Alexandria Daily Advertiser

BOSTON, July 14.

Extract of a letter from Halifax July 4.

"By a vessel which has just arrived we have a very unpleasant piece of intelligence indeed: Three men having some time since deserted from the Melampus, application is said to have been made through Mr. Erskine, to Mr. Smith (secretary of the American navy) stating that information had been received that these men had entered on board the Chesapeake, and demanded that they should be given up. Either no answer or an evasive one seems to have been given, for the Chesapeake proceeded to sea with the men on board, and was brought to by the Leopard, the demand repeated, and three quarters of an hour given, as is stated, for considering the application. The demand not being complied with, force was used in obtaining the men: It is with extreme regret we also learn, that three men were killed and twenty wounded on board the Chesapeake. This will undoubtedly be considered an important subject of dispute; and it is much to be lamented: that a point so deeply interesting should not have been determined long ago; or at least before the American frigate proceeded to sea; that the lives and limbs of the unfortunate men might have been spared. Thus much I believe, that whatever may be the consequence, Great Britain will not easily be brought to acknowledge that the flag of a neutral shall protect deserters from her navy or army in time of war -as an acknowledgment of that sort, would, in a short time, completely annihilate her whole system of defence, I feel extremely hurt at any thing which seems to threaten the harmony and happiness of either country."

A letter of recent date from Halifax, observes, It is said to be a standing regulation from the navy board, that in case of deserters from any neutral man of war being on board any of his majesty's ships they shall be given up, on being demanded. Captain Humphreys, of the Leopard, has here the reputation of a man of moderation.

We may have some erroneous reports respecting the alarming affair in the Chesapeake; but we believe they exceed us at Halifax. One story there was that the American frigate fired first another, that the gunner of the Melampus, a deserter, was among the persons killed on board the Chesapeake.

The intelligence of the attack on the Chesapeake was sent express to Halifax in his majesty's brig Columbine, and from thence to England, in the Silvia.