In a few days after this, the prisoners were ordered to go on board of a man of war, which was bound for New-York; but two of them were not able to go on board, and were left at Halifax; one died, and the other recovered. This was about the 12th of October, and soon after we had got on board, the captain sent for me in particular to come on the quarter deck. I went, not knowing that it was capt. [Richard] Smith, or his ship at that time, and expected to meet the same rigorous usage I had commonly met with, and prepared my mind accordingly; but when I came on deck, the captain met me with his hand, welcomed me to his ship, invited me to dine with him that day, and assured me that I should be treated as a gentleman, and that he had given orders, that I should be treated with respect by the ship's crew. This was so unexpected and sudden a transition, that it drew tears from my eyes, which all the ill usages I had before met with, was not able to produce, nor could I at first hardly speak, but soon recovered myself and expressed my gratitude for so unexpected a favor; and let him know that I felt anxiety of mind in reflecting that his situation and mine was such, that it was not probable that it would ever be in my power to return the favor. Capt Smith replied that he had no reward in view, but only treated me as a gentleman ought to be treated; he said this is a mutable world, and one gentleman never knows but it may be in his power to help another. Soon after I found this to be the same capt. Sinith who took my part against gen. [Eyre] Massey; but he never mentioned any thing of it to me, and I thought it impolite in me to interrogate him, as to any disputes which might have arisen between him and the gen. on my account, as I was a prisoner, and that it was at his option to make free with me on that subject, if he pleased; and, if he did not, I might take it for granted that it would be unpleasing for me to query about it, though I had a strong propensity to converse with him on that subject.

I dined with the captain agreeable to his invitation, and oftentimes with the lieutenant, in the gun room, but in general ate and drank with my friend Lovel [James Lovell] and the other gentlemen, who were prisoners with me, where I also slept.

We had a little birth enclosed with canvas, between decks, where we enjoyed ourselves very well, in hopes of an exchange; besides, our friends at Halifax had a little notice of our departure, and supplied us with spirituous liquor, and many articles of provision for the coast. Capt. Burk [William Burke] having been taken prisoner, was added to our company, (he had commanded an American armed vessel)³ and was generously treated by the captain and all the officers of the ship, as well as myself. We now had in all near thirty prisoners on board, and as we were bailing along the coast, if I recollect right, off Rhode-Island, capt. Burk, with an under officer of the ship, whose name I do not recollect, came to our little birth, proposed to kill capt. Smith and the principal officers of the frigate and take it; adding that there were thirty five thousand pounds sterling in the same, capt. Burk likewise averred that a strong party out of the ship's crew was in conspiracy, and urged me, and the gentleman that was with me, to use our influence with the private prisoners, to execute the design, and take the ship with the cash into one of our own ports.

Upon which I replied, that we had been too well used on board to murder the officers; that I could by no means reconcile it to my conscience, and that in fact it should not be done; and, while I was yet speaking, my friend Lovel confirmed what I had said, and farther pointed out the ungratefulness of such an act; that it did not fall short of murder, and in fine all the gentlemen in the birth opposed capt. Burk and his colleague: But they strenously urged that the conspiracy would be found out, and that it would cost them their lives, provided they did not execute their design. I then interposed spiritedly, and put an end to farther argument on the subject, and told them that they might depend upon it, upon my honor, that I would faithfully guard capt. Smith's life: If they should attempt the assault, I would assist him, for they desired me to remain neuter, and that the same honor that guarded capt. Smith's life, would also guard theirs; and it was agreed by those present not to reveal the conspiracy, to the intent that no man should be put to death, in consequence of what had been projected; and capt. Burk and his colleague went to stifle the matter among their associates. I could not help calling to mind what capt. Smith said to me, when I first came on board; "This is a mutable world, and one gentleman never knows but that it may be in his power to help another." Captain Smith and his officers still behaved with their usual courtesy, and I never heard any more of the conspiracy.

We arrived before New York, and cast anchor the latter part of October⁴ where we remained several days, and where capt. Smith informed me, that he had recommended me to adm. Howe and gen. sir Wm. Howe, as a gentleman of honor and veracity, and desired that I might be treated as such. Capt. Burk was then ordered on board a prison-ship in the harbor.