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
Just before we sailed, our old friend, Mr. Miller, came on board, and
we were all called upon deck to hear his last speech, and receive his
blessing. We conceited that he looked ashamed, and felt embarrassed.
It is probable that the consciousness of having told us things that
were not true, disconcerted him. He, however, in a milder manner and
voice than usual, told us that we were going to England _to be
exchanged_, while there were some in another ship going to England _to
be hanged_. Beside this enviable difference in our situation, compared
with those traitorous Irishmen, who had been fighting against their
king and _country_, we were very fortunate in being the first selected
to go, as we should of course, be the first to be exchanged and sent
home. He told us that he thought it probable, that we should be sent
home again before spring, or at farthest in the spring; he therefore
exhorted us to be good boys during the passage, and behave well, and
obey orders, and that would ensure us kind and humane treatment; but
that if we were mutinous, or attempted to resist the authority of the
officers, our treatment would be less kind, and we should lose our
turn in the course of exchange, and that our comfort and happiness
depended entirely on our own submissive behaviour. He every now and
then gave force to his assertions, by pledging _his honor_, that what
he said was true, and no deception.
As this was probably the last time we should have an opportunity of a
personal communication with Mr. Agent Miller, we represented to him,
that there were several of the prisoners destitute of comfortable
clothing; that the clothes of some were not even decent to cover those
parts of the body that even our savage Indians conceal, and he
promised to accommodate them: but we never heard any more of him or
the clothing. However it may be accounted for, we saw this man part
from us with regret. It seemed to be losing an old acquaintance, while
we were going we knew not where--to meet we knew not what.
Previous to our sailing we had applied to _Mr. Mitchell_, the American
agent, for a supply of clothing; but from some cause or other, he did
not relieve the wants of our suffering companions. Mr. Mitchell may be
a very good man; but every good man is not fit for every station. We
had rather see old age, or decrepitude, pensioned by the government we
support, than employed in stations that require high health and
activity. Disease and infirmity may check, or impede the benevolent
views of our government, and cast an odium on the officers of
administration. After all, we may find fault where we ought to praise.
It is possible that we may not have made due allowance for Mr. Miller,
the British agent, and we may sometimes have denounced him in terms of
bitterness, when he did not deserve it. His general conduct, however,
we could not mistake.
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