Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-04-16

with carts, their furniture and valuable
effects. '
The commii1ary Of government, Oh.
ferving theie preparations, repaired to the
commandments, am gave him iesrer con.
tanning a demand for a Efficient guard to
preferve the regiaer's Office from the con-
Aagration With which the CRY was me.
nsced. Barada anlwered, that it would be
iahicient to lock W the Office, and that
the depot would be iscure.
The 4ciuds always contrary hindered
the iquadron from entering. Towards 6 :
O'Clock in the evening, Fort Picolet fired
twenty pieces of canncr at veael which
appeared, as they faid, to approach the
coat nearer than the others, or rather this
was the 6gnal agreed on tor commencing
the conaagration.
The facilities Of Cariaophc, saithful.ex-
ecu,ioners of his orders, bc,ook them
felves frit along the fhore, and iet fire to
ieye,al commercial houies. A runor at
that. moment prevailed, that the orders
for burning were Withdrawn, a kind of
iuli,enGon in fact took place; but their
rage Gill became more active, which was
directed asaina the pubic monuments:
The Offices of the marine, the cathedral,
the barracks, the arfenal, the public ma
gazine, the palace Of the French govern
ment, the resiGer's Office, precious depo-
fit of exiting intereiting acts, the rights,
the fortunes, of all the citizens, became
in one infant, prey to the flames. The
Ho!pital de Providence, the afylun for
Old men, women, orphans, and the iick,
where numbers OF the inhabitants had re-
tired, was not at all reipeted; three
times they ct it on fire, but the prompt
.uccor immediately applied, r,eIerved from
deArattion this monument ct our ance9ors
pie,y.
Led on by Chrifophe, who marched
at their liAe, they troke open houies and
piilagel them before letting them on fire.
The unfortunate inhabitants who re-
.nained in the city, driven about by the
Aamcs, ran from their habitations to avoid
the death which menaced them and tcok
refuge in the common hall. The progref,
of the flames was rapid violent quind
favored the fury OF the monRer who bad
iworn the ruin of city, which till thar
moment had REGARDED him as its protSc.
tor AMI benefattor.
Towards eleven O'Clock at night the
flames had extended 70 widely, that the
nsceility of fight was evident. The cries
and groans OF the wolncn and children
precipitated this mea(ure.
Several citizens loaded ;hemislves with
the greater part of the records Of the mu-
nicipality, and chiefly with thoie of the
civil department, difpofed to carry them
away as they were flying. The minutes
of the citizens Fremont Frcres, deceaied
notsries at Limbo, were Ekewile corided
10 the care Of ieme citizens.
More than thoufand Perlons, women,
children, the aged ard indrm, lighted by
the flames which arofe on all fides above
the burning hoDles, formed mournful
proceiiion with the municipality at their
head.
They went out Of the city by the high
:tress du Corioil, TO fave themfslves in the
Morn &c la Vigi.. Ihey purified the route
that led 70 tie flabitafions of the eide
want ReligioYtes. Arrived at that place,
q hale was made it was propoied to pats
the night there but this intention was
foon irutrated By tie arrival of perfon
named Ignsce, comrandant of that quar-
ter, who came 10 the name of Chriltophc-
10 iignify the order icr repairing to Haut-
,lu Cap. This order was intended to ia
crlice all thoie who ihculd aGemble there
when the troops Of the line, compelled TO
leave the city as icon as the iquadron
!hould enter, thould alto abandcn that quar-
Ter.
The mayor fgnihed to lgnace the ira-
pofib;Iisy of immediate compliance with
this order, and prevailed that its execute
on lhouId be deferred till day-bteak. Ig-
race retired, but returned in haitian hour
to repeal the fame order, enforcing it with
the mott cruel menaces.
They appeared to make fome difpoilti.
on 10 obey il. but ini}ead CT taking the