Rols’ Escape—Very Sickly—Another Escape—Unfaithful Doctor—Frenchmen Escape and Return—Captain Ravel’s Escape—Mr. Kirk’s Escape—A Pardon—Thirty-two released, to go on board Men-of-war—Fourteen more petition for the same—An Indian Pow-wow—Cartel—Letters from Portsmouth—Beer Troubles—The Man that was punished unjustly rescued—Cartel encouragement—Captain Lee’s Escape—Commemoration—New Arrangement—Spotted Fever among the French—Second Draft for the Ships—The Albion taken by the French—Twenty-two months a Prisoner—101 Sabbath privileges lost. September 25. To-day Captain Ellenwood, belonging to Beverly, came to see us; he was taken, but has since been discharged, and is now bound home. A great number of letters were sent by him; I sent one to my brother. Last night, one Captain Rols made his escape from a separate prison, incognito, and it was not discovered till eleven o’clock to-day; and would not then have been, had it not been for his messmates, who, when they drew provisions, told of it; fearing that if they drew for him, they would be brought into trouble, as there are express orders against it. 27. Sunday. Last night, a young man in this prison, having a mind to go on board the men-of-war, made his escape over the wall in a shower of rain, and was not discovered. He was one of the number that lately petitioned to go on board the ships. To-day several more of the sick were carried down to the prison hospital. I think there is more than double the number sick now than has been at any time since I have been in prison, except when the small-pox went through the prison. If a man is sick, and very bad, the doctor will take him to the hospital a few days, as a matter of form. He has served several thus, and sent them up again before they were half recovered, and oftentimes when they were scarcely able to walk. 28. To-day our clothing was examined, as of late has been customary once a month, and as they called the roll they missed the man that made his escape the night before last; but they know when, where, or how he went. 29. We learn, by the paper, that General Carlton has arrived home; and also that Parliament is prorogued till the 26th of November. 30. Wet, stormy weather, which renders our confinement very tedious. We are informed that October 1. The first part of last night was very dark, and stormy, and had it not cleared away just as it did before the moon set, immediately after she set there would have been an elopement from this and the officers’ prison; but as it was, one Captain Ravel made his escape from the officers’ prison, incognito, which I hope hereafter fully to describe. Our new Black-hole is finished to punish Yankees in, and to-day a man was put in for little or nothing—for what they call abusing the turnkey—and ever since he has been in, he has been cutting with a small penknife, and has got a hole through the door near six inches square. To-day nearly one hundred Frenchmen were brought to prison; they were taken in a French East Indiaman. 2. Last night one Mr. Kirk made his escape from the officers’ prison; he took the same method that Captains Rols and Ravel did before him. 3. This morning, when the guard came to let the officers out, they missed Captain Ravel and Mr. Kirk, but they knew not when, where, or 4. Sunday. This forenoon a gentleman came with a pardon for thirty-three men that petitioned to go on board the men-of-war, which was nearly as follows: “His Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant a free pardon to thirty-three men, by name ——, resident in this prison, upon condition that they will serve, and continue to serve in His Majesty’s Navy.” This gentleman said that these men are to be taken out of prison to-morrow, but one of the thirty-three has lately made his escape, and we have heard since that he is on board a man-of-war. He also said that those whose names are not on the list, but wish to enter on board the men-of-war, if they would petition, the same course would be taken, and he had no doubt it would be answered to their satisfaction. Accordingly, this afternoon a petition was written, and about fourteen signed it. 6. Last night there was but very little sleep in this prison, for the men who went on board the men-of-war this morning, were so overjoyed at the thought of being released from prison, that they could not, or would not, sleep the fore part of the night, but ran about the prison, hallooing, and 6. There is a great alteration to be seen in this prison since those men went away, and I make 7. This morning, when Mr. Sorrey came to bring us our money, he desired the butcher to tell us that we might depend upon it that a cartel was settled, and that we are very soon to be exchanged for prisoners in France. The strongest circumstance that induces us to believe it is, that those men were admitted on board the men-of-war. This news also agrees with a letter which we received clandestinely from Captain Harris, in Portsmouth prison; he writes that a Rev. gentleman, who has been a friend from the beginning, told him that there was actually a cartel negotiating. 8. Nothing remarkable, but repeated confirmations of what we have heard before. 9. It is four months to-day since Admiral Biron’s fleet sailed from the Sound, and as yet we have heard of no arrival, except one ship. Also, this afternoon the brewer that supplies us with beer, through a mistake brought a cask of strong beer instead of malt, and he did not find out his mistake until he got here, and so was obliged to carry it back again. Afterwards, he brought us some that was small enough, and was not according to contract; we received it, but several took 10. We learn, by the papers, that the Fox frigate, and a ship of eighteen guns, and one of sixteen guns, are taken by the French and carried into France. 11. Sunday. To-day we received a pound of potatoes per man, instead of cabbage, which the late draught has rendered very scarce. 13. To-day, a fleet consisting of fifty sail, with convoy, passed this harbor. We suppose them to be an outward bound West India fleet. 14. Last night Captain Lee made his escape from the officers’ prison, in the same manner that Captain Rols and others did, before him; and there are several others who are fixed, and only waiting for an opportunity to go the same way. 15. It is twenty-three months to-day since I left Newbury. This morning when the guard counted the officers out, they missed one; and after a long search, they found it to be Captain Lee. But all they know about it, is that he is gone. 16. As it is twelve months to-day since General Burgoyne was taken, in commemoration thereof, at one o’clock, we all drew up in the yard, and gave three cheers: and at night, before we were turned in, we did the same. This afternoon, seven more American prisoners were brought to prison. They were lately brought from Liverpool, and were captured in different vessels. 18. Sunday. Yesterday the officers in the other prisons received a private letter from without, which confirms the news concerning a cartel, giving the particulars, which causes great satisfaction in the yard. 19. A man in prison received a letter from the Russell, ship-of-war, which is now lying in the Sound, from those who went on board from this prison. They write that they are bound to a station in the East Indies. 20. This morning a pardon arrived from the King, for the fourteen men who petitioned to go on board the King’s ships. I am in hopes of soon hearing that Rhode Island is taken, for I hear that the British troops there, have burnt five frigates and two sloops-of-war, fearing that they would fall into the hands of the Americans. From the same source we learn that the Albion, a ship of sixty-four guns, is taken by the French, and carried into France.—Also, that four sail of the line have lately sailed from France, bound to America, to join Count D’Estaing; and also, that the English have taken another East Indiaman from the French, besides that which was brought in here. 22. To-day some officers from the ships came after those men, and the two before mentioned denied that they signed their names. They did not ask them to go, but one man went that did not sign, so that on the whole they got thirteen, which, with the first draft, makes forty-five men that have gone on board the men-of-war. But those who remain, I believe, are true sons of America. 23. Notwithstanding the encouragement we have about being exchanged, last evening a man 24. It is twenty-two months to-day, that I have been a prisoner; but now I think the auspicious day is at hand, when, with God’s blessing, we shall all take our departure from this place. If I mistake not, this is the only day since I have been a prisoner, that we have not been counted. But this morning we were let out, and at night turned in, without any such thing; so that it appears they grow very careless about us to what they have been, which I consider a good omen. 25. Sunday. One hundred and one Sundays have passed since I have enjoyed a Sabbath day’s privilege. To-day being King Charles’ restoration day, the garrison and fort fired a salute. |