Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

HORRID TRANSACTION.

The following is a literal copy of an anonymous enclosure to a respectable West-India house in New-York, received by the arrival from Porto Rico, dated

Nayagues, Porto Rico, 1st Feb.

American brig Agenora, F. E. Bennett, master, of Kennebunk, bound from St. Domingo to St. Thomas, laden with mahogany, was in the month of January last cast away near Cabroxo, in the island of Porto Rico; the cargo, however by the exertions of the captain was nearly all saved and conveyed to Cabroxo, at which place captain Bennett, after he had settled his affairs, embarked on board a sloop which he had hired, belonging to that place, manned with three Spaniards, on or about the 13th January, for the city of St. Domingo; but the second day after the sailing of the sloop she returned to port, when the sailors reported that captain Bennett had fallen overboard in a gale of wind, and was lost. Since then, about three days ago, it has been proved on evidence of one of the sailors, that the said captain Bennett, while on board, had been most inhumanly murdered by the captain and crew, who cut his throat, after which he was thrown into the sea.

This inhuman transaction, which loudly demands the condign punishment of the culprits, who have been taken into custody, took place in consequence of their supposing that captain Bennett carried money with him, when in fact it was known to those Americans with whom he had been at Moyagues, a short time before his departure, (for the purpose of shipping a small balance in his hands to those persons who owned his vessel, via Baltimore) that he had not more money with him than was sufficient to defray the expenses of his intended voyage, and was then going to St. Domingo for the express purpose of receiving the proceeds of a cargo which he had sold there previous to his taking on board his brig the cargo of mahogany for St. Thomas.

Baltimore, February 17.