Virginia Argus

Washington City, April 2.

The government being in possession of a treasonable correspondence carried on by British agents in this country, and others, with people in Great Britain, and with British commanders in America; and being advised that many letters of that kind were sent to Annapolis, to be forwarded thence by the packet, ordered all the letters there to be examined, and such as merited animadversion to be detained. The result of this precautionary measure is not known, but it is generally understood that there was good reason at least for the investigation. It is surprising that any one should think of sending letters by the packet, sealed. None would object to their being examined whose correspondence would bear examination. Highly criminal would it be in the government to permit a single letter to pass to the enemy without knowing its contents, especially at the present time, when their forces infest our bays and rivers, blockade our ports, and menace our towns with devastation. We hope, and believe, that, in these and all other respects, our government and people will do their duty.

Nat. int.