Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-21
Frsm the York Eveaing Post.

From East. Fiorida-We nave re-
ceived copies of two letters from an
American gentleman at st. Mary's to q
respectable merchant IN tbs city, giving
some account Of the proceedings of GER
tain American citizens in East Florida
acting or pretending to act under the
authority of the American government.
One of the letters follows; the other
shall DE given tomorrow.
Extract of letter from Sc. Nary's TO
merchant in this city.
Among the atrocities engendered by
the French revolution, there Is none thai
strikes more forcibly the attention CT a
rejecting man than the general want OF
moral principle to which 1t has given
rise. During the first period OF that
tremendous commotion, the great ma,
ton reduced it to system, practlsed 1t
in all their inyasions, proclamations ana
treaties, and by the time that the present
ruler had raised himself to the level OF
the first step of the throne ON which he
is now placed, the government already
acted on methodical arranged system
of political falsehood, which perradec
every office Of the state. Unfortunately
for the world, the contagion has spread
abroad, and our own country has, tear,
adopted with .heir French bias, hot
few of the French principles, else 1t Is
impossible to conceive that the mass OF
we'll informed human beings who exist
in the country which gave birth 10
George Washington, could remain ST.
lieut. spectators OF the base and unprlncl-
pied conduct of their government to-
wards the Spanish province OF Castillo
rida for these six months past.
In the month Of March last, bantittl
calling themselves patriots of East, Flo
rida, but which was really composed ct
at least four-ifths Of Georgia tiuzens,
raised the standard of revolt against the
Spanish government, at the mSslsa'lsn
OF Gen. Matthews, United States Com
missioner he persuaded Commodore
Campbell Of the United States Navy to
draw up his gun-baats in front OF the
town o! Fernardina, with guns pointed
and matches ligh ed, and with an mcon-
sistency which that gentleman must wish
buried in oblivion, but it will not DE lii
his power 10 forget, he declared to the
legal authorities, that although his coun-
try vas at peace with Spain, he teit 1t
his ds,y to assis, the glorious cause OF
The patriots. FernandiHa vas overpow-
cred in consequence of this declaration,
aud tue motley group of sol distant Pa
triots go, possession Of the town and gar
rison, which consisted OF an officer and
nine or ten iEraiids. Well, in a few
hours the y. S. Commissioner came tor
ward AID declared that ne Was ready to
treat according to the ict;cr OF his IN
s,ructions WITH the consfHattd snfhori-
ties Treat hc did, and received FcIE2n-
dina in The name Of his country, with the
same soiemnity, and with the same tcef-
iRgs, no doubt, that Jonathan " I'D &C.
cepted the spoil Of his gang at their
nightly meetings. The patriots low
disour,hened oftheir conquest, marched
on, plunder and prescription IN one hard
ahG clemeDcy in the other; as the!
march the y States troops follow, ard
y shame receive in the name of their
country tic polluted trophies Of the H.
sur2ents. Al last they arrive III sight OF
tie C.p.tal, old the place Is summoned
10 surrender, but w:thou; effect. Gen.
Matthews, General M'intosh, and l
know not how many oiLcr Generals, are
obliged 10 halt In their career Of con-
quest, they lock around them if Lot with
shame, at least with disuly on a ooun
IS ruined by tEcir nachination., & find
Eat they have been fools and villains to
- purpose.
ln The mean tine, Sir, news Of this ex-
laul dInaiy aggression on peacea>le
aud umotfendlas province Of an ally,
'cacACu NJ. lus,e,, at Washington, and
IA answer 10 MS iemonstraDce u tic
President, TIE " hoie condcct Of cncral
A-aitAcns ard commodore Campbell
W, .o.nledly disavowcd. Governor
Hi,cE,.., II Georgia, was named COM
ISIS! .cr In lieu Q! general II uIhews ;
ard me democratic papers Il, :. care to
STATE Tic promIu .. TIC t..suyoNal,
as p'ooi OF the good fat. tat acrua,cd
The administration and, nctwiihstand.
;Ag the continuance OF com. Ca7E1cil
IN his command, I'll payties rsrc wiling
10 suppose that these gentlemen had
ac,Cd UNDER = mistaken idea oil their Or
d-ss. We were vet 10 learn how much
ctucla! declarations arc at variance with
the real intentions OF government I'M
der French influence and modern French
,rluclpics. Su.ue short time alter the
Insurgents had al,Ce their appearance
bciorc sam; Augustine. they had taken
possession u, station, about three miles
nofth OF The town, sltua;it OF The bank
i river, by which the Inhabitants sup
Fly themselves with wood. and n.sny o.
,her nIccssaIies Of life IL appears that
a pavy ot.he United States troops WAS
wI,n ti:cm When they we're attacked and