Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-24
For the Eastern Times.
French Spoliations.

Ma. EDITOR II have lately seen several |
articles in the newspapers relative to the old
French claims, wherein it was stated that the
great objections 20 the payment By the govern
ment is, that these claims are in the hands Of
spectators. Now SO far as my own knowl-
edge extends, this is not The case. My father,
who lately deceased at the advanced age Of
eighty years, was one of the sufferers by these
old French captures. He was in the prime of
life in 1897, when he with several others built
vessel, fitted her out for sea, and went in her
himself as master. She went TO a southern
port in the U. S., and loaded for the West In
dies, but before she arrived at her place of des-
lination, she was captured by the French, and
prize crew of negroes put on board to con-
duct her into French port. A few days af-t
forwards, she was overhauled by an English
frigate, retaken from the French, and restored
to her owners upon the payment Of salvage to
the English for the reprisal. She returned to
the U. s., took in cargo, and sailed again for
the West Indies, was taken again by French
privateer, and her master with others of the
crew, was put on board the French vessel
My father lost all his charts, instruments, and
everything except what he stood in; but before
he lost sight of his own vessel, she was retak-
en- by an American man-of-war. He and the
crew were put 10 prison at Gaudaloupe, where
they were insulted, abused and half starved,
the Frenchmen insultingly calling them Ad-
ans shack asses. He was crowded into
catholic church, which was converted into
prison for that purpose, with five hundred 9TH
ers, where he remained eight months. At the
end Of their Imprisonment they were put on
board the French frigate, La Insurgent, to be
sent to France. They fell in with an Ameri-
ca. man-ofwar, = which they afterwards
lear ,ed was the Constellation, Captain Trux-
ton,-which gave chase. The prisoners were
ordered below and put in irons. Presently
they heard the joyful sound Of the American
cannon in hot pursuit, and occasionally thrill
Of delight would be sent through their whole
frame by hearing thirty-two FOUNDER tearing
its way over their heads. After short time,
in which the American cannon sounded quick
er, louder, nearer, (for they could see nothiDg)
it became complete roar, and never was con-
cert or chorus Of sweeter sounds conveyed to
more delighted ears. Some of the French Of
fcers came down into the hold and offered 10
release them from their irons if they would go
up and help them fight, telling them if they
did not, the ship would be sunk. They replied
that she might sink, but they should not co.
Darkness came on thick, and the French frig-
ate run up her flag and escaped, after having
struck 10 the Consolation. She proceeded to
French Island to reft and repai. damages,
when my father and two others, were ex-
changed for three others, by French mer-
chant, and arrived home after long ABSENCE
But to make long story short, he was twice
imprisoned, five months at one time and three
at another. The vessel was sent to sea third
time, was taken again and condemned prize
to the French, and totally lost TO him at the
same time they lost their charter, and were
compelled 10 pay the seamen their wages, and
n6ed by the French government almost half
century ago, and the U. S. government ex-
pressly stipulated with Napoleon, then first
consul of France, that they would pay FIVE mil
lions of dollars to their own citizens as an in
dennity for their losses from French spola-
ton. The United States bought the Louisiana
country from the French for so millions Of
francs, 90 millions Of which they were to pay
to The sufferers, and the remaining 60 millions
were paid over to France-the same as was
done with the Mexicans for California. was
surprised 10 read remark made in the United
States Senate by Senator from Arkansas last
winter, that he did not think there was parli-
Gle of justice in these claims-that he did not
believe government owed them cent, when at
the same time, one quarter part Of the whole
territory of his State was paid for by the prop
erty and sufferings of these same claimants.
The government is not poor now, and unable
10 pay their debts. see good many projects
on hand to use up The surplus revenue, such as
the enlargement Of the navy, building breakwa-
tiers, clearing out rivers, building rail roads,
&c., &c. But my plan is, first pay their just
debts, of which this is one, and that will re-
leve them of one quarter Of their surplus at
once, and the whole Of it if they paid the in
terest as they should. hope the present con-
gress will wipe out this stain, which has SO
long rested upon the government. lem.
Phipsburg, Nov. Is; 1853.
U Thanksgiving to-day, Thursday, 10 New