24 CAPTAIN ZACHARY G. LAMSON 



British, would count as a good prize to a 

 French war ship or privateer. The situa- 

 tion, then, was this. France controlled 

 most of the continent of Europe. If a neu- 

 tral vessel cleared for any continental port 

 she stood a good chance to be taken by 

 some British vessel, either on the high seas 

 or when entering port. If to avoid this she 

 entered some English port, landed, and 

 reshipped her cargo, she was liable to be 

 seized by the French. 



This situation was an intolerable one, 1 



1 "Extract from a letter of Capt. Williams of the ship 

 ' Friendship ' : 



< PALERMO, July 12, 1807. 



'The markets throughout the Mediterranean are glut- 

 ted with almost everything. A cargo of fish could scarcely 

 be given away. You can hardly form an idea of the dif- 

 ficulties attending neutral trade at this time. We are not 

 allowed either by the English or the French to go from 

 one enemy's port to another. There are thirty sails of 

 Americans at Malta, condemned or under trial. The 

 island swarms with privateers. The English have taken 

 seventeen American vessels laden with oil, several bound 

 to London, but had previously been to enemy's ports.' " 

 Salem Gazette, Sept. 29, 1807. 



