American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-03-07

FROM HAVANA. We regret to discover
from the accounts received by the way OF Charles
ton and Norfolk, that state of irritation exists
between the populace of Havana and the American
citizens who happen to be there, which has alrea-
dy caused the spilling Of blood. Mr.. JoHN B.
GAILLARD formerly citizen of Charleston, was
barba ously murdered at Havana on the night Of the
5Oth January, by six assassinst all of whom have
been arrested and confined for trial. The exciting
cause OF the general feeling at Havana against the
Americans, appears to have been the capture, by
the Y. ). Brig SPARK, OF the Nnfa Catalina,
which vessel she sent into Norfolk The Havana
newspaper states that she was a regular trading
vessel, and that Capt. W. in sailing after and cap
turing her, acted erroneous and frivolous infor-
nation from an American captain. After the
capture the SPARK returned to the port of Havana;
and, a boat from he SPARK attempting to land at
the wharf on the day following mob collected,
and attacked the boats crew with stones, bricks,
sc. and obliged them to return to the vessel. So
much for the general cause Of excitement. The
particular incident, which led to the death OF Mr..
Gallard is related in the following words, in the
Norfolk Herald:
Captain WiLkinson, (ofihe SpARK) went ashore
and demonstrated with the authorities of the place,
agalns; such conduct, when the Governor assured
him that should such acts be repeated, he would
severely punish he offenders-and proffered Capt
w. the protection of file of men to accompany
him to his barge On Capt. WiLkinsons embark.
ing, Mr.. Gaittard, respectable young gentle
man belonging to Charleston, but who had resd
ed at HAVANA for considerable time, observed
(perhaps improperly to the mob, which had again
collected, that ''their conduct was improper" and
"Never mind, Com Porter will be here soon.''
This was sufficient for poor Gaillard he acas
marRced--and that night was assassnsted''
We agree with the Herald, that the remark of
Mr.. GaiaTd made, as it was, to an enraged mob,
was more than imprudent-it was indiscreet to
rsshness, particularly when the same mob we're
evidently disposed 10 repeat the outrage of the pro-
ceding day.
We have endeavored to give dispassionate and
impartial view of This transaction: the more because
we perceive the public mind already in6amed by
the news of these transactions, rather more than
we think reason will warrant. We trust the hor-
ri6le assassns of HAVANA will meet their due
reward; but we should have been glad to know that
there was not shadow of provocation for the out
rage.
A letter from Havana, of the 9th of February
says
81 shall get away from this, as soon as possible
for residence here is really dangerous to stran-
gers-6 or men have been murdered within the
last week; some of them in the most shocking man
ner, being seized, stripped, and then laid on cot
and completely cut to pieces, from head to foot
1t is not considered safe to be out after sunset"
The United States Frigate CONGRESS- went into
the port of Havana, on the 9th February. The
SPARK sailed the preceding day, and the CRAM
PUs on the 4th, on a cruize.
To4o