National Gazette

Extract of a letter from Jamaica, dated Kingston, Aug. 25, 1793.

"It is now twenty days since I was taken and brought in here: the owners of the privateer, have libelled the vessel and cargo, upon the weak presumption, that they can prove me to be a French subject, merely because I have been for three or four months in Jeremie, disposing of the property you consigned to me, and which could not be effected time enough to send the proceeds in the vessel till her return to Jeremie again. This is a very lame pretence: for, if their arbitrary laws should make me (who was born and always lived in America,) a French subject, as they term it, how can it affect your property? I have employed an attorney, and one of the best counsel, who are very confident they will be obliged to pay for the freight of all the French property they can prove on board, and also for all the expenses attending the vessel while in port; - but all they will be obliged to do, will not nearly compensate for the heavy fees I am obliged to pay to the lawyers, and for the destruction, by the worms, to the bottom, and the privateersmen, to the sails and rigging of the vessel. It will be three weeks before the trial will come on, and how long I shall be detained afterwards is quite uncertain. This is particularly unfortunate for me, as my business in America, must suffer in consequence of this detention. I have heard, that hardly a vessel escapes that is bound from Hispaniola to America; so that I fear that none of the shipments I have made to you, have got to hand, which must disappoint you much. At this place, it is very little better than at New-Providence, which I dare say you have heard enough of. Here, if they do not condemn a vessel for having French property on board, they turn out the captain, mate, and all the hands (except those who join them) then plunder the vessel of every thing they can find: The prize masters and Sailors on board, neglect the hull, sails and rigging, and in eight weeks, the worms will completely ruin the bottom. An American captain left this port the day before yesterday, who had been detained nine weeks: The privateersmen emptied his casks of coffee, to find (as they said) French papers, money, &c. and in the search they wasted about 5000 weight of coffee: Not finding any thing to justify their suspicion, they graciously gave him leave to depart, which he agreed to do, without bringing suit for the detention and insult, which they assured him if he attempted, would be attended with more expense than his vessel and cargo would come to, besides the detention. Not having a friend here to prosecute the matter, he was obliged to put up with the loss and insult, and was happy to get away on any terms. Such glaring insults I cannot think my fellow citizens will put up with, though I should be sorry to hear they were at war, and hope there will be satisfaction obtained in some other way. The captains of privateers here, have directions to send in all Americans who are bound to a French port with provisions. They will have liberty to sell here at the prices the inhabitants chuse to give; but if they persevere in going on, and are afterwards taken, the vessel and cargo will be condemned as a lawful prize."