The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-05-15
JOURNAL OF A NAVAL OFFICER,
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
KEPT BY JOHN rREvErT, OF NEWPORT.
CContinued. !

[Contnued.1
Nothing material happened until we ar
rived at ST. Johns, newfoundland, seven
teen days after our capture. During our
captivity on board Capt. Prescott, we three,
namely, Messrs. Eberns and Claiming, aud
myself, were treated like gentlemen, by
Capt. Prescott and his officers and when
we arrived at st. Johns, Capt. Prescott said
to me, Have you got any money, if not,
will let you have some, for have mas
ter here, Admiral Edwards" told him
had little money with me. Capt. p. saId,
"The Capt. of the Prison ship is a Scotch
man, and you will be half starved, without
you have money" The boat being ready
to carry us on board, Capt. Prescou's SER
want brought us n large basket of cabin
bread, and dozen of spirit, which took,
and sent my compliments to the Capt.
who sent word back, before left his ship,
that his barge would pass the Prison-ship
every day, and ifIwns in want of any thing
to send word and | should have il.
The next day Messrs. Ebberns, and
Claiming and myself were sent for, to mp
pear before a public Notary, on shore, TO
be examined concerning the time Of our
taking the ship Elizabeth, mounting l6 car
rage guns, and carrying abou. sixty men.
happcueJ to be the first examined. At
ter some ceremony concerning the ship, he
commenced questionin, me-asked me my
age, uad where Mas born. | gave him
correct answers. lie then asked huw long
had tough, against the King. Ianswered
him ia the same manner had Capt. Pres
cot, that, if it were possible, befnre The war
commenced. He discharged me imme-
diately, and after the examination of my
two ship-ma,es we were all sent on board
the Porteus Prison-shp. Her Captains
name was Brocannon, aud IA greater villain
could not be left unhung. The next day II
youu. gentlemen came on board the Prs
on- ship, whose name was Warren, Of fPlym-
ou,h, son of Gen. Warren, who was one of
the Board Of War, at Boston. He was left
~ a hostage for Capt. McNcal and crew, so
he wasa prisoner at large. | had but n
slight acquaintance with him, and after
SOME conversation with him he went on
shore, but said he would see me the next
day; nccordingly he went to Admiral Ed
wards and got liberty for me to go IN sh"re,
IL. A. 4 81, i,,t ln
bout with him To the wharf, and TO The house
he boarded at, where several Scotch mer-
chants also boarded. While at dinner one
of the Scotch merchants had considerable
to say to me, and in the course of converse
ton asked me how long it was since | lef
Boston. | told him. Then he said " How
do the rebels carry on in Boston" To this
was hard of bearing. He repeated i
three times, and then he said Mon arc
YOU hard of hearing" said no. Why
mon, | asked you how the rebels carried OF
in Boston," told him never had hearc
of rebels since the year 45 This ended
our conversation. As soon as they dlnet
they all left the house and proceeded to tn,
Fort, where the dmiral was. In shor
time, while Mr.. Warren and myself wer
setting at the window, we saw five High
landers, with their guns md bayone,s, max
ing for the house. told Mr. Warren ,ha
expected they were my walters, and tha
he had better hand me the money he wa
about to lend me. He handed me ten gun
eas, and by the time had placed it in m.
purse, they knocked at the door | said Il
Mr.. Warren, will 60 to the door; aud
accordingly went, without my hat On
Of them, who took TO be a corporal, sal'
" Is there a mon here who belongs on boar
the Prison-ship." [ answered, | am tn
mon. lie said, I" We have orders to se
you on board Immediately" / said, yo'
will allow me TO get my hst' YES, mon.
soon got my hat, and Mr.. Warren wen
down to the shore with me, and wus saf
on board in hurry whoever has an,
idea Of future punishment, cannot max
worse floating hi than British Prison
ship.
Nothlag essential took place Tor some time
except once in a while they brought in
Pnvsteer. They brought in ship csIe,
th. Fanny, from Baltimore, and P.eke
bound to Holland, with the Hon. fIenr
L.urens on board The British were $