Jenks's Portland Gazette

Capture of Surinam

BALTIMORE, Sept. 19.

By the arrival of the schooner Moncrief, captain E. Pearce, in 22 days from Surinam, we are politely favored by captain Pearce with the following intelligence. On the 12th of August an English fleet, under the command of lord Seymour, vice admiral of the blue, consisting of five line of battle ships, of 98 guns (the admiral's) and one of 74. with six frigates, and as many transports, (the land forces under the command of lieutenant general Trigge,) made their appearance off the mouth of Surinam river, and sent a flag of truce to the governor, demanding possession of Surinam and its dependencies in 24 hours, on the following terms, as near as capt. Pearce recollects:

The colony and all its dependencies, forts, on the river, &c. to be delivered to the English.

The Dutch and Spanish soldiers to march out from the forts with the honors of war.

That no alteration would be made in the government, and that all Dutch property should remain in the situation it was then in.

That no American property should be molested afloat or on shore, and the Americans should be privileged to trade there, but only allowed to take in return produce to the amount of one third of their cargo, except molasses.

The governor demanded 48 hours to consider of it; (and laid an embargo on all vessels in port, at which time several were ready for sea) the term of 48 hours was allowed, and at the expiration of which time the governor sent a flag of truce down to the admiral, which concluded the capitulation.

On the 21st, the admiral landed at Paramaribo, and took possession of the fort there, being the last one. On the 22d, captain Pearce went on board the frigate Amphitrite, in which the admiral came up, in order to get permission to proceed to sea. The admiral informed him he should not be detained but a day or so, as he was informed some French vessels that were in port, had, within a few days, hoisted American colors, he would send an officer on board all the vessels in port first, to examine their papers, and those that were clear should be allowed immediately to proceed to sea.—The admiral behaved with the greatest politeness, as well as all the officers. On the 24th captain Pearce called on the admiral, who gave him his passport; and on the same day gave several other Americans their passports who were detained as well as captain Pearce, from the time the English first made their appearance off the river.

Commodore M'NEIL.

Capt. Pearce also informs, that the United States ship of war Portsmouth, commodore M'Neil, and the brigantine Scammel, capt. , were then in port. The Portsmouth had been stationed off the river Surinam for several weeks, in order to keep in port a French Ship of 20 guns, called the Huar, capt. Pelissier—

about the time the English appeared off the river, capt. Pelissier of the Huar, gave the ship up to Commodore M'Neil, who put on board his first lieutenant, and upwards of 100 men, and took the Frenchmen out as prisoners, and put them on board the Portsmouth and Scammel. When the English came in port, commodore M'Neil, (dressed in his uniform) went in his boat to go along side the Huar, in order to give his lieutenant some orders, when a captain of one of the frigates ordered him twice at his peril not to go along side of the French ship, of which commodore M'Neil took no notice. The third time the captain of the British frigate ordered one of his men to fire a musket at commodore M'Neil, which M'Neil took no further notice of, further than turning his head round, told the British captain to fire again, which he did twice. but neither ball did any injury. Commodore M'Neil proceeded to the ship Huar, gave his lieutenant some orders, and immediately went on shore at New Fort. to see the admiral. While Com. M'Neil was on shore, the same British captain was coming to the Huar, when the lieutenant ordered him on his peril three times not to come any nearer than he was. The British capt. took no notice of the order. The lieutenant ordered one of his men to fire on the British captain, which he did. The boat immediately put back.

By what captain Pearce could learn, the admiral was much displeased at his captain's proceedings. Some agreement was entered into by lord Seymour, the admiral, and commodore M'Neil on account of which commodore M'Neil gave the ship Huar up, with all the prisoners.