Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-18

this Iity. What has happened to him will
morfuliy appear from the story told in the
folloting affidavit -
M! Miles, we are informed, is man of
property, is of fair standing in society; and
has wife and five children living at Schoha-
RE, in this staff, to whom the information
that hi is living will probably be first COM
inundated by this paper. He has taken his
passage for home in the steam boat this al
ternoon.
City & County Of New-York, SIS
BENJAMIN Miles, of Schoharie, in the
state of New-York, merchant, being duly
sworn, do dcpose and say, that being in the
city of New-Yorkin the month of June last,
on pr about the 2lt ofthe sane month, /, one
evening, on my way from Corlaer's hook to
mg place oflodginsin Courtlandt-street, stop
ped at porter-hoBe in Water street, 1t be-
ing very warm to axe glass of porter, and
while sitting there, heard some person re-
mark that he had sen black-looking schoon-
/er day or two befGe off Sandy Hook, which
he suspected was ore ofthe French privateers
lowering on our cost for plumber, on which
observed, wish they would make me Cap
tain General, and ! would Send off Commo-
dorc Rodgers or some other commodore to
bring in every pirste of whatever nation that
infests our coast.
Soon afterwards, the company, consisting Of
ten or more left the house, and |, as soon as
had finished my porter, took my leave to so
home. But had hot proceeded far, before
saw three men standing as if talking toge
Their, and Just after had entered the market
hoee to go up through Maiden lane, re-
ceived a blow on my head which knocked
me dowu senseless---and the next thing re-
collect was, that found myself lying in the
bottom of row boat or sail heal. making, as
| perceived, towards the stream IN the East
river, and as then supposed with the view
of throwing me into H. On feeling for my
pocket book, which contained upwards of
1900 dollars IN bank notes, found it gone,
and then began to eXpostulate, and begged
to be set ashore at any rate. My pocket book
they denied all knowledge Of, and as to setting
me ashore, the only answer they gave was
to be still and behave well, ard should be
well treated. In few min&tes afterwards,
they appeared to consult together what to do;
but as their conversation was in French
could rot understand 1t but they bid ne sit
upright and then bound my hands, and Ted q
handkerchief over my eyes. After rowing s.
sailing about three hours as appeared to me,
they came along side Of vessel Oh which
was put and confined in the forecastle, where
the heat was extreme, for about 20 hours,
without meat or drink, at the end Of which
time they gave me some sustepance, after
which | was permitted to como on deck, and
al h1n ,ic.C T al
who spoke good English, that some of the
crew had overheard me in the porter house
when called them PACK Of pirates, and that
now they meant to convince me by a short
cruize that they we're clever fellows.
found her to be small sharp built very
fast sailing schooler, mounting six guns, but
able to mount l6 no name On her stern but
she was called ''La Vengeance" and was
commanded by captain Desha, with 20 men,
including officers. One of her stanchions was
much wounded, and her bottom nearly the
color of copper, but not coppered On board
this vessel was kept until the 18th or 10th
of August, during which time she plundered
several American vessels, but on her near.
approach to them was always sent below, *
there confined until they parted from them
On the l5th or 10th of August, was sent up
in her boat to Newt Orleans, she lying several
miles below about two O'Clock in the morn
ing I was put ashore, totally destitute, and
ordered to depart and leave the city without
delay. Being thus menaced, made the best
of my way from that place home by land,
working for my living as l travelled, and on
the 9Th inst. arrived in this city, after travel
ling 1000 miles of country.
BENJAMIN MILES.
Sworn this 9th ofiNov. 1911, before me,
Benjamin Tucker
Public Notary.