The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-02

announces the prosperity OF the
fiaances-desires to put an end 10 the
provisional grants--the tranquility of
the country has admitted of a dminu-
ton of the most onerous of the taxes
the laws were respected--peace
reigned in the army--and every where
passions were subsiding, and suspicious
wearing away.
BOSTON, DEC. %.
On Tuesday last, the Portuguese ship.
Mariana Falora was brought into this
port as a prize to the U. S. schr. Allig;s-
tor, Lit. CONT. Stockton under the COM
mand Of Lieut.. Abbot, prize-master.--
She had 90 prisoners on board, and is
loaded with valuable cargo She had
attacked the Alligator upon the high
seas, lat. 600 SO NJ and long. 800 w. OIL
the 9th of November last, in an extra.
ordinary and piratical manner. Having
apparently decoyed her within reach of
her guns, by a signal ofdstress, she fir
ed upon l.2r, without showing any ma
tlonal flag, until the close of the action.
The Alligator easily captured her, and
sent her to the United States for adiudi-
cation.
On Thursday last, the officers and
crew of the Marianne Falora (said to be
the old ship Mercury, of Boston, } were
taken before the Hon. Judge Davis, of
the District Court of the United States,
charged with having made a piratical
attack upon the national vessel Alligator.
There was very patient hearing,
which continued through Thursday and
until yesterday at g o'clock, when the
men were discharged of any piratical
iatention.-The vessel is to be libelled,
and will have trial in March or per-
haps earlier.
The master Of the Portuguese ship said
ne supposed the Alligator TO be patriot
privateer, and expecting TO be attacked,
ne lay too, that he might have fair day
light for fight; the Alligator stood for
her, & he dischargedkis stern chascrs the
moment the shot could reach her. he
did not hoist his own national flag, be-
cause he thought it would excite the pr
rate Gas he called the patriots) to beard
him.. What appeared 10 be signal OF
distress, was only the dog zane near the
mast head, to show the way Of the wind.
When the Alligator hoisted the Ameri-
can ensign, he thought it only disguise,
because Capt. Stockton, according 10
the Portuguese custom, did not affirm
the flag, by firing gun, and he still con-
tinued to discharge his guns at her. Af-
terthe American schooner having Civ
en- broadside, under the national en-
sign, the Portuguese continued their hos
tilities, and discharged gun under their
own flag at the Alligator, after she had
desisted from firing, on seeing the Por-
tuguese ensign. The master of the
Mariana Falora said, this gun was on
ly confirmation of her Aag.'
On THE other hand, the testimony of.
Lieut.. Abbot and others was shortly
this The Portuguese ship was deserted
at 8 O'Clock in the morning from the
Alligator, with her courses clewed up,
top-gallant-sails taken in, her main-top-
sail backed to the mast, and apparently
laying too.-She appeared TO have "a
signal ofdistress at half-mast, which was
supposed to have been national flag
in, whif.-The Alligator tackled and
stood for her-she heisted her private
signal, which, not being answered, was
hauled. down. The strange sail fred u
single shot at the American schooner,
who returned it, Capt. Stockton order
ed up the national flag, thinking the first
discharge accidental Twelve other
guns were discharged at the Alligator
without any indication of national fac.
When the vessels were near, the Amer
lean commander ordered a broadside to
be 6red--he then hailed her, and she
answered him by another gun. The.
American vessel threw about two broad
sides. The Portuguese ensign was then,
for the first time seen hosting up, and
the Alligator ceased firing. Her aItag-
onist discharged another gun.--Then
tho affair. no n b,t tL.e