Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-05


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BALTIMORE, October 8.
Translated for the Federal Gazette.
FROM M.4RTINIQE.
FREN G H r EP Bill C.
81 Foytds France, z5tb Tbnmid5r
(3d Of A4gustJ rIt6 Jear.
Admiral Vlllares Joyeuse, Captain general of
M Unique and It's dependencies,
To his erceiiency the Go0eraor Of St. Tho
mass, and to the otler Gogeynors Of neu-
tral is!an,as,
SIR,
lam informed by com. Samuel Hood, CON-
handing the naval forces Of England, Of the ncti
hcarion which he has made to She neutral govern
lnents. concgning the block ade of tie ports of
this colony, which he has thousht himself able
to undertake, pretending to shut them against
strangers, TO whom be goes SO far as to declare
that it is his intention TO capture them eVrn on
THAR lgeiag CIT.
A measure 50 opposite to the laws of nations
AID the rights Of neutrality has doubtless
n,shed your excellency no less than me. ltisto
De presumed that that officer, perceving the sd-
yantageS assured TO strangers by tuy proclamation
Of the lst Mes5dor; struck with the spectacle Of
the feld offered 70 their industry by the opening
Of all the ports of colony so interesting as Mar
tioique, persuaded of the advantages which the
French government would therce reciprocaliy de-
rive was Sc asible that the enterprising spirit of
speculations could not be repressed BY ordinary
Obstacles. Butin casting your eyes on the chart
ofthis colony, yonr excellency Cannot but per-
5eive, and convince such owners Of vessels as may
De inclined TO make shipments for our ports, how
llusory is such blockade, undertaken by sin.
gle ship and one or two slooTs of war for this is
ali the force thatat present appears on our COAST
since there is not road nor a creek of the colo
ny which IS noe open 10 strangers, and where
they d. not enjoy the protection of our batteries,
at which the inhabitants Of the colony do duty
with zeal beyond all praise, finding daily their
reward in the almost uninterrupted arrival of the
necessary supplies; while they who bring them
those supplies are 10 their turn rewarded by
the profitable markets cccasioned by the present
state OF aAairs.
10 the means which owe 10 local circum-
stances hope soon 10 add those which are an
nounced 20 me from France, whence shortly ex-
pea division perhaps strong enough to give me
for some time the superiority, bur at all events
fully sufficient to enable me to protect, by sea,
vessels arriving on cur coasts.
Nor Can the English hope for such success
from permanent cruise during the hurricane
months, as to be induced constantly to expose
their ships in that season. Thus every thing COZ
ours TO show that all physical causes oppose the
praGticablity ofcoptinulnB blockade thus under
taken.
Your merchants, being relieved from uneasl-
ness on this score, need not Be alarmed concern "
ing the motives which commodore Hood may pre-.
tend for the acts of hostility with which he me
uaces them, should his cruzers in faee commit
any such acts.
Can that officer think that if his ships OF war
are not sufficiently numerous shut up the extent
of coast we possess he has the right TO punish, as
they go out, such vessels of your nation as IN en-
sering have bafaed hrs vigilance ? And would
not the slightest remonstrance from your govern
ment sufflce to put stop to such a proceeding
Not to speak of appeals to the tribunals of Eng
LAID, which public notorety declares TO have fire.
quently, in proceeding wars, annulled prizes made
ln.a manner much less extraordinary.
The proceeding of commodore Samuel Hood
towards you, appeared to me, sir, to require these
observations, which have thoughtit my duty to
submit to your. excellency, to enable you to dc
away, as far as in YOU es, the motives of dis,
couragemenr which have been held up to foreign
merchants.
lhave the honor to &c, &c.
,VILLARET,