The New Hampshire Gazette

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

[We are happy in presenting the following official letters. They indicate a continuation of perfect good understanding between the United States and Spain.]

Phila. Gaz.

[TRANSLATION.]

GIBRALTAR, JAN. 11, 1797.

"SIR,

"I find myself under the necessity of troubling your Excellency about an offence committed against Capt. William Brown, master of the American schooner Bethiah, which sailed from this port on the 9th inst. bound to Boston, in the United States of America, by an armed boat belonging to Algeziras, and trusting in your Excellency's known equity, that you will be pleased to attend to the circumstances of the fact, I will take the liberty to relate the same according to the declaration made by said Captain in my Consular office. Capt. William Brown, lately arrived from Malaga, having anchored in this bay by reason of contrary winds, on the 5th inst. got under sail, on the 9th in the morning, with a fresh breeze, in prosecution of his voyage, was detained at 11 o'clock, A. M. by the fire of the fort called Punta del Fraile. from which the Spaniards repeatedly fired at him with shot, whereby he was obliged to heave out his boat, and with four men go ashore, at the great risk of losing their lives, to know what was the matter.--While the captain was in the fort, an armed launch, with a Spanish flag boarded the schooner, whose flag was hoisted, and their people went upon deck, drove the mate and mariners before them, and went down into the cabin, where they drew their knives upon the cabin boy and forced him to deliver them all the keys of the trunks and chests in the cabin: they then took out of one of the said trunks, a gold watch with a gold chain and two gold seals worth 280 hard dollars; a spy glass, worth 5 guineas; a large silk shawl, worth 24 dollars; nine pair of new silk stockings; seven new dimity waistcoats; one dozen new ruffled shirts: and a variety of other inferior articles: After which they retired in the launch, carrying away all the above things, and went close to the fort.' The commanding officer in said fort knew said launch belonged to Algeziras, and immediately dispatched Capt. Brown, with a letter from the commander at Algeziras, that.the name of the Captain of the launch, might be known.

"The American Captain having greatly suffered at the time he went on shore in his boat, and sustained a continual rain in the road to Algeziras, has come back to day here, and assures me further, that if in case it should be necessary to confront the mate and cabin boy, in order to examine the crew of such launch, who committed the robbery on board of his vessel, said mate and boy declare they will easily know the persons who stole the watch & the other articles.

"I do,not doubt but your Excellency will take into consideration such an offence committed against a citizen of the United States of America ;--which nation is-in amity with your Sovereign ; and that you will give the most requisite orders to discover and punish the authors of it, and give a due satisfaction to this unhappy Captain, by returning all the articles taken from him, which after being recovered, I beg your Excellency will be pleased to send me in such a manner as you may judge proper.

"I hope your Excellency will pardon this unavoidable truth, and rely on my sincere acknowledgments for all you will be pleased to do in this matter, and repeating my true respect to your Excellency, I have the honor to be, your most humble servant,

JAMES SIMPSON."

To his Excellency the Marquis de Roben, Lieut. Governor of his Catholic Majesty's forces and Commander in Chief of the camp of Gibraltar, San Roque, &c.

[COPY.]

IMMEDIATELY after receiving your letter of the 11th current, I sent a copy of it to the commissary of marine at Algeziras, that as all those privateers are under his orders. he might take the most active steps to discover and arrest those who committed the robbery of the various articles that you express in the American schooner named the Bethiah, the answer to which you will see by the enclosed copy of a letter, I remit, for your intelligence; in the mean time, I practice what said commissary further manifests to me.

I remain at your disposition, with wishes of being serviceable, and that God may preserve your life many years.

(Signed)

The MARQUIS of ROBEN

San Roque, Jan. 14, 1797.

JAMES SIMPSON, Esq.

[copy.]

Most Excellent Sir,

WITH your Excellency's official letter, of yesterday, I have received a copy of the letter the Consul General of the United States of America, in Gibraltar, Mr. James Simpson, has handed you ; upon which particular I am taking the most active and secret steps that the nature of the matter requires; in which I will make use if necessary of the confrontation you express in the said official letter-and will advise your Excellency of the result.

God preserve your. Excellency many years.

(Signed)

ANTH. MARIA and ALVAREZ.

Algeziras, Jan. 1797.

To his Excellency Marquis of Roben.