e
following letter was handed us, confirmatory of the melancholy
truth of the account, with further particulars. We cannot but
express our unqualified admiration of the gallantry of spirit
that impelled the undaunted Allen, undismayed by the bloody
signal of _no quarter_, which waved aloft, to attack an armed
vessel, with a desperate crew in an open boat, and with only a
few men. His virtuous indignation bore away all prudent
reflections, and he rushed into the jaws of death itself to
rescue or avenge his fellow citizens. Captain Allen is a native
of Hudson, in this State, where his mother and sisters now
reside. May we not hope that the vessels in our harbor will
unite in giving at least one outward testimony of their
mourning for his loss, by raising their flags half-mast high
to-morrow.

"Matanzas, November 11, 1822.

"To Messrs. G. G. & S. Howland,

"My dear Sirs:--The gallant Allen is no more! You witnessed the
promptitude with which he hastened to relieve the vessel which
I informed him had been captured off this port. He arrived
just in time to save five sail of vessels, which he found in
possession of a gang of pirates, three hundred strong,
established in the Bay of Lejuapo, about fifteen leagues east
of this. He fell, pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a
division of boats, attacking their principal vessel, a fine
schooner of about eighty tons, with a long eighteen-pounder on
a pivot, and four guns, _with the bloody flag nailed to the
mast_. Himself, Captain Freeman, of marines, and twelve men,
were in the boat much in advance of his other boats, and even
took possession of the schooner after a desperate resistance
which nothing but a bravery almost too daring could have
overcome. The pirates, all but one, escaped by taking to their
boats and jumping overboard, before the Alligator's boats
reached them. Two other schooners escaped by the use of their
oars, the wind being light.

"Captain Allen survived about four hours, during which his
conversation evinced a composure and firmness of mind, and
correctness of feeling, as honorable to his character and more
consoling to his friends than even the dauntless bravery he
before evinced.

"The Alligator arrived here to-day, in