Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

BALTIMORE, November 7.

To the Printers of the Federal Gazette.

Gentlemen,

I request you to give publicity to the following through the medium of your Gazette. On the 4th of September, I was captured in the sloop Fanny, of Baltimore, close in with the Spanish Main, by a French privateer schooner, on board of which was a fellow of the name of John Mathers of Baltimore, who told me, in order to cover his piratical conduct, that he was only getting a passage from Laguira to Curacoa; but I soon found out that he was one of the most active of the pirate's crew. He persuaded the Captain of the privateer, that unless he confined me and my men, we should rise upon him and retake the sloop. The Captain mentioned what he had told him, and ordered myself and mate to be confined in the cabin, and my men in the steerage, where we were kept so close, that the heat had nearly deprived us of existence.

When arrived at Curacoa, Mathers assumed great importance, and directed by his information, another French privateer instantly got under weigh, to cruise off Laguira, for the sloop Maryland of Baltimore, which he captured and brought into Curacoa.

The above Mathers, Solomon Geer, and one Leacock, went out privateering on the 14th instant, in a French schooner of 10 guns. I was present when the two latter went on board, and heard them declare that every American they captured, they would strip even of their shirts.

I wish every printer in the Union to publish the above, in order to acquaint the Commanders of all vessels belonging to the United States, of the villainy of those jacobins.

Yours, &c.
GARRET BARRY.
Curacoa, October 26, 1798.