The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-31
NEW-YOEK, OAohcr &c.

Ruuaor had ON Friday lait, rrcslled from their
command on the American fat;on the officers
OF the Lcander ard Cambrian Britiih fhips of
war, and had imported in the Oacen Charlotte
Packet, then hourly expected, fuppiy of ma
Wy officers TO ilcceed tlem.--1'he origin of this
report has not been traced, but it has proba-
bly, arifen from circumhance pretty generally
underitood. that capt. Skene of the Leander has
requeited of the admiralty permfion to return
hemc.
The packet arrived on Saturday, but brought
no officers as expected.
Yenerday arrived the armed fhip Leander,
capt. Lewis. in thirty days from Port Prince,
with a valuable cargo of coffee.
The Leaader left Port au-Prince in Company
with the armed brig Dolly, Ricard having
been previonny cautioned, that one or two
large French privateers were expected 20 lay in
wait for them. On the .iii,s; day after leaving
port, a large armed veflei hove in fight, which
they expected was one Of thoie p,ivateers, and
bore down on the Leander, As it was near
night-fail and capt. Lewis wi!hed to afcertan
whether The was friend or enemy before dark,
ne fred gun and hoiited the American colors.
No hgnal was given in reply but the vetfel con-
tnued to approach, lighted her lamps, as it
became dark, and the crew ofthe Leander could
dittinctly hear the commands given with the
| trumpet, as the weather was remarkably ferepe,
and The was now within few fathoms dill.
tancc.
Her intention was fuppofcd to board, ard
captain Lewis thought 1t prudent to pu. her in
contuhon by commencing the attack. He ac-
| cordipglv poured broadfdc of Is Founders
into her, which fhattared her bow conli,,era-
bly,, cut away her rigging, and killed one man,
the captain OF the mantop. Great confuiion
enfued and ihe fell back, the Leandcr aided bv
the Dolly, kept plying her with round fnot and
| occaiionally with grape and language, which did
| great damage to her rigging.
| The next morning fhe came up again and
proved TO be the Foriupa Britiih frigate, cap.
tain Fanhttart, of IA guns. Her guns the pre-
cediDg evening had all been in the hold in con.
fequence OF the late gale, and as ihe had not
icxpected an enemy, the vefcl was entirely IN.
prepared for action.
The captain at firft threatened conliderably,
but Captain Lewis explained the ci,cumtance,
and ftated to him that had he (hcwn his colors
the event would not have taken place. He i'm
preiied 90 men from the Leander and Dolly,
many OF whom were Americans with proteeti-
ons and obliged capt. Lewis to pay 500 dol
lars for the wife of the man killed, and 1000 dol
lars to repair the damages, but his condua was
very gentlenIanly conflicting the irritation OF
the circumstance.
The Leander is a fine handfome vefTeI; car.
| TICS ~ eiSuteen pound caronddes, and two long
brais twelves--the latter transferable. She has
! 60 men.
i.:ter the indignation which was excited IL
this city by the tyrannical and overbearing con-
duct OF the commanders OF the BiitiI, f.igates
IN imprefing men in our harbor, and at the
mouth OF the port, we did not expect to find
that conduct initiated by the commanders of the
French tlgates. They, however, have ALTO inn
prefied men, and even gone farther-tbsy baq.
taksn aa-z OFT Of tbeir b2meJ IN this eitr, ara
JSyri6ly zen. tben: OF bo.7rA TIE fifeat.J. A de.
petition was made On Saturday at the mayors
Office by perfon who fay his lodgcr taken out
OF his houfe, and forced into one os the French
b1rges, and has ince fcen him on board of the
Cybele. 1t is faid that no lefs than eight Der.
fons have been put on bsasd at different times
An examination, we underltand, will take place
this day at the MAYORS Office,