In the course of the war, several Americans had been made prisoners, and brought to England, who were chiefly confined in gaols at Portsmouth, Plymouth, &c. These were mostly sailors. A temporary law had been made from year to year suspending the Habeas Corpus Act, in their particular case. The treatment they met with was in general harsh, and in some instances exceedingly cruel. Their peculiar situation, and the miseries they underwent, excited s.ome humane gentlemen, in the city of London, to call a public meeting on the 24th of December, 1777, of such persons as thought the sufferers objects of compassion. They opened a public subscription for money, to buy blankets, shoes, linen, coats, &c. &c. for the prisoners; the number of whom was between five and six hundred. The sum of £4657 was collected in a few weeks; when the managers thought proper to close the subscription, to the great disappointment of many persons, in every part of the kingdom, who wished to shew their humanity by adding to this subscription, and their disapprobation of those measures which had made this bounty necessary.
The following is a copy of a petition, sent to certain noble Lords, from some of the prisoners at Portsmouth:
We the subscribers, natives of America, being at this time prisoners of war, and closely confined in his Majesty's prison at Portsmouth, do most earnestly entreat your Lordship, in behalf of ourselves and others, our companions in gaol, who are not able to sign with us, to permit us to state to your Lordship our present most pitiable case and situation. We beg pardon of your Lordship for the great liberty we are taking, and for the mode we have adopted to make our sufferings known; which, though it may not be thought strictly regular or according to forms, they humbly hope will be excused, when our very distressed state and condition is considered, and when we assure your Lordship, that petitions presented to the Admiralty last year, in behalf of certain sick prisoners then in severe confinement, were utterly disregarded. And after having done this, we will entertain a hope, through your Lordship's merciful interposition, and the influence of other compassionate rulers of the land, that we shall not be suffered to perish in a Christian country (for the body of which we still retain an affection) and in the midst of plenty. More especially do we hope for relief, on account of those of us who have left large families at home, which must sink or swim with us.
In number we are at Portsmouth about one hundred and forty; all of us in want of warm cloathing, so necessary at this severe season, as well as of almost every other comfort; and many are actually without a shoe or stocking to their feet. And to add to these hardships, we have for an overseer, a man, who seems to be totally void of humanity.1 He detains every charitable supply sent us by humane neighbours, or sells it, (as lately in the case of some wine sent for our refreshment) and retails the money at his pleasure, and in so parsimonious a manner, as to render it of little or no use. He has denied us the common supplies of milk, by prohibiting persons ordered to our relief with that necessary refreshment, from entering the prison yard. We are not allowed candle or fire in this extreme season, which must prove fatal to many in a cold and exposed prison. Our allowance is only eight ounces of meat each man per day, including the bone, (which is sometimes full one half) and beer that is very small indeed.
Captains and other officers, who have ever been used to very different treatment, and are blessed with education, who have feelings and sentiments, which upon this occasion they shall suppress, are penned up all together like cattle, with the common sailors, and with their own servants.
We are at a loss to conceive the reason of these severities, when we know how very different the treatment of English prisoners is in every part of America. We again beg your Lordship's pardon and pray for redress.
Given under our hands in the prison at Portsmouth, the 1st day of December, 1777.
Harman Courter, Commander of the Oliver Cromwell.
Byrd Chamberlayne, First Lieutenant of the Muschetto.
Robert M'Caver, Prize-master belonging to Captain Weekes.
George Chamberlayne, Second Lieutenant of the Muschetto.
William Williams, Master of the brig General Montgomery.
John M'Nikal, Surgeon of the Muschetto.
John Cochran, Boatswain of the Yankee, in prison 18 months.
Joseph Smith,
Thomas Clark,
James Gideon Worth,
James Motry.2 |
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Sailors. |
A subscription was opened in Bristol for the purpose of relieving the American prisoners, where near 400 l. was collected in a short time. Other subscriptions were begun in different parts, as Yorkshire, Norwich, &c. but upon the subscription being closed in London, those in the country were closed likewise.