Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-15

lions for tho coast Of Cuba, esta biishe,
conveys, destroyed the crew, and re
captured the piraticsl vessel.
There have been no piracies com
United since | have been on the coast,
our commerce is ef1ectually protected
by weekly souvoys, the coast is CON
pletely lined by our schooners and bar
ges, and l have just returned from the
principal resort of the pirates, where
they have been compelled by our pre-.
sence to destroy their vessels with
their own hands. They are new (ths
eth Gay of my arrival on this coast)
completely broken up, and dare not sp-
pear here again, while the present ar
engagements exist. 1t is said that
much has been promised, and little
performed" by us.-We have oone all
that in reason could be expected OF US;
we have rendered the navigation OH
this side of the island secure against
p;ratical depredations, avenged the
death Of Allen by an example that will
strike them with terror; we have dri-
ven then from the ocean 10 the shore,
whence, if they do carry on their dep
redations, they must necessarily be be-
yond the reach of punishment, as they
are never to be- foucd embodied in any
numbers. and have no mark by which
they can be distinguished from other
individuals, sven by the residents OF
the island, AID local authorities. But
let me ask by whom so much has been
promised? Not by me, nor by those
under my command we promised
only to DO our duty, and we have done
! it. "a, re .,ber too well, and with
sorrow, the publicity that was given to
every movement Of the squadron, by
the editors Of newspapers, although
, took the precautioD of sending around
| to those of New York, as Gen. Swart'
wou. can testify, and to you among o.
there. requesting your silence, and ur'
ging the necessity for secrecy; but 1t
was all in vain; the papers with but
few exceptions, were filled with ac-
counts of the expedition, from one ex-
tremity ofthe Uni;ed States to the o.
Their and believing the pirates would
consequently change their ground,
found il necessary to change my plans,
and instead Of going direct TO Cuba,
proceeded to windwsrd to make tho
rough examination. AS far as depen-
ded on myself. secrecy has been obser
we'd and bad no: taken proper pre-
cautions to keep my intentions locked
in my own breast, she pirates, through
the medium of the press, would have
been as we'll informed of my going to
Porto Rico, as they were of every other
movement Of the squadron which took
place 10 the United States.
1t appears to be subject Of com.
plant, that the last that you had heard
of me, was my arrival with the squad
| ron at ST. Thomss's 90 days after my
leaving Norfolk! unless from ST Johns
how did you expect to hear from me
again, except by vessels spoken at sea.
the commanders of which, if they had
| been as much disposed to do justice to
our vigilance and activity, as to make
unfounded and exaggerated reports OF
piracy, would have made some report
on US on their arrival The circom.
stance of not hearing from us, ought to
have satisfied you we were doing our
duty, not spending our time in idleness
in port. 1t is not amongst civilized
society that pirates are to be found, 1t
is among barren and desolate islands,
secret and retired places, as far from
the reach of justice as they can get,
that thew make their haunts; among the
roaring of breakers and the screams OF
the sea bird; and it is in such places,
we have sought the freebooters and
murderers; and sought them in def.
ance of every obstacle through the
most intricate and dangerous naviga.
ton. exposed in open boats by day and
by night to the baneful influence of the
climate, and in contempt OF every dan
ger, with untiring zeal, and with IN
ceasing vigilance.
But VIVA, is the amount Of this force
(which has promised so much and per.
formed so little force consisting Of
eight email sohooners of from 50 to 40
tons, mounting each three gums, the
largest Of which is nine FOUNDER, and
one of the smallest class of steam boats,
| mounting five. guns, each carrying SO
| officers and men, force very little
| more than sufficient to man one OF our
sloops of war, and not enough for one
of our smallest frigates. | shall net
enumerate the five ships cutters, called
barges. calculated to carry each Is
| men, for without laying up the other
! vessels should not have man to put
! on board them, unless it should SO
chance that 7 could obtain crews for