Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer

FROM CAPE FRANCOIS.

By the Broeder Lust, arrived here on Saturday, we have received very late advices from Cape Francois. On the 23d of last month, a French brig, with 165 troops on board, arrived there from Brest. By this vessel they received information, that 20,000 men were in readiness at Brest to embark for St. Domingo, 10,000 of whom were to be ordered to Louisiana in case their services should not be required there.

A riot took place at the Cape, about the turning of December, which excited much uneasiness among the American merchants. The general in chief, being in want of money, levied the sum of 32,000 dollars on the merchants, and ordered the chamber of commerce to assess the proportion. This chamber consists of French merchants, who accordingly divided the sum to be paid by themselves and the American merchants, but so unequally, that four American houses, viz. Messrs. Dodge, D'Arcy & Stephenson, Hillar & Williams, and Dawson, were taxed 1000 dollars each, and the other merchants from 500 to 1000, not one of the French paying more than from 2 to 500. Those who paid their contributions received a receipt to be repaid in cash in one month, or to be received for duties accruing thereafter. But there were many delinquents—in consequence of which gen. Rochambeau issued a proclamation, declaring that all those who should neglect to comply with the aforesaid exactions for 24 hours, should be arrested, their stores closed, and themselves dispatched to France. This compelled compliance in many. After three days, the general ordered that those who had persisted in disobeying his orders, should be arrested. According, in the course of that night, Messrs. Dodge, Stephenson, Carry and Tracy, American merchants together with about 15 French, were seized and thrown into prison. They were here told, that unless they complied, they should be embarked on board a ship of war, and their property publicly sold. Preparations for executing these threats were actually made, when the friends of the prisoners paid the stipulated amount, and they were released.

In consequence of the foregoing occurrences, a general meeting of the American merchants had been held for the purpose of petitioning for redress. But it was believed the measure would be fruitless.