Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-08-02

VIA NEW York;

LONDON, May 10.
The Gettenburgh mail, due on Sunday,
is arrived. 1t brings the unpleasing inteili-
gence that tbs Russians have obtained pcs
session OF the important fortress Of Swea-
borg, in Finland. But this is a conquest
which, on the face OF tnerepost of the trail
tor to whom the defence OF it was entrusted,
they appear to owe less to their military
skill and valor than to those arts which they
have adopted from then new ally. We have
not the least doubt that the commander WIS
bought by the Russians; and such seems to
have been the opinion OF his Swedish MA
;estv, who his dismissed from his service
general Cronstedt, and all the superior ohi-
GERS concerned in that act OF treason. On
the 18th of March the Russian batteries
were opened against Sweaborg, and in FL
teen days after the governor enters into a
negotiation Tor It's surrender; because, for
sooth, be had expended one third OF his
ammunition, and had SIS Of his garrison,
about one tenth Off We believe, upon the
sick list. The conferences began On the Cd
of April, ard terminated on ehc 4th, when
it was agreed that the place should be given
I'D on the Sd of May, ii not relieved by the
entrance of FIVE sail OF the line into the
pu1. by twelve O'Clock On that day. Such is
the pretext by which Cronsredt endeavcrs
to cover his treachery and corruption. He
knew that he stipulated for what was not
like to happen. Whence were these five
sail OF the line to come? Sweaborg was
not apprehenacd to be in such danger as to
require immediate relief and the Russians
took good care that the terms OF the capitu-
1ation should not be known at Stockholm
under the period fixed for the surrender
should nearly expire, tor they delayed the
courier with the dispatches nineteen days ON
his Journey. The Swedish admiralty there
fore could not make the exertlons necessary
to Illustrate this provisional. convention.
The capitulstlon is Of an unprecedented
length. One Of the articles provides thar
the Aotilla captured in che port OF Sweahoig
shall be restored to Sweden when the fleet
taken al Copenhagen shall be restored bv
England to Denmark. The ncgociator On
the part Of Russia appears to have be,nmore
intent ON obtaining facilities for the scd1,c-
ton Of the Swedish troops, than providing
for the surrender OF tie fortress at the sti-
pulated period. There are several article,
which seem to have been framed entirely
for that purpose.
The Swedish papers furnish no inforlna-
ton respecting the military operations CT
Norway. We fear there has been no i'm
provement in the state of their army il llaat
quarter.
Itay 81.
Accounts, we understand, were ycster-
day received by government of the arrival
OF the expedition under the command of
admiral Keats and sir John Moore, off the
coast OF Norway, and of the landing OF the
troops without opposition. The intelligence
Is not official, but is very probable. The !
Swedish corps which was advancing against
Christiana has been compelled to fall back
to their frontiers. Their retreat was eject
ed with great difficulty and considerable
loss. This diversion, however, has not !
been entirely unsuccessful, as it has drawn
to that part OF Norway most of the regular |
and organized force of the country, SO that !
little opposition could be made TO the land
ing OF our troops. We have not heard |
where the main strength of the British dis |
but.we learn that sufficient force
had been sent to take possession of Bargen.
Another American vessel is returned
from Holland, which was refused permits.