Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

The Aurora contains the following article respecting Count de Crillon

"A curious transaction is reported to have taken place at Washington last week. We shall relate it as we heard it, giving it for only as much as it is worth; and without vouching for it further than as it has reached us as a rumour.

There arrived from England at Boston, in the same vessel with the British agent Henry, a French gentleman, who described himself a noble emigrant, and a brother of the Duke de Crillon. Whether they kept constant company since, or not, does not appear, but this Count de Crillon was and now is at Washington.

He has a retinue, and appears in a style of expense--he took lodgings at the same hotel at which the Vice President Clinton resides, and partook of a common table.

At this house, it is said, Mr. Willink, of the celebrated Amsterdam house, also boarded: and the following incidents we have heard related:

Some few evenings since, the Count drew from his pocket an elegant miniature picture of a gentleman, and heaving a sigh, expressed himself so as to convey the idea that the picture was that of his brother the late Duke de Crillon. Mr. Willink, who chanced to see the miniature, remarked, if that be the picture of your brother, it is not the picture of the Duke of Crillon, for that is the Marquis

The Count, a little disconcerted, said he meant that the picture was that of his brother in-law: some other incidents of the like embarrassing tendency took place, but the result was, the Count set a challenge to Mr. Willink which Mr. Willink very properly declined to notice, until the Count should show that he was not an imposter.

Meanwhile the Vice President, who had witnessed the affair of the picture, signified to the keeper of the house, that the Count could not be admitted to the same table with him and his company in future; and the Count was under the necessity of changing his quarters.

The Count, however, attended the President's levee, where he attempted to insult Mr. Willink; but was treated as an imposter by him then also.

It appears, however, that the matter being generally talked of, an enquiry was made of the French ambassador Serrurier--who, on being asked if he knew that man to be the Count de Crillon, barely observed, that he only knew that he was a Frenchman, but could not guarantee him as Count de Crillon.

It is supposed that this is the foreigner who has been before the committee of the house of representatives, which has the papers of the British agent, Henry, before them.

What he is--duke or no duke--we may know soon."