The Enquirer

The following extracts are from letters received on the 29th ult. at New-York.

In Prison, Tripoli, 11th Feb. 1804.

"We had flattered ourselves, at the commencement of our imprisonment, that we should have had some little indulgence, as we had the liberty of walking on the terrace; but alas! this hope was soon destroyed; in a few days some masons were sent to our prison, who immediately walled up the passage which led to the terrace; thus were we debarred of the only gratification we could experience in this dreary place; the order was cruel, was inhuman, and plainly shewed the disposition of him who sways the sceptre of Tripoli. Void of humanity, he cares not how he oppresses those, when cruel fate has made his slaves. His subjects, as they pass our prison doors, mock and deride us ; they laugh at the Christian's sufferings, and in the most brutal manner, point the finger of scorn at us. To be the sport of such villains maddens me ; but Heaven in kind compassion will, I hope, soon relieve our sufferings. Shortly after the passage was walled up, we were fed with hopes by the minister that we should soon have a parole of honour, but more than three months have already elapsed, and yet no hopes that our situation will be ameliorated ; there is no confidence to be placed in promises, there is nothing left us but resignation to bear our fate with fortitude."

"When you write, tell me what prospect we have of relief."

February 23.-"By a vessel which sails to-morrow for Malta, I am enabled to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 24th of August last.

"I received at the same time information from my father, who also wrote to me, but through mistake of the consul at Malta, it has been sent back to America without my ever seeing it. His not understanding English, certainly can be no excuse; it must be owing entirely to inattention and neglect of duty."

February 29.—"The minister has at length permitted a few of the officers to walk out attended by Miahmu the Turk, who stays at the prison. I am heartily glad of it. We shall now have an opportunity of seeing Tripoli."

This last paragraph was written in haste, as a postscript, and it would appear from it, that since the burning of the ship the Bashaw was inclined to better their situation.

Persons writing to their friends in Tripoli will see from the above that they cannot be too careful in directing their letters, as there is a risk of their being returned.

The two letters of which the receipt is acknowledged above, were forwarded one by the United States brig Syren, and one by the brig Union via Gibraltar. That is stated, for the information of those who wrote by those vessels, as nothing has yet been published advising of the receipt of any letters since the frigates sailed from Philadelphia.

The letters from which the above extracts are made were since received under one enclosure on the 6th ult. via Malta and Gibraltar. They say nothing, whatever of a sickness prevailing among the crew of the frigate Philadelphia, as has been lately reported. Had there been any such thing, the writer would not have neglected to mention it, and as far as we have been able to learn, there has been no intelligence from Tripoli later than the above.