Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-05
From the palfimore Federal Gazc.te.

We have spared no trouble this morning
to ascertain correct knCwleGee at ihc
facts connected with the viHaino,is seizure
of q valuable slip within cur own watels.
The case Of the Otheilo, so far rs We are
permitted to state u rCsent, IS this Ship
Cthcllo, captain Glover, from Eiysr,,ual
tor Baltimore, came 10 ;;nchor rn Sunday
morning III the PatuXent being a more a.
greeable harhov, with a head wind, then
in the open bay. Some time after the cap-
tain of the French frigate La Cybelle came
on board the Othello, where lie continued
about two hours. The Behavior Of the
French captain was gentle manly, and ne
obtained from captain Glover some Ed
glish newspapers. Soon after the French
commander had returned to his ship, cap
tain G.. discoveries small schooner along
side the Cybele which proved to be a
French PrfUafeer--shortly after she came
up and commenced firing on The Otheilo.
| The privateer had discharged sever al vol-
lies of musquetry on the Othello, a bali
from one Of which passed through the hat
of captain G's mate, when captain c. sent
off a boat to enquire into the cause Of as
sault. The captain of the privateer COM
manded captain @. to repair with his off,
GERS and papers on board his vessel. The
commander ofthe prvateer said he would
make a prize of the Othcllo, as coming
from an English fort, and Of Ehe cargo,
being English nGnufactureS. He ackncw-
lodged his intercourse with the French fri
gate, by stating that he had read the p;.-
pers which had been received by her conf
mander from captain G.. After VIII CHI. be-
ing asked what had been his business alore,
side the Cybelle he answered, that 4" he
had had an iron made for his rudder by
her blacks mith
The privateerSman, it appears, had of
Tered pilot AGO dollars to take him lin the
Othelo) cut of the capes, clear Of The Bril-
fish squadron. The pilot refused but we
are not informed whether from tins Cir
cumstance it was that the Othello was ii
oerated.. a tuii statement is preparing for
the public of this outrageous conduct.
From the relation OF respectable gen.
tleman, weil acquainted with the fact,
above stated, we are inclined to believe
that the privateer was countenanccd by
the commander of the Cybeie This i'm
preston, we acknowledge, is produced
by the assertion ofthc privateer's captain,
"Mat The cGffain " La Cy6cile SUNNI d
him qptth Is men, and o6cred 1oC." At
such crisis, surrounded by enemies, we
must be permitted to protest against the
doctrine that commerce should protect it,
self: 1t we are not to have a navy, even ca.
pabe OF guarding the entrance OF cur har-
bors, yet we certainly could maintain a
suihciect force to expel from our rivers
such contemplate rob5er as cannot CAR
ry nine FOUNDER.
The alacrity with which a number of
volunteers went in pursuit of the enemy. ia
no argument against the necessity of navg
| protection. Their patriotic ardor is a
! proof rather that such measures as the fe.
deralists plead for, are such as the .1g7srf-
can FeCfic demand, ard such as the govern
ment will be compelled 10 adopt
! We hope be able, in our next number.
to give formal and complete statement
OF the case which has so much asitated the
minds Of our fellow citizens"
We are informed that General Turreau.
. the French minister near the United States.
who is now in this city, on hearing the re-
port that the pirate that seized on the o.
theho had been countenanced and assisted
by the commander of tho Patriot immedi-
ateIy sent down commission to enquire
INTO the business, with the express decla-
ration that II they had in any way conni-
we'd at or aided IN the attack on the Othel-
, lo' the guilty should be Immediately deli
vered up to the government of the United
States to be proceeded against agreeable
to the laws OF this country. Captain CO.
megys, we understand, has gone down with
these instructions -Baitimore american.
Two or three moro detachmcnts Of vo-
lunteers sailed last night on board an arm
ed schooner, in pursuit Of the buccaneers
who attempted to carry off the Othelo.
They are commanded by the two captains
Sterrct. IL is supposed the pirate is lurk-
ing in some ofthe rivers ON our bay. If she
} IS fallen IN with, there can be no doubt Of
her beng brought safe into harbor The
puDhc VIII be pleascd to learn Captain Da-
! va Forter, az officer of experience and
skill, lately returned from the Medjtcrra-
mean, has gone down with TIE detacbmcr,s.
il.
r.sa--.-ss --s-s.-,-.------.z