Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-25

Marquise, where, (haying none OF us q
cent in our pockets l was compelled to
leave my watch for three crowns, to get
something to eat and drink. At 5, T. NJ.
we arrived at Bologne. and were imme-
diately thrust into prison. I asked the
woman ofthe gaol to bring me q bottle OF
beer, which she refused. and said that Salt
Water was good enough for us. ! shew.
ed her half crown; she spit on It, and
said we might make ourselves contented,
for She would give US nothing. Then en-
treated her to give us a little water, which
she denied. Here we had nothing to lie
on except little straw, which was almost
eaten up by the vermin. In the course OF
the night one of the sailors drank off half
bucket of stagnated water, through thirst.
So end these most horrid Or hours.
august nth. At A. NJ. a Gen dArme
came and removed us from the prison
where we were to another. Here we re-
NAMED until 4, p. nj. before they allow.
ed us any thing to eat; they then gave
us a small black loaf of bread, telling US
it was to last us for twenty-four hours.
Here we were constantly locked up with
no bed but little straw.
august 18th. Still confined in this hor-
rid prison. Nothing but our usual diet,
black bread, and not half enough Of that.
1 thought it an impossibility to get let
ter from my capt. and felt myself for.
saken by the whole world.
August 18th. At 8, A. NJ. two mer-
chants entered the prison. and asked me
if l we're willing to enter for privateer;
which l refused, and told them l preferred
death. Iadded that they were in the ha-
bit of taking American vessels. and L could
not stand the idea Of fighting against my
country. We have still nothing for sub
sistence but black bread and water.
august nth. Still confined in this hor-
rid prison, with the usual diet. The poor
sailors complained very much to-day, and
told me they were in state Of starvation.
observed to them that my situation was
the same with theirs, but advised them to
have fortitude.
.ausust 18th. To-day the commissary
of the police came into the prison, and en-
CURED for the mate of the Nancy, of Bal
timore. was, consequently, carried to
him. He spoke good English, and asked
me if I would consent that the sailers
should join privateers crew. I told
him I had nothing to do with the people
they were their own masters but, for
myself, 1 would not join.
august 18th. To-day the commissary
came. again into the prison, and sent for
me. had a long conversation with him.
1 asked him if we were considered as spies,
criminals, or prisoners of war; adding,
that even criminals in the United States,
received better treatment. He laughed
at me, and told me that, after all my fool
ish efforts, / should have to join q
privateer.
august 17tb. This morning they gave
us our usual allowance, small black loaf
of bread, for 81 hours. The four poor
sailors and myself were locked up in
small, dark casha.o (cachot as they call
it, with nothing to lie on but little straw,
swarming with yermin.
august 18th. To-day wrote again to
capt. Kearney, and asked him if he did
not mean to intercede, and get US out of
this most horrid prison. ] heard that he
was at liberty in Dunkirk, living on the
fat of the land, and continually drunk.
August 10th. Still confined in this mi
SCRABBLE place, with no prospect of getting
out. All my letters to capt. Kearney
were useless. Twelve days have now
passed since / shifted my linen, as l had
not one rag with me but the clothes in
which stood.
August Goth. Usual diet. No meat nor
any thing besides the black loaf: So ends
this horrid day.
august 21st. This morning the commits
sary came again, and repeated his solieita-
tons to the sailors to enter Oh board a
privateer. They refused, and said they
would starvc little longer, He went a
way very much dispIeascd. No letter
from capt. kearney.
A