Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-02-17

lance, as the channel lies pretty close 10
Fort Santa Cruz. Vessels generally pass
directly under its guns. We passed ano-
Their small tort just within the harbor.
(" The place is said TO be very strongly
fortified; it certainly possesses extraord'na-
ny natural facilities for that purpose. 1t was
forced about the beginning OF the last cen
fury by the famous French mariner DuguI
! Truin, who took possession of the city ana
laid it under contribution; but its fortlhca-
tions in consequence were greatly improved
CAS- we entered the harbor, most mag
ni6cent scene opened before US. The noble
basin scarcely surpassed by any in the world,
resembling large lake, instead OF an har'
Dor, expanded majestically, bordered by
high woody mountains, inerspersed by high
rocky parks and precipices, their ridges or
spurs sloping gradually to the waters edge
| in some places, terminating abruptly, hav-
ing narrow vallies, and thousand beautI-
full coves or recesses with sandy beaches.--
The ridges or broken grounds below the
mountains, are covered with converts,
churches and beautiful gardens, while the
little sandy bays are occupied by elegant
country seats, great number OF those con-
structedEby Portuguese noblemen, since the
establishment of the court at this place, or
by English merchants who have become
rich since the opening OF trade. A range
OF much higher mountains are seen to the n.
E., probably 40 or so miles distant.
"The city of Rio de Janeiro, or St. Sc
bastian, is built in one Of the coves just men,
toned under the mountain. The houses are
much crowded together. and independently
Of the buildings perched on heights or rails
ed on the neighboring valleys, it would not
have an imposing appearance. But the
quantity of shipping give proof of an active
commerce.
q In the beautiful harocr have just des-
eribed, circumstance took place which was
nigh robbing US of the delight which the
sight of land, and particularly this harbor,
| is calculated to have excited.
"Just as we were passing Fort Santa Cruz;
of which have spoken before, we were
hailed in English from the fort, and asked ,
"where sre.you from ?"-To which captain
Ridgely replied from the u. States Of
North America" This was repeated three
times on the side Of each. and the fourth
| time we were ordered to heave to or be fired
| into. This raised captain Rs spirit, who
said nothing else. but ordered that no alter
ations should be made in tbs sails or course
OF the ship, and waited patiently a fire from
the fort. In very little time a blue light
Git being twlight) was raised at the fort, 4
ina minute afterwards blank cartridge
was fired. We certainly expected the Ne t
to be shot, kept steadily on, apparently
unmindful of their impertnence. In the
mean time we had come up abreast OF ano-
Their fort, and:then they bad fred three guns
at us from Santa Cruz. The second fort
then commenced firing; we had then reach
ed our anchoring ground, consequently
struck the topsals, and received on board
the commander of the fort. Captain R. as
soon as he received him in his presence, &C.
cost,d him thus how dare your fort 10
| Are into my ship ?" The officer making
some frivolous excuse, and not at all salts
| factory, capt. r. treated him more like a
mental than person holding an office of so
much Importance as he did-under the admi-
, nistration of a monarch in whose power we
were at that time, and from the conduct OF
each in this affair, could be almost tempt.
ed to say, that we are the most national peo-
pie in existence. The circumstance OF our
being solitary republic, aud therefore
continual, tacit reproach on monarchy, per-
hsps induces US to believe that kings have
10 cordial feelings towards US, and for this
reason we cling more closely together.
We have now come to good under
| standing with them, and capt. K. has been
presented to the king, together with some
of the commissioned officers, as no other
| than commissioned officer is allowed in
presence ofhis majesty.
From The Virginia Patriot.
POLITICAL ASPECT OF EUROPE.
| AT no time in the historical annals OF the
world, has been presented TO the view OF