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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

This black man has a good deal of art and cunning, and has drawn
several whites into his church; and his performances have an imposing
cast; and are often listened to with seriousness. He appears to have
learnt his sermons and prayers from a diligent reading of good books;
but as to the Christian system, the man has no more idea of it than he
has of the New Jerusalem; but then his good sentences, delivered,
frequently, with great warmth, and his string of good advice, given in
the negro dialect, make altogether, a novelty, that attracts many to
hear him; and he certainly is of service to the blacks; and it is a
fact, that the officers have heard him hold forth, without any
expressions of ridicule; while the majority of these miserable black
people are too much depraved to pay any serious attention to his
advice.

It is curious to observe the natural alliance between _king_ Dick and
this _priest_. Dick honors and protects him, while the priest
inculcates respect and obedience to this _Richard the 4th_. Here we
see the _union of church and state_ in miniature. Who told this negro,
that to maintain this influence, he must rally round the huge club of
the strongest and most powerful man in this black gang of sinners? And
who told king Dick that his nervous arm and massy club, were
insufficient without the aid of the preacher of terror? Neither of
them had read, or heard of Machiavel. Who taught this black orator,
that the priesthood must seek shelter behind the throne, from the
hostilities of reason? And who told "the rough allies," the Janisaries
of this imperium in imperio, that they must assist and countenance
both Dick and the priest? The science of government is not so deep and
complicated a thing as king-craft and priest-craft would make us
believe, since these rude people, almost deserving the name of a
banditti, threw themselves into a sort of government, that is to be
discerned in the early stages of every government. The love of power,
of influence, and of distinction, is clearly discernible, even among
the prisoners at Dartmoor. When I think of these things I am disposed
to despise what is called _education_, which is, after all, but a
_wooden leg_, a mere clumsy, unfeeling substitute for a live one,
barely sufficient to keep a man out of the mud.

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