Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-03
NEW-YORK, May "a.
THE TOMB OF THE MARTYRS

D-mOtiDW, agrecabtN TO arrange |
rnent vii! b eut. red al The " allabout, |
the Wondering bones OF some Of those
panio;s who were the victims of Bri
tish cru,lsy, during our revolutionary
con ST We say victims, because
tnvy had not AN opportunity of falling
bly,, in the day OF battle, while defen-
ding the rights of their much injured
and o rr,ssr;l country. T3e fortune oil
war had made them the prisoners of an
unrelentmg enemy. Ian enemy who,
knowing thsirperseverance& theirbfa-
very, iugloriously determined to muir
der those they could not conquer. Ages
wilihot DELIBERATE areme mbrance ofthe
enormities which were practiscd by
the mvrmidons of Britain on board
their prison ships IN this harbour; and
the American who can read, without
the most lively emotions fhorror and
resentment, description of those
scenes of barbarity, is unworthy pro-
tec,ion or refuge on his native shore.
We have supposed that our readers,
at this moment, would peruse with
pleasure, the following well written &C
count OF the suiferings of our county
mer. It's extracted from an elegant
poem, by captain Philip Freneau,
who was one OF the few prisoners tina,
survived several months confinement
on board these hulks. He is gentle.
man Of the striciest veracity, and OF
the most refined sense of honor
Read Britonsi Read, We apologistg
and advocates of the British govern
mentl And when you have read this
true, but melancholy description
blush for the nation and the govern
ment, that would ceuntenance such a
murderous crew of blood-hounds, as
were sent hither to eat out our sab
stance and destroy our people"
The various horrors of shese hu'ks to tell,
Thee prison shi.a where pain and penance dive u,
Where dea hiu tent ID vengeance holds his reign,
Ard iulur'd ghosts, yei unaYeng'd complain
This be my task -ungen' Tous Britons. you,
Conspire 20 murder, whom YOU can't subdue.
No nlasts or salis hese crowded slips adorn,
Dismal 20 view, neglected and fcriorn
Here mighty ills opprest The impsiscn'd shrorg,
Dull were our slunbers, and our nights were
long;
From morn to eve along the decks we lay,
SCCiCh u MO levers OJ SNis-I
No friendly asrnigg cas- : welcome shade,
Once was il promIs'd and WIS rever made;
No favors could these sons of defth bestow,
twas endless vengeance. and unceasing Voc
Two hulks on i!udson's stormy bosom lie,
Two, CT! the east, alarm the plying eye
There. the black scoRFIoN At hev moorng rides
There STROABoLo swipg, yielding TO The tides,
Here bulky JtRsHy 6ils larger space,
And HunrtR--t TO ali hospitals di,gsace.
When to the ocean sinks the western sun,
And The score hid tones ERE their ev'EinE gun,
% Down, rebels, down(" the angry Scotchmen
cry,
"Base dogs, descend, or by or broad swords
die I"
Hail dark abode what can with thee compare !;
Heat. sickness. famine dea,h and stagnsn air !;
Pandora's box from whence all mischief flew,
Here really found, TO -r1ents mankind anew
Swift from he qua iued decks we rushd along
And vainy sought rcpose, so vast our throng
Three hundred wretches here, denied all light,
In crowded mansions pass The internal night,
Som Tor bed their latteFed vestnents join,
Ana some on chests, and some on floors recline );
Shut from IN, blessings Of the evening air,
Persive VIC lay with minglIng cotgses tSere,
Nsag' and wan and coich'd with heat, blow,
We loolfd like ghosts ere death had made us so :;
How could csc, where heat u hunger join d.
Thus 10 debase The body and the MIND,
Vince cruel thirst The paIehiug throat iuvades
Dries up the and 6is him for the shades
But such trsin of endless woes abound,
So many niiscefs in these hu ks ave fOuhd,
That ,hcm all, pocm 10 prolong.
Wcul swell TOO high the horrors Of our Gong
Hongsy anh thirst, 90 work Cur woe, Genuine,
AVID moudy bread and flesh Of roIlen swine,
the maugltd carcase, and tina aitsTed bi am,
The dgctor's poison, and the captain cane,
The soldiers ruusket, and he steward deb,
The evening shscklc, and the neon day threat;
Down 20 the gloom took my pensive way,
Along The decks the dying capt.ves lay;
Some struck with madness, some with scurvy
pain'd,
But stl of putrid fever most complain d
On the hafd floors these wasted objects aid,
There to.s'd and umb'sd IN the dismal shade
Th-f 70 soft voice Their bitter fate bemoand,
And dea'h rode s's.ely while the victims groan ID;
OF leaky decks head them long complain,
Drowp'd as hey were IN deluges Of rain,
DGHy'd the comforts of d, ing bed.
Ard no pillow 70 support the heal
How could they elsc bUt pine. & grieve. q sigh,
Dstest q wreiched life, and wish to die.
SUch food they sent. TO make complete our woes
IL cooked ike oafrion, torn from hungry crows
Sach vetmiu vie, on ev'ry joint were seen,
So back, corrupted, morify'd and lean,
That once wc Uy'd. 70 move our R,nty chief,
And ,has addtessJ him holding up The beef
O. See captain, see what rotten bones we pick