Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from a reputable gentleman at the city of St. Domingo Feb. 12 1798.

"Although I do not imagine that this letter will find you at Philadelphia, yet I send it in order that it may serve as a guide to you and your friends, in adopting the necessary precautions, in the dispatch of your vessels for French ports.

"A privateer of Guadaloupe has brought into this port two vessels belonging to Baltimore, loaded with provisions and dry goods of which the captain of the privateer has demanded the confiscation, because they have English goods on board, and that their destination was to the French ports, Jacmel and Aux-Cayes, which by a decree of the Executive Directory, is expressly forbidden. The commissary of the republic has accordingly granted the condemnation, although this decree has not yet been carried into effect at any other place or on any other occasion.

"I therefore take the earliest opportunity of informing you of these particulars, and of pointing out the necessary steps to be pursued in your shipments.

"You must have a certificate of the French consul, by which it must appear that the dry goods shipped are not English, in all cases where the destination is for French ports—But in cases where the vessels are bound to other than French ports, you may ship what you please, as in the instance of the port of Spanish St. Domingo

"I have seen a certificate of the French Consul General Letombe, declaring that the decree of the Executive Directory, as it respects the capture of neutral vessels, has reference only to such as are bound to ports, formerly French, but now occupied by their enemies, and that those of any other description may proceed where they please and with any goods whatsoever. It is presumed that contraband by the Law of Nations is here excepted."