Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

CHARLESTON, Dec. 18

By a gentleman in the Martha Crawley, we are favoured with the following information: That Josiah Blakely, Esq. late American consul at St. Jago, had been persecuted to such a degree by the Spanish government, as to have been obliged to embark from that place, in consequence of a sentence lately passed at Havanna against him, which threatened him with imprisonment.

This gentleman also informs us, that most of the French privateers in Cuba, had assumed the Spanish flag, in consequence of the persecution they had recently experienced from the more effectual measures lately manifested by the Spanish government, to suppress and punish their piracies; and that, in consequence of the representations of our government, the late French agents at St. Jago, from Guadaloupe and Santo-Domingo, had been superceded, and commissioners sent to examine into their transactions, as relates to American captures. When this gentleman left Havanna, there were four American vessels taken by Spanish privateers and sent into different ports, the west end of the Island, under adjudication at Havanna. But there had been no captures in that quarter of the island by French privateers since the month of May last.

He describes the Spaniards as in a state of the utmost inquietude and anxiety, fearing a war between the United States and Spain; and that their sole dependence in that island, being on the American commerce, he is of opinion, from the prevailing sentiments of the planters, in case of such an event, they would willingly place themselves under the protection of the United States.

Times.