American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-05-09
.Aortolk, Aprit so, 1926.

illtu ~
Sch'r ferret, one of Commodore Porter's Squad
ron, arrived here yesterday morning, from Allen
ton fThompsons Island,} via Havana, having re-
turned home in conseq uence Of bad health. He left
The island in the u. ). Schooner Greyhound on
the 18th, and took passage at Havana on the 10th
inst. on board the Brig New Packet, Capt Chase,
for New York, bot falling in, on Monday, about 90
miles N Il. Of Cape Henry, with the sloop Fair
American, Capt. Thomas, from New Haven bound
here, he got on board Of her, and arrived yesterday
as before stated.
Lieut. Henley has politely furnished the ." Beacon
Office .Netcs Room" with regular file OF the Mott
cioso Mercantile of Havana, from 9TH 10 5th inst
inclusive, and a Prices Current of 18th inst. We
do not discover in the papers, at first view, any
thing worth trsrslatinS
WE learn from Lieut. II. that the officers ant
crews OF the squadron in excellent health, and
interchangeable in their exertlcns 10 accomplish the
important purpose oil their cruizr on the Pirate
Coast. But, notwithstanding the most judicious
distribution Of his force, and the most unrennng
efforts to ferret out the murderous erbooters upon
commerce, the Commodore had not met with
any success, the OF the schr Pilot, OF tins port
excepted, which Lieut.. Henley understood al Ha-
vana, had been recaptrred about the 9Th inst by the
two barges Masquito and Gallinipper, under the
orders OF Lieut.. {. Stribbling, oil the Peacock
Many oil the Pirates were killed, but escaped
to the shore.
The account which we published some time ago
of the brig Bru,us Zone of the Store Shps) having
captured off Key Yacas, large Spanish schooner
under suspicious circumstances, by siratagem oil
her commander, Capt Lewis and carried Der into
Thompson's Islam, turns out to be correci--she
had been sent TO Mobile for adjudication by order
OF Com. Patterson, previous to tn. arrival there oil
Com. Porter. The story of the Decoy having en-
trapped number Of the Pirates off Cape Antonio,
and made PRISONERS OF them, is without any Jour-
dation.
The Peacock Sea Gull, U S. schr. Trap, 1t.
Com. Newell. Qate the transport schr Mary which
had been armed and attached to the Sea Gull as
fuel vesse) and the Ferret and Terrsr (hesying
out) were the only vessels at Thompson's Island on
the 18th inst. Com. Porter 10 the Sea Gull &C.
compaaed by tho Trap aud Barges was 10 sail The
-3to On cruiaS On ths Coast, in :he vicinity oil
Gloda. rne Commodotr naylns ublalaed from
the Governor OF Porto Rico, descriptive list of the
Pirates fitted out from that port, would be enabled
thereby to detect any imppstons that might be at
tempted under that pretext
The following the distribution Of the squad
ron al the time II. II. left il: he Jackal and Fox
were cruising 10 the eastward OF Matanzas the
tItey Hound, lat. Con. x afney, (cdpt ] Porter
having obtained permission to return 10 The y S
the Wild Cat, Beagle, and Weasel cruising from
Maanzas to Havana and giving convoy from the
former every Sunday, and the latter every Saturday,
as far as the Double headed Shot Keys.
Lieut. Henley states, that it was very sickly at
Havana, and that many deaths occurred daily.
Com Porter had made such arrange ,nents, as
would enable him to receive Information from and
communicate with every detachment of his squad
ron with the greatest expedition, and their cruxing
ground had been SO allotted, to afford the great
est security to merchant vessels by convoy, and he
most PromPr assistance in Of aggression from
the Pirates, to all vessels going to or coming from
ports on the Moth side OF Cuba.
The site for the Town on Thompson's Island
was on the 9th instant, named " ALLENrov.9 in
honor OF the late Lieut.. Comdt IPiLinn III .4Hpn
who tell in gallant attack on the Pirates off Key
Yacos The American flag was hoised and a ma
toha salute fred on the occasion. 1t. H. repre-
SCENTS the situation Of the Island as very saubrous
the scenery as uncommonly beautiful, the soil rich
and capable OF producing all kinds OF vegetables IN
abundance. The squadron was, however, entirely
dependent on its own resources for provisions oil
every kind, as the clrcnmlacent country did no,
yield any supplies Of the animal or vegetable kind
and until II shall be pc pied and settled by some in
dustrious farmers, the residents. well as the squad
ron must rely much traders from The u States
for such articles of fresh provisions aud luxury as
they may stand IN need oil. A lew caesoes OF this
description will command good market. as soor
as the stock OF The squadron, which is small, shat
be exhausted There is much lime stone in the
Island, but the water at Attention is not good The
supply tor the squadron obtained from two mile
distant, out even that was moi oil the best quality
Com. Porter had it in contemplation to sink we'll
at Key Vacas, where the water was said to be re
Tnal kably Gne.
The Navy Hospital carried out from I,-re, (ir
trane) was to be Immediately erected at the p,nci
pal watering place, two miles from .aHenton which
= stated to be very healthy position, accessible It
The pure sea hreezes from. every point. Ii was Il
be under the orders Of Surgeon WILLIAMSON
q Hotel was also about to DC established by one Q
the propretors Of he Island.
The sea water round the Island yielded elegan
salt BY very simnla and rand nrnceas