Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Extract of a letter to the Keeper of the E. C. H Books. Boston, dated Scituate. Saturday, June 11th, 11 o'clock:

"This morning about sunrise, we were visited by the enemy, and every vessel in the harbor soon in flames—5 were burnt to the water's edge, 2 extinguished, and carried out, one of them laden with hay and produce. Captain Dunbar was standing on the wharf with his son, and the commanding officer first asked for a pilot, and then told the old man to step on board and pilot out the schooner, and if he attempted to run her on shore he would blow his brains out, the officer then told him he should set fire to the vessels, and if they made any resistance he would lay the town in ashes.

"He then inquired for the man who fired at them at the time they took the rice out of a vessel near the harbor. (Bates, the keeper of the Light House, at the time they were unloading the prize, jumped out of his bed, went to a 4 or 6 pounder which he had loaded, & fired 2 shots into the masts of the prize) which is supposed to be the cause of this day's frolic."

The Scituate packet lying above, with her sails unbent and in the hold, had them soon bent by the enemy, and went out with the other schrs.

There were 5 barges (from 2 frigates at anchor abreast of the harbor) filled with men, 3 of them had each a brass carronade, and 2 of them a long brass 4 pounder. The officers were civil to the inhabitants, but told them if they extinguished the fire of the vessels, they would be there again & see them burnt.

We understand a gentleman arrived in town, from Scituate, which place he left at 4 P M. and reports, that the inhabitants of that place entertained fears of another attack from the enemy, on their shipping laid up in that River—that the alarm had spread, and that several companies of Artillery, &c. had and were assembling for their defence.