Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-08-30
NEW-YORk. August II.

French priUateer dga5n.-On Wednesday
last we cautioned the merchants against a
French picaroon privateer that had entered
our waters, and was skulking about in our
bays and creeks, under suspicious clrcumstan-
ces. Since then, we have made it our bust
ness to ascertain the real object of her visit.
she is a Virginia built pilot boat schooner of
1856 tons burthen, mounts 10 guns, and has a
motley crew consisting of 50 freebooters, OF
all nations. She reports from L. Orient IN dis
tress, but does not pretend to be a national
vessel with commission 1t is therefore more
than probable that she has been cruising off
the West-India Islands an on the American
coast depredating upon vessels OF every ma
ton that came within her reach. Some of her
officers came up TO town last Thursday, and
in defiance oil the laws of the country, began
recruiting men. They enlisted five at sailor
boarding house, at the North River side, on
the corner OF Barclay and Washington-streets,
kept by Mr. Thomson. The bounty paid
to each man ION entering was two doubleoons.
At another boarding house on the East-river,
the landlords name we cannot recollect, they
enlisted thirteen more. One of the officers
told MIR. Thomson that they could have taken
the British Packet off the Hook the other
day with the greatest ease, and burnt her,
had she been worth taxing. But what is
worse than all, we are creoIDiy informed that
this very privaieer IS owned In part by a
Frenchman now In this city. lie has been
pointed out to as the agent who transacts
her business. We shall loose no time in in
vestigating this fact, and lodging information
with the proper authority. OF late, to the
disgrace of the nation be it said, there has
been several French privateers fitted out of
esatns xyi1I 10 Of
time we profess to be neutral and at peace
with all the world Such is the love that
some of our citizens bear Frenchmen, that
in Savannah river, while one OF these Priva-
teers was coming up to the town under French
cotors, the revenue cutter Madison fired a
salute and gave her three cheers. What will
be thought OF US, if while these disgraceful
scenes are going on in one seaport town, a
French privateer is permitted to enter ano-
Their, reiit and recruit with American citizens?
Some of the scoundrels belonging to this free
booter, we understand are now in town boast
ing of the riches they have UNANIMOUSLY ac-
CURED Let the authority see to it.
Since writing the above we learn that this
privateer sailed from Baltimore in the month
of MAY last under American colours, and al
forwards put into and sailed from Charleston
with French colours. Since then she has been
cruising along the American coast and from
information obtained from one OF her crew,
she has captured vessels, one of which was
a Spanish brig, few days since. Some OF
the vessels they had destroyed, and put the
crews on board of Others On Thursday an
Amboy Packet went along side the privateer,
while she lay at anchor in Princes Bay, and
took out and landed six trunks containing their
i'll gotten treasure. She got under way yes
terday afternoon and went to sea. The above
information is furnished by the capt OF the
Amboy Packet, who took the money out OF
her.