Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-10

fortified, and was the residence, you well
know, Of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The cas-
Tie of that Prince, now in ruins, IS about
three miles from the shore.
From the Bali. Federal Republicans Dec. 7.
We present our readers to day with an
abstract of the evidence in the case OF The
Uaited Sta,esvs. Com. Taylor,in fuh'ment
of our promise to give them an abstract Of
the trial when il was over. We have al
ready given on abstract ofthe argument on
the question as to the admissibility OF evil
denee of other captures than those charged
in the indictment, b& made during the same
cruise. We hope also to be able to give an
abstract Of the argument on the question as
to The validity of TaylOr's commission IN
der the acts of Congress which make it a
high misdemeanor for an American citizen
10 accept commission within the jurisdie'
ton Of the United States from any foreign
nation to cruise against any other foreign
nation. II will be perceived that the ey''
denee IN the cause was, that Taylor, Jun.
less he pe1sred himself, which the court
could not presume) was an American e'tl-
zen in June 1916, and there was no evil
demo. that he wen, to Buenos Ayfes De-
tween June and December when the com
mission was accepted IN the United States.
He accepted the commiss;oh therefore ID
direct violation Of the act Of Congress, to
command an Amer,e, N vessel fitted out to
cruise against Spanish commerce ia direct
violation also Of an aei Of congress; so that
the question was fairly before the court,
whether such commission was null and
void land was to be considered in the courts
Of the United States, or whether it authori-
sed the capture Of Spanish property. In
other words whether the courts Of the Uni
led States are 10 consider that as valid
which an &C, of congress prohibits and pu-
nishes as high misdemeanor.
The court decided that Taylor's commits
sion vas lawfully granted and accepted land
therefore he could not be guilty of piracy,
and he was acquitted accordingly.
United States Circuit Court U. States,
Thomas s' Tsy.Or Indictment for Piracy
The indictment contained FIVE counts,
charging five different captures, the Espe-
ranza and the General Morillu, Spanish
the Gazella, Americah-the Mary, French
and the Monte Allegro, Portuguese.
The proof on the part Of the U. STATE,
was that the Ell Patricia, the privateer which
Gen.. Taylor commanded when tho cap.
lures cbargsdiathe isdissment were made,
was an American vessel, built at st. Mi.
chaels on the eastern shore Of Maryland
that she vas fitted out in the port Of Balti.
! more in December 1915, and cleared out
at the custom.house by capt. Watkins.
that her cargo consisted Of provisions, bal.
asst and naval stores-that she was bound to
one Of the West India Islands-that after
she left the port Of Baltimore she took on
board the greater part Of her crew while
lying In the bay and at Hampton Roads
that Com. Taylor came on board while she
was lying in the bay and took the command
ofher-tI,at she cleared out at the custom
house by the name Of the " Fouth Of July "
THAT her aame was changed soon after
com. Taylor took the command, TO that Of
Ell Patricia. That In the American waters,
about twenty miles above the capes Of the
Chesapeake, the Buenos Ayrian flag wa,
hoisted, a gun fred, and some OF the wit.
nesses stated that the oath Of allegiance 10
the government Of Buenos Ayres was taken,
and the commission Of Com. Taylor read.
That the Ell Patricia then proceeded on hei
cruise towards the West India Islands--thal
she captured the Esperanza, Spanish yes.
sci, took out part Of her cargo, put prize
crew on board and ordered her to the Uni
ted States-that she arrived in the Chesa.
peake Bay-that vessel answering her
description was afterwards found sunk near
Kent Island, but whether sunk Intentionally
or not did not appear-that she was libell.
ed and sold as she lay for the benefit Of
whoever she might belong to-that on raj
sing her from the water bundle Of papers
was found in her cabin containing letters Of
instruction, bills Of lading, and invoice Of
goods, &c. (these papers spoke Of her as a
Haytian essel)-that Com. Taylor also
captured the Gen. Morillo, another Spanish