Richmond Enquirer

LOSS OF THE BRIG COMMERCE.

Copy of a letter from H. Sprague, Esq. to the owners of the brig Commerce, lost on Cape Bajador,—Aug. 28th, dated

Gibraltar, Nov. 14, 1815.

Gentlemen—I had the pleasure to write you on the 3d ult. I now avail myself of an opportunity via Cadiz, of enclosing you a copy of a letter from Wm. Welshure, Esq. of Mogadore, to me, by which you will be made acquainted with the fate of your brig Commerce, and the distressed situation of Captain Riley and his crew; believe me, on receipt of this letter, I lost not a moment in sending off an express with the necessary provisions to secure his liberty, and hope in the course of 15 days to have the pleasure of taking Capt. Riley by the hand under my own roof.

Yours, &c.

HORATIO SPRAGUE.

Copy of a letter from William Welshure, Esq. dated

Mogadore, Oct. 26, 1815.

H. Sprague, Esq. Gibraltar,

SIR—I beg the liberty of informing you of the loss of the brig Commerce. James Riley, master, on the 28th of August last, off Cape Bajador, on her passage to the Cape de Verd Islands: I received two notes yesterday from Capt. Riley, informing me of the dreadful sufferings he and some of the crew have experienced in their journey across the desert of Zahara, imploring me to redeem them from their horrid slavery without loss of time, or their lives would pay the forfeiture.

The Moor who bought them, has been induced to bring them within five or six days' journey from this place, in consequence of Capt. Riley's having promised to pay for their ransom 900 hard dollars and two double barrelled muskets. As Mr. Riley has referred me to you, as a gentleman on whom he can draw a bill for the whole of the expenses attending their release; I have now to request you will inform me without the least delay, whether his drafts on you will meet with due honor to the amount of 1200 hard dollars, which, as Mr. Riley and his companions are without a vestige of clothing, the charge of bringing them here and clothing them will amount to that sum.

As I have partly promised the Moor to be bound for the amount of 900 dollars and two muskets, it will depend on your answer whether I can fulfil the same. But from the respectable reference Capt. Riley has offered in other parts, I scarcely feel doubt of your compliance. Should you greatly tend to the speedy release of unfortunate men, were you, on the receipt of this, to forward the two double barrelled muskets to James Finlay, Esq. U. S. consul to be sent out to me. To alleviate their sufferings in my power, I have sent my black Spanish, with clothes and provisions to them every care their misfortunes to your humanity and fellow feeling, I have cherished in their hearts not be blight their death would be the immediate consequence, or else they will be marched for ransom or a Christian settlement.

The remainder of the crew, five in number, are now about 20 days' journey from here. I cannot effect their redemption, but at a very considerable expense.

WM. WELLSHURE, U. S.

Agent at this place.

P. S.—The names of the persons with Capt. Riley are, Archy Savage, Horace Savage, Jas. Clark & Wm. Bagge.

The above brig was owned by Messrs. Bryan and Barry, of Hartford, Connecticut, and sailed from Gibraltar for the United States, via Cape de Verde on the 28th August last. The following is a list of the crew:

James Riley, of Middletown, Master
Geo. Williams, of Westfield, 1st Mate.
Aaron Savage, of Middletown, 2d do.
Archibald Robbins, of Westfield, Seaman
William Porter, of Windsor, Horace Savage, of Hartford,
Thos. Burns. Jas. Clark, Francis Bliss, and a black man, a seaman.