The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-20 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN MERCHANT SERVICE.

On Friday evening last considerable excitement I
was occasioned in the fishmarket at Hastings, in
consequence of a sailor being landed by a Ramsgate
fishing lugger, which had picked him up about nine
miles at sea, just after he sprang from a packet ship
steering up the Channel. The account he gave of
the cause of thus deserting the packet is a most ex-
traordinary one,- and requires the strictest in-
vestigation. Ho said his name was James
Freeland, and that he was a native of London-
derry, Ireland. When taken before the Mayor
of Hastings at the Town-hall, on the following
morning, he made the following statement :—He
said he had lately been at New York, and on
the 23d of July last he was staying at a boarding-
house in that city, which was established for the
accommodation of seamen. On the evening of that
day the master of the boarding-house, whose name
was John White, asked him take a glass of grog.
He accepted the offer and received a glass of liquor.
Shortly after he had drunk it he fell asleep, and
continued in that state until the next morning,
when, on awaking, he found himself on board a
ship that was steering un ler full sail out of the
harbour. He afterwards found that it was a packet-
ship, laden with oilcake, and bound from New
York to London. When he awoke be received
orders to begin work, when he said he had not
shipped onboard the vessel, and therefore he wished
to return to the shore. The reply he received was
that the master of the lodging-house had• brought
him on board, and had received 17 dole. in advance
upon him. He was then ordered to loose the
" main royal," which, after some hesitation, he pro-
ceeded to do as fast as he could. He did not, how-
ever, perform this task quick enough for the mate,
who struck him on the side of the face and told him
to do it quicker. He then went on to perform
other work with the men, who were all entire stran-
gers to each other, but the captain and mate were
constantly beating and ill-using him. There was
not a day since he left New York that he had not
been beaten and ill-used either by the captain or
the third mate. On the previous day (Friday) the
ship was in the Channel, and 9 miles off Hastings,
and because be could not do his work quick enough
for the third mate, he came andbegan to kick him and
abuse him. He got that work done, and began to
coil the ropes up, when the third mate kicked him
again, and struck him on the head, saying that he
would have satisfaction from him now, for he
sprained his finger by hitting him the day before
After continuing his ill-treatment for some time the
third mate said, as they were standing at the side
of the ship, " Jump, you son of a , or I
will take your life before you. get to London."
Upon this he immediately jumped into the wager
in order to escape further ill-treatment. He
was a good swimmer, and as he swam by the
ship's " quarter," some one threw out the lifebuoy,
and the captain said, "If you care anything for your
life you can pick up the buoy ;" but he replied
that he would rather be drowned than return to the
ship and be ilitreated. The captain then said,
" Drown, then, you son of a —," and they were
the last words that he heard from Viem. After being
in the water about 1.0 minutes he was picked up by
the crew of a fishing-smack named tee Mary and
Ann, of Ramsgate, and brought into Hastings.
Another of the crew had jumped overboard since
they left New York, but was picked up again.
He also saw a man kicked overboard from the
forechains, and after he had been in the water about
10 minutes a boat was put out, but it was then
too late, and he was drowned. The man that was
picked up was severely beaten when taken on
board. At the request of the Mayor the poor fel-
low then described the food he had taken since he
left New York. He said it had been very deficient
in quantity. They had been supplied with molasses
and water, and at dinner they hid beans boiled up,
that was about enough
and bread were also
latter they had quite enough,
and that was the only article of which they received
in his possession,
withafollr titre©
aeb
allowed
small piece
ep.ni.oe cfet
Bho
efi
slebauetief
tt
annoymfroonmeythe captain of the
ship. He only owed the master of the boarding-
aansduffihcaidenncoyt. He
boarding-
house 9 dollars for a fortnight's board, so that if he
received had
had received 17 dollars from the captain he took 8
too many. In concluding his statement he added it
was his intention to lay a complaint before the proper
authorities in London, but he thought they would
not believe his story if he did not bring the mater
before this court when he lauded. When he was
taken into the Mary and Ann he begged and prayed
that they would not take him back to the ship, and
said he would rather be drowned than go on board
the ship, for he had received such ill-treatment. He
complained of his back, and saidhe had been knocked
about with a handspike. The craw took him into the
cabin of their boat, when he could scarcely move.
One of them examined his back, and it appeared very
much discoloured, as if he had received a severe
blow. He had also a mark near his left eye. They
landed him at Hastings. The Mayor after making
some further inquiries, ordered Inspector Glenister
to provide the unfortunate man with what refresh-
ments he required, and forward him to London,
that he might have an opportunity of lodging his
complaint at the City Police-court on Monday
morning, his Worship kindly undertaking to pay
whatever expenses were incurred in doing the same.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.

GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended Aug. 20, IK7, made up from the Re.
turns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in
England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter. •

WHEAT I BARLEY I OATS I RYE 1 BEANS I PEAS
59s 2d 403 Oil 27s 8d 40s 5d 47s id 403 10d
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES.

WHEAT I BARLEY I OATS I RYE I BEANS PEAS
61s 31 38s 6d 27s 10c1 40s 64 46s 2d 42s 31

ENGLISH GRAIN

,OLD LAST WEEK.

Wheat, 78,060; barley, 1,422; oats, 8,237; rye, 250;
beans 2,745 ; peas, 1,738 quarters.

MEAT MARKETS.

NEWOLTI AND LEADENHALL.—Our markets are firm,
and prices are well suppor*,ed :—Beef, from 2s 10d to 43
61; Mutton, 33 0,1 to 4s 81; Lamb, 9s 8d to 5s 61;
Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 4d ; Pork, 3s 6d to 4s 8d per 81bs, by the
carcase.

SOUTHALL, Aug. 19.—The supplies of s1::::k were only
moderate, and the trade generally ruled firm, at improv-
ing currencies: —Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 10d ; Mutton, 4s Od
to 5s 0.1; Lamb, 4s 81 to 5s 8d; Veal, 3s 10d to 4s 81; Pork,
4s Od to 4s 81 per 81bs, to sink the offal.
ROMFORD 9 ug. 19.—Our market has ruled firm, a.
fully last week's prices : —Beef, from 3s Od to 4s
Mutton, 4s Od to 5s 2d ; Lamb, 5s 01 to 5s 10d ; Veal'
4s Od to 4s 101. Pcrk, N 01 to Os Od per 811s8 ; Suckling
Calves, 16s to 26's each; Mitch Cows, 171. to 20/. each.