Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-07-03

confess that 1 nau DCen Dodfdeds resulting
me at the same time, that every respect
and t'ention should then be pad to myself
and PROPERTY WAS stung with indigna-
ton at the offer to bride me, and replied
that though was deeply interested in the
vessel and cargo, could not csarifoe my
honor TO retain it.--They again earnestly
urged me to make the conference.-the
Berlin decree was read to me, and the
chief director observed, that had better
at once confess, as the liberal offers made
by his imperial majesty would prevail with
some one of the crew To swear to the fact
of being visited, and should ten lose the
bounty besides being imprisoned--I impru-
IDENTITY told the directors, l did not before
know that any government would offer a
bride to witness 10 tell falsehood.
After their exertions by many ingenious
cross questions to entrap me, and finding it
fruitless, was committed to prison, and
my door was guarded by two Gems d. drsna,
which was again told was ".naere formal
tie. My chief mate, George Thaxter, was
then called before the directors and as Inc
afterwards informed me, they put the same
question to him as they did to ne, respect
ing his name, country, &c. After bis deny
ing any knowledge of the French decree,
he was asked how much wages was due
him from the ship he answered about one
hundred Dollars. ave are sorry for your
loss said the chief director, but we will
| make il up to you; your Captain has depos-
ed that your ship was boarded by British
crulzer, and here, (she wing him pretend
ed deposition in French which the mate
| could not ready here is the written confess
sion the mate answered that if the cap
tain had declared to lie he should MOI,
| and denied positively that the ship had been
boarded by a British cruizer-The inter-
prefer then read the Milan decree to him
and showing him, what Thaxter was told
was declaration, assured him if he would
sign it, he should not suffer any of the pen
alties OF that decree, and should receive all
the wages due HIM besides. This he re-
| iused-The chief director, then used the
most threatening language. He told him
| he should, in case he persisted in a refusal
be sent TO prison, and kept there and would
perhaps stsrye-.for Jour 8oeenmsnf, added
he, sriH nor relieve yoa. But il you will
make One confession you shall have one third
the vessel and cargo, and go where you
| please" Thsxter still persisted in what he
had said, and was brought BY tle guards to
| the same prison with myself---ail communi.
| cation between US and the rest Of the crew
| was cut oft.
My cook j ames Welch, was then examin
ed, and after the usual question, the chief
director told him that the captain (meaning
me and mate had both attested that the
| ship had been frequently boarded by a Brit
ish cruizer, and added as " lou are also one
honest Iook man. no doubt you qpil confess The
same" Welch denied any knowledge of
such fact.-The director then told him he
should receive 5000 llvers to make the same
confession-Welch assured them if any
British eruizer had boarded them, he had
no knowledge of il, and believed that such
an event could not have taken place without
his knowing it-aiter various threats of i'm
prisonment, promises of liberatons and re-
ward &c. to all which he remained infexi-
Bile, he was also sent to prison.
The second mate James Gilkey, was
then arraigned before he tribunai-They
made use of every artifice, to obtain from
him the necessary proof for condemnation,
promises of great reward, and threats of a
long and dreary Imprisonment were alter
nately made use OF, to induce him to per-
vert the truth.-They told him that all those
who had been examined had separately
made " the confession and charged him to
beware Of telling lie" as he would then
be publicly shot BY sis soldiers. Giikey how
ever persisted in asserting that our ship had
not been boarded by any English vessel, and
was then committed to prison, amid the
7 scornful sneers and reproaches OF the tri-
bune and soldiers who accompanied him.
Here any further examination was suspend
ed for the present The next thing that
took place l was marched on foot IN compa-
ny with four Swedish and three English
| men, prisoners of war, to Verden, 500 miles
from ST. Malioes--in the course OF which
suffered every thing that human being
could undergo and suryiye.--We were
guarded by SIX Gems q Arms onlhorse back.
when we arrived we were put into
close prison, and after some days cores
pondent at Nantz agreed TO make some adj
vancos in money FOR me, and also become
my bail in the sum of forty thousand Francs,
of which the condition was that should
not leave the country without permission OF
governmental was then permitted to re-
turn ON foot to St. Malloes, and allowed to
walk the streets, and Sous equal to four
cents day was given me by government
for my subsistence
One day in walking the streets Of st.
Malloes met with Thomas Todd, master
of the American ship Catherine, owned by
MIR. Clifford of Philadelphia, AID knew him.
He had been broughtin about week be-
fore myself land under the same decree.
Captain Todd found, was destitute of
cloathing and even food. The privateers-
men :" fom mere jafrali,e" had robbed him
of every thing. Having some htie credit
myself, gave him temporary relief btu
understand he still rem aims prisoner, to-
ge,her with his mate Mr.. Stevens, .and CREW
all in .coniine mcnt at 81. Malloes. I men
ton this circumstance TO inform bis IN
their f.iends and relations in tins country Of
their present destitute and deploraa'e sltu-
alton. But to return TO my own case.