ship arrived at Barbadoes, and that she had seven of her crew killed and sixteen wounded. Among the former were some persons of distinction."

PRIZES CAPTURED BY PRIVATEERS.

Sloop Venus, of Jamaica, burnt by the Two Brothers, of New Orleans.

Brigs Jane and Charlotte, laden with salt, coals, crates, and a few bales of dry-goods, sent into Salem by the America, privateer.

Brig Francis, from St. John's, Porto-Rico, for Martinique, laden with bullocks, sent into Charleston by the Nonsuch, of Baltimore.

Brig Porgie, from Antigua, laden with rum and molasses, sent into Norfolk by the Highflyer, on her second cruise.

Ship Ned, of Glasgow, ten guns, nine-pounders, sixteen men, laden with timber, sent into Salem by the John and George privateer of that place, after a smart action. The John and George carries one twelve and two threepounders. She had on board thirty-eight men, including officers.

Schooner

captured in the Bay of Fundy, laden with oil, seal skins, etc., sent into Salem by the Fame, of that port.

The following memorial to Congress will evince the state of public sentiment in favor of privateering, at this period of the war.

To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled. The memorial of the subscribers, owners of and agents for 24 private armed vessels, fitted out of the port of New York, and other citizens of the city of New York,

The

respectfully sheweth: That your memorialists, convinced that the successful issue of the present war against Great Britain materially depends upon the effectual annoyance of the enemy, have, many of them, engaged in the equipment of private armed vessels. The extent to which such enterprises may be carried, to the injury of the foe, is incalculable; for no bounds can be prescribed to the hardihood and daring of American seamen. great advantages of this cheap and effectual mode of warfare, peculiarly entitle it, in the opinion of your memorialists, to the serious regard and fostering care of Congress; the effect of promoting or discouraging it, will be felt, not only by those immediately concerned, but throughout every department and member of the war. To the bold and successful efforts of our private armed vessels, we may attribute, in a great degree, a growing confidence in every class of citizens, in our ability to contend, at least on equal terms, with the self-styled mistress of the ocean. The examples of heroism in our seamen of the east, cannot fail to inspire with a corresponding ardor our soldiers of the north and west, producing a rivalship of patriotism and courage, ensuring a war of glory, terminating in an honorable and lasting peace.

The spirit with which our maritime citizens have engaged in such adventures, and which if properly excited and encouraged, would prove so destructive to the enemy, is in danger of being extinguished, unless Congress interpose immediately and effectually for its pre

servation.

For this object, a diminution of the high duties imposed on prize goods is indispensable. The captured property, loaded with these duties, in addition to the charges attending its condemnation and sale, produces,

even at this early period, and under the most favorable circumstances, net profits utterly inadequate to the risk and danger of such enterprises, and in some instances is attended with an absolute loss to the captors. The cases in which profit is obtained must daily lessen as adventures increase, until all hope of advantage being precluded, a stop will effectually be put to further attempts.

Your memorialists believe, that as a means of revenue, it will eventually prove its own destruction, for though large sums may at present be obtained from it, by diminishing the expectation of profit, it will soon, not only prevent the increase of private armed vessels, but drive them from the ocean as a hopeless speculation or certain loss. A reduction of the duties by encouraging additional adventurers, would soon more than indemnify the treasury for any temporary loss it might sustain, in the increased number of subjects of duty which it would produce.

In addition to the burden of the high duties above complained of, these enterprises are subject to other grievances, which we respectfully hope will meet a speedy and complete redress.

By the 4th section of the act concerning lettersof-marque, prizes, and prize-goods, it is provided "That all captures and prizes of vessels and property shall be forfeited, and shall accrue to the owners, officers and crews of the vessels by whom such captures and prizes shall be made, and on due condemnation had, shall be distributed according to any agreement which shall be written between them, and if there be no such agreement, then one moiety to the owners, the other to the officers and crew, as nearly as may be, according to the rules prescribed for the distribution of prize-money, by

the act entitled An act for the better government of the Navy of the United States.' To this section no other construction can, in the opinion of your memorialists, reasonably be given, than that the capture, when ascertained to be a lawful prize, is to be at the disposal of the captors, to be by them distributed according to the provisions of the law.

The object of the interference of the Court of Admiralty, is simply to inquire into the character of the prize, which, if enemy's property when captured, "accrues" and "is forfeited" by the taking to the captors, whose property therein is affirmed, not acquired, by the act of condemnation. This property is, in the opinion of your memorialists, the undoubted right of the owner, derived from all meral and political rules of law and justice, to dispose of as be deems proper; a right not to be divested but by delinquency or crime. In the distos of New York off with p memorialists are inha

Finance the Count of A imiralty has decided, that prizes vinen e ndemned stall in every instance, be sold by the maremal and the penceeds deposited in the hands of the terk of the room to be by him distributed.

Taktar memorialists submit with respect to the kina mi vienee this decision emanates, they must complan of the harness of its consequences, from which ther respectfully hope Congress will see the necessity of abelling immediate relief. It is manifest that sales by the marshal must, in almost every instance, be conducted Lastly and without regard to the value of the property, which will often be sold at times and places unfawimble to the sale of the commodity. The owners will thus be enfined and passive spectators of the total saczie of valuable property, which, in their own hands, would yield a certain profit, were they permitted to dis

pose of it at such times and places, on such terms of credit, and in such quantities as are accommodated to the demand.

By this proceeding, not only are the captors deprived of the common right of managing their own concerns in their own way, but when their property is sacrificed at any price, the proceeds are loaded with commissions of officers for making that very sacrifice. Of these commissions the marshal receives one and a-quarter per cent. on the gross amount of sales, which includes the duty and the humane fund, established for the support of disabled seamen and their families, and constitutes tax upon tax. This gross amount, so stripped of one and a-quarter per cent., then passes into the hands of the clerk, where it again suffers a diminution of one and a-quarter per cent.. for receiving and paying over. After these deductions, the payment of the duties, the costs of condemnation, together with the extra ministerial and indispensable charges of the two per cent. invalid fund, agency, wharfage, etc., the owners, officers, and crew are presented with a lean account of profit, if not of absolute loss, chilling to the hopes and unnerving the arm of private enterprise. Your memorialists trust that it is unnecessary to enlarge on the utter impossibility of aiding the country by a continuance of services burdened with such grievous impositions. To Congress they confidently look for legal provisions, that may secure to owners of private armed vessels an adequate return for their expense and risk, to the brave officers and crew the reward of their gallant services, and to their widows and orphans the humane fund, established by law, unimpaired by official exactions. Your memorialists would suggest the expediency of shortening the time for effecting the condemnation of prizes, and of limiting the ordinary fees