Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-03-20
DsGruaion of the CAPE !!

f'sm Mr.. Lear, orr Cos/sl at Care Fyrs6ss,
fran aobieb fbe fcllsrOxs eivexngzxfiai ard
imfersfsg fassm<sf h dfrsvsx
On the I'd of February the French Aecf,
coniiitng Of q fail of the line and Q frigases.
appeared off the harbor. Every thing was i'm
mcdiately put in motion. The whites rejoice
ing. and the blacks preparing for re6aasce.
They did not attempt to come IN that day, al
though the wind and weather were very favor
abl:.--A cutter belonging to the Aset came in.
and an aid Of the Admiral was fcnt 10 General
ChIiRophe, who commanded the town, to de-
liver to him the proclamation of the Fira Con-
fol, and TO know if he fhould make any oppoG-
tion.-The anfwer from ChriAophe was, that
he was but fubordinate officer, and that he
could not permit the fhips to enter without the
orders Of the Governor. This determination
and the preparation making for the oppo6tion,
created general alarm. MIR. Lear went round
20 the Americans, and adviied them 70 get them
felyes and their mott valuable effects on board
the veheis in the harbor without delay. At
midnisht the mayor and municipality waited
upoa him, with requeh that he would attend
depu,as;on of their body on board the Aeer, to
endeavor to make fomc accommodation that
would fave the town. He readily confentcd,
from motives OF humanity, and from with to
know their diipoGtion towards the Americans,
They embarked about o'clock, and at the
fame time MIR. Lear gave orders to the Ameri-
can velels In the road, to move over TO the OPP
polite 66e OF the harbor, that they might be az
far As poiible from the town. The ihips having
FOOD off io the night. the dePutaticn did not
ge, on board the Admiral till one o'clock of the
3d inR. where the dePutation were received by
Gen.- Leclcrc in very fevere manner, and in.
formed that the fhips would come in the next
day at all events, and without any other terms
than ,hoie offered in the proclamation. After
they had been difniied, Mr.. Lear was intro.
6uced to the General, and told him his double
view for coming. He faid as TO the 6rf, his
determination had been delivered TO the deputa-
rion, and as to the fccond, that the Americans
might expect every protection he could give
then.--Mr. Lear returned with the depntstion,
and they reached rhe town about fun iet, when
they went to General Chriaophe, and informed
him OF the iiIuc OF their milton. He declared
he would not yield point on his pas,.--Mr.
Lear then afked him what the Americans had TO
depend upon. He faid he would give permit
lon in the morning for them TO 60 on board
their vellels.-Mr. Lear retired to his houle,
and put up his mott valuable papers and a few
cloths. to take on board the American veilels
with him in the morning. The town was FILL
ed with troops aad other blacks from the coun-
sry during the night. In the morning at day.
ighr. MIR. Lear went to Chriaophe's for the Of
derfor the Americans TO embark, and alto defir-
ed that all the women and children and other
whites might be permitted to go on board the
American veiTels, which would be ready to re-
ceive them. He was mounting his horfe, and
told him he would ride to the water and give or.
ders TO the guard TO permit the AMERICAN only
togoo on board the veGels. Mr.. Lear eoreated
for the others, but in vain.-Mr. Lear made
fuch diipoii,ion as to get off with a number of
women and children who were there, and fuch
Americans a. appeared all but 4 or having
gone on board.
The wind was high all day, ard the feet
which was clofe in TO the reef could nos enter
the harbor.-ln the afternoon armed men were
}cnt on board the American veiIels, and every
white cand black French man found on board was
taken out and carried in there :-JuA before
dark, one of the fhips Good in very near the
fort, with every appearance Of entering. The
fort fired at her, which was returned, and can
onsding took place. All the forts around the
hafhor fred couRantly, afho fome were no,
within miles Of the fhip.. This was the ig.
nal for firing ,he town, which was Immediately
begun; and in about one hour it exhibited an
awful fcene Of conHigration. The lhips did moi
attempt TO come in.
The Gtustion Of the Americans on board
the veaeis was not very pieafAnt. They were
totally defenselefs, and in the power Of ths
blacks and report had come of in the after.
noon, that they would come on board, afeI
burning the town, and dearoy the venels ant
rafIacre the people on board.-There were IS
American vefIels in the port (which was th'
whole number, few fnall French ones except.
ed and as there appeared no other chances TO
fafety, after they fhould have gorgrd themfelve'
on fhore, but from fome Of the fhips coming 10
(which they could no, do in the night or from
adetachment Of boats fent in nv them with th
troops; Mr.. Lear determined a, once tc e on
BY the forts 10 boat, and endeavor to get in
detachment Of boats. On pafing the forts, eve
ry thing was flcnt, which convinced him they
had abandoned them. af,sr fetting FIRE TO tn
to~p. He got oct fafely and as the fhip
food of. i, sss daylight before be got on boar
the admiral. He tod his htustion 10 him, an
the admiral sgured him he would 90 in with b
fhips without delay, ss they could nov 20 in I
foon or foonef than the boats. Accordingly q
bout ~ O'Clock they entered shr hsrbor, with
out gun from the fort, wisSn hs6 Secn abar