The Enquirer

Domestic.

From the (N. Y.) Public Advertiser.

The following is the memorial [to which Mr. R. Saunders alludes in his letters which we published yesterday] of the unfortunate prisoners confined in the dungeons of Carthagena--The dupes of Anglo-Federal intrigue and British policy. However, we may lament the misfortunes of the sufferers, we must execrate the authors of this infamous expedition. To what a state of degradation and misery would they reduce their country, had they once more the power in their hands which they have lost!--Can any man doubt, that the armament was fitted out for the most dangerous and wicked purposes, destined to bring ruin and disgrace upon our government? We have the authority of Captain C. Barker's name for the authenticity of this memorial. Read it Americans--and shudder while you read.

MEMORIAL.

The memorial of twenty citizens of the U.S. of America, confined under sentences of slavery in the dominions of his Catholic Majesty the king of Spain, to the President, Senate and House of Representatives,

Sheweth that your memorialists are residents of the U. S. of America, and for the most part of the state and city of New-York, and are part of a number of men of the same description, who were brought from N. York in February last, in the ship Leander, Thomas Lewis, commander, under circumstances of treachery and imposition that your memorialists will proceed to explain. Of the ship Leander, Samuel G. Ogden, Esq. has been known for sometime as owner, and that vessel has always been employed by him in a forced trade, for which purpose she has been heavily armed, in consequence of which her warlike equipment when she last left N. York excited no suspicion on the part of the public in general, nor in the breasts of your memorialists, of any unfair or illicit transaction. Of the whole number of your memorialists, some were attached to the vessel, some were employed for military service, and others for the exercise of their ordinary occupations and trades. Those of the first description were shipped in the usual manner, on a voyage to Jamaica and back to New York, and the rest were engaged by Col. Wm. Smith, Mr. John Pink, Col. William Armstrong, and Mr. Daniel R. Durning, to proceed to New-Orleans, under the command of Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Durning, who had been appointed by government it was said, to carry thither a certain number of men as guards to the mails. Under the influence of these engagements, your memorialists embarked at Staten Island in the beginning of February last, and were carried immediately to sea.

Shortly after leaving the port it was discovered that General Miranda was on board, together with a number of persons not before known to your memorialists, who appeared in the character of officers, acting under his command. This discovery, as well as the development of the duplicity that had manifestly been employed in making known the destination of the vessel, bred immediate apprehensions and mistrust in a lesser degree at a period when retreat was no longer practicable. The Ship proceeded on her voyage--in the neighborhood of Bermuda, was examined by his Britannic Majesty's frigate Cleopatra, Captain White, who suffered her to pass, notwithstanding the discovery that she was laden with arms and warlike stores, and arrived at Jacmel on the 19th of February, where the vessel remained until the 27th of March following.

During this interval much discontent was occasioned among your memorialists, inasmuch as they now found themselves in a Country, whither they had not undertaken nor expected to proceed; as they were compelled to exercise themselves in military duty, under the most arbitrary exercise of power on the part of Gen. Miranda, Col. Armstrong and Mr. Durning. prevented from writing to their friends in the U. States, and kept in ignorance as to the ultimate object of the coercion under which they suffered and the final destination of the vessel. The disgust and anxiety produced by this severity and compulsion occasioned some among your memorialists to attempt an escape to Port-au-Prince, or some other Port of St. Domingo, where they might receive assistance and protection from their countrymen: But the wariness and precaution of those into whose power they had been entrapped, had prepared such diligence in the patrols of the town, as rendered this effort abortive, and left them without resource against the misfortunes that awaited them. In Jacmel the schooners Bee and Bacchus of Philadelphia were employed to accompany the ship in her voyage. On board of these vessels your memorialists were obliged to embark, and left St. Domingo on the 27th March. After having touched at the island of Aruba for refreshment, the three vessels proceeded towards the coast of Terra Firma, between Laguira and Porto Cabello, where they arrived on the 28th April and where the two schooners in which your memorialists were embarked, (being deserted by the Leander having on board Gen. Miranda and others, who had been most active in effecting the measure already detailed) were captured by two Spanish cruisers and carried into Porto Cabello, where all those taken in those two vessels were proceeded against under a charge of piracy and portage of articles contraband of war, inasmuch as there were found on board the afore-mentioned vessels, muskets, sabres and many other offensive weapons which had been placed there without the aid, concurrence or voluntary act of your memorialists, in any manner whatever.

On the 12th of July, this process was closed by the Captain General of Carraccas, by a sentence condemning ten (who were considered to have been wilfully engaged) to death--nineteen to eight years slavery at Boca-Chica, a castle at the mouth of this harbour--fourteen to ten years slavery at Omoa in the province of Meruin. to ten years imprisonment at the island of Porto-Rico.. The ten who received sentence of death were hanged and beheaded on the 21st of July, and your memorialists, together with their companions, sentenced to Boca-Chica, with others, who are prevented by sickness from joining in this memorial, and two who have died in consequence of severe confinement and want of food fit for their support, were soon after removed to this place, where they have been about three months.

Your memorialists are in close confinement and in fetters, and will remain so until they are separated and removed to their respective stations at Omoa and Porto-Rico.

Your memorialists predicate their right to claim the interference of government in their behalf, on the authenticity and veracity of the statement they have offered; and to establish these to your conviction, they beg that the undermentioned persons who are informed of the intrigue exercised by Col. Smith and others his associates, to the injury of your memorialists, may be examined on oath, viz. Mr. Daniel Kemper, of N. Y. whose son was executed; Col. Marinus Willet, of N. Y. Mr. Brinckerhoff, tavern-keeper, of N. Y. Mr. Wm. Rutledge, ship joiner, of N. Y. Mr. Samuel Winship and Mr. Francis White, Butchers, of New York. And to authenticate the coercive measures under which your memorialists suffered at Jacmel, they beg you to be referred to Mr. James Baker, Mr. Wm. Irving, Captain Abbot, of the brig Charleston Packet, Captain Walding, of schooner Victory, all of Philadelphia, were there at the time; and if it be proved by the joint testimony of these persons, that the relation of your memorialists be worthy of credit, that they have been betrayed and entrapped by the cunning and engines of factious, needy and designing men, who still remain within the reach of the law, in situations to be made responsible in their persons for the confusion and misery they have created, surely the innocence of your memorialists will appear sufficiently manifest, and they will still be considered by the constituted authorities of their country, entitled to its protection and assistance. And your memorialists will ever pray, &c.

P. S.--In the sentence of your memorialists it was mentioned, that Should the United States or any of their friends arrest and deliver up Miranda to the Spanish government, they should be all restored to liberty, and a reward of 50,000 dollars paid. Your memorialists have embraced several opportunities for the conveyance of this memorial to your honorable body, directed to gentlemen residing in Boston, New-York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.