Gazette Of The United States

BY THIS DAY'S MAILS

NEW-YORK, November 12.

Extract of a Letter from Jamaica, to a Merchant in this City, dated, Sept. 14, 1795.

"We have in this Country about 5000 free negroes able to bear arms, the remains of the Spanish and other negroes who in old rebellions, obtained their freedom by a treaty with lands and many privileges; they are dispersed about the Island, in five or six different settlements at a great distance from each other, and of late years have been very useful in going in parties after the runaway negroes.

Those who were settled in Trelawney town, have for some time past, been extremely insolent to the neighbouring white people; and in consequence of a variety of ill conduct, were ordered up to Spanish Town, by the Governor, according to an article in the treaty with them; on their refusal, martial law was declared; and Lord Balcarres, at the head of three or four dragoons and about 2000 militia and regulars, took the field against them. Their settlement being 20 miles in the inland part of the country, from (Montego Bay) where the troops were collected, and in position the strongest that the country affords. It was found a difficult matter to enter their town—in consequence Colonel Sandford, with a party of the 20th, which he commanded, and some militia troops, in all about 100, were ordered by the general to gain a post near their rear and in their provision ground, where his lordship tho't they might be enclosed, and compelled to surrender—Sandford in the act of completing his orders, tho't he saw a good opportunity at striking at, a party of them drawn up in his front, with a narrow defile before them, he was imprudent enough to push into the defile contrary to orders, and had but got half through, when he received a strong fire from a party in ambuscade, which brought him down and about 30 of the party; the Maroons immediately fled into the woods, nor have we been able, to bring them to action since, a strong force is now employed to go into them and from some overtures they have made, it is supposed the whole will surrender on having their lives preserved. It is the intention to ship them off the country, their number is about 515. One great consolation has attended this business, that not one of the slaves have joined them but have universally been active against them, nor have any of the other maroons given them the least assistance, but are now, to the amount of near 800, serving against them.

On the whole, if we terminate the business soon either way, by, their surrender of extirpation, it will show to all the world, that however convulsed, the public opinion has been in other countries, we have preserved a tranquillity, to which every other part of the West has been strangers. Indeed the good treatment that more universally prevails respecting slaves, leaves them nothing to hope or wish in all points, except their freedom. Nearly 500 dollars currency is offered for each maroon, in rebellion, dead or alive. You may judge how long they will resist that temptation, which to slaves is also freedom. I have been thus particular, in my detail, from a knowledge, how much the public opinion, in every country, is influenced by alarms and improper or untrue accounts. I am sorry to see a want of unanimity prevail in your continent, on the subject of your British treaty, it made us all happy here to see a direct trade established between United States in schooner vessels, so long resisted by the British cabinet, and so long prayed for by us. I marvel our President should be unwise enough - Sent. it will be long, very long ere he has another offer of the same kind ; to me it appears beyond a doubt, that Pitt has been compelled by the events of the day, to depart from his long prized opinions, that no treaty ought to be entered into with the colonies of America, that could allow a cockboat to navigate under their flag to the British Islands in the West Indies; and if the pressure of the times should allow him to return to his original opinions, I fear both you and we will have reason to lament the loss that the political influenza has obtained for us. It will be long before France can recover from the dreadful condition she is reduced to, and if we can get her off our hands, it may occur as a political speculation in the balance of power, whether it can be the interest of Britain or Spain that America should so suddenly lift up her head as a maritime power, aiming at a share of the dominions of both. Let your political men calculate and let them examine what has given them the high tide of prosperity that now flows so rapidly into their harbours! Is it not the present unexampled state of Europe, turned from cultivation and industry, to an armed mass, whose wants demand supplies from you as a people at peace? It appears to me, that you have a people amongst you, poor and desperate enough to covet another revolution, the rich against the poor, not a war of principle, as your last, but a war of Sans-culottism, against all the rules of order and propriety that protect and bind together mankind in their best state of civilization. Your President is at present the admiration of all the thinking part of the world, I hope he will continue to maintain his superior mind with his usual firmness, and show the latest posterity, that one man was found in this age, incapable of yielding to the virulent declamation of a whole nation, or a few narrow minded individuals."