Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Natchez, (M. T.) March 18.

By a gentleman who left St. Francisville on Tuesday last, we learn that a curious circumstance took place on Sunday. On that morning, when the inhabitants rose, they were astonished to find the flag of Florida again waving at the top of the flag staff; but as there had been many mischievous pranks played for several nights previous, no person in town thought any more of it than a continuance of those pranks--under that impression, no person attempted to take it down, and more particularly as there was no getting at it, unless by climbing the staff, which was at least sixty feet high, or by felling it. In the course of the day, however some gentlemen having rode into the country, found that some uneasy sensations had been created, and a belief was like to become current that it was reared in opposition to the government. In the evening, on their return a few persons viewing the thing more seriously, resolved on cutting down the staff. The cutting down the staff was opposed on the ground of its being private property; this contention was likely to produce a serious riot, when very happily gen. Claiborne and lieut. Huckill arrived in town. The General immediately called on a civil officer, and stating that he considered the flag then flying, as an insult to his government, desired that it might be ordered down. The civil officer accordingly repaired to the flag staff, where the right of private property was again contended for. The General observed that if the flag was not taken down by the civil power, he would have a detachment of troops to do it next day. The civil magistrate then ordered the staff to be cut down, which was done instantly.

The day following at 3 o'clock P. M. a few of those who were at the storming of Baton Rouge, buried the flag in a private lot, with great ceremony. A procession was formed, after having placed the flag in its coffin, and marched round the stump of the flag staff, moved to the grave where it was deposited and three volleys of musquetry fired over it. Our informant adds, that they had written an epitaph for the tomb, which was said to evince some genius, but he could not procure a copy.

Scarcely was the funeral procession ceased, when intelligence reached St. Francisville, that the representatives of Florida had been refused a seat in the Orleans Legislature. This, says our informant, produced a considerable sensation, and when he left there, Tuesday morning, it was talked of remonstrating to the President of the United States, against this outrageous procedure of the Orleans legislature.

For our own part, we are not surprised at this conduct of the Orleans legislature: A great majority of the members are Frenchmen, and enemies to the government of the United States--any thing they could do, therefore, to produce anarchy and bloodshed in Florida, where all are Americans, would afford them great pleasure--"mark the end out." We have already predicted the consequences of making Orleans a State--Congress has differed from us in opinion--we have done our duty--and mischievous as this measure of the government may prove, we trust that the people of this territory, who will be on the frontier, will be prepared to meet the result.--Weekly Chron.