The Enquirer

Domestic.

To the Editors of the Baltimore American.

A few months since I caused to be published the names of certain vessels of a piratical character, which had been fitted out in our own ports and had committed various depredations in our waters; and was in hopes that the number which have been captured and condemned at New-Orleans, would have deterred future adventurers from engaging in that system of villainy: late accounts from that quarter, however, convince me of its having been carried to a more alarming extent than ever.

I send for publication, various extracts from letters and an affidavit, by which you will discover that some merchants and others residing in New Orleans, are the owners and agents of those vessels; and that many American citizens are on board them.

There are now two of notorious character cruizing in the gulph of Mexico—to wit, the schr. Intrepid, commanded by Brughsman—the nominal armateur is on board, his name is Saurinet; also one Dusar, part owner. This vessel was built at N. Orleans, sailed on a cruize, and after plundering a vessel (said to be Spanish) of 6000, returned; was seized, prosecuted and condemned as an unauthorised cruizer. She was, however, permitted to refit during the trial, and the night after the judge gave his opinion, she took French leave. Brughman is a small man, with a thin visage, about 35 years of age, and has the appearance of a bright mulatto. Saurinet is a tall spare man, 40 years of age. She has a commission, issued by the governor of Gaudaloupe dated a few days after the capitulation of that place.

The felucca Polly is the vessel in which Brown the collector left N. Orleans. Some time after she was condemned, she was purchased by Jacob Hart, merchant, of New Orleans, and received every equipment necessary for a pirate. A few days after the condemnation of the pirate the Ducrde Montabello, the Polly sailed on a cruize, under the command of Brouard, the former commander and armateur of the Montebello: the celebrated pirate John le Loup is also on board her.—(It is well known that the Montebello left Baltimore bearing the name of the Amiable, under the command of capt. White. and that John le Loup and Brouard were the apparent owners.)

Extracts of letters from New Orleans.

August 2d, 1810. "L'Etfrine has lately been seized and sent to town. I believe the crew obliged the captain to bring her in, as their commission is stated to have expired—from what I have understood, there is little doubt she will be condemned.

Not long since, Brown's felucca went out of the S.W. pass with 60 or 70 men. She has just returned, and (as I understand) has captured a Vera Cruz vessel and taken out of her in specie $22,000. She has been some time off the bar, and I am persuaded the money has been in bank some time since.

September 1.—L'Epine has been Condemned under the slave act.

I informed you, some weeks ago, that the Felucca Polly had been bought by Jacob Hart and had been cleared for St. Domingo. It now appears that the former owner of the Montebello, who you know is recognized to appear at Charleston (for illegally fitting out.) is her commander, no less than the Sieur Brouard. It appears that they have captured a Spanish vessel with 75 slaves, bound to Pensacola, and have smuggled them into the Territory by the way of Ia Fourche. They also robbed a French Vessel of her cargo, $4000 dollars of which was specie, and then burned her.

She was cleared from this place by a Mr. Prince, who appears to have correspondence with the captain during his Cruize. It is stated that Mr. Robert (who you must recollect) was also on board, perhaps as owner. He is Jacob Hart's partner. Warrants were issued against Prince, Brouard and Robert, who were all in town a few days ago; the first was taken and put into jail., but was liberated by Judge Martin on a habeas corpus, no mittimus or other authority appearing in the hands of the jailor; the fact is, their names were in the same warrant, and the marshal had him locked up and went in search of the others.

A fresh warrant was issued, but they have all cleared themselves. She cannot have the semblance of a commission, and is one of the most daring pirates I have ever heard of: It is said she is now cruizing for Guineamen.

The Intrepid is stated to have captured a Spanish ship from Cadiz bound to la Vera cruz, with a cargo worth 3 or 4000 hundred thousand dollars. The goods have been smuggled in by way of Barataria, or Ia Fourche, (perhaps both.)—The Intrepid is said to be on shore to the southward.

AFFIDAVIT.

I, the undersigned, Jean Chaumette, supercargo of the Spanish brig A. Bobadar, the property of Don Vt. Dorelrogoite, merchant of Pensacola, left the said port the 2d of Sept. 1809. for the Coast of Africa, declare, that on my return to Pensacola, I was taken the 5th of July, 1810, 30 leagues to the N. N E. of the Tortugas, which on board. ing me hoisted French colours.

The officer who came on board informed me she was a corsair from Gaudaloupe, that I was his prisoner, and sent me and the captain immediately on board the Felucca, where our papers and effects were examined and the greater part of both were taken from us. Having known some persons on board during the time I remained there, I learned, that the said corsair had left (about the 15th of June,) New Orleans, where he had fitted out; that she had departed for St. Domingo, under American colours, under the command of captain Andre, who then did the duty of Lieutenant on board; that the apparent captain was Jean Le Loup, but the true captain was Le Sieur Brouard.—

We proceeded for Bay Ronde, where having arrived, Mr. Brouard went on board the Spanish brig, sent all the stores composing the cargo on board the Felucca and set fire to her, and next morning directed his course for the Balize, where we had knowledge of two gun boats; coming from Bay Ronde.—Mr. Brouard ordered to anchor for fear of being seen, and in the mean time prepared his Felucca to be in readiness for defence, but the gun boats having continued their route, we turned to the west.

Having arrived opposite the pasturage of Mr. Maysone, they sent a person on shore with his head enveloped, a useless precaution, for we had already seen and known him. In fact, I had perceived since the time the brig had been burnt, there was a person on board the Corsair who kept himself concealed in the hold; my captain was the first who remarked it to me; from that moment, I endeavored to discover who this shameful person might be, and succeeded. In him I knew Mr. Roberts of N. Orleans. A pirogue having come to give us some information, we continued our route to the west point of Grand Isle, where we anchored. There another pirogue came on board, in which was Mr. Marchand of New Orleans, who brought a pilot whom he left, and who gave a letter to Mr. Brouard, which in reading it, he enabled me to see the signature of Mr. Prince of New Orleans affixed to. Mr. Marchand, after having spent the morning on board and receiving from Mr. Brouard a letter directed to Mr. Prince, departed in a pirogue.

In the evening we perceived a schooner, which was supposed to be an American from Attakapas, which they did not visit, but next day the same schooner came and anchored about a gunshot from the Felucca, which was still at anchor about two miles from the shore, and some of the officers having observed that money under the American colours was as good as that under Spanish, Jean Le Loup went on board to examine her, and she proved to be a Spanish schooner from Campeachy for New Orleans—She was taken possession of; her cargo consisted of Campeachy wood, and about 4,000 dollars in specie. She proceeded with us to the westward, at length we arrived at the Bayou la Fourche where the pilot took us in and anchored near the Isle au Chat; there Mr. Brouard waited for his agents and others interested, to procure him the means of introducing the negroes and in the mean time a pirogue came to seek us two or three days after our entry.

Mr. Brouard gave the Patrone named Laurent $1,200 proceeding from the Spanish prize, with a letter directed to Mr. Prince, who received them at Grande Isle, where he had been for five or six days with Mr. Marchand lodging at the house of Mr. Rigaud. Twenty days elapsed, and arrived unfavorable news for the introduction of slaves, and having received information that a Spanish schooner richly laden was expected on the coast, Mr. Brouard determined to freight two pirogues, and with a boat he departed for the Bayou D'Arbonne with all the slaves; and the same day the Felucca after putting on shore myself, the captain and two men of the crew, made sail for sea.

As we came from the Tortugas to Bay Ronde, we met an American schooner, which the Felucca boarded under American colours, and plundered of her provisions. After this, we met two brigs bound to New Orleans, which were boarded under Spanish colours, and on board of one was put a Mr. Lange an officer of the Corsair, to carry intelligence of the capture of the Spanish brig. He was the bearer of a letter addressed to Mr. Prince.

(Signed) T. G. CHAUMETTE.

Sworn this 28th day of Aug 1810 before me.

(Signed) THOMAS S. Kennedy.

Jean Francis Ramaquan, clerk, being duly sworn, saith, that the facts stated in the preceding deposition are true, and further saith not.

(Signed) RAMAQUAN

Sworn this 28th day of Aug 1810, before me.

(Signed) THOMAS S. KENNEDY.

Warrants were issued against Prince, Brouard and Robert, who were all in town a few days ago; the first was taken and put into jail, but was liberated by Judge Martin on a habeas corpus, no mittimus or other authority appearing in the hands of the jailor; the fact is, their names were in the same warrant, and the marshal had him locked up and went in search of the others.