Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-08

! tiers which were received iron, that place,
per the schooner Mary-Ann, Captain Bon
nell, that this packet would have brought
out the official news Of the late cession
of the Floridas TO America, but no.
thing has transpired yet. ! shall avail my
self of the earliest opportunity OF sffordins
you all the information in my power on this
interesting subject.
The Spanish brig of war" San Fer
nando," came into this port on the alter
noon of the 18th inst. after crIize Of Sc
veral days on the coast of FloriGa-She
brought in with her prize sloop with her
| armament of II men, with cargo OF 72
negroes-1t is affirmed by some that this
sloop sailed from some port in Virginia,
bound to New-Orleans, and that the ne
groes are American property, and belong
10 plantation in New-Orleans, whence
they were bound, after legal purchase
in Virginia-by others it is said that the
negroes have been plundered from some
| Guineaman.
"The former story is most probable, rs
large portion Of the negroes speak broken
English; the affair will without doubt be
investigated in few days, and decision
had thereon in the course Of 10 or years,
agreeable 10 the true Spanish Brerit--in
the mean time theywill starvc the white men
10 death, and sell the blacks to pay arrears
| TO Marines
GIVE have had no arrivals OF conse-
quence with Flour and Rice since my last,
and these articles continue in demand al
quotations annexed"
Philadelphia and Baltimore Flour93 Dolls.
Charleston Rice 1O5
Campeachy do 8! Q.
TRANSLATED FOR THE TINES
Official letter from De Simeon Ponce de Lee
on, commander ofthe Spanish brig OF war
St. Fernando, TO His Excellency the COM
mandant General Of The Marine Depart
ment dated
Brig 81. Fernando,
Port Of HavanG, July 7h 1918. {
Most Excellent Sir-On the cath at S
o'clockin the afternoon, Is eparatedfrom the
brig Churruco, with the two schooners.-
The brig continued her course with the
convoy. On tbe 96th, we anchored oppo-
site the bar OF st Augustine. At four o.
clock of the following day, the schooners
entered the port, and We Immediately SET
sail. At 5in the afternoon OF the lst inst.
the Island Of Gaia, bearing S. S. ". dis
lance colleagues, we were brought to by a
schooner, which, on nearing US, hoisted the
flag Of Venezuela. We hoistrd that of Bu-
enos Ayres, and when within speaking dis.
lance, took down the Buenos Ayrean, hoist.
ed the Spanish flag, and fired into him,
when he lowered his colors, and his people
precipitated themselves into the hold. At
this crisis it being, calm, and my vessel not
marGuvering with the readiness wish
ed, he was enabled, owing to the lightpess
Of bis vessel, 10 escape beyond the reach
Of my fire before | had completely crippled
him, though ] had done much damage TO
The rigging. We lost sight of him in the
night, and notwithstanding our endeavours
TO find him, at day light he was not TO be
seen. We then stored our course for the |
Providence channel, where en- the 9th, l.
brought TO the sloop General Aury, captain
Nicholas Patterson, near the Berry Islands,
under American colors, and bound, accord
inc to the papers he presented, from the !
port Of Charleston to St. Thomas, one of /
the little Antilles. When we overhauled |
him, he was bearing N. E. from the bank |
of Bahama. a course far out of bis proper !
direction. We found on board the sIoop
seventy two negroes (slaves) not mention |
ed in her books, and which they endeavour-
ed to conceal from us. After some remon-
stranccs, the captain delivered Up his COM
mission TO cruize against Spain, issued by !
the government of Buenos Ayress He had
on board irons and munitions OF war, the
flags OF Buenos Ayrcs and Venezuela-in
consequence OF which the negroes are pla-
ced on board this vessel, and the captain
and crew made prisoners. During the res [