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

was poor lpnDlalil AcafhaNS Ds lstS
of James Simpson he had been some time
in prison and had suffered much from fear
and confinement They begun by assuring
him that all the others who had been eyan4-
med bad confessed that the ship bad been
boarded by an English eruizer, then they
offered him the same brides that the others
had refused. The gliuering reward held
out 10 him Of his freedom and one third of
the vessel and cargo besides oycrcame him,
and they obtained their purposes. He base
ly and falsely affirmed that my tship had
been boarded by cruiser, but he did not
know of what nation. This however was
seized upon as sufficient by the piundering
Tribunal, and on his single, loose testimo-
nv only, coniradieted by all the rest Of the
officers and crew, was the act of sequestra.
ton issued against the vessel and cargo
The latter was lnyoieed at St Petersburg at
dolls. 1850
The ship was worth at least 10000
Making tue whole dolls. 81 ,5So.
Shortly after the fequeilration obtained
pe.miflion to go to Paris to fee the American
Minif.cr; where arrived in the early part
of June, 1903. Immediately called on Mr..
Skipwith the American Conlul, who patiently
and politely heard hiftory of all my fulfer
ings and advifsd ME to relate my cafe to gen.
eral Armffrong, who would doubtleis Aiiiit
me. accordingly waited on the MiniRer
and repeated to him an account of my voya &c,
capture, &c. After hearing all the Cory OF
my fuferings through, he obferved to me
that the government of the United States had
laid an Embargo on all ihippng,and he there
fore conGdered that American veiiels now
navigating the ocean were protecting an I'M
lawful commerce, confequently they were nos
emitted to his interpoGtion in their favor.
replied that knew nothing of fuch an En-
barge, having left america prior To lis exit
tence, and having hnce teen in countries
where fuch information had not been COM
municsted to ME. But he gave himfelf no
further trouble to aniwer me and departed.
After this however, had feveral confereu-
ces with Cca. Armnrong on the iubject. On
one location we walked together at his re-
queft into the Luxembourg Gardens-Cap'.
Folger faid he, can obtain the liberation oi
your vehel in 5aiia9 on one condition. What
is that condition eagerly exclaimed Tat
yea 4ViH faie Frsseb geatiswsn and Lis baggage
10 tie Havsaso" was altonifhed and repi-
ed that muR decline it, as the voyage was
illegal and moreover was contrary to the IN
tentions of thoie concerned IN the property,
and would deprive them of their policy
General Armnrong then Unified on my ta-
King this French gentleman and his baggage
10 the Havana, and faid he would privately
Indemnify me aganf any hazard that mighs
arife from the voyage | erpreilsd my er-
IRENE furprile at this offer, and sold-the min
liter plainly, that after what had lately heard
of his conduct, relative TO the fhp New-Jer-
fey and other circumstances, could not re-
poie fuficient confidence in him to place the
leaf reliance on any guarantee he could make
me. If you refule (isid he in pailiona,c
tone Of voice. | will not conhder yon as un-
der my protection. and will denounce you. |
will not even ianchon your having paf-
port" told him | fhould adhere to my re.
folu,ion at all hazards !; upon this we parted.
iproceeded to Mr.. Skipwith's where found
MIR. Vail of the Confulate Department at
L'Orient, and MIR. bernard coniul at Havre
de Grace. to whom related what had paiied
between General Armitrong and myfelf. They
advised me- to protect againft him, and deciar-
ed their belief that Mr.. Armitrcng was not
friendly to the American interea, and faied
that an American flip commanded think, by
Capt. Waterman, had been lately burnt at
Tea, and the captain and crew had pailed
near Paris. on their way to verden or Arras,
and that Gen. Armlrong had refufed to at
ford them the leaf aIiittance. Finding WAS
not likely to get any thing by any longer re-
hdence III Paris, again returned 10 ST. Mai.
)oes, where remained till September. Ga
the the och OF that month, Nous. Petit,
CommiGsry of Police fenS Gem ~ h,r-s who
commanded me to follow and took ire before
him. He demanded my panport, and told ne
that the Emperor had ordered all the Amer.
cans taken under tle Berlin or Milan DEGREES
to he dcnasionslized, and put in prilon, after
which was dIimiiIed. Soon after an actual or
der for my departure, for the prfon OF verden,
500 miles from ST. Maoes, made out and
hgnet. There fhould probably have been
to this day had my wretched life been 10 long
fpared, had not edected my eicape by fra
tsgem. AT that critical period three gener-
Gus friends, whole zeal and ierviaes ilia,l all
ways remember with gratitude cannot def
eribe, enabled me to eieape from the fangs Of
theie marauding, unieeling barbaiians. BY
their afiitance FINAL boat was procured, and
four men TOOK re from St. Malloes the night
preceding my intended fatal march for Ner-
den, and after many diisIters, landed me the
next day at O'Clock p. M. on the knglif,
ifland OF Cuernley, where | was hoipitahiy
received, and from whence | proceeded -
London, thence to Liverpool, where embar-
ked for America, aud once more landed on
my native flores in the month of December
lslt.
Thus | returned after an abfence of near
two years during MAE months OF which
time | had wrongfuIy been a prifoaer in
France, aud been fohhed of ? eonhterahis
property which had long and arduouoy toll
ed fer TO iuppor, young, growing aud be-
loved family.--Y,s | have retained 10 them
in Gate of ssdigenee ard wrecked hsa IN
occadoned by my long oonan mani N r,eoeh
priion., and after iS:terin. - nnod ahoh &C
tongue can tel. ! .,e' h.0bed liz, a. an