Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-07-17
Ero,n the Norfolk Beacon.

From the VorteIk beacon.
DESTRUCTION BY LIGHTNING.
The schr. Mariner, from Charleston,
reported under our Marine bead, was
struck by lightning of Old Point Com
fort, on Friday night at 8 o'clock. John
Pedro a Portuguese, was struck to the
deck, and survived only minutes line
captain, the two mates, one Passeh-
ger aud all the crew were knocked down,
and remained senseless from to 10 Oil.
nutes {; the pilot also was struck IN the
mouth by a splinter, and laid PROSTATE.
Fortunately, no one was seriously Injured
but Pedro. The tore.top-mast and tore
top.e aIant. mast of the schooner were shI-
vered 10 splinters. the foremost consIdeEa-
bly, damaged, the ID torn, cam6oOse bro
ken to pieces, and FIVE planks OF her deck
torn up.
WASHINGTON, July l4.-Being ia.
vored with, the perusal of a private let
ter from Commodore Porter, to a
friend in this city, we were SO much
grstified with its contents, that we pre-
vailed on the gentleman to whom it
was addressed, to permit the publIca-
ton Of such parts as we knew the pub.
lie would read with interest. The let.
ter was not written for the public eye.
we know but, in giving it publicity,
we consider ourselves as performing
an act of Justice to Com. Porter him
self, thong in doing it, we run the
risk of disp pleasing that gallant and es-
Unable officer. NAT. Intel.
Ertyact of letter from Com. Porter to a friend.
Sea Gull, June II, 1928.
"Although l have no news of any con
sequence to give you, Icould find much
to say if could find time to say it 10
but my movements rather keep ahead
of my pen. By the Pilot, Gust arrived
from La Vera Cruz. where had sent
her with a despatch Cor the Captain
of the Peacock, now there, and with
good prospects too. our friend Thorn-
ton goes home for a short time, and to
him / must refer you for great many
particulars and existing arrangements.
keep every one very busy; and altho'
the service has been severe, and
some are very sick oft, have good
reasons for believing that all who leave
nry command will do it with desire to
disappearance Of al the Pirates. and
our want of success in catching the ras-
Gals, 10 somewhat discouraging to US :;
but all are satisfied that our failure was
owingte other causes than want of
exertion on our part. The fact is, our en-
envy is an invisible one he has only to
throw on tho fairy mantle of a Spanish
passport, which they all 60 furnished
with, and the pirate is completely con-
cealed from our view.
"Piracy is now down on this side the
Island, and hope soon to give as good
IN account of the other side. A pirate
has, however, appeared there, 4 made
two captures lately-but the most Of
the pack, the Greyhound, the Terrier,
Ferret, Weazle, Fox, and two Barges,
are in full pursuit; if he escapes he
must have good luck.
"There has not been single act Of
piracy committed here since l came on
the coast, and the above 10. the only one
can hear Of on the south side, which
we have left pretty much to the British.
1.-The Importance of this station key
West] appears daily more and more
manifest to me, and, in my opinion, it
10 of but little consequence who posses
ses Cuba, if we keep force here; for
we have the complete command of the
Gulf of Mexico, all the commerce Of
which, as we'll as that from Jamaica
and Cuba, is completely at our mercy.
1T is almost incredible, the number
of vessels that daily pass and repass,
and it 10 wonderful, considering the
strong temptation, that piracy existed
in no greater degree than it did.
"Those to New Orleans pass very
nearthis Island, and we have almost
daily intercourse with them. / had no
conception myself of the extent Of our
trade in this quarter, until l came here,
and / am fully persuaded that this is
the proper place from whence to give
it protection, The government has
made small experiment, sufficient to
prove the utility of an establishment
here. e. the country would act unwisely |
to sbandon it. The place ought to be
we'll fortified, of which it is very sus-
ceptible, and respectable force, chief
ly naval should always be- kept station.
ed here. There would then be nothing
to be apprehended from Pirates, or any
other sggressors on our commerce or
flag.
at 10 to this ses what Gibraltar 10 to
the Mediterranean and che one thou
sandth part of the money that has been
expended on the one, would make the
other all that could be desired.
81 do not know exactly when l shall