Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-30
From The Erening Post.

EAtTdCt VI lelttT lIOIH d StHtiChdu ih Ddi'
timore, 10 the editor, dated Sept. 20.
Gas perceive by the articles which have
frem time to time appeared in your paper
that The system Of privateeriLg which our
merchants have carried on for some time
past, has been reprobated by you, now
communicate some OF their proceedings for
your information. 1t seems that the Span
ish property having been swept from the
ocean, their cupidity has been attracted by
the valuable Portuguese vessels and car
goes which navigate between Portugal,
the Brazls and the East-Indies. Blank
commissions are procured from Argas,
who occupies the banks OF the river Plate,
opposite Buenosayres, under colour of
which, vessels, armed, equipped and own
ed in the United States, and more particu-
larry in this city, attack all the Portuguese
anu Spanish vessels they fall in with, plum
der them of the specie which they find on
board, and if the vessels have valuable
cargoes, order some for St. Barts, where it
appears, an arrangement OF mutual conve-
nience has been made with the governor;
others, for the ports Of the United States.
Two privateers, which lately arrived a!
this place, have carried on their depreda-
tions to most uinous extent. One oil
them called La Fortuna, formerly the
Fourth Of July, has captured from 8 to l2
Portuguese vessels, among which are The
Raynha dos AMOS, from which she took
out SO 900 dollars a large ship Of 900 tons,
called the Monte Alegra, loaded with a
cargo valued at half million Of dollars la
Cana, and Don Joan Sexto, valued at
100000 dollars each, besides other vessels
of less value. Another privateer, called
La Irresistible, which left this place in
January last, returned few days ago, ha-
wing pillaged, destroyed and taken 90 sail
OF Portuguese vessels, among which were
8 Indiamen Of grea value : the privateer is
said to have brought into this port upwards
Of 100000 dollars in specie.
"The Portuguese consul general has
commenced sundry suits TO endeavor to
procure the restitution of some of this pro-
perry. He is said TO have attached quaD-
tity of specie deposited in one Of the banks
and to have libele! large Portuguese ship
and cargo, which lately entered this port as
prize to the Fortuna. He has moreover
directed prosecutions to be undertaken a.
gainst the reputed owners Of the privateer
in this city, TO recover the value Of four Of
the captures and the judge of the district
court has ordered them 10 give bail each
to the amount 10000 dollars. The fol!
lowing persons have been held to bail
John S. Skinner, the post master Of this
city; Matthew Murray, the sheriffof Balti-
more county Joseph Karrick, John Snyder
and Joseph Patterson.
" The affair has assumed serious CON-
plexion, and if the Consul is successful, as
can scarcely be doubted, must, from the
magnitude of the claim, be attended with
almost certain ruin to the parties, and pro-
baby to their bail, who, it is said, are liable
TO the full amount OF whatever may be the
recovery against the persons prosecuted :
there being in this respect difference be-
tween the admiralty law, and the common
law. The same persons have also been ar
rested upon a criminal charge Of violating
the act Of Congress in fitting out the priva-
teer Fourth of July, and have been held to
bail by order Of the Judge, to stand their
trial in November next"