Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

BOSTON, August 3.
MORE FRENCH PIRACY.

Extract of a letter from the Supercargo and Master of the ship Hope of Beverly to her owner, dated "Havanna, June 1808"

After leaving Beverly nothing material occurred until the 30th May, being under close reefed main topsail and foresail and blowing fresh, and heavy squalls, the lightning struck our main topgallant mast, and shivered it and the main top-mast in two places, leaving the stump about 12 feet above deck, hove the main yard some distance
after the mast and descended into the larboard pump, splitting it in such a manner as to render it entirely useless. We cleared the wreck, and rigged a spare topmast for a jury main mast, to enable us to set as much sail as we could and continued on our voyage until the 23d June; when we were brought to, on the Bahama Bank, near the Orange Key, by a privateer schooner under French colors; they sent their boat on board with the sailing master by the name of Touger and long knives, who ordered the captain (who we afterwards understood was the sailing master) & 4 black men armed with a small dagger, to go on board the privateer with his papers. They then proceeded to open the bales of goods, using the most abusive language, and on that and the following day robbed us of six bales of sewing silk and silk goods, and 3 boxes of brandy fruit, with 2 cases of Britannias belonging to capt. Lovett. They also took the following stores, viz. 2 large coils rigging, intended for warp; 2 bolts of Russia and one ravens duck; 6 lb. twine, 150 dc. spun yarn, 500 do. spare new rigging, all our spare spars, 1 spy glass, 1 quadrant, 1 quarter watch glass, 1 Azimuth compass, 10 dollars in cash, some wearing apparel, and every carpenter's tool, and other small store they could find, and threatened to stab the first man that resisted them. From the best information we could obtain the pirate made some port in this island his place of resort; and we considered it our duty to do every thing in our power to recover your property and bring this pirate to punishment. This added to the loss of our mainmast, and having no spare spars or rigging on board, and our water being short, compelled us to make the first port, and accordingly entered this port yesterday. Captain Lovett noted his protest, and we are now preparing a memorial to the Spanish governor praying for leave to refit our ship and proceed on our original voyage, and also his interposition in finding and bringing to justice the pirate who robbed us.