xvi 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF 



[1813. 



frigate, who informed us that she was called the Briton, commanded by 

 Sir Thomas Staines, and ordered us all to repair on board of her, bag 

 and baggage. We obeyed with all reasonable alacrity, although it 

 was late in the evening before every thing was properly arranged and 

 settled. It was a beautiful moonlight night ; and I will not deny that 

 as I gazed at the silver orb, I silently wished myself at Stonington. 

 But regrets were now useless. 



As soon as we were safely stowed between decks, the master-at-arms 

 ordered a sentry to be placed over us. On the following morning, how- 

 ever, as the captain was examining the ship, seeing us under guard, 

 he called to the master-at-arms, and demanded why the marines were 

 placed over the Americans. 



" Let them go about their business," said he ; and then, turning to 

 the lieutenant, he added, " let these American tars be put in messes 

 among the ship's company ; and as this happens to be the 4th day 

 of July, a day which they always celebrate in their proud and happy 

 country, tell my steward to give them six bottles of spirits from my 

 own private stores, that they may drink to the memory of the immor- 

 tal Washington, the father of his country." 



It is perhaps unnecessary to say that we cheerfully profited by this 

 unexpected indulgence from a magnanimous enemy ; and united in 

 celebrating the anniversary of our country's independence on board 

 of an enemy's ship of war, and under the. flag of the same power that 

 had so often assailed our country's rights. 



On the following day, our schooner, the Joel Barlow, was sent to 

 England as a prize, in charge of a lieutenant, midshipman, and ten 

 men. Our captain went in her, but the rest of us remained on board 

 the Briton. The same day our French passengers were disposed of 

 by putting them on board a little French fishing-smack out of Rochelle ; 

 although much against the inclinations of the fishermen, who begged 

 hard to be excused, as they were sure of being imprisoned for the ser- 

 vice the moment they landed. All their entreaties, however, were un- 

 availing. They were compelled to obey, *and the old lady and her 

 son, accompanied by the other French lady, were received on board 

 the smack, and we saw them no more. 



Major Noah, the Tunisian consul, and his friend, were treated with 

 the greatest civility by Captain Staines and his officers ; and also by 

 Admiral Duncan, whom they visited by invitation, on board the Bulwark 

 seventy-four, as soon as we reached Basque Roads, where a British 

 squadron was at anchor, watching the motion of the French, and pick- 

 ing up adventurers like ourselves. The consul was afterward trans- 

 ferred to the Rippon seventy-four, and finally sent to England, in the 

 Goldfinch brig. From thence he proceeded on his mission to Tunis, 

 by the way of Spain. 



A different destiny awaited myself and comrades. We were trans- 

 ferred to the Sultan seventy-four ; from thence to the Clarence seventy- 

 four ; in which we were conveyed to Plymouth, and put on board a 

 prison-ship, where we remained about one month, and were then taken 

 to Dartmoor Prison.* 



* This prison is situated on an extensive moor, through which flows the river Dart ; hence the 

 name of Dartmoor ; as the seaport town at the mouth of the same river is called Dartmouth. 



