The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-23
Dnllle9tlr.
NORFOLK. April IL.

Yesterday morning, bot 2 O'clock our
town was alarmed by the or, of Fire,
which was discovered to have been occasi
oned by the French privateer, Reuanche de
Cert, John jacques, master, at anchor in
the liver, beng on FIRE. The flames had
ing that she had a considerable quantity of
powder on board, prevented any exertions
being made to save her: and she burnt to
tine waters edge, having been lowed off to
prevent her from dong damage to the other
shipping, which lay very near her.
II was suspected that she had been set
Oh fire designediy, and no doubt Remains
thai she was. IL appears, from the exa."i-
nation of two boys th:it were on bnar,i that
two boats came along side Of the prva,eer,
manned with about fl zen armed persons,
VIII took the two boys out Of he cabin. tied
their hands behind their backs. and then
took a tub which had fire in it into the hold,
and thus Sc fire 10 the vessel.
1t has not as yet been discovered who were
the authors of this yer, anjustifiable deed (;
which was not only highly wrong as regards
the destruction of the property itself & the
viola ion of the hospitality of our country,
but the very Imminent danger to which O..
ther vessels were thereby exposed, (parti
eulariy ship with 5000 barrels of naval
stores which was moored very near) and
~
have been examined, say that they were
carried over TO the hospital point, and
there landed, and that the persons who
Came in the boats spoke no other language
but English
Sucn condUct cannot be excused, or even
paliated, though the causes which produced
it may not be difficult 10 imagine.-The
individual who commanded this privateer,
had rendered himself obnoxious by Capture
of American vessels heretofore within
these few days he was publickly recruiting
men for the purpose OF going, as was suppo
sed, on a cTuiZe these circumstances were
viewed with indignation, much heightened
by the very atrocious destruction Of Ameri.
can properly, by French cruzers, accounts
of which are daily detailed in the papers,
The Reysnche de Cert was detained about
eight or nine months since by Commodore
Rodgers, and was lately restored BY an order
from the Admiralty ourt.--Ledger.
On Monday night, about one o'clock, the in.
habtan,s OF the Borough were alarmed by tao
cry ef FIRE ! IL was found to be on board the
privateer LIE RdoGnche de cert, capt. 3aoues
which has committed many depredations on A.
merican vessels, and which has been lying in
this hsrbor for some time. She was effectually
burnt, whether thro' design or otherwise we can.
not saw. Next morning the following placard
was published - Herald
Whereas information has been lodged with
the Mayor Of the Borough of Norfolk, that boz
dy Of Men, armed with pistols and cutlasses,
did, last night, go or board the French schooner
Revahcbe dc Cert, John Jsques, sster, and
having two Negroes then on board, and remov-
ed them from the said vessel, did, wantonly and
Nlckedly,sct her on fire, in consequence of which
che was utterly destroyed, and the other ship
ping in the harbor and the Town itself thereby
Jeopsrdlzed.
g. To the end that such wicked and criminal
conduct should receive the punishment of the
Laws, all Cons bles, Watchmen, and CitI-
zeus, are required to use their best endeavors to
detect the authors or abettors of this viainous
act"
Tuesday, April Is, 1911.
PRIZE. -Relfs Philadelphia Gazette of
Saturday, says, the United Sta,es' Gun
Boat 152, has captured FRENCH PRI-
YArEER oil the Balze.