The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-29

where there Is grove Of thick trees. In that
place they lie, unknown 10 the people OF the
town, seIzing and OBTAINING several persons
that happened 70 pass that way, till about one
O'Clock, when Capt. MowAT. the Surgeon OF
bis ship. aud the Rev. Mr. WIswAL. taking
walk together That way for their pleasure, were
seized and made prisoners. As soon as the
master Of The ship Zone Hogg) heard Of il, he
wrote 10 Col. FREEMAN, that If Capt MowAT
aud the other prisoners were not delivered up
il an hour or two q do not Certainly know
The time he would lay the town 10 ashes
You can hardly conceive the CONSERVATION.
confusion and uprosr that Immediately ensu
Ell. Odr women were, believe, every one
of them Ia tears, or praying or screaming !;
precipnalely leaving their houses especially
nase whose husbands were mol at home, and
Sidows; huFryIng their goods into country
snen's carts, never asking their names, though
strangers; and carrying their children, either
oui OF town, or up TO the south end, according
10 the greater less lrritabity OF their nerves.
Seine persons bed rid, or IN chiidbed, were
hastily removed, with no small danger OF their
lives. Several gentlemen Of the town, who
could attend Il, and ! among the rest imme.
diaieIy repaired to Col. THOMPSON Camp !;
and after obtaining leave of the advance guard,
were permitted 10 speak with him. We EN-
deasored 10 persuade bin 10 deliver up the
PRISONERS, by all the rational arguments we
could think of but he appeared inAexibs and
even furious. Here and there, one In the
town (pone but Tories however) were at first
for rescuing the prisoners by our militia but
the general voice of the town was to observe
strict neutrality, excepting Persuasives and
arguments.
Col. PHNEEY, of Gorham, colonel of the
mintle men, beng in town, and fearing res
cue, or for some other reason, sent out for his
men, suppose without asking the advice Of
any body and soon afterwards sent word tina
they need not come into town. Night was
coming on aud the weather cool and windy
which endangered the health of some of The
gentlemen, at least in the open field. 1t was
therefore agreed by Col. FREEMAN and bis ad
,visers, al the desire OF MowAT and by the free
consent of THOMPSON, that the company OF
Cadets should escort the party and the prison
eTs 10 Mr.. MARsToN's, IN order that a consults-
ton might be further held there. The two
companies remained embodied before the door
Col. THOMPSON remained unwilling TO DELIVER
mp the prisoners, insisting much that Divine
Providence had thrown them into his hands
and that IT was open and settled wal
between the Colonies and Britain. Bul
he was more and more convinced that The
whole force of the town was against him
and found himself disappointed of reinforce
nent that he expected to meet him here SO
that by about o'clock in the evening he was
much cooled: and the prisoners giving their
parole, that they would deliver themselves
into bis hands al nine the next morning, Gen.
ersl PREBLE and Colonel FRESHMAN pledglng
themselves for them, be consented to set them
at liberty. Upon which Mowat. having ex-
pressed his gratitude TO the town in strong
terms, went aboard, and dismissed number
OF our people, whom the master had, during
the afternoon, caught 10 boats, and made pris-
oDers. But when Col. THoMPsoN's men
found that he bad given MowAT his liberty,
they were hard 10 pacIty. Not only Col.
PHINNEy's minute men, but most Of the militia
from Gorham, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth
and Shoudwater. in the wholes amounting, it
- Sdiu, " OOOs Sdult ibtO lCWu UciOte iDOIDliS,
highly enraged at Capt. MowA1's being dis
missed, and seemingly determined TO destroy
bis ship. Wednesday morning, when it was
found that MowAT would not deliver himself
up, the army took, and made prisoners of Gen.
PREBLE and Col. FIREMAN, threatening 10 treat
them Ia the same manner as they would treat
MowAT, if they had bir,. Eyea their children
were not permitted 10 speak with them. and
they had no dinner that day. All the officers
of the companies then present. agreed 10 re-
solve themselves into committee Of War
and after some hesitation they admitted the
oihcers OF our companies on the neck, into the
committee. In which committee vote was
passed by considerable majority, that Capt.
MowAT's ship ought 10 be destroyed. In the
next place, they appointed committee out of
their numUer, to consider in what manner it
should be done. This committee have not
yet reported as ! can hnd. But they have
proceeded TO call men before them who were
suspected OF being tories, to question them, to
draw promises from them, and especially 10
draw money and provisions from them. The
Rev. Mr. WrswAL delivered himself up very
willingly and seemed rather impatient till
they had him with them saying to some that
passed 10y bis door, he was ready 10 die at
any tune, as he knew be was in good cause,
the cause of the church OF England.
The committee Intercepted him concerning
ms political principles. He declared an alb
horrence of the doctrine of massive obedience