Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-28

Helen, while on her passage from this
port to Havana, b.: schooner protesting
to be in the service of the Spanish Pa
triots." This is one among hundred
instances of the same nature that have
lately occurred and been noticed in the
papers: how many there may have been
in which the sufferers. alter being robbed.
have been made to vaik the pisiif, and
the history OF their fate been buried with
them in the deep, is another question:
We blame not the real Patriots OF Soutb
America for these atrocious proceedings
They are ju,tifiable by the laws Of war
| in using every means for the annoyance
of their enemy, and they cannot do il
more effectuslly than Dy commissioning
swarm of privafeers to cut up her com
merce 1t is difficult for them to control
the conduct of those priyateers; many of
whom take advantage IT tie latitude Of
their powers, aud commit with IMMUNITY
the greatest excuses; and Others, with
out waiting to be duly commissioned,
dash in among the rest, and. under the
pretext Of aiding the Patriots" help
themselves to the spoils Of every nations
commerce.
Thus it is, however, that even with
those who are most friendly to the cause
of South American independence, the
idea OF PATRIOT p,ivateer mas become
SYNONYMOUS TO that OF pirate And yet
there are some who censure government
for preventing vessels of this descrips IN
from being fitted out in American ports
vessels which every one knows the mo-
ment they get to sea are amenable to no
power, and whose patriotism experience
has proved to consist in indiscriminate
plumber OF the property OF every nation.
We lament to find so many of our coun-
trymen embarked in this system Of sea
robbery. There are seine, we admit,
who are nctuated BY proper motives, and
confine themselves to authorised prac-
tees, but the greater number are no bet.
ter than common free hooters 1t was
but few days ago that a CANT OF despe
radoes, headed by an adventurer of notn-
rious memory, secretly embarked at this
port in small schooner. and. from cir.
cumstances which have since transpired,
there is no doubt of their being bound on
piratical cruise. We have since learnt.
however, that the main mast of 4 scboOn-
err, with the sail attached to it, which was
picked up adrift between Sewel's and
Willoushby's 90 friday last, has been
ascertained TO have belonged to this plea
room; If so, her voyage is broken up for
the present. and her hopeful crew NAV
yet have to answer for their audaciouS
defiance of the laws.
From our own enquiries, (silce writing
the above) assisted by the information of
the keeper of the Steam Boat Hotel Road |
ing Room, we are enabled TO add the fol
lowing particulars respecting the schoon
er fitted out ia this port for supposed pi-
raticsl purposes: 1t appears, that after
carrying awav her main-mast, she put
INTO Mill Creek. near Hampton, to re-
pair, when : OF Of her crew deserted
her and came over to Norfolk. I'm their
examination befure the mayor. they stated
that the said schooner was purchased at
a,sale about three weeks ago, when she
was called the " Margaret Of Alrxan
dria )" that she was again sold, and he,
name changed to f" Harriet" after which
she was taken charge of by one Mitchell,
who was an officer in the Romp when
she was seized IN York River. about Is
months ago, upon charge of piracy II
This Mitchell had been some time Turk
ing about Norfolk, and had recruited
crew Of about so men, which he embark
ed on board the Harriet, to cruise in the
Chesapeake to intercept a clipper built
vessel expected down with specie. They
were to take possession Of this vessel,
and, after getting to sea in her, were to
assume the Venezuelan flag, under which
(withoat any commi'sion) they promised
themselves plenty OF money, which they
were determined to make-nt all erenis!
The men who give this information, state
that they abandoned the vessel as soon
as they could, after satisfying themselves
of her piraticaI character. The collec-
tor, with his usual aiacrity, took advan-
tage of the first intimation Of this intel'i.
gence, and Immediately dispatched the
revenue cutter Jefferson, captain Ham,
in pur, uit Of the pirates, and it is prcba.
bic that the whole gang will be appre-
hended. --
From the National TntSliigencsr.