Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-06

March, and was boarded by British
government boat, the officer Of which in
formed that the French and Spanish
armies were on the trortie but no &C.
count bad been received OF the commence
ment of hosiilitiss.
Extract Of a letter to the editors OF the
Richmond Enquirer, from an otacer 10
tbe United States Navy, dated
Sea Gull, Matanzas,
Apra IS, 1898.
81 send you brief sketch Of our ope-
r,,ions since wrote you from Key GUM.
chos: The little expedition despatched
from Key Con6tes. consisting OF the schoo.
nsrs Wild Cat aud Beagle, and the boats
OF the Peacock, joined Us at this place
after being absent p week without seeing
or hearing Of pirate. After watering
we proceeded to Thompson's Island 10
land and secure our stores, and arrange
our forces for future operations, leaving al
Ms,snxas the Wild Cat and Beagle TO give
conway TO our trade every Sunday, as tar
as the Double Headed Shot Keys. This
arrangement was made by the commodore
in consequence oil the numerous piracies
that had been committed of the port and
il was considered 50 dangerous 10 60 out,
that no vessel would venture for nearly 5
weeks previous.
"Oo reaching Thompson's Island the
Peacock and Decoy were laid up and
their crews taken to man the bsrges the
store. from the different vessels that had
brought them out, landed, and two houses
q a. h. oil crh
as tsst a. they arrived. were got IN resdl'
ness for sea, and on the 9th inst. captain
Cassin of the Peacock, sailed with the
JsckalI and Fox. and the barges q ai'Inip-
per and Mosquito, to examine the coast
-s-.eaxtr sem on Havana to give
convoy to the Double Headed Shot Keys
every Saturday, and in conjunction with
those stationed at Maianzss, afford COM
plete protection to all the intervening
coast. On Sunday last, the Commodore
shifted his pendant TO this vessel, and on
the same day sailed with the baTges Gnat,
MiJge, SandAy, and one of The cutters of
the Peacock; we arrived here The follow
ing day and received the pleasing intelli.
gence OF the capture OF the schr Pilst,
sormerly of Norfolk. This vessel had
been captured by the celebrated Oomin-
go, about the time we arrived on this part
OF the coast, and being very fast sailer,
vas Immediately armed and converted
i0to cruizer she had been chased for
several hours within gun shot by the Wild
Cat and Besgle, but escaped by running
m among the breakers At night about
two hours after she was boarded and car.
red in very handsome style by Lieut..
;S,rbiing in the barges of Capt. Cassin's
DIVISION all on board Of her were killed
except three, one OF whom was taken no
one on our side injured. | consider this
ooe OF the NEST important captures that
has been made IN th,s quarter; the vessel
was remarkable fast sailer. commanded
BY one Of the most desperate and success
tul OF all the gang, the same person who
commanded when Allen was killed and
nigh have done immense injury. Un-
fortunately, he is one OF those who esca.
ped.
"Tbe day before yesterday, the bar
ses OF this division. under 1t Cassin, Of |
The Peacock, were sent 10 examine Signs- |
pa Bay, about thirty miles to windward |
OF this, a iavoTite and much frequented
haunt OF the pirates. As we have inIor-
nation OF several OF their vessels having |
been there very lately, we are quite sam |
guiDe OF the result. We shall follow the |
osrges in day or two, and after giving |
the bay and adjacent Keys a critical o,
verhauling. coast II down as far ss Cape |
Antonio, BY which time it Is expected our
provisions will be SO nearly exhausted as
10 make il necessary TO return to the is.
land.
"Tbough We have not been fortunate
in making captures, Tor not one Of the de. |
tschmeDis which were sent of from Aqua
Silla vas more fortunate than ourselves,
We have the satisfaction to know that il
has not been from any want OF exertion on
our part Piracy existed in full force and
sigOr of this place and Havana to the
hour OF our arrival bu, we know of no
Instance OF il since. By the judicious ar
rsogement which. the commodore has
made OF the force under his command, and
the whole OF IL at present is not equal 10
That OF frlga'e, complete Profession has
been given to the trade 10 this island as we'll
sstbat to the Guiph OF Mexi, O; and two for
midatie defacbments employed to ferret
them out irom then hiding place. They
must now break up, or change their
ground. and think / may vsn,urs the o.