DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 227 



Council were enforced, I availed myself of 

 sending shipments by fast sailing schooners 

 to New York, which all arrived safe and 

 paid me a handsome profit. I remained in 



when the American vessels were sold by order of Bona- 

 parte, the French privateers and merchants bought all 

 that would sail fast, or might serve for coasting trade, 

 after the Emperor himself had taken without form of 

 sale, such as were best fitted for cruisers. The residue 

 not being wanted by the Master or his servants were 

 politely left for American bidders." Columbian Centinel, 

 Feb. 29, 1811. 



The Federalist papers had evidently not forgiven Mr. 

 William Gray for his desertion of their party. 



Capt. Lamson made a claim on the French Govern- 

 ment for the loss of his adventure on the " Wells." 



The profits as well as the dangers attending trade at 

 this time are shown by the prices the goods sold for in 

 France as compared with their original cost. Cotton 

 costing fifteen cents in America sold at auction in France 

 at one dollar a pound. Rum bought in America at sixty- 

 seven cents a gallon, brought three dollars a gallon in 

 France. The whole adventure, which stood Capt. Lam- 

 son as landed in France $1258, including freight and 

 insurance, sold at $4218 at the auction held by order of 

 the court. The danger of the trade is shown by the in- 

 surance, which was twenty per cent. 



(Captain Lamson, Private Papers.) 



