Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-25

course re-established iii France. My 1t not
be suspected therefore, that another boon Was
held out to America than the mere repeal OF
Bonaparte's DEGREES, and that he expressed
his willingness to see the florldas and Loui-
si,,na in actual possession OF the United States,
provided the Latter made themselves parties
with him against US 1t must be remember
ed, that America will not content herself with
the mere revocation of our orders in council
She is to oppose our new system OF blockade
as it is called, and to support ne French de-
fnition of blockade, which Is, that no port
shall be considered blockaded which has not
force actually before it.
Jannary II.
Tery gallant action A more gallant &C
ton than that recorded in the following letter,
has not been fought by a merchant snip "a
gaillsl the enemy's privateers this war, nor IN
any preceding one The Lords OF the -Ad.
iniraity have, III consequence, been pleaseo
to express 70 the committee for managing the
affairs OF Lloyd's, their Lordship's satisfaction
at the gallantry exhibited on this occasion, ana
their intention to grant to each OF the crew OF
the Cumberland, as marx of their l4ordsh!p's
I;.yor, a protection from the impress ter the
space OF three years.
",DEAL, January Is.
"Sunday night the ship Cumberland, Bar
rctt, master, arrived in the Downs from Que
bee, under Jury forcmast and bowsprit, hav-
ing pitched her bowsprit and foremost AVA
in heavy gale Of wind of the banks OF New
foundland. From seven till eight O'Clock ON
Sunday morning, she was attacked by four
,1,,o hrtu i3Nyrr
Fo!kstonc, the first of which hailed to know
il he wanted pilot; Capt B. having susp!-
cion of her replied in the negative; lnmeul-
ately alter another prlystccr ordered him to
lay back his nlainy;.rd and the whole OF them
commenced a lire ofmusketry and two OF then
r.ul along side and boarded the Cunbcrland,'
previous to which the Capt. had ordered all
tie ships crew Into the cabia they being
armed with their boarding pixies IS soon as
about 30 men came Oh board, the captain Or
dercd the snip to be shecrcd oil from the pri-
vateers, leaving the Franchmen no good re-
treat, and On the ship being boarded the phi
vateers ceased firing: III the mean time the
ships company rusAcd forward and cleared
the deck the greatest part Of the boarders
being killed, ana the remainder jumped over
Losld immediately after another came along
side and tod ire captain they would give no
quarter; OH hearing this, the ships company
cheercd them aid rhcy were boarded and
CLEARED IL Ike manner. This was repeated
three times .4tteragrds, with the like success
Oh the part OF the ships crew, and their taking
three prisoners, two OF whom were wounded,
and one has since died of his wounds. Immc-
diately after this, Capt. Barrett discharged
three Of his carronades, loaded with round and
canister shot; the FIRST was seen to carry a.
way the mainnast of one Of the prlvateerS,
and the second carried away the bowsprit OF
another, and it was supposed destroyed many
of the men, as they were heard to cry out, and
the shots were heard to strike the vessels.
They then made off, and the Cumberland pro-
ceeded for the Downs. We are sorry to say
Mr.. Coward, chief mate, IS wounded lii the
shoulder, and that one man on board the Cum
bertrand has died Of his wounds. The loss Oh
the part of the enemy is supposed to be near
ly 60 Capt. B. killed three himself, one OF
which he was obliged to puthis foot ON to ex-
tricate his pike.
''This is supposed to be the most gallant
defence made by any merchant ship during
the war, as her crew consisted of only 26 mel;
and those of, the privatcers, according to the
pri.Jners' statement, to 27O men,"