Alexandria Daily Advertiser

CHARLESTON, March 9.

The letter bag of the ship Adeline, captain Trott, fifty one days from London, was brought up last evening by one of the pilot boats. Our regular files by this arrival are only to the seventh of January, on which day the ship left London. Captain Trott however, sent up a single paper of the sixteenth of January, (which he probably obtained in the Downs) with which we have been favored. We regret that we have not been able to procure the intermediate dates as this paper throws but little light on the situation of European affairs: we have extracted the most interesting part of its contents:

London, Jan. 16.

Mr. Sansom, the chairman of the committee of American merchants, yesterday waited on the chancellor of the exchequer, to know whether licenses would be granted for the protection of cargoes destined for America. The chancellor of the exchequer said, he saw no occasion for such licenses, as we were not at war with America; but he did not think there could be any objection to grant them to satisfy those who might think it necessary to apply for them.

The situation of America with respect to France does not seem less precarious than with respect to England. The French privateers, in conformity to the late decree, capture every American they meet, bound to England.

The ship Live Oak, an American ship from Virginia for London, has been taken, retaken, and brought into the Downs.

The Hyades, an American ship from Charleston and Cowes to London, was captured on the twenty first ultimo, by a French privateer and carried into Calais; the captain and crew taken out of the ship and put under guard.

The Joseph and Edward, from Guernsey to Dover, was taken on the fifth instant and carried into Calais.

Several other vessels have lately been carried into Calais; among them were three American vessels, exclusive of the Hyades.

The transport board continues to engage large coppered ships for long voyages. Many of these vessels are to proceed to India, for the purpose of bringing home hemp—the directors of the East-India company having engaged to furnish government with twenty thousand tons hemp annually, for the next 3 years, the whole of which is to be brought home in ships especially fitted and prepared for the purpose, so as to prevent the article from imbibing an improper heat on its voyage to England.

It was yesterday reported that the bank of England had offered to lend government ten millions, for one year, without interest; and that government had declined the offer as not being adequate to their expectations.

The public will not be a little surprised, to hear that gen. Mack is now in London, and has frequent conferences with lord Castlereagh and the duke of York! We can assure our readers, however, from unquestionable authority, that he has been in town for the last ten days.

Many persons seem inclined to build sanguine hopes of peace, on the concluding part of the Moniteur's comments on his majesty's declaration. The permitting our maritime code to remain at present undiscussed, and to lie over for regulation according to the respective strength & policy of future belligerents, is certainly a difficulty mastered; and being 'a concession which the former language of Bonaparte gave us no reason to expect, at first sight appears to intimate, that his dispositions are gradually becoming more pacific. We are, however, very far from thinking, that the official paper (for such we may consider it in the Moniteur) warrants a favorable anticipation of the result of those communications which are now going on between the governments.

It certainly proves the truth of our original statement, that communications bearing towards peace, have taken place. The new light in which the independence of the seas is affected to be considered, shews that Bonaparte wishes to agitate the subject of negotiation. Nay, we do not doubt that his desire for peace may be sincere; at least, it would be strange if it is not, for certainly the relative situations of the two countries do not intimate that France has most reason to dread a period of rest, which shall afford an opportunity of prosecuting the advantages gained in war to the purposes of internal prosperity.