Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-31

was forwarded to the editor of the Mercan-
| tile Advertiser, from Mr.. John King, a mer-
chant OF responsibility ut Jacquemel, by the
English schooner Alert, captain Dill, which
sailed from thence for St. Thomas the 9th
February.
TO the editor ot'the Mercantile advertiser.
JAcMEL, Feb. 5th, 1907
Dir have the pleasure to enclose you
letter from Robert Saunders, "a and
sundry papers from a number of Americans
connected with the expedition of general
IHfrandd, now detained as slaves by the
Spanish government at Carthagena, which
received from the Main few DAYS apo
by captain .*ss Ct } who generously tried
TO put in their possession one hundred dol
lars, but was prevented by the extreme lea
lousy OF the Spaniards, who would not al
low any person TO speak to or render them
any assistance. The papers are as fol-
lows:
l., A copy of their memorial 20 congress.
2 copy ola paper found loose, without
date or direction, in the hand writing of
l.ippincott, stating the names and sentence
OF number of his companions. ID
3. a list of letters 18 in number.
4. An original paper from the seamen of
the schooner Bee. (eJ
5. An original paper addressed to captain
*t* C)
Copies of which, with Saunders's letter,
have taken, and shall transmit duplicates
In due course. As the letters were put in
the ceiling of the vessel that brought them,
or 10 were destroyed by the rats; to whom
directed, or from whom, | could not ascer-
tain.
Should the trade of this island be opened
by the American government, a few car
goes OF lumber would bring a monstrous
price, Tor the houses are all in want of some
repalr.-Shingles would be an excellent ar
ucle.-White pine boards will bring seven
to eight dollars per hundred, and perhaps
| more.
Pork 80 dollars, -four "a, and beef 90. on
the rise and scarce.
| Dry goods will ALWAYS command a good
market. BY dry goods mean German lin
mems; nothing else seems to answer these
people.
Claret 48 to Sd per hid. scarce
| Herrings dollars, quantity at market.
| Goldfish, IT nice and white, to 10 dol
lars per 100 los. American weight The
weight should always be marked on the
cask.
There is no -four at market; not bar-
rel can be bought The small quantity al
present here is in possession of government
Cor the use of the army.
Coffee, the staple of this place, can now
be bought for cash at $50 to 1Odollars per
100, French weight. A vast quantity is at
market, and one tenth of the latter crop not
in.-l am, with respect, your obedient SER
want. JOHN KING
| NOTES.
| (0) ROBERT SAUNDERS was for MANY
years foreman in the Office of the Mercan-
| tile Advertiser, an active and intellieent
man, OF respectable family in Baltimore.
He was seduced from his duty and his in
terest by the specious MISREPRESENTATION
OF the persons who conducted the business
OF Miranda, preparatory to his expedition.
and was captured in the schooner Pee
His fate is well known. The letter alluded
to, which developes some hitherto mvsteri-
Gus circumstances connected with that ex-
pedltion, may appear hereafter.
(6D The name of this benevolent can.
( tain is not given to the editor. The intel
! ligent reader will at once perceive the good
policy of the coneealment
(c) For reasons which must be obvions
the publication of this "plain unvarnished''
memorial is deferred
~ correct abstract ofthis paper was
puoiished about two weeks ago i'm the Mer-
cantlle Advertiser, as it was received from
the Spanish government at Caracas.
(eI "The following seameA, belonging
to the schooner Bee, Of Philadelphia. were
forced on board the Leander, March 17tb.
and detained as prisoners until the 27tb'
when she sailed from Jacquemel : William
Cartwright, Daniel Newbury, Samuel Tow
ger, James Hearn."
~ The following was addressed to the
humane captain who delivered the above
letters and papers into Mr.. Kings care =
Ut is without date)
"SIR-We have endeavored to give Won
as correct statement of our despicable CT
tuation as it is possible, allowing that we
are not all in one prison together. If sir.
you should arrive safe in New York. and
viii take the trouble to call on some of our
friends, and let them know our situation
or make 1t known through a public chan
mel, we shall feel ourselves under many oh
legations you. We find ourselves so gross
ly deceived, and so treacherouslv deser-
ted, that the smallest assistance will be re-
ceived as the greatest favor by your mise
rable and humble servants.
THE AOIERIC.aN !SL.5VRSn