Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-16

IL appears tndt lUr TSStbt SP SNo'tS"S ~'
our waters have been more fruitful Of mis-
chief and Of damage than we a, first conceived
could be the case. The following copy OF let.
ter addressed 10 the Secretary Of the Treasury
by . gentleman residing in the neighborhood
of Alexandra, details some Of the circum.
stances connected with recen, case of official
misconduct We give the le 'er, and If - Re
form" dues not shortly lake place somewhere,
we shall have more TO say on the subject.
lCopy Of a letter to the Secretary Of the 7rsa'uryl
FoRB,' SANDY POINT, Mp
Wednesday night Dec 9.
Sin: A few minu,es before lcf, the steam
boa Columbia tonight, received information
from gen,leman who boarded her from me
MARYLAND snore, If The sezure of small ves-
sci b. longing 10 me called the Pheasant, by a
Mr.. Johnson, Collector Of the Por; OF ST. Ma
rvs Md
1hi, is small vessel of forty tons. employ.
ed b, me only for farm purposes; and on Thurs
day or Friday las was despatched tony faI m
in Nor cumberland, with furniture, and light
o, ten negroes, some Of whom were inf nts, on
board: and with a view 10 having her laid ~
and repaired during the winter. Under thes,
circums ances, did nor deem IL necessary
thai ,hr man WIN epga g. d 10 AXE her down for
M should hold the papers, (psr:ieulariy as !
did not expect 10 see lin again, having made
arrangements for his return in q vessel. carry
ing sto, k, provisions. &c. accompanying mine
and therefore secured them IL my secretary,
which Wa, ii h r on board the Peasant or tn.
vessel acc ON aging her.
! shouli perhaps, sir, have no right tn rom
PLAIN Of Mr.. Johnson. had he simply perfor med
his d.tv, by Obtaining he vessel, or send ing
her in'o he por' Of ST. Mary's, or hack to AK.
andria. from whence sh. came. fpr evidence
that she was legally emit led To na,igar The
river. But, sir, deem il MY daiy 10 state +"
you, that he has shamefully spor'ed wi h tn
hv-s Of my people, and unnecessarily j"opar.
dzed my properly. by sending tte vessel 10
ai,Imo' c, as sne is totally unfit Ia na'igatr
the Bay, and couln only r.sch Bal imore at IN.
iminent hazard Of the lives Of all on board.
The vessel, from her name and bearing, ind,
cared from whence she sailed; and presum' +,
unless Nj Johnson was desirous, in ire PEI
Torrance OF his du'y. 10 hazard the lives Ut my
people, and 10 put me IL as much expense and
inc onSenience as possible, it would have be, n
quite as well 10 hav. sent her to some nearer
and safer port, from WHENCE l might have had
more ea'ly and certain information Of her ii
iuation. Il is presumed that she is now IL
Baltimore, unl"ss some accident has b, fallen
her; and he object of this letter IS TO request
Of you such snImadver,ioH on the brutal con.
duct Of Mr. Johnson a. il deserves, and to So
lici' an order from you Tor he discharge of
the vessel from Baltimore, where my peopl.
mus ~ in soff' ring condition, having been
provided with provisions only for {, W days.
The Custom House Ofict in A:,xa, drla has
been written to, TO forward to Bal imore a new
Sc, OF papers. as no one bu, myself could rea
daily get OF The original.
have the h nor 10 be, &c.