LONDON.

Extract of a letter from Whitehaven, April 26.

“We are all in a bustle here, from the late insolent attack of the provincial privateer’s men.¹ I hope it will rouse us from our lethargy. Every precaution is now taking to give our unnatural enemies a proper reception, should they pay us another visit. Advice is this night arrived, that after plundering Lord Selkirk’s seat, they landed on the island of Jura, where they committed many depredations. A light collier, just come in from Dublin, spoke with the Thetis man of war,² last night off the Calf of Man; so that I shall, in my next, probably give a good account of the Ranger’s crew.”

The following account of the seizure of Lord Selkirk’s plate, by the crew of the American privateer (as mentioned in the first page of the paper) is extracted from a letter from Dumfries, dated April 24:

“Yesterday morning between ten and eleven o’clock, a servant of Lord Selkirk’s brought word that a press-gang had landed near the house. This the party from the privateer had given out, in order, as was supposed, to get out of the way all the servants and others who might oppose them.³ Presently between 30 and 40 armed men came up, all of whom planted themselves round the house, except three, who entered, each with two horse-pistols at his side; and, with bayonets fixed, they demanded to see the Lady of the house; and, upon her appearing, told her, with a mixture of rudeness and civility, who they were, and that all the plate must be delivered to them. Lady Selkirk⁴ behaved with great composure and presence of mind. She soon directed her plate to be delivered, with which, without doing any other damage, or asking for watches, jewels, or any thing else, (which is odd) the gentlemen made off. Something, however, had been said about their returning; and the Kircudbright people were in expectation of a visit last night. There is reason to think that there were some people among them acquainted with persons and places, and in particular one fellow, supposed to have been once a waiter at an inn at Kirkudbright. The leader of the party, who was not the Captain of the vessel, told, that their intention was to seize Lord Selkirk, who is now in London; that two other privateers were at hand; and that they had been at Whitehaven, where they had burnt some vessels, but did not get done what they intended. When the affair was ended Lady Selkirk, with her family and visitors, left the house. Her Ladyship remained last night at Carlingworth, in order to be near information. It is said there are some ships of force at Belfast.”