The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-03-19
" CADIz, January :


fort, 10 me o1y6er, dated
"CADIz, January %, 1915.
Dear SRI arrived here yesterday
'after 80 days passage, but unfortunately
with only about half my cargo, and without
cables. On the 9Th inst. in lat. IS, II. long.
20, w. WAS captoy ed after thirty hours
chase to the southwark, by the French fri
gate LA GLoIRE, commanded by Aibin
Ronssin, of the French Legion of Honor, %
days from Brest. was informed that my
ship was good prize, and would be sunk.
] asked if France had declared war against
the United States The commander said
no, but carrying -four to Spain or Portugal,
was supplying the enemy OF France and the
II. States, and he should punish our inten-
tion--He Informed me his orders were no
sifiUe, to destroy all vessels bound TO the
enemies countries with provisions. Il being
) late IN the afternoon when we were taken,
our baggage and what part of the cargo
and stores wanting on board of the trigate,
they intended TO remove the next morning !;
every thing was accordingly prepared
Next morning, sail hove in sight--the
frigate gave chase, our ship in company,
which prevented them from carrying their
intention into effect. was on board the fri
gate all this time with my crew, except the
= mate, steward and cook, at night they gave
up the chase for fear OF losing the prize
she being nearly out Of sight astcrn.
was i'll great hopes we should have lost sight
OF her in the night and by that means es-
cape being destroyed but at day light
the next morning, we SAW her long dis
fance and made sail for her after laying too
all night.--When found he was determin-
ed to destroy her ana no chance whatever
OF recovering her, without, l proposed to
ransom, but this with the cargo he would
not listen to, after using every exertion il
my power to get off with the whole cargo,
got his final determination which was to
give me nay ship and 1000 barrels of -four
for SIS 900, provided ne approved of my
bills, which was another great difficulty.
had no alternative but 80 accept thsse terms
or see my ship sunk. l used every means
TO save the whole bat that could not be done
on any terms.
When was sent on board my ship for
papers and letters to satisfy him that my
bills would be honored, | found that they
had thrown overheard all my cables and
every spare sail and spar on board, and
IN fact every moveabls article on deck
in the steerage they had cut through the
ceiling and were prepared TO cut through
the main plank-such scene Of dsstructi-
on you have no idea CT. They put on
board is Portuguese ana Spanish prison
ers, supercargoes, masters and mates cf
vessels they had destroyed They menti-
oned that not a vessel escaped bound TO
Spain or Portugal, but what HAD been des-
troyed but ourselves.
After throwing about 1900 barrels Of my
Nonr overheard, and sending hawzer fro IN
the frigate gave him bill for SIS GOO at
thirty days sight. This Frenchmen LETT the
ship and ! was sent on board with my Gre W
she next morning he was ont o f sight.
lie left me in the lat. SO, 16, n. lon. %,
80, w. he had destroyed the William Va
son, two other Americans, and ten Portu-
guese, Spanish and English vessels.