The New Hampshire Gazette

The News at Charleston, S. C.
From FRANCE.
[The following is the root of the Report circulated for several days past.]
CHARLESTON, Jan. 5.
On Wednesday evening the brig Sally, Joseph H. Akins, master, arrived in Rebellion Road, in 53 days from Bordeaux. Capt. Akins left Bordeaux on the 9th of November. Four days before he sailed, Capt. Woodman, of the brig Aurora, of this port when in Bordeaux, received the following letter from Gen. Pinckney.
Paris, October 9, 1797.
SIR,
As it is possible our negotiations with this republic may not have a favorable issue, and that my colleagues and myself may be ordered to leave France, and as I understand you are bound to Charleston, where I would wish to go with my wife, daughter, secretary, and perhaps two other gentlemen; I should be glad to know if you take passengers. and have accommodations for them, and what are your terms, and the latest time you sail. Be so good as to write me. This is not to be considered as an engagement to go in the Aurora, but merely as a letter requesting information. I remain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant.
(Signed) Charles C. Pinckney.
Captain Woodman.
N. B. I think the Aurora is a ship; should she not be accommodated for passengers, can you inform of any vessel at Bordeaux that is, and about to sail on the 20th November for Charleston, or near it."
As Capt. Akins positively asserts, that the letter from Gen. Pinckney was received but 4 days before he sailed, it is probable that there is a mistake in the date of the copy of the general's letter, and that it ought to be the 30th of Oct. instead of the 9th, which would give 5 days, the time the couriers take to go from Paris to Bordeaux. The postscript to the letter, we think, confirms this opinion: for, if the general expected to be ordered away early in October he would hardly put off his voyage to the 20th of November.
At the date of gen. Pinckney's letter, the American commissioners had been 30 days in Paris: and though they had addressed a letter to the minister of foreign affairs they were still without a hearing.
In consequence of this information, the American merchants in Bordeaux were much alarmed, and they had been advised to get their property but of France as soon as possible, as there was a general opinion prevailing that there would be a rupture between France and this country.
The following is an extract of a letter from Mr. Fenwick, the American Consul, at Bordeaux, to his correspondent in this city, dated Nov. 9.
"In consequence of the hostile appearances with America, the bearer of this has changed his destination, and tells me he will touch at Charleston. I dont think for my own part that there will be a rupture with the United States, yet the negotiation at Paris is likely to be without success, and it is said our ministers are preparing to depart. There is no change in the conduct towards our commerce; and four vessels carried into L'Orient, have been condemned at Vannes in the court of appeals. Peace with the Emperor is made definitively: the French dictated."
Capt. Akins intended to sail for a French port in the West-Indies, but, in consequence of the news from Gen. Pinckney, he thought it best to return to America; he brought no newspapers.