Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Extract from a letter, written by an officer on board the frigate U. States to a gentleman in Philadelphia.

Frigate United States,

Gibraltar, Dec. 15, 1815.

Our arrival last evening has given me an opportunity of writing. Mr. Waln, who came passenger with us from Port Mahon and going from hence to Cadiz, has obligingly offered to convey this to America.

We were bound into Carthagena, and having experienced very boisterous weather, and head winds, were obliged to put into this port, but shall not remain any length of time, merely for the purpose of sending despatches from this to government. The purport of our business at Carthagena, was to ascertain seriously, the retention of the Algerine brig, captured by one of commodore Decatur's squadron, which commodore Shaw intends to investigate thoroughly, as the retention on the part of the Spaniards, appears to be a mere frivolous one, either as to the rights of war, or of nations; it seems that Spain has some complaint towards Algiers, but certainly, that should not induce them to retain this vessel, as it may result in my opinion towards something very serious—I should like much that our government would declare war against Spain, as that nation does not appear to be in a friendly state with us at present. In the first instance, their objections at Algiers; on the arrival of our store ships, the commodore, having thought it expedient to make a depot there, of our naval supplies for the squadron, wrote very handsomely to the governor at that port for permission, but received a denial, when they had store houses & arsenal perfectly vacant, and had been previously for a length of time, and could have no use for them whatever, as their navy is completely laid up. However, I hope our government will open their eyes to this conduct.

At Port Mahon there lies three Spanish three deckers, one hundred and twenty gun ships, and for the purpose of having our vessels hove out & repaired, knowing that one of these ships was refitting for Carthagena, and there being a very fine dock yard, com. Shaw stated to the admiral, that as he was bound to Carthagena, he would take this vessel under his convoy. This offer was willingly accepted by admiral Montes, as his ship was poorly manned and that only from the sweeping of the streets, and in return obligingly offered us the use of the dock yard, in case any of our vessels should want repairs, etc. The dock yard, store houses, etc. are famous.

Port Mahon is in the island of Minorca, a fine commodious harbor and rendezvous for the English navy. The inhabitants have an extraordinary dislike towards the Spaniards: their language is a mixture of the Maltese and Spanish. This harbor, the commodore has made his general rendezvous on account of the different accommodations it possesses—we have a naval hospital, which is under the direction of Doctor M'Reynolds, where we have deposited the sick from the different vessels, constituting the squadron: we have also made a deposit here of our naval supplies, which are under the direction of Lieutenant Watson.