DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 219 



where I found many in the same situation. 

 I remained quiet till such a time as my fish 

 began to perish, when I applied to the Gov- 

 ernment for liberty to sell my cargo and 

 deposit the proceeds in an independant 

 person's hands till we knew the result of 

 the Court. At this time Bonaparte l was in 

 Madrid, the Spaniards had no govern- 

 ment, and the government at Madrid was 

 not organized. Our case was suspended, 

 and in a few days the French had to fly 

 Madrid, a Cortes insurrection broke out, 

 and tribunal after tribunal was created, 

 one acquitting and one condemning and in 

 fact no positive decision could take place. 

 I consented to compromise with the cap- 

 tors. 2 I wrote R. M. Meade of Cadiz to 



1 Joseph Bonaparte, appointed by Napoleon, King of 

 Spain and the Indies, June 15, 1808. Obliged to evacu- 

 ate Madrid, Aug. 1, 1808. French reentered Madrid, 

 Dec 3, 1808. 



2 " Vessels detained and condemned at Algesiras since 

 Jan. 30, 1808, * Wells,* Lamson and many others."- 

 Salem Gazette, Sept. 27, 1808. Condemned under the 

 Milan Decree of Dec. 16, 1807. 



