Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

From the Missouri Gazette, July 28.

NEWS FROM MEXICO.

Joseph Philibert, an industrious inhabitant of St. Louis, arrived here on Sunday last from the Spanish villages, nearly Santa Fee. He left this place on the 3d April, 1814, with a barge and eighteen men, to trade with the Arapahoe nation of Indians, who reside on the heads of the Arkansas, Platte, and Otter rivers, and had fixed his hunting camp about 4 leagues north of the place where captain Pike was taken by the Spaniards. He had despatched on the 15th September, two of his men in search of beaver dams, who the day after fell in with 40 Spaniards, catching wild horses; they were taken prisoners to the next village, and from thence to Santa Fee, and after examination by the commandant of that place, 250 men were sent to Philibert's camp, where he and his men were made prisoners of war, and conducted to his trading camp on the Arkansas, where the Spaniards made him show where his merchandize and beaver was deposited, which they took possession of, and conveyed it, as well as himself, and all his men, to Santa Fee. On his arrival, he was well treated, and had the liberty of the town. After 50 days detention, he was remanded to the frontier village, on the road to their former hunting camp.--During this period, the governor wrote to the commanding general at Durango, for instructions: and he was finally ordered to pay the expense of his capture and subsistence during his captivity, and the half to relinquish his merchandize to meet the demand; after which he was liberated. Upon the whole, it was a ruinous business.

On his leaving Santa Fee, he was informed that he must be conveyed to the American territory; but owing to the inclemency of the weather he was suffered to remain at the little village of Taos, on the Rio del Norte, until the spring, (last February.) from whence he made the best of his way to this place with his broken fortune.

While he remained at Santa Fee, he heard from a certain Mr. Villanueva, that there were eight Americans and six American Frenchmen, that were liberated from prison at Chihuahua, and had the liberty of the town. Philibert asked Villanueva the names of those people and was informed that one of them who spoke French was of the name of Chambers. At the period when king Ferdinand mounted the throne, they had liberty to go where they pleased, and had set out to the United States, by way of St. Antonio that these 8 Americans & six American Frenchmen were, Messrs. Knight and Beard's party, and Mr. Manuel Lisa's men, captured some time ago. Mr. Lisa's men, Lafargue, Vesina, Greine and Roi, entered Santa Fee as prisoners two days after Messrs M'Knight, Beard, Baum, M'Donough, &c. It appears they are all well, and may be expected soon. The royalists were in much consternation in consequence of the recent successes of the independent party. The seat of government was removed from Chihuahua to Durango, in consequence of the treason of the Vice Roy: and when Mr. P. was about to depart, the royal Spanish commandant informed him that the rebels were within two days march of Durango; that they were very numerous, and charged with sword and bayonet. That they were brave, only firing one round when they the French general Humbert and Dr. Robieson were in command in the army of the independents.