Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-29

It is true, smuggling has been carried on ev /
tensively this summer, but as we have yerr /
little trade that is not restricted by some Law,
it renders our city immense service to be sim
piled with goods on such reasonable terms
In fact, with the authors of Sal1aagusdi !,
may be said Z" every thing is done here on
iorge scale. - [ onisi lana Gazette.
SAVANNAH, November IS.
Particulars Of the Burning Of the Prirc
teers.
La Vengeance and La Franchise, French
privateers, were burnt in this port On na
night of the 5th inst AS this transact
will undoubtedly excite considerable ip,ers,,
throughout the United States, we preseDt ;"
our readers as correct narrative as We ha
leve can be obtained, of the causes which lei
to it.
On Wednesday night, the 18th inst. tbrco
or four American seainen, mlarmed, were IT.
tackled in the western part Of the city, by I,
BODY of the Priyateersmcn, and received SIEVE.
raj wounds, with knives ard daggers.
On the next day, the l4th inst the hetero.
genous crew of Italians, Vepician., Mliciliap,,
Portuguese and Frenchmen, expressed their
determination of making second assault, and
on the same night carried it into dreadful ey.
ecution. Jacob R. Taylor, son of John R
Taylor of Philadelphia, I'd nate Of the bril-,
Hetty, capt. VIM. Fountain, a respectable and
decent young man, after receiving dagger
wounds through the right arm, under the left
shoulder, and on the crown of his head, was
despatched by sabre blow above bis hip.
At the same time, Collins an American ci.
tizen, and lately rigger here, was SO despe.
rately wounded, that he died the next morn.
ing-many other seamen were stabbed ard
MANNED in a cruel manner. On Friday after.
noon, 18th inst. number of Captains and
Mates of vessels and Seamen were proceed.
ing in body with the American Flag towards
the wharf, at which La Franchise was lying,
and soon as they appeared from the narrow
passage which leads to it, they were ambus-
caded and fired upon by the Privateersmen
from loft on the wharf, while one or two
cross shots were discharged from the Priva.
teer-Capt Miller, of the brig Clamplin, re-
ceived shot through his head, and is in
most dangerous situation-at the same time
Seamen belonging to Capt. Howland's vessel
was killed. An Italian, the sailing master of
one of the vessels, and Frenchman, fell in
the rencontre, and Negro on board was shot
through the hand.
The popular indignation could no longer
be restrained under feelings excited to the
utmost pitch, the alarm bell sounded, and the
drums beat to arms. La Franchise was board
ed, and Immediately towed across the river,
where she was fred and great number of
seamen were in the act of dismantling, end
casting off La Vengeance, when she was
boarded by detachment of the Savannah, Vo-
lunteer Guards. The Mayor Of the City soon
after arrived on board, and after delivering an
address to the much exasperated populace,
exhortlng them to keep the peace, she was
committed, with the crew then remaining on
board Of her, to the protection Of the corps
which was on board. Her anchors having
been cut away, and almost all her rigging de-
stroyed, an attempt was made to run her on
the opposite shore, but it failed, and she drift
ed to Twigg's wharf, where she grounded
the prisoners on board had been previously
landed and received under protection of the
Republican Blues
Soon after night, a number of boats crews,
evinced and expressed their fixed determine
ton to carry the vessel-A number Of despe-
rate efforts were made by them to beard, and
she was defended at the point of the bayonet
until half past seven o'clock; the ASSISTANTS
had now prepared combustibles, and had set
FIRE to Petersburgh boat within twenty yards
OF the privateer, which when set adrift could
not have passed one side of her, while the ut
most exertion was required on the other to
keep off the boarders. One hour and half
having elapsed, since the corps had been pro.
inlshed relief or reinforcement not receiving
any, and having been eight hours at their
posts, exposed to cold wind and rain, and
seeing no possibility of saving the vessclfrom
being tired, the attacking party was desired to
draw off, and the detachment was discmbark-
ed. La Vengeance was soon after in flames
and was burnt to the waters edge.
We have never Witnessed more unanimity
of feeling than on this occasion; the American
spirit rose superior to every other considcra-
ton, and all seemed animated by the same
feelings and the same wishes.
The Volunteer Corps were Under arms in