The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-08-13 00:00:00

,pert frees oer friends ; and to augmnt our ply to
what ire used to rec Are in all former wars, viz. sr)
lines per month, as we then ranked with Lieu.
tenants a the Navy; but the French Governmatit
has net eves condescended to givejas an answer.
We have borne our misfortunes with patience and
resignathoss for a number of years, thinking some
political entire might be the reason we were not
exchanged; certainly no rich satire can exist kr
•
eight years.

We bass existed. epee the smelt pittance of 22
litres (245. 4d. sterling) per month, allowed us by
the French Government, which, your Royal High.
ness must be well convineed, is insufficient to support
a class of men who have hitherto moved iu a sphere
of mediocrity.

We Batter ourselves the merchant service h of
peat importance to the State; for, without
merchantmen; there would be no commerce, nor
nursery for seamen. We are the most oppreesed,
' but we think not the most undeserving, of his Mu
jesty's subjects ; most of us are fathers of families)
and we have for many years paid taxes to Goveru.
meet.

, The moment we are captured, our pay from our
ampletyers ceases, which reduces.' us to the greatest
idistemai Wu" deprived of the means of supporting
our wives, and educating our children, as formerly,
by the produce of our industry; on the contrary,
the little hoard that was pat by to comfort old age
in its infirmities, has been expended to assist us in
our miserable and unparalleled captivity.

We humbly beg your Royal Highness to order
the Minister to lay our situation before Parliament,
and to request them to extend their bounty towards
their unfortunate countrymen ; many of whom bear
scars of wounds received in defence of their country,
and the most part have served the early part of theist
lives on board of his Majesty's ships. 4
Far be it from us to complain o'f the humanl4l
strewn by our country to unfortunate stranger'
driven from their homes; but, we presume to think,
we merit the bounty of our nation, as much as the
French Emigrants, and we should consider ourselves
handsothely relieved, if the same allowance was
made to us, as is given to the meanest them;
which might be either remitted us through the Patri•
otic Fend at Lloyd's, or be paid to our friends Is
England.
Notwithstanding the immense sums which have,
been contributed to the Patriotic Fund, we have re.
ceived no other support from it, during the whole
time of our captivity (many pow reckon upwards of
eight years), than the sum of seventy-eight lirrea
(31. ss. sterling), with the exception of the under,
tonnage masters (that Is masters of vessels under SO
tons, who receive but the rations and pay of a sailor),
who have for some time past received nine litres per
month.

We have received information, that several evil.
disposed persons have asserted that 29 litres per
month is sufficient far all our waists, therefore, we
have taken the liberty of annexing a note of erpence►
for one month ; by condescendi►►g to look over
which, your Royal Highness will see the deplorable
manner in which we exist. The few among us who
have small funds, or friends, in England, lose more
than one quarter, and frequently, one third of what
we draw, the exchange being so much against us.

May it please your Royal Highness, the porpoft
of this Petition is not to Icor a triding support—.that
is only a secondary consideration ; but to beg yeti
Royal Highness to strike at the root of the evil It
oncr, by making an Exchange of Prisoners, Horstoro
us to our country, to our wives anti families, before
we become too old either to be of use to them or to
ourselves. Your Royal Highness will be pleased to
recollect, that although we are only lilerchait
eers, there are amongst us navigators and pilots as
pable of conducting ships from London bridge to all
parts of -the known world.
difwan.inforenell-br the Fretidb, that -tE # ths
fa* of our own Government that an Exchange has
tot taken place. Gracious Gon l will future ages
ever believe, that a great nation, like the United
Kingdom, would sacrifice thousands of her eabjects
for so many years, when she is expending her blood
and treasure for Foreign Nations.
Being fully convinced that your Royal Highness
will take such steps as you in your wisdom shall
think most proper to effect an Ezcbange,
We are, with the highest esteem and most prefonad respect,
Your Royal Highneis's
Most faithful and obedient subjects and servants,
Alex. Smith Thos. Jones Thomas Cabbage
John Sutton George Hawkins Nicholas pleats
Thos. Howson Edw. Rabic George Purdy.
John Ross Joseph Bishop J. Pratt
Thos. Young Thai. Jeeb John Davidsoe
Thos. Booth Thos. Lyell Alex. Maclauren
Jobs Findlay. George Batchelor Henry Quinton
James Berry Robert Harris Thomas Bly
Janses Me di Jos. 'Hoskin Samuel Jay
Robert Miller John Burry 'ravines Wells
Thooms Parker John Dentilas Thomas Coulon
Stephen Redma Thomas Graves W. Meusfurth,url7s
John Orfewr Richard Simms -Wm. Martin
James Donoisocs William Atkinson W. Meazies
John Morton Nicholas Purdge Thus. YonogiMo
Was. Summers Web. O'Connor Jacob Hare, o•
"This. Stickle Charles Newton W. Huggins
Nicholas Owe*, Thomas lisbett - Robert Capp
Thearro Korvin- • bawl Graves Jobe Hines •
'Thos. Was. Forster Was. Brown Thomas Nieman
•I,ofs lefibt*We , Wail Michael taw
Edwafts Wait

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