Basseterre (in St. Christophers) April 12.
We have collected the following particulars from persons lately arrived from the Windward Islands, and from English papers.
The pirates have cut two vessels out of Tobago, and there are 26 pirate vessels out of Martinico, cruising to windward, for the outward bound ships, chiefly manned with Frenchmen; one of these pirates, who took a brig from Cork, after a short engagement, had not a single man on board who could speak any English but "strike to Congress." So many of the Cork fleet have been carried. into Martinico, that beef is now selling for forty shillings per barrel. The governor gives the pirates every encouragement: ー they fit out their vessels there, or rather the French are all turned pirates. In particular, they are now cutting a prize snow down to make a pirate of her. The English sailors carried in in the prizes, are encouraged to run a few dollars in debt, and then have the option of going on board a pirate, or going to jail. We should not omit doing justice to the spirited behaviour of Governor [Valentine] Morris of St. Vincents. He sent to the French Governor to demand the English prisoners, offering to pay their debts. The demand was immediately complied with, and he recovered, at one time to his country, twenty-six stout fellows, who immediately entered on board a privateer which he is fitting out himself. He offers commissions to every man who will give in proper security, observing, that when every cowardly foreigner is fighting under pirate colours, he will run the risk of granting letters of reprisal to his country-men.
The prizes, amongst which are several Guinea ships, brought into Martinico, are sold immediately, and publicly, without condemnation. The best slaves are sold for ten joes apiece.
The Seaford has taken three French pirates and a sloop loaded with ammunition, supposed to be one of those loaded from the French ships that have been freighted on account of Franklin, lately arrived at Martinico, and consigned to the agent Bingham, who commissions all the French pirates.