Gazette Of The United States

SALEM, June 17.

Extract of a letter received from a gentleman belonging to this town, and directed to his owner here, dated Isle of France, March 25, 1796.

"The Modesty Privateer arrived here 5 days ago from a most successful cruize off the Sand Head in the Bay of Bengal—and has brought in all her prizes; the most valuable of which is the Triton English East-Indiaman from Madras for Bengal. The circumstances of this capture are perhaps the most extraordinary that ever occurred, and are as follow:

The Modesty had at first but 80 men, and had distributed the greater number on board her other prizes—when the Indiaman hove in sight, a Bengal pilot boat (which was a prize to the Modesty, and which they used as a decoy) then bore down upon the Triton, having on board only 23 men in all, and boarded from their yard arms this formidable ship—17 republicans only got on board, and with sword and pistol in hand completely mastered her in about 15 minutes. The Indiaman had 130 Europeans on board, was well armed and had taken 30 men extra from Madras. The English captain, and 8 or 10 men were killed in the action -the rest run below, and were secured. They then captured another vessel, which the prisoners ransomed, and sent for Madras. The generous French captain (who is a young hero not 21 years old) gave the passengers, among whom were several ladies, all their private property. He fought the English captain hand to hand, and shot him with his own pistol.— It seems the Modesty was not in company at all— and indeed it would have been a sad digression from her name to have engaged in such an unequal combat—17 men overpowered 130, protected by 40 guns, at least, mounted!—the remaining 6 could not get on board. The english prisoners were made to pass one by one, in irons from their own ship into the ransomed vessel—and the invincible tars of old England, exclaimed as they passed, "D—n my eyes, Jack, where are the men that took us?"

The French privateer had only a letter of marque's commission, and went originally to take turtle—she is an American built vessel, and belonged last war to, and sailed from Baltimore—schooner rigged, and was called the Antelope. In consequence of this success, the Governor here has granted permission for 4 privateers to sail for India, and they are now equipping.

American produce is very dull here and in no demand. Some articles are fifty per cent. lower than in America. Coffee is rising daily—the price is now 15 1/2 dollars per sack of 100 French lb. and scarce any to be had at that rate. The Governor is respected, and the island is in a state of defence —but they fear a visit from the English fleet. However, it would be difficult to take the island, and indeed almost impossible—but the port could be easily blockaded, as the French have only a few frigates in these seas.

"There are six or eight Americans here, all making bad voyages, and we hear of a dozen more expected every moment, who must sink half their capitals : a ship, capt. Boit, alias Boyd, belonging to Boston, who came from the north-west coast of America, by the route of China, and has made a successful voyage, says the Streights of Sunda are full of American ships, but he gives no particular names."