Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

By this day's Mail.

SALEM, (Ma.) Jan. 26.

Capt. Benjamin Russel, late of the Sch'r Sally, of this port, arrived here on Wednesday, from Nantz, where he was carried in by a privateer, and condemned—being bound to Vigo in Spain. He came into Boston fellow passengers with four other masters, and 27 of their crews, whose vessels and cargoes had also been condemned, and themselves robbed and plundered by the barbarians of every article of their own personal property that they could get hold on.

Capt. Russel informs, that the Americans captured and carried into Nantz are in a truly deplorable situation. They are not only stripped of their property, but their ears are assailed as they pass the streets, with the rudest insults, and most bitter curses, against themselves and their government. The American flag is frequently hoisted, by way of insult, underneath every other. The few friends the Americans have there, dare not say a word in their favour. The crews of the vessels are turned ashore without the means of subsistence; and as there is no other business than privateering carried on there, many of them are obliged to enter into that business, and take up arms against their countrymen, to save themselves from starving.

Mr. Dobree, the American Consul, placed as he is in a den of privateersmen, could do nothing for the relief of his fellow citizens they were therefore induced to send on a memorial to Mr. Skipwith, at Paris, desiring his advice and assistance. The memorial states, that they are captured under various pretences, particularly for not having a paper, which the French term a roll of equipage, but which they are entirely unacquainted with—That they had every paper which was conceived to be necessary among which were certificates from the French, Spanish and British Consuls—That many of their people are tempted with bribes to swear that their property is enemies' That they have no opportunity to counteract such things in their courts That their number, turned ashore and out of employment was 160—and that the men would be obliged, unless some provisions was made for them, to enter on board the French privateers, or starve.

Capt. Russel further says, that there are evidently great numbers of the French dissatisfied with the present order of things—but are obliged to shout Vive la Republique.—That the country is full of brigands—and that new explosions must again convulse the nation.

From appearances in some of our smith shops, it may be conjectured that our nautical citizens are determined to sail the ocean in peace.