Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-07-18
J. Fran the N. Z. Commercial Advertiser.

A1nericans in French brisons.-Ihere Is
+ scarcely an arrival from any part Of Europe
that does not furnish incontestible evidence
of the base and barbarous cruelties with
which American prisoners are scourged IN
France. To tie many instances already re-
corded on our journals, we have to add the
following from the Post Of last evening
Messrs. Hathaway s. Russell, merchants.
s1Rs,
I embrace this favorable opportunity of
writing to inform you of my present situa-
ton, which is dreadful.
Sirs, left New York on the 23d of Au-
gust, 1907, in the barque Two Brothers,
commanded by Henry Gardner, and bound
to Antwerp which port we were never per-
mitted to arrive at, in consequence of the
DEGREES of the belligerent nations. We re-
manned at Flushing months, and 4 in Rot
terdam, during which period there was a
vessel ordered home, with the officers and
crews belonging to the respective ships in
the ports of Holland being persuaded by
capt. Gardner to remain by the vessel, which
| did, always studying the interest OF my
owners. When tie embargo was raised In
Holland, no exertion was wanting on our
side to get the vessel in readiness for sea, in
hopes to get out of Europe which was then
in state of commissions. Captain Gardner
then procured a freight to Charante, for
cargo of Brandy, which proved to me I'M
fortunate. AS to the particulars of the voy-
age, imagine you are perfectly acquainted
with Them We arrived in Charante in
France, ON the 1st of September 1908. At
our arrival we were cmbargoed. In the
mean while we were employed in overhaul
ing ship and taking in cargo E; got every
thing on board ready for sea, when some OF
the people went and denounced the ship !;
said we touched at port IN England, and
were boarded at different times by British
ships Of war; through which we were sent
to prison at Charante. On the 18th of Oct.
we were sent to Rochefort prison, captain
Gardner being unwell obtained permission
to go to the hospital I remained in Roche
fort prison seven weeks. / was then order
ed to prepare for Arras. On the 9th of
Dec. commenced my travels with the Off
GERS of the ship Neptune Of Portland, and
Holland Trader of New York. Captain
Gardner still remained in the hospital.
We arrived in Arras after a disagreeablc
march Of about 600 mile through France
[We7 suffered much ON the roadwiIh fatigue
and want [and] the chief of our all became
prey to the overbearing prison keepers
Since our arrival in Arras we had letters
from capt. Jenkins, whose vessel is likewise
denounced, with eight more. He informs
me that capt. Gardner and eight more had
made their escape, since we LETT Rochefort.
Capt. Jenkins, ship Minerva, Of Rochester,
capt. Tucker, of the William of Newbury-
port; capt. Chaddock, Of the Wareham, of
New York, and their mates and some of
the people are in Rochefort prison. am
here friendless and moneyless. Our pay is
nineteen cents per day, to supply every ne
cessary of life, and 10 support whatever can
we obtain from our minister. I write tre-
quently to his excellency gen. Armstrong,
to alleviate our distress by allowing some
pecuniary support, if The can not obtain our
release. he zvaNnot even anszuey our let
terss; he listens to the suferings of his coun-
trynen, and gives them no redress. He
looks on US more with contempt than pity.
We are furthermore informed by Mr.. Cox
Barnett, American consul for the district
of Havre, that his excellency the French
minister would Immediately give US up were
gen. Armstrong to make application for us.
Mr.. Barnett is man who does all that lays
+, in [hisl power for his countrymen. Were
he invested with full authority we should
soon be redeemed from captivity. He in
| forms us that we cannot be released until
the fine which the emperor's DEGREES [have]
.imposed on us he Maid I wss civ uonthS q