Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-30
From the Was hington Uniol
OFFICIAL


Mexican. Prirateers letter has been re-
ceived as late as the 21st Jnne from our
vigilant consul at Gibraltar, by his friend in
Washington. In this, he refers to the capture
of the American barge Caemelita, off lyica, by
pretended Mexican privateer. The consul
had suspected the character of this craft; but
his letters to Oran had not reached there in
time to have her detained Everything pos
sible had been done for the protection OF A.
merlcan commerce in the neighborhood of Gil
braltar. Our consul had found the Spanish
authorities exceedingly active and kind, par
ticularly the general of Algesiras, and the
Spanish consul at Gibraltar. At the time he
feared that this privateer was cruising about
the straits, general of Algesiras, at his request,
ordered a steamer and two feluccas- to
cruise from Cape Trafalgar to Malaga, for the
purpose of boarding the suspicious craft,
should she he seen, but her commander was
so we'll known there, that he Judged it best
not to show himself in that quarter. He car
ried his prize to Barcelona for adjudication,
but there our consul was prepared for him
and acting upon our treaty with Spain of 1895,
the commander and crew of this pirate was
placed in the Barcelona prison, and are about
to be tried for piracy The consul at Gibral-
tar, having requested his colleagues, through
out the island adjoing the southwest coast of
Africa, to communicate these facts to Commo-
dore Read, and to the commander of any of
our vessels of war, he is in hopes that 'the day
is not far off before we shall be favored with a
vessel of war of the United States in these wa
ters" He says that during the previous week
he had suspicious of Spanish craft which
had arrived from Barcelona, and said to be
bound to- Tarifa in ballast. Through the
Spanish consul there, he was enabled TO have
her sent over to Algesiras, where the COVER
nor had her strictly examined but her papers
and everything else being found correct, she
received her clearance. The consul states
that, from what the United States consular a.
gent at Oron writes him, he thinks that the
stir made about the pretended Mexican priva-
teer will induce Marshal Bugeaud to issue an
order for the purpose of not permitting Span
lsh contraband vessels TO mount any pieces
of cannon upon her decks while in the ports
of Algeria-a serious affair for those who de-
pend upon this illegal traffic.
In reference to the desire of our consul for
a vessel-of-war to visit those waters, we sub
join the following from the Trenton Gazette
of yesterday:
"The U. S. Steamship Princeton, at Phila-
delphia, is now in commission, with her Off
GERS and crew all aboard, and everything in
readiness for her departure or her destined
mission. She only waits the pleasure of the
Department at Washington to be off to the
Mediterranean in pursuit of the piratical gangs
that have dared to insult the flag of our COM
mercal marine The alterations and repairs
the Princeton has undergone, since her arri-
val here from the Gulf, have greatly improved
her in many respects. Most Ct the alterations
have been made with special reference to the
convenience of both officers and men, Her
present armament consists of nine guns
42's and one 6S-Paixhan''
We understand that the Princeton. Capt
Eagle, sailed to-day for the Mediterranean.
The Alleghanyis ordered on from the Gull
to the north. AS soon as she is manned with
a sufficient crew, which is expected to be
promptly done, she, too, goes to the Medter-