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A journal, of a young man of Massachusetts, late a surgeon on board an American privateer, who was captured at sea by the British in May, eighteen hundred and thirteen and was confined first, at Melville Island, Halifax, then at Chatham, in England, and last at Dartmoor prison : $b Interspersed with observations, anecdotes and remarks, tending to illustrate the moral and political characters of three nations. To which is added, a correct engraving of Dartmoor prison, representing the massacre ofWaterhouse, Benjamin

History

A journal, of a young man of Massachusetts, late a surgeon on board an American privateer, who was captured at sea by the British in May, eighteen hundred and thirteen and was confined first, at Melville Island, Halifax, then at Chatham, in England, and last at Dartmoor prison : $b Interspersed with observations, anecdotes and remarks, tending to illustrate the moral and political characters of three nations. To which is added, a correct engraving of Dartmoor prison, representing the massacre of

Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dartmoor Prison; United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Prisoners and prisons

are good the power of Heaven will fight for us; for the good must
    merit God's peculiar care. The powers of Heaven fought for us;
    they assisted us to gain our liberty, it is evident from the very
    circumstance, that in our struggle with Great Britain for our
    liberty, we had no navy, or none of any consequence, yet Great
    Britain lost more line of battle ships in that war than she did
    with France, although France is a great naval power. And we should
    be thankful to God for all the blessings he hath bestowed upon us
    from time to time, and in particular for the blessings of that
    unity which we are recently informed prevails among our countrymen
    in America; united they stand, nor will the powers of hell be able
    to overthrow them. And now let us appeal to the God of Sabaoth,
    that is, to the God of armies--let us appeal to Him who holds the
    balance, and weighs the events of battles and of realms, and by
    his decision we must abide. And may He grant us health, peace and
    unity in this our disagreeable situation; and let us all join in
    concord to praise the Ruler and Governor of the universe. Amen.
    Amen.

Among the songs sung on this occasion, were several composed by
seafaring people, in our own country. The following drew tears from
the eyes of our generous hearted sailors. It pathetically describes
what many of them had experienced, the _impressment of an American
sailor boy_, by a British man of war, _the tearing up of his legal
protection_, and of his _sinking under a broken heart_. It was written
by Mr. _John De Wolfe_, of Rhode Island.


    _The Impressment of an American Sailor Boy._

    A SONG,

    _Sung on board the British prison ship Crown Prince, the Fourth of
    July, 1813, by a number of the American prisoners._

    The youthful Sailor mounts the bark,
      And bids each weeping friend adieu;
    Fair blows the gale, the canvass swells;
      Slow sinks the uplands from his view.

    Three mornings, from his ocean bed,
      Resplendent beams the God of day;
    The fourth, high looming in the mist,
      A war-ship's floating banners play.

    Her yawl is launch'd; light o'er the deep,
      Too kind, she wafts a ruffian band;
    Her blue track lengthens to the bark,
      And soon on deck the miscreants stand.

    Around they throw the baleful glance;
      Suspense holds mute the anxious crew--
    Who is their prey?--poor sailor boy!
      The baleful glance is fix'd on you.

    Nay, why that useless scrip unfold?
      They damn the "_lying yankee scrawl_,"
    Torn from thine hand, it strews the wave,--
      They force thee, trembling, to the yawl.

    Sick was thine heart, as from the deck,
      The hand of friendship wav'd farewell;
    Mad was thy brain, as, far behind,
      In the grey mist, thy vessel fell.

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