Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-09-06

be lessened as soon as war between England
and the United States was actually declared
by either. Ibid.
The French PriEs-It turns out to be, as
we hastily stated yesterday, that the French
privateer Duke Of Dant2ic, has taken an
English letter of marque, and sent her into
our harbour, with the French flag flying in
triumph over the English jack reversed. The
circumstance has created no little agitation
among ali parties. The american Patriot
(autretois Public AdUertiSr) tells us that
8 she is taken possession of by our govern
ment for breach of our laws of interdic-
ton. That she is taken possession of by the
collector, is, believe, true but how : by
the laws of introduction $50 far from being
interdicted, has not the President by his pro-
camation, expressly withdrawn all interdic-
ton against the French, in return for the fa-
YOUR done US by Bonaparte in promising, a
year ago last August, to withdraw all French
DEGREES against US? 1t must be confessed
that the mistake of the editor, as man Of
correct views, was very natural; for how
could he imagine that, as impartial neutrals,
we should inIerdict one of the belligerents
from all access to our ports and harbours,
while we permit the other to make as free use Of
them as III Jney were MS own!
This Duke Of DantSic is the same priva-
teer that has SO long been engaged in cruiz-
ing off and on the southern states, and cap
turing, sinking burning every American
vessel that she came across. Here ques-
ton Of law presents itself, not unworthy the
profoundest examination, and which is recon-
mended to the consideration of the warlilSe
genius that presides over one of the morning
rtY.F. No. al Il
the property in things movable is acquired
by the belhgerent the moment they are in his
power and it beng equally well settled, that
| as to the capture OF neutral vessels, no priva-
teer or cruiser can appropriate them, before
the capture has been adjudged legal by the
proper trlbunals-Quere |. Are the Ameri-
can vessels taken by French privateers to be
considered neutral or belligerent vessels ?
If the latter, the Duke Of Dantzic may, it
seems, do as she pleases with them, and burn.
stak or destroy them, as she has done. g
Bat if the former, if such prizes are to be
considered neutral vessels, is she not entitled
under the Presidents proclamation, to send
! them into our ports, there to lie until fit
opportunity offers for her sending them home
to France to be condemned by the proper tri-
bunais9 According to present prospects, then,
sumo lively appearance, and the gloomy
aspect OF a lcatless forest of masts, will be
exchanged for a swarm of French privateers
with their prizes, the national flag hoisted in
triumph over every other national flag re-
yerseo, and their decks all alive with the Jolly
fcreSs dancing carmagniole. Ca ira li5
The Prtze.-N appears that the British
ship brought yesterday into our harbour as
prize to the French privateer Duke of Dant-
&c, is the Tottenham, a new vessel of $50
tons, and is letter of marque of 10 guns,
| bound from London to Grenada, and was
captured otfsBarbadoes. We learn that the
prlvateer surprised the ship by running up
along side without being suspected, until
shot from her struck the ship just under her
counter, entered the cabin, killed the stew
ard outwrght, and wounded boy in the
face The name of the captain of the priva-
teer is Arrognaudie, a member of Bonaparte's
Legion of Honor: his crew consists of 10
men of all nations and the first lieutenant is
a man by the name of John GiUens, said to
belong to this city
Some of the crew told our informant that
a few days before they captured the Totem
ham, they fell in with the ship Thames,
new vessel, also bound from London to Bar
BADGES, which they captured after an engage
ment OF two hours they also captured two
British merchantmen, the Edinburgh and
the Princes Castle, both new ships, one of
which they burnt and sunk the otter The
Tottenham after the French were in, posses
sion of her, tel in with the English sloop of
war Echo, in the night, and Immediately
hailed in reply to the question returned from
the Echo, they answered that they were the
Tottenham, ship belonging to his Britannia
majesty, and bound to the West Indies on
Schtch they -acere permitted to pass, and thus
effected their escape. Ibid