The New Hampshire Gazette

MIRANDA.

The reports concerning Miranda have been so various and contradictory, that truth is scarcely perceptible in the midst of these confused accounts. From a source which we conceive authentic, we shall attempt to state such facts for the public information as may be considered correct.

It is well known that Miranda proceeded from Jacquemel to the little island of Aruba, situated a small distance to leeward of Curacoa. He left in about the 15th of April with the Leander and his two schooners (the Bee and Bacchus) and was attempting a landing near the province of Coro, where his little squadron fell in with two Spanish privateers, one of fourteen, the other of twelve guns, fitted out at La Guira, by the government of Carracas. The Leander after endeavouring to engage the stoutest, suddenly withdrew from the combat, crowded sail and escaped. The schooners left to their own fate, and after a trifling resistance, struck their colours to the smallest of the privateers. Two young Spaniards who were on board of one of the schooners anticipating their inevitable fate, threw themselves overboard and were drowned. The remainder of the crew were carried into Porto Cavello, where they were committed to jail. Some of the leading men, young Smith among them, were immediately ordered up to Carracas.

The schooners were entirely laden with ammunition of all kinds, and a considerable number of proclamations in the Spanish language, from Miranda's pen, conceived in terms, well calculated for the object of inflaming the minds of the Spanish colonists.

The fate of these unfortunate adventurers cannot be doubted. The Spanish government, viewing them in no other light than pirates most of them will be led to the block or the gallows.

Viewing this expedition as having thus terminated in the defeat and ruin of its authors, it were much to be wished that no suspicions had been excited against our government, on the ground of their encouraging or winking at it. To avert the serious consequences which are impending, it is to be hoped, in the approaching judicial investigation of this subject, a just, clear and explicit refutation will be given to the imputations which have been publicly made; otherwise it is to be feared, that our national character will receive a stain which no time can erase.

Phil. Gaz.