Alexandria Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from an American gentleman at the Havanna to his friend in this city, dated 19th January, 1804.

An express boat from Jamaica is just arrived with the following information:

"The Spanish King's packet for October, called the Union, having left at Porto Rico the mail for that place, sailed from thence on the 26 of December for this port. Forced by the winds to the south of the island, she was met on the 30th by an English frigate of 42 guns, whose commander ordered the Spaniard to send his boat with his papers, to the frigate. The Spanish commander answered, that it was against his instructions to comply with such an order; he English commander told him then, that he would compel him with his guns; the Spaniard, Don Manuel de Trevilles, answered that he was ready to accept the challenge, though only armed with 18 six pounders, and manned as packets generally are with 30 men. The English immediately poured their heavy metal on the Spanish ship, and a battle followed which lasted, though wonderful it may appear, five hours and a half; when the Spanish ship having not one man left to do duty, ceased firing. The frigate then sent her boat on board the Spaniard, where the English stripped every man they found, dead or alive, and abandoned the ship in that situation to the mercy of the waves.

The brave Trevilles, his lieutenant, and 7 men, lost their lives; whilst the remainder of his crew all more or less wounded, except the surgeon, who is the man that sent the express with the news. The frigate lost a mast, with 6 men killed and 7 wounded. The packet is almost a wreck, with her flag and pendant still hoisted: knowing that Spain was not at war with England, she put into Kingston, it being the nearest port, to repair; they there found a Spanish brig of war, by which they forwarded the mail to Trinidad in Cuba.

This extraordinary affair has made a great deal of noise here; the name of the valorous Trevilles resounds through every place. It cannot be denied that the action is as glorious for the Spaniards as shameful to the English."