American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-08-22
SKETCH OF TIE LIFE OF
FRANCIS LEWIS, Esquire.


A, the time of his FIRST election to congress ir
1775. Mr.. Lewis unfortunately removed his family
aud effects 10 MS country seat on Long Island, which
was p,undered in the fall OF 1776, by the British
light horse, under the command OF colonel Birch
An his immoveable property was wantonly destroy
ed a. well as his books and papers OF every descrip
,on But the wrath Of the marauders against tn,
rebel representative. who had dared to brave th'
fury of offended royalty, by nscrlbing his name OF
the document which severed the British Empire
was not appeased by the ruin in which they invoet
all his destructible property The vengeance o
party spirit was basely aud inhumanly visited on ar
unprotected and unohendiug female, and the un
daunted patriotism OF the statesman was revenget
in the person Of his wife. Mrs. Lewis with incon
ceisab!e brutality, was placed in close confinement
without bed to lie upon and without any change o
clothes whatever; in which situation she remained
during several months. This disgraceful affair was
brought before congress on he eighth of November
1716, and then referred to the board OF war: on
the bird Of December. following, it was resolved
that Mrs. Chamier be permitted to 90 to her
husband al New York. and that Mrs. Lewis at
Flushing, on Long Island, be required In exchange"
I appears, however, that this unforiunate victim
was finally exchanged through the influence oil gen.
ersl " Washington Tor Mrs. Barrow, the wife OF the
British paymaster general. and Mrs. Kempe, the
vile OF the attorney general oI the province. The
consequence Of her Imprisonment was the entire
loss OF health; and in the course OF two years, her
life fell sac r6ce TO this modern act OF vandalism.
In fact, the conduct OF the British was, many
respects, inhoman and di.gracrful, particularly in
the treatment Of prisoners al New York The wan
ton and opprts ssve devastation of the country, and
The destruction Of properly the brutal treatment OF
those who fell into their power the savage buchery
OF others who had submitted and were incapable o.
resis and the lust and brutality OF the soldiers
in he abuse OF women; have all inflicted stain
upon the British character and Bri,ish arms, which
oil The glory Of her Marlboroughs her Nelson's, and
her Wellingtons, can never efface; and the deep
wound which pierced the bosom OF America, sill
rsnkles and testers from generation TO generation
From the report of committee OF congress in April.
1881. il appears that the whole track of The British
army through New rsey was marked with the
mnst wanton ravages and desolaion, and that places
oil worship ministers. and religious persons Of Ger
tain protestant denominations, we're particularly
treated with the most rancorous hatred, and at the
same time with the greatest contempt. Prisoners,
instead OF that humane treatment whit those taken
by the United Sta'es experienced were in general
treated with the greatest barbarity Many of them
were KEEP nearly four days absolutely without food
and @hen they received supply, it was both insult
hcenl IN point Of quantity and OF the worst quality
They suffered he utmost distress from cold ma
kedness and close confinement. FreemeD, and men
OF substance, suHered al that generous mind could
suffer from the contempt and mockery of British
and torelgt mercenaries. Multudes died in prison;
nor was ary charitable assistance afforded 10 the
81 k and dying. neelecI which was probably never
known to happen in similar case, among Chris
iisns. The prisoners csptued BY Sir William
Howe. in l176, amounted many hundreds, who
were shut up in the coldest season OF the year in
churches, sugar houses, and other large buildings
NaDv hundreds oi these unhappy men expil ed from
The severity OF The weather and he rgor Of their
treatment. The filth of their places OF confinement
was both offensive and dangerous and seven dead
bodies have been seen in one building at one time,
all ying in situation shocking to humanity When
those who survived were ordered TO be sent out for
exchange, of them fell dead in The streets
while attempting TO walk to the vessels; and others
were so emaclated, tina their appearance was horri
Bile. 1t has been asserted, good evidence as the
case Will admit, thai, during the last six years Of
the war more than eleven thousand persons died on
board the Jersey prison ship, which was stationed
in the East river, near NewYork and for some
time alter The war, The bones of many of these vic.
Tins, lay whitening in the sun on the shores oil Long
Isands Conyngh ham, the provost marshal at New
York. was fellow who would not says Graydou,
have disgrsced the imperial throne oi the Caesars.
in the darkest days Of Roman ty amy; nor the re
public OF France at the most refulgept era Of jaco.
biaism 1t is recorded trait of villsny that, in
the evening, he would traverse his domain with
whip in his haad sending his prisoners to bed With
the ruian like exclamation Of "kennel. We sons of
b-s kennel Cd d-n ye!" Colonel Ethan Al
len, than whom few have felt more severely the
hand OF arbitrary power, declares that Joshua Loring
Inc commssary Of prisoners, was even a greater
villain than Conyngham. His language on this oc.
casion so violent, yet characteristic of that singular
man, demonstrates the irresistible excitement occa
stoned by series OF the most inhuman expressions
and which onte caused him to twist off with his
teeth, the nail which fastened the bar of his hand
cuffs: Lorne,'' he remarks, ais the mos, mean
spirited cowady, deceitfui, and destructive animal
in Gods creation below; and legion. Of internal
DEVILS with all their tremendous horrors, are impa