The Enquirer

CHARLESTON, May 30.

The Fishing-smack Sloop Defiance, captain Coming, from St. Augustine, having on board property belonging to some merchants here, has been taken by the Driver sloop of war, and sent to New Providence. When capt. Love was requested by the passengers to state his reasons for capturing her, he returned for answer that as she was bound for Charleston, where he had suffered a gross insult, he chose to take satisfaction in his own way.

BRITISH INSOLENCE.

Love, who commanded the Driver Sloop of war, not long since in the harbour of Charleston, (has, it seems, captured a little fishing Smack, in order (as he says) to obtain satisfaction in his own way, for the enmity shewn towards him by the people of Charleston, whilst he lay in their harbour--Hampton Roads!"--Thus it is we are served by the myrmidons of George the IIIrd. From the commander of a 74, down to the puppy who guides the rudder of a cock-boat; we are kicked, insulted, and despised. In the East-Indies, an American seaman is murdered by a British captain; a mock trial is afterwards exhibited, the naval hero sentenced to 18 months confinement, and on his release, promoted to the command of an 18 gun-ship! Nay, even in our own waters. in the jurisdictional limits of the "good old United States," the same tragedy-comedy has been acted--a cannon ball (fired no doubt to amuse the British tars) has taken the life of an American citizen, while in the prosecution of his lawful vocations, and the murderer has undergone the Solemnity of a trial in his own country!--the result is known, and was long since anticipated--preferment too, no doubt awaits him. But the affair will not end here-- Whitby was arrested by desire of the American government, and like his brother chief, he must obtain satisfaction in his own way, for their presumption in causing him the trouble of an examination before a British Court Martial!--Let us prattle no more about our liberty and independence, when the one is daily wrested from us by every petty slave of European despotism, and the other almost at the mercies and "wooden walls of Old England."

Pet. Int.