Phenix Gazette

The editor of the Baltimore Patriot has been favored with the following interesting extract from an officer to a gentleman in Baltimore.

U. S. Frigate Brandywine
Cowes, (Eng.) Oct. 7, 1825.

I embrace this opportunity of informing you of our arrival, after experiencing several heavy gales which proved our new ship Brandywine to be a superior sea boat to any I have ever before sailed in; and in addition to that, she is one of the fastest vessels in our service. We have only one fault to find: that is, she ships many seas, which makes her wet and uncomfortable. But I believe that it is, in a great measure, owing to her having too much ballast on board. We find the provisions which are expended every day lighten her very much, consequently we are more comfortable every day. We spoke a brig within a day's sail of Havre, sent a boat with letters for the officers' friends, but was unable to board her in consequence of the sea running so high; spoke her, however, and ascertained she was from Havre, bound to Boston—reported the General's family well, anxiously awaiting his arrival, which took place the next day.— We sent a boat on shore to inform the American Consul of our arrival, and for him to send a steam-boat to land the General. A boat was sent off from shore to let us know the steam-boat would be along by 9 o'clock with all the General's family. We immediately commenced getting ship in order for their reception;-they came off at the time appointed, and were hoisted in a chair suspended from the main yard arm of the ship The General stood in the gang-way with both arms open ready to receive them, and his son in the cabin to receive them there such joyful embracing I never saw. A salute was fired of twenty-seven guns They all left the ship in two hours.- Midshipman Porter had the honor of setting the ladies on board the steam boat, and I. the General and Commodore Morris. who is to accompany him to Paris. After they had all left the ship another salute was fired of seventeen guns, and the men cheered the General; we then made all sail for Gibraltar. -The end of the first twenty-four hours came on to blow a very heavy gale; and being near to a lee shore, we were obliged to get a pilot and put into Cowes, which is one of the handsomest places I ever saw. The town is small and the houses elegant. I have not been on shore yet, but intend going to-morrow. We have had a great many English ladies on board, some of the nobility, but I do not think them to be compared, in point of beauty, to the American ladies.

A letter from an officer on board the U. S. frigate Brandywine, written at Cowes on the 8th ult. says:

" A fortunate gale drove us into this port yesterday-we were on our way from Havre to Gibraltar. We arrived at Havre on the 4th, landed General La Fayette and suite the next day, and immediately after sailed for Gibraltar- We had scarcely cleared Cape La Hague before we took a violent gale from the westward, and were so fortunate as to arrive here in safety. We will probably remain long enough to refit our ship, when we shall again attempt to reach Gibraltar. We have had a constant gale ever since we left the Capes of Virginia; and, since I have been to sea, I have never known so unpleasant a passage. The General came on deck only four times. He was confined to his bed almost all the time by sea sickness, combined with an attack of the gout in his right knee."