Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-13
BOSTON, March a.

- 4
African Expelition.--We are in
formed by gentleman from the coast
If Africa. that while at Sierra Leone
about the 4th of Dec. he repeatedly
saw captain Campbell, the second IN
command under Major Peddie. He
vas engaged in preparations to pro-
coed ON the expedition. They were
to be accompanied by an armed force
of about 600 men. Several soldiers,
blacks and whites. had volunteered
from the regiment forming the sarri-
son of that place. Every man who
returned was to receive bounty OF
SOC pounds for his services. Opinions
there did not seem to be very sansnlne
Of success. No intelligence had
reached of the death of capt. fucker
and the failure of his expedition
which was to have acted in concert
with that Of Maisr Peddie.
Capt. Campbell went from Sierra
Leone to the Isle de Los. and was I"
,roceed thence to the Rio Nonas,
which was the place of rendezvous
The Governor Of Sierra Leone. who
aided in the preparations for the I'M
dertakine. was to set out in few days
for the Mace of rendezvous, whence
the expedition was to take its depar-
|ture in few days.
Extract of a letter from Mr.. Richard
Skinner. of Boston. a passenger on
board the French brig Brunette,
bound from Baltimore TO New-O
leans. dated Campeachy. Bay OF
Mexico, Dec. 25th, 1876
You will have no doubt been
uneasy on my account, not hearing of
our arrival at New Orleans. You
may perhapshave given us up for lost
as we escaped being so very narrow
Nv =; On the e5th Nov. we struck on
a reef OF coral rocks. about 6 leagues
from Matanzas. at 8 o'clock atnight,
immediately all was fright and con-
fusion. and all Standardization at an
end: the sailors refused to obey the
orders of their officers, and immedi-
ately attempted to get out the boats !;
the IDLY boat they stove in getting
her over the sides. the long boat they
succeeded in getting out without in
Jury, and then set to work making up
their bundles of cloths. and put them
into the boat. they also put in the
boat. small cask ofwater, a bag OF
bread. and then insisted on leaving
the brig Immediately the captain
and myself representedto them the
danger ofGuitting the vessel at the be-
ginning of the night. in a small boat,
with twenty three souls, and as we
supposed ten or twelve miles from the
shore !: no intreaties Of Ours however
could prevail upon them To abandon
the rash project. and they gave US to
understand that. if we would not go,
they would leave us to our fate on the
brig: thus situated. with no other
boat, we were obliged to comply, and
with all the passengers, including the
wife of the French Consul, with three
small children, the eldest under four
years Of age, went into the boat. Al
ter quitting the brig, We 'rowed about
one hour and a half along the reef.
and the mate WHO kept sounding eve
nv moment. announced from three and
a half to foGr fathOms water; ON
which observed to the captain and
sailors. that we were evidently on the
rocks (; that if the boat struck, We
must all perish. and the only chance
to save. our lives, was to stand oil
from the reef until day light one Of
the sailors Immediately proposed thar
we should return to the brig and wait
for day, which l seconded, making G.
very observation to convince them Of
the danger of approaching the rect in
the night, or remaining at sea IN so
small a boat with SO many souls on
board. They agreed at last to re
turn TO the brig; and having COM
pass in the boat, we steercd back \ =.
having steered nearly south from the
time We left her. After rowing a.
bout two hours, we discovered the
brig about two miles distant. which
convinced us she had dirtlrd of the
roels. and having all sail set she was