Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-08-31

SPANISH vXLoR.

from letter, dated az La Guira, in April
LAST has been delayed until . proper repre-
seu,ation Of the affair, with the necessary
documents, could be laid before the Anne
fican government; it 10 nov given to the
p0blic "a another evidences Of that afrtcnd-
sd1a and good vii which The Spaniards are
daily exercising towards us.
= On the. a2d March, We sailed down
this coast with a fine breeze, untir lust Be.
lore sunsets when being within reach OF
the guns'of La Guira, the wind left nsbe-
Gained, with a heavy swell setting on
shore. half an hour before dark VIC we're
tkailed from the fort ia Spanish, 20 which.
! the captain replied in Engiish, that we
~ete Americans from Cayennes This not
lappearing to be Satisfactory, they continu-
ed haiIiDg. ABOUT ten minutes, by which
time the brig G. White Oak" Of Boston, )
had drjfted so ncar,he fort, that the VOICES
of those conversing on tts. wallis. were ca
silly distnguished, and i. was so perfectly
calm that the, captain ordered out boat a.
head totow the sesseifrom the surf which
we were tass approaching. Several boats
we're Nos. seen coming ftorn shore, ihe
persons in which hailed and upon rsceiv-
ing en- answer, suddenly retreated, after
dncharging at US voliey Of musi.e,ry,
ina nediateiy upon which brisk cannon
ade was commenced from the fort. The |
second bali having passed through ouri
foresail, and cut away sarne of the rigging. !
Captain Ssountfort jamped. into the boat
and attempted to land, but the sho, nyine |
IN every tiireciion, lie was obliged 10 re. (
sura.--A ianthsrn was hoisted, but Riding
that i served only as marx for the bst- !
ter directing OF the guns, il Was soon re-
moved and All the lights on board extin-i
gvisbed. Fortunately it had now become
dark, and We haa driftcd past the fort, but
when wishihsh quarters gun shot were
forced 70 drop anchor TO keep clear of The !
lee. shore. rhc firing was KEEP. M from
the tort batteries, several gun boats and
an armed brig, until 10 o'clock, when the
captain, happily for us, WHO we've thus ex-
posed to The barharons caprice Uf men 30
overcome by their Tears, as TO Imagine
they saw On invading enemy in clu msy,
nnarEaed, American lombe vessel- Effect
ed iandipy, and Teiievsd the 6ydpe com.
aiandaaf, and IT'S coaTdgror.s Jokgo.-ers from
'heic apprelisosisns, fur ave immsdiately
heard them howil1g from fort 10 fort, 10
cease Aring Tor the daager syas over and
the captain ON shore THIS step sayedlhc
whoie Of us, for we have sincs been told,
mat they had prepared, and were deter-
mined, as soon as the moon rose, TO sink
the brig .--Some OF our rigging is cut q
way. aad one 10 pound shos struck ius,
forward of the main chains, carried away
timber head and destroyed ,go water
casks. The captain was placed Under
guard dufing the night, and IN the morn
ing went On shore with the papers, where
we were presented TO the cornmandanf.
who appeared scarcely 10 lave recovered |.
from the fright of the preceding evening.
The vessel was ordered to be rooored IN
der the guns Of one OF the batteries IN
til eifectIoos should be received from Ca |
racas.
The accounts given Of the late hustle |
and confederation which our appearance |
caused arc highly diyer,ing, and place the /
conduct OF the commander, sc. in the |
most ridiculous light. An The soIdiery
we're under arms firing upon as, the whole
coast was alarmed. and persons travelling
IRON Caracas, were stopped upon the road
and ssrbiddsnt 10 proceed. Tie cowartiice
and iears OF hose appointed 10 guard the
port, were so great, that no one dared an
prosch Us, and at the cornm@ rcement Of
me hiring, a manbelonging tooneof the gun
boats, Was so Verified that he jumped over
board, s'go'n ashore and asserted that he
had received bait in The ies- : and the com.
Fmander Of snothsr reported tia, nc had
lost one man kiiird BY our shof, and they ore
hardy persuaded iba, We did not are upon
them have no doubt that had we have
been armed with few guns well served.
the whole town would have been deserted
and we should have seen the soldiers liy.
ing fuil speed to the mountains, with the
vaha7H Don Yasguez, the commander, al
their head :! Capt. NJ. and nsyseif as We
walk the streets, are pointed al as hrod
gies Of vaioy, Tor having stood such can
nonading sufbom btfsg killed !! la facl
the more reliect upon the danger We
we're in,tl,e more proyidentiai appears our
preservation.
About three weeks since, an English
armed vessel was OF TIE lsfi,or snAer A.
n-ricsn coIors, and Ut 3 o'cloek ia ne after
neon, sent IN boat With an officer AID a