The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-08
HISTORICAL.

Esq. OF Bnrnec
ExTRAcT OF LETTER FROM CoRK( IRELAND
TO A GENTLrMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DAT
ED JAN. 1776.
"The following occurrence must give sat
isfhction to the friends ofsutlering America:
When Col Ethan Allen, with about 80 other
prisoners, arrived in Solehny, two gentlemen
went on board TO inquire into their situation,
and TO assure them ofthe disposition Of sew
eral gentlemen in the city to alleviate their
distress Col. Allen was so affected with
this instance of unexpected generosity, that
the expression ofhis gratitude could hardly
find utterance.
Ills treatment on board the Solehny is far
different from the barbaruus treatment and
cruel usage he experienced in his passage
from Quebec, being then hand-cuiled and i
roned in the most dreary part of the vessel,
and basely insuted with cruel and unmnnly
reflections by some of the officers of the ship
whom he challenged in Cromwall without
receiving satisfaction.
A subscription was begun this morning IL
mong some friends ofthe canse, and near fit
ty guineas collected TO buy clothes for his
men, aud necessaries for himself: and if'liber
~ can be got of Capt. Williams to put live
stock on board. | can assure you Col. Allen
will he exceedingly well provided. We this
day sent hamper of wine, sugar, frut,choc-
olute, &c. on board for his immediate use,
and tomorrow intend to prepare the sundry
articles ofwhich he sent list. enclose you
II rough copy of his answer to our letter.
Should he have permission TO come on shore
he will be entertained by some of tho first
gentlemen of this city. ] have not been re-
fused by n single person on the subscription
Cory OF Cor. ALIENS NoTE.
"Gentlemen: ! received your generous pres
ents this day with joyful heart. Thanks TO
God. that there are still the feelings of hui
mainly in the worthy citizens of Cork, towards
those ofyour bone and flesh, who through
misfortune from the present bros in the en-
pire, are needy prisone
Dated Cove, Jan. "a, l77G."
EXTRACT OF LETTER, DATED BRIsTOL,
(ENGLAND) Fen. l6, 1776.
"The bearer ofthis will, | hope, deliver it
into your own hands, and furnish you with
! full account ofhis reception here. Happily
for him, it was very different from his eXpec-
tatons Col. Allen, and the prisoners with
him, who were brought over with Brook Wat
son, rena ined sometime at Pendeunis Castle,
in CromwnI. Administration was embar-
rassed. They have at length ordered them
bnck in the Solitary uan-of-war. She has
arrived, from whence she goes direct to Bos-
wards of one hundred pounds for their relief,
and it was sent to Cork for them. Our friends
| in London attended to their case while here,
and would have eXerted every nerve to effect
their release had they not been so uneXpcct-
! edly removed"
The following is the rough and ready ac-
acknowledgements ofCol. ALLEN for the timely
ad and comfort" that he and his fellow pris-
oners received from the warm hearted island
! erS:-
"Nothing of material consequence happen
ed Till the fleet rendeZvoused at the Cove of
! Cork, except violent storm which brought
old hardy soldiers to their prayers. 1t was
soon rumored in Cork that | was on board
| the Solebay, with Il number ofprlsoners from
America; upon which Messrs. Clark 4 Hays,
merchants i'll company, and II number OF 9th
er benevoently disposed gentlemen, contrib
uted largely to the relefund support Of the
prisoners, who were lhrty-four in number,
and in very needy circumstances. A suit
Of clothes from head to foot including an Ov-
ercoat or surtout, and two shirts We're be-
slowed upon each of them. My suit | re-
ceivcd in superfine brondCloths, sufficient for
two jackets and two pairs of brooches. over
plus of a suit throughout, eight fine Holland
shirts and stocks ready made with II number
ofsilk and worsted hose, two pairs of shoes
two beaver hats, one of which was sent me
richly laced with gold by james Bonwcll.-
The Irish gentlemen furthermore made a
large gratuity of wines ofthe best sort spirits,
gin, loafand brown sugar, tea and chocolate,
with large round of picked beef, and a
number of fat turkes, with many other arti-
cles for my sea stores, too tedious to mention
here. To the privates, they bestowed on
each man two pounds of tea. and six pounds
of brown sugar. These articles We're receN-
ed on board at time when the captain and
first lieutenant were gone on shore, by the
permission ofthe second lieutenant, a hand
some young gentleman, who was then under
twenty years ofage; his name was Douglass,
son of Admirable Douglass,as was informed
As this magnificence was so unexpected &
plentiful, Imay add needtul, il impressed on my
mind the highest sense of gratitude towards
my benefnctors, for was not only supplied
with the necessaries and conveniences of life,
but with the grandeurs and superfluties of it.
! Mr. Hays, one of the donators before mention
ed, came on board and behaved in the most
obliging manner, telling me that he hoped
my troubles were past; for that the gentlemen
ofCork determined to make my sea stores e.
quail to those ofthe captain of the Solebay; he
made an offer of live stock and wherewith to
support them; but knew this would be de-
MED. And TO crown all, did send me, by a.
mother person, fifty guineas, but could not
reconcile receiving the whole TO my own
feelings, as it might have the appearance of
avarice; and therefore received but seven
guineas only, and am confident,not only from
the exercise of the present well-timed gener-
osity, but from large acquaintance with the
gentlemen of this nation, that as people they
excel in lberality and bravery.
Two days after the receipt of the aforesaid
donations, Capt Symonds came on hoard,