National Gazette

PHILADELPHIA
WEDNESDAY. June 19.

The following extract from the journal of captain Gofsingal, lately from French Hispaniola, in the schooner Fair Lady, will hold out to the world the character of a pirate, who is acting under a commission from the king of Great-Britain:

"Sunday, April 28, 1793.

Being on my passage from Cape Francois to Jeremie, at 6 o'clock P. M. saw two ships to the westward, and a sail in shore off us, then the Mole-Head bore N. by E. distant 8 leagues: the vessel in shore gave chase to us, and at 10 o'clock P M. came up with us, and firing a shot at us we rounded too; she proved to be the schooner Tyger, from Kingston in Jamaica, a British privateer, commanded by James Smith, mounted with eight brass three pounders, and one howitz in the bow. She ordered the boat to be hoisted out, and to come on board, which was reluctantly complied with. After examining my papers, he detained me with two of my men, and went on board with part of his crew, and searched the vessel, after which he took the remainder of my people except the mate and boy, leaving four of his men and the second lieutenant on board of the Fair Lady, giving orders to follow him; she then gave chase to the two ships, and finding them to be British vessels, pursued a boat that was sent to Jamaica to give information, in case the privateer should be French, and they should be taken, but finding his mistake returned to us, searched a second time, declaring that he knew there was French property on board, and if we would not give it up he would carry us to Jamaica, but finding none he left us, after being prisoners eight hours, taking two of my men, Jonathan Peter Patterson, an American, and Adolph Gaffe, a Swede, without either bed or cloaths, except what they had on, notwithstanding my intreaties in their behalf and their own dislike to his measures, he took them off; I also represented the disadvantages that would arise from it, as I had only one man left that could steer, but all in vain."

It may not be amiss to observe, that their chests and bedding are still on board of the schooner. It is a matter of surprise that such a nation as the Americans, should tamely suffer our trade to be obstructed, and harassed by a haughty imperious nation, and our throats cut by their instigation, in the Western Territory; but it is to be hoped that the present contest with France will bring them to a proper sense of themselves, and it is reasonable to expect that if that does not, the Almighty power will.