Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-05-04

jliteness. and were informed, that the Frenc
! were sorry 70 make war upon the defencrless il
ha5itants OF West India towns that rho Frenc
government was DESTROYS of peace, bat that IN
English government preferred war which consc
qnentIy exposed US co their invasion. The term.
as before mentioned. were read to the Cen an
Admiral. General LIE Grange replied, that the
would now inform us, categorically the terms the
demanded were. viz.
The surrender of the merchant shipping il
the road
The occupation by their troops of the tive
small forts. of Smith and Bluff point, and
contribution of million of Livres Tournois
to be carried on board the Majestueux, by nine
O'Clock the next morning.
The gentlemen of the committee. not knowing
.ne Vaiue OF the French currency. requested TO be
informed how many thousand pounds sterling i,
would be. The Admiral add General did not
Know but after making some enquiries, they ii.
ieeuy said and repeated three or four times thar
IL was noe f6ousand pounds sterling. The commit
tee, considering this demand IS ienent and mode.
rate on the part OF the enemy. and that their mo-
oeration was occasioned chiefly by our making no
unnecessary resistance or destroying the ship
ping returned on shore. accompanied by Mr. Du-
erocq,rhe French commissary. In the boat he en-
oeavored to calculate the precise sum demanded
ana then explained that the STERLING sum was
considerably more than had been mutually un.
( derstood.
On the return the committee ashore at fosr
O'clock general Barbot marched his troops up TO
ayiors Estate, where he fixed his head quar-
'e's' lie demanded the treasurer and cole efor ;
SEM guard over rne custon,-house, and Mr..
Soans mouse, as also some troops to occupy the
two forts Mr. Coffin attended general Barbot.
VINO ordered him to produce 50O0E. sterling in
money by q O'Clock the next morning The
eonrnit'ee went up to general Barbot. and made
representation to him on the subject of the
contribution demanded. He replied il ra,tered
not that he had received positive orders 70 levy
contribution of nothing less than Million of
L"res' and that he would enforce these orders (:
'nat II me sum was not raised by nine o'clock in
the morning. 1t should be doubled until the next
cay; and, II not then completed, the whole of
the French troops should be landed, the town
ana country given up 10 plumber and afterwards
me town he demolished by the line of battle ships.
ne stated, that this contribution was not to be
coas'e:red as levied on the inhabitants than
s.Ness bssey che French government, on the En-
g'isn government, which would indemnify us for
our losses. In addition to this, he declared he
must have 5Oooc. sterling separately from the
coNectors and 200 600 livres (neary 10000.
s'erhng.) as compensation for the troops alresx
dy landed, and under his orders. The commit
tee after all this, naturally viewed the COLONY as
destined for inevitable destruction
oh wednesday morning, the 9th inst MANY
OF the Inhabitants of the island, finding the pru-
oehee ana necessity CT she case, raised as much
'"o''ey as possible from their families & acuuain
tshces' and Carried 1t to the house of Mr. Mac
hamara, where the officers had been Hospitality
provided tor. IN all Respects and where they wal
teo 10 receive the money. Ar III O'Clock. II =.
mounted 10 III 32OS, currency, (sbout 5000 gui.
neasl IN uo'iarss loes, doubloens, puineas &c
several merchants produced large sums, with
SPIRIT suitable to the occasion and were assis,ed
Dy other individuals Of the community, General
naroot then sent file of soldiers, with a mes
sage enquning what sum was raised and saw.
ing, 'hat II considerable augmentation was not
made to 1t By o'clock in the evening. the town
and country wonld be given up TO military exccn.
tion. He then told the collector, thar as ne had
NOT produced the 10000, sterling in cash. he
would now demand double From the absolute
impossioi'ity OF raising this sum, recourse was
naa 20 the negotiation of il by bills. According.
y Mr. Coin, the collector, drew on general Ma .
news. (who was on visit to the island from l.
mcrlca,) Tor 10000. sterling, in favor of gene.
RAJ basoot, which bill was accepted by general
"athews' he then gave his own bills on rhe
american Consul in Paris for the amount which
was demanded by general Barbot. Bv this an
~''S oJ MS personal repre-
sen'aiions' ne IS re be considered as having rem.
'e'eo essential service to the colony.
At O'Clock in the afternoon, a guard 1haO;no,
Ocen placed over Messrs. Garrett. Burke. Rrv,n
cnafry, Macnamara and Pitcher, they were cav.
r'eo on board l. Armidc frigate, where Mr.. Sbar
y ana MIR. Bryan were detained as hostages, ami
I've iour otner gentlemen were carried 10 a consi.
uetao'e distance az sea. on board the Maiestueux.
where they arrived about O'Clock General Ie
Grange addressed them with marks of disnle,-
sure SAID that ne was extremely dissatisfied ar the
si'ia'ness OF the sum raised that he was certain
mere was great deal more money in the island
winch was withheld by the planters and o,heys
VINO had retired 10 Brines one Hill; &, that he
would compel those now in his power 70 he an
swerable for its being produced for him He
men demanded, that 22,000l sterling more should
DC brought on board lie Maiestuex at 8 o'cIocl,
tue next morning, and that the Committee should
DC permitted to go shore to raise II The
gentlemen then frankly stated 10 the ce,.-,I
'ne,r absolute inability, as private gentlemen. to
Pieage themselves to the performance of such
eoh'ract, because such a sum could nor he sa;,ed
oy any possible exertions on their part. az veyv
i'ue more specie could remain on the ,slapd
'hat they delivered this opinion on their oa,b
anu 'heir nonor; that the commanders JUDGED
OF us probably. by the planters in their oy,r 20
'on'es OF Martinique &Guadaioupe where ma
ny oppu'ent proprietors resided, who sold ,,e;r
produce tor money. and consequently often ken,
la.ge SUMS IN their houses; that the planters IN
.,N. Stand were nor similarly eircumstanced AZ