Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

BOSTON, May 21.
We learn by a gentleman who came in the last eastern stage, that two seamen belonging to the privateer ship Alexander, of 18 guns, captain Crowninshield, of Salem, came passengers in the stage from Portsmouth to that town. They informed that on Wednesday, between 10 and 11 o'clock, that ship was chased on shore in Wells' Bay, by a British brig of war, a sloop of war said to be in company. The Alexander had endeavored to reach Portsmouth, but the wind favored the enemy; who were so close in the pursuit, that but 20 of the crew escaped, & about 20 more, including the officers, remained on board, when she was taken possession of. The British got the ship off, and sent information to the marshal of the district, that they would release the prisoners on parole.
The Alexander had taken seven prizes, and had on board upwards of 100 British prisoners, who were retaken. She took two prizes last Sunday. One a brig loaded with sugar, coffee and indigo, and the other a schooner. She else took a sloop from Halifax for the W. Indies, with part of the Volant's cargo.
The Alexander was a beautiful corvette-built ship, and formerly belonged to Baltimore.