Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-31
It saplace oelittle commerce, being er.,t ,

II ~
sort FOR men OF war the navy Yards in good o.
Ter, and on a very extens We plan; there was q =
| frIgate fittingout for the Mediterranean Therr
| isa very commodiouS dock connected With IN
| ward, in which there are ten line of battle ships
As many frigates and vast number Of small YES
sells, all in state of decay; the yard and all the
vessels were built BY Bonaparte. The land is
low and muddy, and canals or dykes running
through eyerv part of the town vessels draw
ing IL feet water can discharge their cargoes in
any part ofthe town they mus, have cost the
Dutch immense labor, ard none but persevering
people could ever have performed it. The town
was once we'll fortified and in tiourishng state,
but now there's scarce amy vestige remaining
Since Bonapartc left it, all the guns hav, been
dismounted and every thing appears to bedecay-
lug very FAST. The inhabitants still preserve "a
lore for Bonaparte, and many of them informed
me that they were much happier and more cn
tented under his government than the one they
are now ruled by A short distance from Flush
ing. is q town called Mddleburg, much larger
thin the former and built in the same manner;
Il houses very low af er the Dutch style stone
wall - feet high surrounds the town, and has
but two entrances.
.lniy 25d, sailed from Flushing, and the wind
being ahead, had am excellent opportunity of see
ing the most remarkable places IN The English
Channel, both on the French and English coast.
.3ngrist 6sh, entered the Mediterranean
spoke an r.iiyhsn sioop OF war gong INTO ILL
braltsr-informed by her that the Independence
was off Cape lie Gait FIVE days before, and that
Commodore Decatur had Concluded peace with
the Dey of Algiers, and was then on cru.ze to-
! wards Aigiers, Tunis and Tripoli.
august 9Th came TO an anchorage in Cartha-
gena Roads found here the Independence Is,
Commodore cambridge, sloop Eric, briggs Chip.
pewa, Spark, and schooner Torch, in quarantine;
This ship coming from the North of Europe was
excused; the town of Carthagena is situated be-
tween two mountains, and has avery commodi.
GUS and safe harbour for thirty ships of the line,
wrh room to swing (; the navy yard aud arsenal
are very spacious, and on grand scale said TO
have cost 5 153000 900, and equaled but b.
few in the world dock is connected with 1t
in which there is five fathoms wafer, ard accom-
odation for 30 ships Of the line it now contains
but three, and three trigates, witho'; stores and
! falling to decay; the defencss are strong-nature
1 has done much, aud they have improved every
advantage but at this time firigate might
lay,it under contribution, owing 10 the ruinous
condition of gun carriages, and want of m en- the
town is surrounded by wall fifteen feet high g.
the guns or rather ports for guns, point directly
from the tops Of the mountain on the town in
lmy opinion, this place might be made as strong
as the rock of Gibraltar there is one fort tn
loverlooks the town, So d to have been built upon
the old Roman foundation the guns are DIS
noun ed, and in time OF danger il is used as a
running through every part of tile ,own.
| Z" .fmgnsf 18Th sailed II company with the hide
lpendence, Erie, Chippewa and Spark on crulze
lup the south side of the Mediterranean, and in
search OF commodore Decatur's squadron 10th
passed within sight of Algiers, the commodore
sent the Spark in; could perceive but one for
tlication that appeared formidable the walls
around the city are high. 26th, hove too off Tr-
poll; the commodore sent the Chippewa aud
Erie IN. The only fort to be seen from where
We were, was built by the Philadelphia's Crew
last Tripolitan war, in the form of crescent
Fhe Chippewa and Erie returned with our MINIS
ter, who went on board the ccmmo lore; he M
formed US that Commodore Decatur's squadron
had been there ten days before and left there for
Malta; dispatched the Erie to MALTA, to endes-
yor to Obtain some intellige of the other squad.
-oas 6Iled away.
September 5M, came to an ANCHOR in Tunis
Bay This is one of the most delightful and
beautiful bays IN the world it is mterspersed
with small islands and has excellent anchorage ;
there are also several strong Turkish fortifcati-
ons, which appear Formidable, and capable OF
making stout resistance None of the ruins of
old Carthage (the birth place OF Hannibal) are TO
be seen; a strong Turkish castle and the temple
Iof EscuiaPiuS is built near The plsce wheS it
stood 6 h, saled--the commodore sent the
chippewa to Malaga; the Spark rejoined the
squadron IL h, came 10 an anchor at Malaga
hoau5 round The VI. ppewa, SaIanac and Box.
Ter Malaga is an ancIent city, remarkable for
ITS extensive commerce, yielding in great album
| lance the most delicious fruits, which they ex-
,ort TO every part of the world ;whlle We were
| here, twenty five merchant vessels sailed flr
different parts of Europe and some for the Unit
oil States. The harbor is not safe, but a spacious
mole is connected with it, WHICH is capable OF
containing 100 merchant ships, and cafe from
all winds; The city Is large, and surrounded with
q thick wall, which has nine entrances; 4 Moo.
rlsh castle ON point commands every part of it /;
the most remarkable building isa s,upendous
cathedia al, said 10 be as large as the celebrated
church ofSt. Paups, in London and equaled by
none m Spain. II is decorated with paintings
ornaments Of gold and lver images Of wax and
| marble, surprising all Imagination. l VISITED
! three Of the nunneries, but could not see any of
the cur,Oslties, only beng allowed to look thro'
The gFatDgs. The United States ships Erie,
Firehy, Enterprise and Lynx arrived--receivei
no intelligence of Commodore Decatur. Com
modore dispatched the Lynx 10 Carthagena aud
Enterprise to Gibraltar Doth, sailed from Ma.
laga IN company with the squadron. 29th, arriv-
ed at Gibraltar, anchored IN company with the
/ briggs, off Algesiras, a small town abont mules
distant, and opposite G. braltar--the remainder of
the squadron anchored at Gibraltar Algeslras
Is small town ofno consequence, has good an.
chorage
October Sd, got under way and anchored OFF
Gibraltar. THIS day the Constellation, Mioedo.
man, Ontario, Flambeau, Spitfre, Torch and
| Lynx arrived left the Guerrero at MALAGA -