &
condition of their (hip*, with orders to them j,„„
me at the cartiell moment in their power. The IV...
(froyant iruit be hove down, which w ill detain n.e u.c
this place three month*. I have read in the Unl'i
more Gazette of the .‘id >.f this month, of the arrival
of the Patriot at Annapolis, of the Valereufe -t Nrw
Caftle. and of the Cybelle, belonging to \-(. | ,e Her
mit’s divilion at Norfolk. All thefc three (hips w efe
comiderahly damaged. Whenever all the (hip, ,.f uty
feattcred fq'iadron of men of war (hall have rejoined
me here, I lhall, I hope, he able to perform fuch fer
viccs as his ntsjefty ha-, rmrultcd nte with--Mean
while fonte few Spanilb men of war, if ordered to' '
proceed to fea with nte, might i fleifl fonte gooff, |
find the Spaniards well difpoftd to forward every
thing for tin: good of his mujfffty's fervice, particular- '
ly Lieut. Gen. Villavaxario, who fuperintend* the de
partment of the navy. It has been propofed to me
logo to Vera Cruz for treafnre; the value of com
merce there, being eftimated at 60 millions, and the
riches of the plate it i» well known are w ithout
bounds. 1 have obtained affuranecs, that without de
lay, all the needful repair-, on board nty fhip (hall be
expeduioufly put ill hand, and I muff lay, all the peo
ple in power, luve united in detnonfltations of
zra! for his Imperial ntsjelly’s fervice, and kiud
nefs for evety man bearing the name of a
Frenchman. He pluafed my Lord .to reprefent to
the king, my fmcere affliction for the difablrd con
dition to which I have hern reduced by temped, and
affure his majefty of my uttr.nft combined efforts to
furntnuiit all difficulties which cart pofiibly happen to
interrupt nte in tile execution of his will and plcafure
and pray affure hint of my unbounded devotion to
wards his augnft perlon.
Accept, my Lord, likewife, the a durance of my
mod reipcdUnl attachment.
(Signed)
I.e C. A. P. WILLAUMEZ.
No. If.
To General Turrvau, French Ambajfador at
ITaJuington,
My Lord,
You have learnt by the arrival of fome of
my fcattered (liips in America, the unfortunate
event by which they were feparated from me.
(Here admiral Willaumcz gives the detail of the
temped in nearly the fame words as in his letter
to the miniderof marine at Paris, to which he
adds) that at this date the Foudroyant wag
then nearly new maded, and proceeds to en
force togcneral Turreau, how necelfary it was
that the fliip* which had put into the American
port by didrefs, diould haden to join him at the
Ilavanna, where his fquadron, if colleftcd and ri
nded to the Spanifh force at that place, would
in efl’eid oppofe a ftrong fquadron, and double
j to that’of the Englifh, who at Jamaica, he
dates, have only two line of battle fhips.—Ad
miral Willaumcz further fays, that he purpo.
fed going to Vera Cruz, agreeable to the profpeft
of the government of the Spanifh colony of Ha
vanna, to bring fome millions of dollars, which
he dates will be the more apropos, as the French
Emperor, had a right to the payment of one
million of dollars, of which thefcarcity was ve
ry great at the Idand of Cuba. Admiral Wil
laurnez then continues : J have jud apprehend
ed four feamen, deferters from the Valarcufe
frigate, which I found on board an American
brig where they had been engaged at 17 dollars
per month—Now, Si*-, if you can fucceed in
making the American government pay down*
compenfation for this mifcondmft, in {educing
thus our feamen, you will punifli it by making
ft fmart in that point in which it feels mod, viz.
its avarice in money, and with fo much the more
tidice, fince thofe people (meaning the Ame
rican merchants J have for three years pad been
•continually injuring our marine by l'cducmg
jour bed feamen from uf. *
(Signed)
Le C. Ad. P. Willaumrz,
On bard the Foudroyant•
Ilavanna, 25th October 1 s’00
No. HI.
To General Turreau,
My Lord,
You have no doubt beard of the arrival of
fome of my fliips on the Continent, and alfonf
the mifcrable dtuation we were in when fepa
rated. The Foudroyant war. in a mod HifahM
date, having fuffered fo much in the gale,
became ungovernable, and for fome days wa*
at the mercy of the wind and waves ; after (uf,
feting more than I can dtferihe, by the afWfctnec
of God, I arrived at this port. After obtain,
ing that refitment I dand fo much in need of,
• ain determined l<> traiize off the H*v*nn*b, n*
the hopes I may dill fall in with and be jojm.t
by fome of my fcattered fquadroo. f pr, fyf»r
n*i remaining in this port for lome trm^, »« .f
fid I have tile fltli-fstlioii of hearing from four
■ Minider lorfonduJIing tire marine department
• having wrote him every po(| fdr ri(h< day*
| pad-.f have had the honor td -having ktbo
1 from his excellency, copies of which Ua.«« -4
well as others! have forwarded you in^twtHtf
difpatch, vs bteh yoft will perceive w.i;| he the
triplicates of my drfpatchr* to yon in the frui
ted Stan^ i ymi* will. hr their imponb.nr.e,
If two inurrol n.v lliqv join me herr, f
Spanifli Uiipr.JUd the St..Lanrrnt, l tcnfl <?*>«■
i diall have a (on e ihoitjy that will double tb*#
i of I Her 39 4 am nno*inr-d thrV it***' lusf
two fine of bdt’e flops in and af*oi>t fam>a.
With thj» divilioo < am imptefled with an
that 5 (hall rejoice my goverumetd .with lw»
news of the fait pf that colony, a-vd it will *£,
j fore! more gratfSe^Uon tha/i hiunkce! of millions
[from Vera Crux. Apropos, our erupt4*iri*ile9
I receive one million of dollars /.ran IJ» C-Clu,
lie trsjrliy on the fcore of an adjuflo^-i*: w,U.
the-ftpanith gorernme/Jt at the I0« of',Cub#,
TheSpaniard* *rr fending a force to VrxaOoy,
but that’s of no confequenrg. There // si fisrei
enfeehiion ioing {ornewhere frym f/)jj jfia, :iA4
jthi»J have correct. ] nty you, tir, to he pjjtj
J calar in yur rd»fe/y ttion vb f he Chxsfapeajf fttv*
| oMier parts on the continent (it the JJcitef
idtates-—’Let the cmpmander* erf all ffen^ fi.tpf
j attached to you Jsno*v rh> fe .npcr.iti.y&j,
• thnir rc.idtnrf* will be found nee fary.
. Signrel • P. V, 11 | % ' * |
Havanna, yih October,