The Sun.
London, England, 1816-11-25 00:00:00

FRACAS nrrivErN VIE BRITISH AND

AMERICANS AT MESSINA.

-The following particulars'have been- published
on the authority of a Gentleman who lois just ar-
rived from Messina :—On the Ifith of September,
the schooner Ann, Captain Bell, of Malta, was
lying in the port of Messina, waiting for a eargo.
The Captain being on shore, the mate observed
on board, finder suspicious circumstances, a man
of colour belonging to the Java American frigate.
Un einlenvouring to search him, the fellow
knocked the mate down. Tile crew of the Ann
came instantly to his aid, and having overhauled
the intruder, found concealed about his person
some leather and other articles which he had stolen
on hoard the Ann. According to a practice not
unfreqttenr with British tars,-they summarily tried
him without any reference to the civil power, and
punished hint with a smart flogging. • The Mu-
latto, on being released, repaired immediately to
the American Commodore, who, choosing to con-
sider the affair as.ll national insult, made a formal
complaint upon the subject to the American Coo-
std. The latter, in his turn, represented the oc-
currence in the most glowing colours in a note to
Mr. Barker, the British Consul. An interview
took place the same day between the Consuls, and
it was mutually agreed that the dispute should be
left to the decision of the Sicilian Goverotnent.
Next day, to prevent any breach of the peace whilst
the matter was tinder investigation, an order was
transmitted to the mate of the Ann.not to come
on shore. .Captain Bell, hoWever, conscious of
having given no offence to the AmericanS, went
on shore, and proceeded to the billiard-room.
There be was rudely accosted by three Mnerican
officers, who asked his name. He had no sooner
replied, than one of them called him a blackguard,
the second a liar, and the third a coward • the looter
at time same time gave him a blow, and challenged
him to a set-to. Nothing could be more acceptable
to Bell : he happened to he of Bristol metal, and
had obtained a degree of A. M. in the Pearce and
Belcher school. They retired toe spacious room, and
the conflict speedily terminated, not much to the sa-
tisfaction of the American combatant. Another of
the party insisted upon trying his luck : Capt. Bell
was not reluctant to accommodate him, and soon
put hint hors de conduit. The third Officer then en-
gaged him, but their companions, who had by this
time numerously assembled, anticipating another
defeat, broke in the ring, and beat Captain Bell
most Cruelly, and treated hint in a Way which de-
licacy forbids us to describe. He owed the pre-
servation of his life entirely to the arrival of the
Sicilian Guard at the critical moment. Cap-
tain Bell, of course, made a representation on
the subject of his cruel end unmanly treatment
to the British Consul. He went, on shore on
the 18th, but innnedi.itely returned on board, ap-
prehentlinglresh insults. Soon after, two boats'
crews from the Java, armed with pistols and .cut-
lasses, rowed towards the Ann. Captain Bell
loaded his guns, and threatened to fire into them
if they did not keep off. He thus kept them at
hay until the arrival of the British Consul, by
whose advice two American officers were permit-
ted to come on board, with a view to the adjust-
ment of the quarrel. • During the conversation,
Captain Bell happening to contradict the statement
of one of the officers, the latter snapped a loaded
pisitnlat bim,which fortunately missed fire. The in•
terview terminated in again referring the matter to
the decision of the Sicilian Government. On the 19 th
and2oth there werepartial disturbance, between the
American officers anti English captains. The mer-
chants at Messina intending to make a considerable
remitance in specie to Malta by the Ann, applied
to the British Consul to procure u safe-conduct
front the American Consul. This the latter re-
fused to give, observing, that hesupposed the Bri-
tish Captain was desirous to be off as soon as pos-
sible, being conscious of his misconduct. About
the 21st two American frigates sailed for Tunis,
and two others put to sea, with the intention, it
was feared by some, of intercepting the Ann,
should she proceed on her voyage. By• others
it was alleged that the American frigates had
been sent oil in consequence of an intimation front
the Governor of Messina to the Commodore, that
if he did not keep proper order on board his
squadron, the forts would he directed to fire on
them. The Washington, 74, (the Commodore)
and a sloop of war, remained at Messina. The
Ann sailed at length on time 22d, without waiting
for the decision of the Sicilian Government. She
was no sooner clear of the port than she was
boarded by two armed boats from the Washington.
The American officers mustered the crew, and took
away one of the men, under pretence of his being
an American.. This roceeding, whether it I'r:-
stilted from a wish to mortify the British Captain,
or was intended as a retaliation for our right of
search, is not very consistent with the general
character of :Commodore Decatur. It is but jest
to state, that 'oeiater the Commodore nor the
American seanyen took part in any of the affrays
on shore ; the whole was ctmfineil to the American
officals, the teatitrof whom was a Lieutenant Arm-
strong..

The fatal tendency and effects of racing on
horseback, on the public roads, arc fully shewn by
the following lamentable consequences:—OnWed-
nesday sestmight, as Mr. JOHN SUTTON, of Rush•
ton, was returning from Leek Market, in company
with tiro other persons, all mounted, they agreed
to a race, in the course of which, Mr. SUTTON'S
horse's head came in violent contact with one of
the luirses heads in a Leek chaise, returning from
Macclesfield, which instantly dropped down and
expired. The pole Of the chaise entered Mr.
SUTTON'S body, who lingered in great pain till
Friday evening, when he bteathed his last. Mr.
Surrost's horse also died in three hours after.

The Serpentine River and the Basin in the
Green York were yesterday completely frozen
over. The ice on the former was rather thin, bat
on the latter it was near an inch thick.
Whether it h owing to the long nights, which
of course give more time to dream, or whether it
is owing to the richness of the Scheme of the
present Lottery, we kuow not, but we are credi-
bly infoamed there never was, at this early pe-
riod, so many particular numbers bespoke at the
Lottery Offices ; so many, indeed, that we ad-
vise those who may have a predilection for fancy
numbers to` lose, no time in their application,
otherwise their favourite may be sold.