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4 ’ * fjm * £ ;
Sprcngurdthave* r>. Inst i
f.CoutiVgy upon ih ” Ur.Heil VJ
leave* u* no i.Kero i, ! jvc bet ween
Hie Cmt»*d Sute^^Jjool^*Firebran-l
JlJe*neiumt Conumgham. has been free •
upon, wfthodt pi oVooa ? ion, hy'fhrce Sr>;-
jifcdi whereby an American sea
nan We have not bpen a- *
bb: to learn in what part of the Golf of
Mexico tftfe Don*! fobnd an opportunity
of thfts aignrflizing their valor ; but it
is certainlhat tiwfuwfc the Firebrand
the ftviog, she ewenp;*
r ul . dc */M*s ,iy .- y s4 J®i o l
«#«• * * • v’ \% ‘
* * OIiiLr.JNS, Sept.ff'. *,
5 “Wt have %Jt M$ receded W» ;
ill at', on relative* to the xut age lately
committed cm the the ;
S'* <maflK vA !>e relied uo >i* Ex
fft-rtinj* to receive such inforjp.aion, we
for bor•a■ iya I! usi«)r\ to titC mihject;n jes
tdrditj’s yiizetie. The Freb&ncl was
nofin cmnnmy with any, ..iUer_ vt»et
w’V-n she fell in wuii the three Spat^sh
u?on lcU >f lln v
nm£ bam shewed h% colours and bailed
the oQ'Ujiiodnrc, mentioning tnc charac
ter of hfs>.-ss4 After epatiuuvug their
flrr"-?onic time the. Spaniard sem an of
ficer on hoard the F rebrand, to whom
M r - Cunningham’s commission was
&h wn. ~nd a tier wards Mr, Campbell,
sefco -d *n com hand of Hie l
\va - sent aboard the co'rvett? on the re
quisition ofthc. Spanish captain hen
r , C arrived on he was rn
&ulifel by the most opprobrious aha>e, j
and i-tenduel was placed over.him ; i\is •
hpaucrevx/was also <^Jjfc> ! ;liea to
board— immediately
then cruelly beaten. jfi® a 'ljF* I
Mr CunmWham repeatedly assured the*]
Sannlsh cifru if that ha had struck tus
flag. tjiuCAconsidered the Firebrand as ,
a prize to hi - Cal hoi. c majesty, and -m- ;
treated that she mi£ht be taken posses- |
iiion of agreeably tb the usages oi belli- |
Hus was defined by the gal- j
champion of the-inquisition'?—but i
. lie sti'd detained Mr.,, Campbeii and tfl|g
boat’s crew. f; & ‘?yp!L k |
\t the expiration of four hours, now
ev er. a sail appeared at a distance, tne
prisoners were I ' Released the
permitted to depart by tic
ftble Dob, who did not iad to ner
; commander with'the foulest rmroache*,
and protested that he had orders to drive
ev*-ry American vessel from the GuU pf
MfX.'co ;, V ■* r *
\V: shall the preceding facts
•yyith no observation* ; tiiaj|Wslre recital is (
fiiifficiept to rouse th-r indignation of ey-J
ery rhan whb has aif American hesit, hr ,
a heart thit spurns at cowardice an|i its .
consflint associate, cruelty. SVe ieel
confkb titl k owmg .ntimatcly, as we do,
tjh hiSicers of the Firebrand, that they
offered no provocation to the vessels of a
friendly nation, and ,that in
Circumstances Vhey bt placed,
thev never would dishonor eitlicrdiißiii-
Selves or their country*’ f
- >hleans ; bepi 18.
The loliowng letter to (fa „ editor of
the Orleans Gaaetti-is written,by .a gen
tleman who was on board toe Firebrand
wb<*n she hud the rencpuoiei With
lords of the Gulf of M. kico. tie expres
|t himself warmly, in a maimer
Worthy pf an Ifmericau wao
Witiysssed an outrage, which* if W- are
not greatly mistaken- wdl produce one
Joud and simultaneous bur^olmdigaa
tion from oiie end of tab Continent tu tne
other. It is hignly prbo mle, as the wri
ter suggests that tbv Spanish xotiatnau
der wished to provokF so wad of aes
tility frbm the Firebrand Which mignt
afford, him a pretext for her m tanu
neous and total destruction fn thai
ca*e he Would dputeess nave reported^
to the captam general that he had aunh
a pirate ; ants lhe pubiic mot
knowing the actual fate of tne Firebrand
would attribute her loss, like mat of the
“Wasp and Fpervicr, to the elcßients.
But Providence determined tnat the ends
of justice shield not tnusbe
Herirave and estimable commander
bas had an opportunity of relating tne
atbry of his wr* *gs to his country—.
Those wrongs and tne insult offered to
our flag, which we hope, is destined to
gash terror and dismaf wherever a Span
caiVbe found*, will be most abundant
ly vevenged* but here is the letter.
JBav of St. Lewis, Sept. 8 IS 15 ,
Dear Si*r, ”, r * |
I % Nothing oi importaflee occured aftei
leaving port until the morning of d.t
27tn of August when not tar frou|
Vera Ci U 2, at day break, wc tound our
scives iieui- three winch proved
r lCl*e. m catftotiC bpanlsh majesty *
? r *d ».a of 1” £uns each ,
the to ft binders of
►two last mentioned, vessels were refused
‘to be given u?. - ‘
JyJjhere Wre notions than five hundred ?
men on board of the taro first mentioned*
vessels, as” besides their crews they ha 1
many soldiers. The Le Gera appeared
\n Kip civile of another vessel. The
D:ani and Cassidor made for irs, cant.
Cunningham at the same time approach
inn: them. 4 s we approached within
pistil shot* one of the Spaniards on each
side of. us, at the ,rneHiv*nl that our*
flap: was foisted, the CassMor without
hailing,, or without any ceTrimchy. fired
spnsc m her C3nnon%)aded jwtfri; grajfe
nhs connistcr into oiteaad a vody of ro a
- Captain {Cunningham ltd medi
ately leaped on a gun uall ad stating
who \%e xvere.Ttnd demanded cause
tilieir filing v The tiring cofftfnued in
hrtiogleawith the mofct vulgar and
J4ngi»gatc abuse. I observed a single
musket aimed from the quarter deck of
the Cassidoi\ evidently intended for
Cumtngham, who was* conspi
cuous by his elevation on the gun and
Tetv inches miss;ia him, and entered the
breast of a marine, affdlodgeqJin lift
i ne< k VVa wc. e ordered to send a boat
I on board ; captain Cunningham said he
would not send but he would receive
boat. We were then ordered by the
D&tfi tO send a boat on board end lower
our mainsail, with a threat, that in case
of refusal they would sink us. Captain
Cunningham ordered A. S.
CampbelJ to proceed Jon board of the
Diana, where his side arms were jpafcen
from him, was-placed Under a
guard of marines, the gigs crew were
put in irons, threatened to be
beat wiih swords,4the marks of which
are yet evident. Shortly aft r a lieutbn
cam* on board of the Firebrand and
while conversing with captain Cunnuig
b*m in his cabin, be was hailed from
tfie Casidcr, and requested to get out of
danger, as they intended to lire into us**
board and show no quarters—-he replied
th*t wc were *n tie reply
fro hi the Caisidor iwas, that we were
scoundrels and liars, and again was
poured upqn us every epijtiiei pt abh>e
that cowardice or vulgarity could sug- 1
gest, and a single musket *.hoi W-x - fired-
At this time capum 1 Cu iningmtm coth
mined ,the only act which in my opinion
was iiot correct ; itvkU the re
sult of his feelings, not his judgment,
soured and irritated by the conduct of
* • -i
cowardly assassins, he exclaimed, open
ing his bosom and springing on a gun,
“ fire at me but not at my . men.** The
Spanish boat s crew, e that brought tho
Spanish lieutenant on board of us wi;en
they hea|4 the last threat, leaped over
board, well knowing their own nation
and convinced that the ocean, presented
more probable chances of eserpe than
out deck. . Ihe Spanishdieutenant was
then hailed from the Dihna, and he or
dered captain 4i> proceed
to the Diana ; before he went ae ordered
thej colours down, 4 which the Spanish
lieutenant would not permit 10 be done
Tiie Spanish lieutenant mentioned
vrhde on board of us» that we had no
right to navigate the Gulph ©1 Mexico,
that the Spanish king claimed its exclu
sive sovreignty, that we could have no
commerce there to protect, that anew
governor general h and arrived at. Vara
Cruz, who hadorderedput all the ves
sels to scour the coast tnat the waole
coastwas in a state of blockade, dhai
then “orders were to respect tire dag ©t
no nation ; mat to (hem there was no
difference between the flag of the insur
gents and pirates (as tney termed the
Mexican
States. Among other moults equally
justifiable, ne accused the brave and
respectable capiaiu porter of the br»g
Boxer oi robbing a J Spanish vessel anu
of being a pirate, ihe Spanish lieuten
ant was then hailed ‘and proceeded ia*
the Dia»a, and soon returned with a p*r
.y of marines, and took possession of me
Firebrand, statrng that we were to go to
Vera Cruz, and if the governor found if
all right, he would pay the expuice of
our detention, a real Spanish sentiment
dollars a saiv./ tor wounded ; honor and* 1
outraged, ieelmgs. Our vessel wa>
scorched, and oeing prisoners, tne‘ *'g?l
nais wore sunk* T The he uien .#
ant w.a again hailed and proceeded to
the Diana, and shortly alter we were
gratified by the return of our command
er, lieutenant Campbell and g.g s
crew. 4-” f : ‘ :
v.apt. Cunningham when he entered
on b jard of the Diana offered his sword
a u. prisoner, w .icn w ..■> leiustd,
he told he inCyi follow the bpanierus j
•to Vera ‘Otiz, wh*t!i be In re* 1
jccte4 ; his reply Was tfia aT they had
so VAstiy a superior force, they tiinrh!
take mm where* they choia, h#t sat*Ml
should repels**nt the whole t rahs ictioa
t» his government. A scene, of Vulgar
ity, confu ion and ftbuse ‘ passed on
hptrd *>f thc* k €)i.inn,’’that would dSgrace
an American cajiA-'>oy * •
It is oVfing.to the firmness
Cunningham that we have been enabieff
to reach our own shores, *nd that I nave
this opertunity to address you. Fhr • I
api firmly convinced that no dinerciu
treatment w«>ufd have been fcica Mired
to a non*cornbatint,Hhfim was infixed
on our sailors, %t\<#s and'! he
..official staleine|»l Amer
ican citizens uWPaur'nattdßl
I prthu ne, before thia been trui&raKST
*to Washington- Apd *it is I&pS&Wie
t;> and mbt that * just and high minded go
vernment vfsll immediately take
c sures P recisev> he: violate*#
to ous officer *p*opp:»i>
tunily ot eaylaftSliom
Banner, the cowardly insult, aAtf rpafun
outrage infiicied upon it.
she American ,nyy ban t slw*d too
much of its precious filood tb u>j
our name a reno\vrisi. and ggfcrv* u
splendor which Wiliibednsung a:F,h
lituvt ; it is toogrea. a favorite with tilt*
American people, not at once to po:ul j
to thef cabinet to ruby rhea suit of wip
ing from its standard, a hUn, with which
, cowards, bcckecLby a vastly superior
force have attempted to stain it. To
me, who saw ah that parsed. there is
not a doubi that the Spain&rd>l by their’
outrage, and vulgar an use, wi.-ned to
provoke us to some act of hostility mat
would afford ihe|B a pretext for ouf m
dibc: .mnute’ Butchery. i hey stood
ready to discharge h orn .wo large vesji
seis 42 heavy guns, against a small
sc! of eight guns i Key tired without
hailing, they continued tpeif
they ascertained who we wtre, tin y Sir
ed once after our lieutenant was on
board of their vessel, they abused* ns by
every vulgar eprtuet, imprisoned
out officer and fettered and
men, they made disgraceful propositions
to us, they dteiibe! acety aimed at our
commander, * searched our vessel and
stigmatised the woi tii; If o. ter as a pi
’ rate , i§|| , : g''\
And, sir, Witfi me after this recit'd,
fyou will be compelled to uijly
in tended to saermee uo to tneir tUs:*rts
and ignoble prison l<|jk aW»siiihti n.
But thank Oou we were saved uy uie
firmness arid prudence ol our cumniau*
der, who calmly sjhtea who and wuat
we were, and indignantly jjfcjecte# y
proposition, not consistent aviui tne
character of an American ©dicer. to ac
cept—owing to him we Have me uppoi’-
>unity of complaining \o iheitAmcfidkh
government of the wanton cu
tered to its est aeasandfhd base attempt
to tarnish the reputation ml i>s dug.—
i o its justice vvt appeal, know ng by
‘ experience that f our government will
be prompt to redress our wrongs and
uphold the honoi oi our flag.
• \ ’ • <xc ’
P. S. It would be Web for our gb erq
meiH to, exaum e the vai di>y y\ i|ie
right assumed by the Spanish king to
th*. exclusive navigation of tpe Mexican
C|Uiph ihe aec aiaiions show wnut ’
they would do if they weie backed by
courage and three.
September 19*
Under Oree and popular ioim of
government like ours, it is* the hicfh
privilege of the citizen to form and yx
gpress’his opinions in all irvdjjm
gcucies. ihe government itseir is
bound to regard | lie public sentiment
..nd m some direct its ope
rations in coniot mi .y tp it.
i here is fßtie deuat that ilk cons#
quence of an unexamplittoutrage upon
the natiton&f flag, and. the of
retaliation adopted by the naval q&m
mander<?on the JSevv-bXrieans station,
our coufitry is on the eve oi war. it
is propcseu therefore, hat a meeting of
the citizens oi tSiew-Urleans on
I'bursduy, at 12 o’clock, at Mas eio’&
Coffee House, in order to express in a
icspectfui address to tn# executive oi
States,-our indignation at
the outrage upon our flag* and our
’ readincsis to support the government in
such measures as it may take in older
to obtain saiisfaction for the same.
Kew-Oiicuris, Septcmbef fG
a numerous and respectable fcieet
ing ot the citizens of MegHJrieans..
heid on 1 hursday> the i9th ot Sepicn
Bfer, 18.. I .#, agreeably to notice in iht
public prints, in consequence oi the
wanton ai a auiceio^attatk
Hie honor of lii#AmeficSo flag by, thve
** v. •••'. -X ‘ ‘ ■ j+u jjsL ‘ -fS
s&jh ucbagin-:? do ; of
Spain. V „
* f«e Hott Joshua Val called
to ihe*<^ui* / awl
* I'Pctcr K appointed secreta
vy:M •.
The objects for which the meeting
was called having been briefly stated*
} fbe following resolution's were moved,
and the sense of the meeting having
been upon them, they
Were?cmfl*ieu unanimously* with the ex
ception of the fast, which, however, was
adopted by a very large majority.
Rasofved, That the cowardly attack,
made by the Spanish squadron upon a
small vessel of war of the U. States, on
the high seas excites our highest indig
nation ; that t!u! crrcuwstanr.es which:
accompanied and followed this attack
* areljcalculafed to inflict a lasting wound
| oa the honor of the nation, if suffered
: to go unrevenged.
Resolved. 1 hat the indignities and
; even strips itiltcted on mtrluave -,-a
men, when, not expecting any hostility*
thy had put themselves in the powetr
ofkh overwhelm!nr; ffree, must corrodd
the mind ol America i, until tho
H the ts i&t shall be erased b/
j amjfe^ejSpiMhn.
, Resolved That the assertion of tho
ckclusivenight to trtvigate any part ofr
th# high sells, sej: up by, the officers of
Spaift, ffa'Vjdd culous al it is insolent
and if not abaftdoned ought to Oc resis
ted with the whole f&rce of the nation.
Resolvei. That should recourse be
had to amis to pi ocure satisfaction for
these injuries and insults, we will cheer*
fully incur theuusks and make the sa
crifices incident to such a sthte of !h*n gt>
and hereby pledge ourselves to our go.
vernment to support the mtpkures they
may think fit to adopt on that sub
ject.
Resolved. Thkt the king„of Spain in
dejftanfl 1 United Stated, through
his minister Dop Omsj a cessicu ofpart,.
of the territory-of thb state.nf Louisiana*
evinced as well a disposition t'> find
prelxts for hostility with the Uncled
States, as an titter disregard fir the so*
lemn obligation of treaties* and that we.
njgyer will consent to the surrender of*
any portion of our fellow citidjens to the
dominioirof corruption* cruelty and «o».
peysti! loti,, r
Resolved, That*a committe lie anpoid-’
ted to transmit these resolutions tojhe*
President of the United States, together*
with a reape address, declaring our
readmes to Vtipport him in such mea
sures as he miy adopt to obtain satis
faction for the Itpc violation of our flag -p,
and Messrs. G ind
appointed said committee-
Resolved, That it ys our qpiniou that
ttie commanding naval officer on this
station ought to proceed to take imrne*
diate satisfaction for the insult offered
to a vessel under his command, apd to
the flag of his country ; anH ttvat if ho.
should have taken steps to inflict
prompt and adequate punishment upon
the authors* we Jiighly approve the same.
; and l#el the greatest confidence that his
doing sowin.meet the approbation of
his goverftmlfil and his countrymen if*
ail parts ot\the union.
JOSH.UA LEWIS, Chairman.
PE'im £. WAGNER, sccjs
•ypi-m
’ < m- -L- *
Thursday, October 24*
~ ..'V* iMPJii'r\<T\ ‘ %
Extraet of a letter, , dated . ofSept m {
1816, gentleman of this State*
now in to his friend in thisr
$ city. Sfev . ‘
“ Accident had just brought to tny'*
knowledge, that a house here has receiv
ed orders from Europe to buy spares ilk
the United States Bank, to an imrneanse*.
amount m consequence you may depend,
on it, that, as soon as our climate can
be safely visfied by strangers, you will
have hordes of northern speculators in
Charleston m %\MamScript- So advis&
your friends by no means to part with n
ny of their’s under 40 clols- and at that
rate it is much cheaper than any other
bank stock in the'iJnited States. Spe**
cie can be readily got here at 2 percent
Advance, and I have no doubt from this
very large quantities constantly arriving
[ m different flirts of the lUailed States,
Hand expected that it will shortly be at.
1 par.—ch. c-uais a.
.It? 1 * *• • v *■ id t »4’