Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-15
U. s. STEAM GALLiOT SEA GULL,
MATANzAs, April Esd, 1923.

To tie Editor of the N. Y. Epeuing Post:
SlR-On my arrival here yesterday,
in the Sea Gull, accompanied By a
barge, from among the haunts OF the
pira, es. near where Allen fell by their
hands, the Evening Post of the lOih
inst was handed to me, containing a
paragraph, which, as it is written in
terms both complimentary and cour.
teous, and appears to have been dlcta
ted by regard for the public interest,
l shall answer, and hope to satisfy you,
and tho public, to whom your inquiries
were directed, that every effort has
been made, not only bv myself, but
those under nv command, to fulfil The
benevolent intentions of our country,
in sending a squadron of small vessels
into these seas for the suppression of
piracy. and that those intentions have
been fully complied with, and exeeu
ted with promp,ness rarely ins'anced.
The paragraph alluded to is az fol-
lows -" After reading the above mar
ratiye, at which the blood runs cold,
will 1t be thought unreasonable If we
bow again ask where is the American
squadron under the command of Com.
Porter. which promised us so much,
and has, as yet, we must say, perform.
ed so little? About the middle Of Feb
ruary 1t sailed from Norfolk, the Sd Of
March it arrived at st. Thomas. This
is the last intelligence that has reach
ed US respecting Commodore Porrer's
squadron, that was 1--WE were told des
tined to cru,ze off Cuba, for the pur.
pose of effecting he suppression OF pi-
racy IN that quarter but winch Is
prosecuted with increased and trium
plant success every DAY. Ii we did
not know that all confidence may be
placed in the resolution, activity, and
sagacity of Commodore Porter, we
might be led to entertain some doubts
whether his squadron had been dispo-
sAd Of in the most efficient manner for
securing the object declared and in
tended. But we at any rate owe it to
the respect we feel, in common with
our fellow citizens, for this gallant and
intelligent officer, to wait for some ex.
plauation before we indulge i'll COM
plaints"
1t will be no doubt recollected, that
the law for the suppression of piracy,
was passed on the Goth of December,
1922. On the lith Of February of the
succeeding year, fifty days after its
passage, i lett the Capes of Virginia
with my squadron, which had been pur-
chased IN different parts of the United
States, and equipped under my own
immediate inspection, during an incle-
meot season, which, with excessive ia
tigue, brought on disease that nearly
coet me my life, and from which it is
probable | shall never recover.
On the Sd Of March l arrived at st.
Thomas, 1.-THE place Of rendezvous,) on
my way to Porto Rico, where, by order
of the government, l had to correspond
with the authorities of the island, Cd
the subject of the Interruptions to our
commerce to the c,asts OF Colombia
and Mexico, by the Porto Rico Priva-
teers.
The day Of my arrival, l despatched
q division of sohooners to the south eide
OF Porto Rico, for the protection of our
commerce there, and the next day, sail.
ed myself with the res, of the squad
ron. was necessarily delayed seven
dave on the coast Of Porto Rico, to
conn lete the duties | had to perform
there, and during that time. by my
presence, caused the blockade of the
Main to be raised, which existed to the
moment of my arrival. here divided
my force into small detachments. send
ing some on the north and some on the
south side Of st. Domingo and Cuba;
causing every nook and corner in those
islands to be examined, where it was
likely q pirate could be found. but
without success. After thoroughly
securing the West Indies, arrived. in
IS days from the time of my leaving
the Capss Of Virginia. at Matanzas. in
the Peacock alone, with no officer but
her captain and sailing master, and
scarcely men enough to work the ship.
having seat them in the ships boats in
search of pirates among the Keys, a.
bout 500 miles to windward, with or
ders to meet me at this place. Here ]
heard of the capture land fitting as a
eirate) of a small schooner from Nor.
folk, two days before my arrival. and
in ten days after her capture, ! had VIZ