Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-07-27

was about to leave Madrid imnedi,tel,
for Londons The dispatches on this b.,
siness have gone forward to the Pre,iden,
via Lisbon, and BY the Cotton Planter e
Nev-York."
Erfracs Of a letter from gentleman dated
Sc. John's River, (Provinee of East Flc.
ridaJ Juiy 9, 10 his friends in Mis DO.
/ rough, reciUed By the schooner Betsev,
caytsaip Stewart.
"Yon no doubt have heard Of the CAP
ture OF ship, brig, and ,Ioop, that sail.
cd out of Norfolk under British colours,
oy privateer schooner from ST. Angus.
tine, commanded by captain Hooper,
nose vessels arrived safs off St. Angus
tine bar, and there delivered the greater
part OF their cargo; the ship and brig
drawing too much water to come over the
oar, proceeded up St. Mary's river, toec-
tner with the privateef, and were there
moored under the Florida shore, at place
called Roses Bluff, about one and a half
miles from St. Mary's. On my arrival at
81. Mary's, there found an ENGLISH
schooner, tender to the British fr;rate
Samorian mounting 1 8 guns and 20 men,
TAKEN few days previous by the Cambri-
an, and semitic ST. Mary's, for the expires,
purpose of re-taking those PRICES. fthe
schooner was previously a French nriva-
teer, and had two American captains on
board when taken. )-She lay about one
hour at anchor off St. Mary's, and then
proceeded immediately up to the ship,
which was prepared for action, and
which had collected the whole force
OF the privatcer, together with her own
crew and the briggs, to make the best de-
fence she could. She then, il wa. said.
mounted 8 or 10 guns & 30 men, exclusive
OF some militia that had collected on the
bluff, within Fifty yards of which the shin
was moored. The tender brought up ON
sand bank, with lao or / so Yards OF the
ship, in situation to expose her 10 a
coraplete rake from every gun of the ship,
when she could only bring her two bow
guns to bear for a length Of time se-
we're hre from both parties commenced,
and lasted Tor one hour, at the expiration
OF which tirnsthe tender manned three of
her boats, and proceeded Immediately to
board, Notwithstanding they were under
heavy hire OF grape shot from the shin, and
the militia from tire Bluff.
The boats on meeting so warm , "a.
ceptlon from that quarter proceeded on
the other quarter between the shin and
the Bluff, where they were exposed be-
tween 2 fires, * notwithstanding all these
difficulties, boarded the ship, af,sr s,rik-
ing the colours, there was not one French.
man on board alive, whether any escan-
ed TO the shore or not, is, as vet, not as.
certained, nor was il known when left
1t. Mary's, how many were killed on
board the tender; yet from the in,repidi.
~ OF both parties, and the spirited attempt
Of the English to Board in so desperate a
situation, many must have been killed. and
no doubt but the, tender received copside-
ra5lc damage, as she was aground The
whole of the action. The Cambriao
lies of St. Mary's bar. was within half
a mile of the scene of action, from the
commencement, and can assure Won 1,
was sight as grand as solemn. Excuse
the unconnecfed account and i.nputr in.
correctness to great haste.
The action commenced about s o.
ciok on Saturday the 9th July, and I left
St. Mary's about 10 O'Clock that mic t,t."
We have conversed with an INTELLIGENT
gentleman who came passenger in the
sch'r. Beisey; he confirms tie whole of
the statements in the above letter, and
adds, that one of the boats had to return
to The cutter Tor reinforcement of men,
having the most of her crew killed in the
first attack; he adds, that nothing could
surpass the bravery displayed by the Bri.
fish tars on this occasion. The same gen
tleman informs. that on the privateers Ia.
king the sloop -, which was bound to
Bermuda, from this port, and belonged to
two young men (brothers) who were on
board, she fired into the sloop aad killed
one Of them at the helm, and the other
with two men was upset in going on board
the privateer and drowned.
JACOB JOHNSON,