The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-09-21


below them for al! 10 lie down. In this res
rect the situation Of the prisoners was not
only extremely uncomfortable, but hazard
Gus, and more especially, should there be,
as WAS unprecedented, a scarcity OF provisions
during tie approaching hot months. The
ceno0ens was not permitted to 60 on board
said prison snip. but derived his reformation
ircm masters OF vessels, prisoners at saidis
land, who were allowed occasionally to so
On board SAID prison ship, with whom the
deponcnt is personally acquainted, and in
whose representations he has the most per-
feet confidence, and cntertains no doubt of
the facts by them stated and this state
ment is given at the request Of the friends of
some OF the prisoners at Barbados, pagticu
larly CT the crew Of the privatcer Blockade,
OF iiar, Cord.
PlERPONT EDWARDS.
Dis.ric, fudge Of Csnnccticwt district
I, PIerpont E.,lw Yards. Judge Of the dis
trict court OF tie Unj,cd States for the Con.
ncc-icut district, do hereby certify & maize
known to all WhCm it may concern, :hAt
captain Samuel Chew, the within named
GeEGucHs IS a gentleman to ne we'll known,
having ..Rown hici for many years ne is
she son IF captain Samuel CHEW, late If the
city Of New Haven, deceased, and who Tell
b. q carnon ball on board an American yes
SCI during the revolutionary war-iha. the
sam hSi3pftul IL a. heA' VI SLliCl ll'eSfiIs
and at ,ached to ,he Constitution aud 90.
veranert ct the u. :. and the N cst perfect
Confidence is due to his said representations
81 as afoYt said sworn to.
PIERPONT EDWARDS.
Disfsfet Judge q Connecticut district.
MILVILLE PRISON,
August 80, 1919.
SIR
We tn. subscribers, for ourselves and
our coJntrymen now confined as prisoners
of war in Melville prison, Halifax, Nova
Scotia, beg leave to represcat 10 the Amer
icaa govevnneut--I That most of us have
for years past, made commerce cur sole en-.
ployment and hope, in which, TOR seven
years or more, we have cfsen been wantonIy
robbed by the English of what we had &C
guired by industry and dagger, and while
they stript us Of our propeity, they often
treated us with the greatest indignity, and
even barbariv.
We have scen and known that they have
often violated the sacred privilege Of iudiv-
dual libsTty and he law If natiCns--we are
conscious "a the long forbearance OF our go
vcrun,snt, and tacir repeated calls upon tic
honor and Justice cf tic British nation, which
Instead ot redress. added other injuries 6,
when the hope Of amicab!c rcIluRetatioD
had failed, ard for retaliation our govern
ment was forced &c che last resort, an ap-
peal TO arms, c felt the just1ess Of our
cause and hceed !.r the blessing cf heaven
FIR =uccess. 10 serve our country and to
make up the losses whicA we had sustained
We, under com riiss;ons from the President
% tie United S.a .cs, entered on beard Of
PriyaJe armed vessels, and have unfortu
nate'y been captured by the British We
would state. that in many instances af -
we had struck our colours, we were fred
upon by cannon and muskets, hroadsides &
y
our CaptOrs had come on board, some of Us
have BEEN struck ard severely wounded with
cutlasscS without the least provccation Cor
such inhumauity. Our American pro.ec
tons have been forced from US and destroy
ed and some native American citizens
have been taken cut of cur pgivateers and
put ON board British ships, and there obliged
TO serve. Most Of us have been robbed of
very thing, even of necessary clothing
When we were gong from the ships 10 pri-
son the officers would not permit as to take
eur clothing and baggage with us, Bag pied
ged themselves that they shouid be sent to
pTison ; but dsregarGng their honor, we
have lost all. Some Of us have been march !
cd thirty, and some sixty, and saae oae
hundred aud sky miles over q miserable
country, forced along beyond orr strength, !
half starved, and some in irons. Our allow |
aDcs, each man per day, one and half!
t}OgNO3 o. ~ rd' lltll puma ll'itN UCCI, Wei
proportoned with b he. one gil.nf peas, one
third cz. ii salt. We are without wearing
sppaFel and without money. or any means #
procuring them. A cold wir'cr i'm this !
Wretched country fast approaches, and in
our de t,ute stustion we must endure eve
ny lh'g, and mary OF US must perish
There are now OF us in prlsnu upwards of
twelve bend ed. Every art has been urac-
tised by the English cfiicers TO ezcile dis
affection in our men 10 the American go
yernuer, AMI to induce them 10 enter into |
the English 5erviCe Necessity may OBJ |
lge scuie to desert US and enter into Br- !
u IN servitudS, bit srgat thst speedy re- .
lief from our government will save them !
from that Wretched alternative Of perishing |
wish tart or joining our enemies. For our !
selves and tie rest Of the prisoners, we
most say, we have now no fortune to devote |
to the service of our country, but we have !
hearts Wh;ci vet feel warmly the general |
Impulse, and which Te PLEDGE, If opportuni-
~ ever again presents, to devote III thc in
terest and service Of our country. we are
row suff rers BIZ. viii cheerfrliy sufT-r eve
~ hardship If var rather than sue tor dis
honorable peacc.
WerespeCtfuly request on exchange or
some provision ! relief. We feel the iul !
est confidence IN our go1 ernment, and that
we need only 10 appriZe them Of our siiu-
alton TO nsare thsr assistance aud protec-
ton.