Jenks' Portland Gazette

From Cape-Francois:

The following account is given by the French gentlemen, passengers in the brig Polly, arrived at Charleston, from Jeremie: —The Cape, on the 6th November, was on the point of being evacuated. The general in chief Rochambeau, behaved towards the inhabitants with the greatest cruelty;—he ordered the sum of 200,000 dollars to be raised by them in the course of four hours—this happening very suddenly, some of the unfortunate merchants could not pay their share, which amounted to 2000 dollars each;—they were in consequence imprisoned; and one of them a well known merchant of high respectability, by the name of Fedon, was shot standing by his grave, while his brother was endeavouring to collect the money, which was, however, procured five minutes after the hour appointed, but unfortunately too late: The monster Rochambeau confiscated and took possession of the house of the Fedons—and left the survivor to lament the loss of a murdered brother; and all his property;

Preparations were made for burning 3 frigates which remained in the harbour of the Cape;—orders being given to have the matches ready at a minute's warning.

No one can properly describe the situation of the unfortunate inhabitants who remained at the cape—no more vessels to take them away, and it being a distance of 60 leagues through the brigand camp to the Spanish part, a flight seemed almost impossible, and it appeared as if a horrid fate inevitably awaited them.