Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-10

SDOO ISldHI, Htittuloit fu''''"~1 W "'
columns, lust AS he is about 10 close that
account, speaks in the following manner OF
the conduct of captain Maxwell, the COM
manler Of the .iice,te, in the very trying
circumstances in which he was placed by
the shipwreck Of that vessel subsequently
TO her sailing from Loot hoo This cap
tain Maxwell, by the bye, is the very man
who for his services 10 his country, receiv-
ed at the late election from the ultra-iesis-
Ia,ors of Weslminster-the Instructors Of
REPRESENTATIVES. and the would-be check
masters of parliament and general legisla-
tion-THE MoB-the reward, (indeed the
only ore it was in their nature or compe-
tcnce 10 bestow) of severe assault; and
battery, and pretty nearly passport into
the other world, by assassination.
"We find we have no room left for Mr..
Nc Leod (tAe surgeon OF the Alceste. who
has published the account other shipwreck)
and indeed it would not he fair 10 crowd
in a muti!ated and abridged account OF the
ani,eating and ennoblins story ofthe loss OF
the A!ceste and the Geliyerance OF the
crew, al the end of an article already too
long for the place il holds in the volume.
We mean hereafter to return to the subject;
and 10 make it and the contrast it affords to
the frigb,ful and disgusting scene of the
wreck of French frigate, about the same
perio1. an occasion for some remarks on
the national character OF the two countries,
which appear 70 US important, and we trust,
NAV be so expressed as 10 be instructive,
without being imvidious AT present we
shall only say that the conduct OF captain
Maxwell. and his officers and ships conf
pany. ON this trying occasion, seems to re-
ahze all hat imagination could conceive
ofperfect discipline and judgment, opera
ling upon that calm and generous courage
which can only exist where the conscience
is void Of offence, and the heart enlarged
by kindly affections.
Ofihe French shipwrecss, with which the
Edinburgh reviewer has thus proposed to
furnish his readers in future number,
enough is come to hand through the Quar-
;erly Review, to keep the attention Ct the
public alive till the promised contrast shall
appear.-we take il from review, in that
work, of French publication, entitled
".Ndufrage lie Ia Frigate La .Meause tdisdnt
yartie de Z Expedition du Senegai--par
]. B. Sarigny Erchirwgien de Ia Marine,
ct .qierandrs Correard, hgenieur Geo
,grapke; tous deur Marriages du Radeau.
Paris, 1917.
Of this horrible affair, respecting which
the English critic says, " it presents the
details of scene of horror that can scarce
" be conceived to have taken place among
men in state of civilized society-and OF
which French critic affirms that there ne
yer was a recital more terrible-that It
makes one shudder in every page, and
tremble at every line--and that the SUMTER
raneous scenes Of Ann Radcliff, and all the
imaginary horrors OF our melo-dramas and
our tragedies, shrink to nothing before the
real horrors of this dreadful catastrophe. "
The amount, put into as brief shape as
possible, is as follows:
Iu IN expedition sent TO take possession
of certain places on the coast OF Atrica,
which were restored TO France at the ge-
neral peace, the naval part was utrusted
TO N. de Chaumereys, who had the COM
mand of the frigate In .Meduse, OF ID guns.
Owing to the bad discipline Of the crew and
the ignorance of the officers, the frigate was
run aground on the bank of Arguin. Al
tempts to get her off, equally inefficient and
shameful, all failed and all hopes Of saw
ing her being abandoned, they concerted
measures for the escape Of the passengers
and crew. Some biscuit, wine and fresh
water, were put into the boats, and upon
raft hastily constructed for the purpose.
On the raft which was to carry the greater
number OF people, they put the least share
of the provisions they had of wine more
than enough, but not a single barrel of'dis-
CUT.
There were FIVE boats.-ln the first, the
governor of Senegal and his family-in all
only thirty-6ve, though il might have car
ried twice as many the second took for
ty-two persons; the third, twenty-eight /;
the long boat, eighty eight the fifth, twen-
ty-6ve and the jolly boat, fifteen, among
whom were Monsieur Picard, his wife, four
children, and three young ladies. One
hundred and fifty of the military were en-
barked on that fatal machine the raft.
NJ. Correard, the geographical engineer,
volunteered 10 accompany his men on the
raft, and wishing 10 be assured that proper
Instruments and charts for n,viuafinor n had