The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter dated Fort Stoddert, (Mobile) July 1.

"I am sorry to inform you that our neighbours at Mobile have for some weeks past been in much alarm under the apprehension of a predatory expedition from this settlement, "under colour of avenging our wrongs, and liberating the citizens of the United States in this quarter from the payment of Spanish tribute. They think that they have demonstrative evidence of the existence of such a conspiracy among us. For my own part I have doubted it, because I have seen no external evidence of it.

"Possibly, however, the idea of forming a confederacy for the purpose of attacking Mobile, may have existed, or may now exist; but I do not believe that men of property will put their all to so much hazard; nor do I think that they will be readily led away by a doctrine advanced here, that as the Floridas are not possessed by any prince now acknowledged by the Federal government, to attack them will be no violation of the law prohibiting expeditions against the territories of powers with which the United States are at peace.' Be this however as it will, the Spaniards have very imprudently collected, as I am told, a body of 400 Indians; the consequence of which inevitably will be, that if any depredations should be committed by them upon our settlement, even peaceable and prudent men will be drawn into an indirect support of the wicked machinations of the lawless. and will in defence of themselves and their property feel impelled to take vengeance on the savages and their employers. I am in hopes, however, that the Indians have no serious purpose, beyond that of eating Spanish beef.

"Some Frenchmen and others have been apprehended and confined in the fort at Mobile, under suspicion of being hostile to the Spanish government. I know some of the men, and believe them to be innocent. But thus it is that weak men drive harmless men into guilt."—Nat. Intelligencer.