Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-21
PIRACY AND SMUGGLING.
NEw-ORLEANs, December l9.

NEw-ORLEANs, December l9.
10 the Editors ofthe Federal Republican.
Gentlemen-In publishing my letter of the
10Th Oct. on the subJectot the piracles x snug
Cling so outrageously and openly carried on III
this country, perceive you are startled at
the account of the enormous expences incur
red in claiming the Spanish ship Aierta, and
by your quere think the sum of S 1000 there
in mentioned, must be mistake, and that
$4,000 was the sum meant to be inserted,
which had been increased by inadyertance in
committing it to paper. This is not the case
assure you; on the contrary, the statement
which will send you by next post Will shew
that was somewhat short in my calculation
and the officers of the general government
will learn from it the INJURIES which are sui
fered, and which may, perhaps, be retallated
on our own citizens by those powers, whose
subjects are thus harrassed by treebooters
from Ncw-Orleans. There must be "s some
thing rotten in the state of Denmark" when
this game still continues to be played among
u.s. One of our first merchants MIR. --,
fwhose lady had gone to the sea shore tor the
benefit Of her healthy and whom he had &C
companied, is Just returned from Barstaria,
and states, that within very few days past,
brig was burnt near that place, out OF which
forty thousand dollars taken and sent III
canoes to New Orleans. This prize is made
by some of the pirates from hence, and strong
suspicious are entertained, that two vessels
now fitting out are intended for the same in
famous employment. They clear out gene
rally in ballast, either as Americans or spa
niards. Their crew, arms and ammunition,
are put on board by the eontederates at the
Chandeliers or Barataria the teacea6ie ner-
chairman becomes Immediately pirate, and
the first unfortunate Spanlard, their prlze,
whose property is their property brought
to and sold in New Orleans, with as much
publicity as if the cargo were legally imported.
The privateer or pirate, the Vengeance, late
~ burnt at Savannah, sailed Tor year or two
from this port under Danish and Swedish CO.
lors, and was then named the Christianstadt.
She afterwards was equipt as freebooter, and
the inclosed narrative from captain Sheriff
will point out how she disposed OF her prizes
The Franchise, burnt at Savannah at the same
time with the Vengeance, cruised off here tor
long time, and Chevalier, her captain, sent
more than one cargo by the Bayou OF Barata-
ria, and Mons Maronne's Mill Race, to this
city. We have either manufacture OF COM
missions, or the remains of a shipment from
general Ernouf before the fall of Guadalupe,
which are disposed of in blank at a low rate !;
and when at sea the cruzcr is then described
as vessel fitted out in French port accord
ing to the laws of France. 1t is very untor-
tunate that the British cruzcrs, which fire.
ouentl capture these pirates, should enter
tain no doubt of their real quality, but treat
them as prisoners OF war, and as men entitled
70 some consideration. Were they on the
contrary to examine them carefully, and CD
ouire into their true character, they would
find out what they are, and a few examples
made of them would deter the host, who are
now emhodened by the IMMUNITY and profit
attending their crimes. Of this we have
strong instance in the Monsieur --- men
toned in my former letter, who was taken and
carried into jamaica in a vessel fitted out here
and purchased by his partner; but he had
previously made two or three prizes, and we
had not time to hear of his Capture before he
was back among US and concerned In the new
mode Of importation from Barataria. Had this
fellow been recognised as an American cltl-
zen and as pirate. & hanged in consequence
his fate would have been warning to the rest
s to those who fitted out the two schooners,
which were burnt by the crews, to prevent
their falling into the hands OF captain Gregory,
of the gun boats. You will wonder that as
these matters are as public here as the presl-
dents communications to congress are to you,