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

prize saw 1Our, OF tns pcOple belonging
10 my ship come into the prison. On my
asking whence they came, they replied,
from Dunkirk. /" Where was capt. Kear-
ney 20 He had embarked in the Dill.
gcnce for Dunkirk. He did not come to
see me. ss,a &
august 26th. This morning an officer
took us all to the Bureau, and asked US if
we would join privaleer. told him tie
sailors might do as they thought proper
but Cor myself / should refuse. The sal.
lors all entered, through mere starvation.
My situation had been heretofore the
same with theirs, but on my refusal to 20
with them, was Immediately sent to tie
castle and put full twenty-five feet under
ground, in what they style the Black
Hold. In this miserable cave had no
one to speak to, none from whom Icould
derive comfort OF support.
august 9Th. AT s, A. nj. an officer
came down into my vault, as l may with
propriety term it, and asked me in Eng
lish, if / did not think myself a fool, not
to enter for privateer. told him no
that never would prove false to my coun-
try. He then left me. God knows that.
at this time, was in state Of absolute
starvation.
august 18th. Still confined to this most
dismal abode, on starving diet. l thought
my sufferings were severe enough in the
other prison: but this is worse. There
are now two criminals confined with ME.
august Goth. A woman came down
with my days allowance, and returned up
the steps, locking the door after her. No
thing to lie on, in misplace, but the hard
bricks. am very miserable. -
august soth. This morning ono of the
criminals died, by my side, of the fever &
ague. They kept him in this place till
four, p. Nj. Two old fellows with long
boards then came and took him away.
august s1st. This morning an old wo.
man brought my black bread. / spoke
and made signs to her, endeavoriug to
make her understand that I wanted
sheet of paper for writing. She turned
away. went up the steps and locked the
door.
September 1st. An officer came again
to know if would go on board q priva.
teer. I told him I would not God
knows would at that time have given q
ten dollar piece for as much bread as 1
could eat. il:
This is the twenty fifth day since I
shifted my linen. Miserable indeed.
September cd. At 9, A. NJ. two poor,
unhappy men came down into my apart.
ment. They are sentenced to be shot for
desertion.
September Sd. Two of my sailors came
this morning, to the Castle door, having
for me shirt, pair of trowsers. and
some vietuals but they were not allow.
ed to see me, nor deliver tho things; they
were compelled to 90 of and leave me-
wrctched and furnishing.
September nth. At 10, A. NJ. six or
eight soldiers came down into this dread
full place, to see, suppose, whether we
were dead OF alive. They mustered us,
and then leftus.
September 5th. This morning all my
companions were taken out, and left a.
lone in this dark, tremendous hole; where
/ could scarcely see glimmer Of day
light at noon. Miserable with hunger.
September 9th. To-day is the thirtieth
of my imprisonment, and / can safely
swear that, during the whole period, I
have not had mouthfal Of meat, nor one
change Of linen. nor have l the least ex-
pectation Of obtaining any. The day ends
as usual with wretchedness. find my
self getting miserably weak and lousy.
THE journal Of this unfortunate man
proceeds with occurrences similar to those
above until the nth Of September. Hard
fare, filthy habiliments, and daily imper-
tunities to entera privateer. were still the
fiend-like instruments used to wear down
his spirit, and conquer his virtue by des-
pair.
September 11th. This morning I was
blessed with a view of day. The gems
d'arms took me up and repeated the ques.
,,l>o%l,ov 7 ,,,n,lI 90 n