Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-03-08
Alerat0rta Dalp aonertfser.
SATURDAY, MARCH s.

SATURDAY, MARcH s.
Iaptain houston of the brig American,
arrived last evening from the CITY of ST.
domingo, informs that an engagement
took place at that port, On the 9th ulr. be.
tween the French feet from Brest, and
under the command Of Admiral Sierle,
and the English squadron, believed under
| the command of Admiral Cochran, which
ended IN the capture Of and the destruc.
ton OF Zone of which was the Admiralty
of the largest of the French ships. The
French feet consisted Of L'Imperial, of
1s4 guns, Jupiter. ~, Diomed, ~, L.
Brave, "a, L'Alexandre, ~, Felicl,e, a.,
Comet. Sc, and the Corvette Diligence,
%; and the English force consisted of 9
line of battle ships and 2 smaller vessels.
Previous to the engagement the French
had landed GOO troops. The battle was
vigorous and well contested on both sides
for hours.
Captain H. further informs, that 9 days
after the action another English squadron
of g sail arrived, aud remained two DAYS
of that place, supposed commanded by
Admiral Duckworth.
We learn, from respectable gentleman.
that the upper decks of L'Imperial blew up
when she sunk, about miles from the
city; aud that seven hundred souls perish.
ed on board. She is jusr off the stocks and
| was thougft to be the finest ship in the
French navy.
II being at a late hour when The Ame.
riean arrived we were unable 70 obtain
any further particulars of the action than
the aboye--not q word, as to the situation
! of the British feet; bur, we trust, through
the attention of some Of our oblicine
friends, we shall be enabled to give a more
explicit detail in our next publication,
Baltimore Ameyican.
Our readears will perceive, by our Jour.
nal of Congressional proceedings. that the
great national question at issue with Great
Britain has at length seriously engaged the
attention of the House of Representatives.
On Wednesday the House resolved it.
self committee of the whole on the
state of the Union, when Mr.. Gregg's re.
goods was taken into consideration. AS
we shall give this debate, at as early pc,
rloS as possible, and very much in detail,
we shall al present but briefly notice Its
character.
1, was opened by Mr.. Gregg, the mo.
yer of the resolution. who took rapid view
of the outrages, insults and expressions of
Britain, which appeared to him to be parts
of system deliberately planned, and
which would probably be perseveripgly ad,
hered to, unless the government OF the u.
States, should make decided and spirited
stand against them. A nop.,mportatIon Of
her goods. a measure altogether pacific,
appeared to him the best instrument of re.
calling her to a sense OF her true interest.
Mr.. J. Clay followed. He allowed, ia
their fullest extent, the outrages and inius.
tice of Britain; but he feared tina, the con-
templated measure, so far from inActirg
any serious injury on her, would react
more inluriously ON ourselves, anc that it
could NOT for any length of time be adher.
ed to. He declared himself in favor of
measures, which though apparently less e..
nergetic, would, by forming a part Of a
permanent and practicable system, prove
mere efficacious.
Mr.. Crewn,nshield took the same ground
with Mr.. Gregg. he said the outraged
honor and violated interests of the country
demanded Efficient measures, not of a war.
ike character, but such as would convince
Britain that much as we valued her friend.
ship, we would no LANCER submit to the de.
grsdations accumulated upon US. He was
for peace. He believed the present msa.
,ure eminently calculated to maintain it.
Not tina, he was afraid of war from the eff
fects it would produce. For in war we