[Mill Prison, Plymouth, July 1778]
30th. Thursday Yesterday was Donation-day[;]1 Several of the people got Disguised2 with Beer; & Last Night fell upon two of Capt. Ravels Frenchmen3 beat & Bruised them, they cried Murder which Alarmed the guard who came in & took two to the B[lack] hole for the same
D, MeHi, Jonathan Haskins Journal.
1. The “Donation” was money collected in England in late 1777 and early 1778 to help relieve the distress of the American prisoners. Some £4,000 was raised, which was distributed to the prisoners in installments. Cohen, Yankee Sailors, pp. 83–84.
2. That is, inebriated.
3. These were French nationals who were members of the crew of the Massachusetts privateer schooner Warren, John Revell, commanding.
