do no work under it. He then ordered my legs to be put in irons, and THE NEXT MORNING ORDERED THE MASTER AT ARMS TO TAKE ME ON DECK, AND GIVE ME TWO DOZEN LASHES; after receiving them, he ordered him to keep me in frons, and give me one biscuit and one pint of water for 24 hours. After keeping me in tris situation one week, I was brought on deck, and asked by captain Elliott, if I would go to my duty. On my refusing, he ordered me to strip, tied me up a second time, and gave me two dozen more, and kept me on the same allowance another week-then ordered me on deck again, asked me if I would go to work. I still persisted that I was an American; and that he had no right to command my services, and I would do no work on board his ship. He told me he would punish me until I was willing to work; and gave me the third two dozen lashes, ordered a very heavy chrin pul round my neck, (such as they had used to sling the lower yard) fastened to a ring bolt in the deck, and that no persón, except the master at arms, should speak to me, or give me any thing to eat or drink, but one biscuit and pint of water for 24 hours, until I would go to work. I was kept in this situation for nine weeks, when being exhausted by hunger and thirst, I was obliged to yield. After being on board the ship more than two years and a half, and being wounded in an action with a French frigate, I was sent to the hospital. When partially recovered, 1 was sent on board the Impregnable, 90 gun ship. My wounds growing worse, I was returned to the hospital, when the American consul received a copy of my protection from Salem, and procured my discharge on the 29th day of April last. There were seven impressed Americans on board the Porcupine, three of whom had entered." ISAAC CLARK,

Essex, ss. Dec. 23, 1812.

Then Isaac Clark personally appeared, and made solemn oath that the facts in the foregoing declaration, by him made and subscribed, were true in all their parts-before

JOHN PUNCHARD, Justices of the Peace,
M. TOWNSEND.
and of the quorum.

From Com. Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy.

U.S. Frigate President, Boston, Jan. 14, 1813. "Sir-Herewith you will receive two muster books, of his Britannic majesty's vessels, Moselle and Sappho, found on board the British packet Swallow.

"As the British have always denied that they detained on board their ships of rear, American citizens, knowing them to be such, I send you the enclosed, as a public document of their own, to prove how ill such an assertion accords with their practice.

"It will appear by these two muster books that so late as August last, about an eighth part of the Moselle and Sappho's crews were Americans; consequently, if there is only a quarter part of that proportion on board their other vessels, that they have an infinitely greater number of Americans in their service than any American has yet had an idea of.

.66

Any further comment of mine on this subject, I consider unnecessary; as the documents speak too plain for themselves. I have the honor to be, &c.

The hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy."

JNO. RODGERS.

Extract of a letter from Commodore Porter to M. Cary, dated Washington, July 13, 1815. "After closing my letter of this morning, I received yours of yesterday; and as the only means of procuring the information required, have consulted Commodore Rodgers, who informs me that there appeared on the muster books of the Moselle and Sappho, the names of from thirty five to forty men, who were reported to the admiralty office, as impressed American seamen. The places of their nativity are also noted. The complement of men for each of these vessels as about 100, With respect, &c. DAVID PORTER.

I, Beekman Ver Plank Hoffinan, of the town of Poughkeepsie, do ccrtify, that I am a lieutenant in the United States navy; that I was a lieutenant on board the Constitution in the action and capture of the Java; and was sent on board that vessel; and, after the crew were removed, set her on fire, and blew her up.

"Among the crew of the Java, THIRTEEN IMPRESSED AMERICAN SEAMEN were found, three of whom had eutered the British service, and were left; the other ten were liberated as Americans."

Poughkeepsie, April 16, 1813.

B. V. HOFFMAN.

"Richard Thompson, being sworn, saith that he is a native of New Paltz, opposite Poughkeepsie; that he sailed from Wilmington about the 28th of April, 1810, on board the brig Warren, Win. Kelly captain, for Cork. On the homeward passage, in September following, he was impressed and taken on board the Peacock, a British sloop of war, and compelled to do his duty; that while on board that vessel, he made many unsuccessful attempts to write to his friends, to inform them of his situation. He further sith, that after he had heard of the war, himself and two other impressed American seamen who were on board the Peacock, went aft to the captain; claimed to be considered as American prisoners of war; and refused to do duty any longer.

"We were ordered off the quarter deck, and the captain called for the master at arms, and ordered us to be put in irons. We were then kept in irons about twenty-four hours, when we were taken out, brought to the gangway, STRIPPED OF OUR CLOTHES, TIED AND WHIPPED, EACH ONE DOZEN AND A HALF LASHES, AND PUT TO DUTY.

"He further saith, that he was kept on board the Peacock, and did duty till the action with the Hornet. After the Horuet hoisted American colours, he and the other impressed Americans again went to the captain of the Peacock, asked to be sent below; said it was an American ship; and that they did not wish to fight against their country. The captain ordered us to our quarters; called midshipman Stone to do his duty; and if we did not do our duty, FO BLOW OUR BRAINS OUT; "aye, aye!" was answered by Stone, who then held a pistol at my breast, and ordered us to our places. We then continued at our places, and were compelled to fight till the Peacock struck; and we were liberated after about two years and eight months."

Poughkeepsie, April 17, 1813.

his

RICHARD THOMPSON.

mark.

Read over and signed) JOSEPH HARRIS, in presence of S-JOHN S. FRIAR.

Extract from the log book of an officer on board his majesty's ship Guerriere, in the action with the Constitution.

"The Guerriere was a frigate of 1080 tons burden, taken from the French in 1806; and had 302 men and boys belonging to her. There were ten American seamen on board, who had belonged to her for some years.-But as the declaration of war against Great Britain was not known when she sailed, there had been no opportunity of discharging them; and captain Dacres considering it as unjust to compel a native of the United States to fight against his countrymen, granted them permission to quit their quarters and go below."

Captain Dacres, in his address to the court martial by which he was tried, states this fact in the following terms :

"What considerably neakened my quarters, was permitting the Americans beImging to the ship, to quit their quarters on the enemy hoisting the colours of that nation, which, though it deprived me of the men, I thought it was my duty."

Boston, Feb. 6, 1813. "Died at Boston, on the 3d instant, on board the frigate President, Godfrey Hyer, seaman, aged 47. The deceased was a native of Rhode-Island, and was one of the numerous instances of impressment, which have been the cause of com plaint against the English. He was taken on board an American merchant ship and though he never voluntarily entered their service, he was detained from his country and his friends fourteen years, during which time he was present at seven teen engagements, and gained the reputation of a good seaman and a brave

man.

"He at length found means to escape; and on his return to the United States, he immediately shipped on board the President, where he continued until his decease-his conduct receiving the marked approbation of his commander and the other officers of the frigate. He was interred on Thursday last at Charlestown-his funeral was attended by a lieutenant, eight midshipmen, all the petty officers, and fifty seamen of the ship: and the ceremonies were performed by the chaplain in a manner highly solemn and impressive."

From the Boston Patriot.

"My brother, John Cand, ofWoolwich in the District of Maine, was prest on board his majesty's frigate Macedonian, on the 10th of June, 1810, from the ship Mount Hope, of Wiscasset, and was killed on board the Macedonian, in the battle with the United States, Commodore Decatur. A disconsolate wife and child are in mourning and in sorrow, for the loss of a husband and parent, on whom they were dependant." JOSEPH CAND.

The following narrative of an impressed American, will show not only the disgraceful manner in which American sailors have been forcibly dragged into a foreign service, but the treatment they receive in consequence of refusing to fight against their country.

"I, John Nichols, a native of Durham, state of Massachusetts, relate and say, that I sailed from Portland in the ship Franklin, commanded by James Marks as chief mate, bound to Liverpool, where we arrived the seventh day of Februa ry, 1809. The same day I was taken by a press gang, coming from my boarding house to the ship, and carried by them to the rendezvous, Cooper's Row, and detained one night. The next morning I gave the lieutenant my protection, and at the same time stated to them I was chief mate of the ship; also captain Marks and Mr. Porter, supercargo, came and were refused admittance.

"I then asked the lieutenant for my protection; he answered, “I will give it to you with a hell to it," and immediately tore it up before my face, and sent me on board the guard ship Priocess, where I remained one week, and was then sent round to Plymouth on board the Salvador guard ship: remained there one month, after which I was drafted on board the Aboukir 74, where I remained three years and fourteen days.

"When the war broke out, I determined to give myself up a prisoner of war, let the consequence be what it would. Consequently on the 28th of October, I went to the captain and gave myself up as a prisoner of war, and refused to do any more duty Then he told me I was an Englishman, and if I would not do my duty, he would flog me; and ordered me in irons, and kept me in irons 24 hours, after which I was taken to the gangway, and received one dozen with the cat on my bare back.

"The captain then asked me if I would go to duty. I told him no: I would sooner die first. He then put me in irons again for 24 hours, and once more brought me to the gangway, and received as before with the same questions, and answer as preceded; and the same was repeated four days successively, and I received four dozen on my naked back.

"After the fourth day I was a prisoner at large. The 26th day of December was sent to prison without my clothes, they being refused me by the captain

after abusing me in the most insulting manner: and all I received for my servi tude was fourteen pounds. During impressment, I have used my best en deavours to escape." JOHN NICHOLS.

Witness, Jeduthan Upton.

From the Salem Register, July, 1813.

Captain Upton has furnished us with a list of 128 American seamen, who had been impressed on board British ships of war, and delivered up as prisoners of war, with the places of their nativity, the ships they were discharged from, the time they have served, and the number of Americans left on board the different ships at the time of their discharge. These were on board one prison ship, the San Antonia. Besides these, there were on board the Chatham prison ship, 320 men who have been delivered up in similar circumstances. Many of these poor fellows had been detained more than 15 years, and about 40 of the 128 on board the San Antonio belong to this state."

To the Editors of the National Intelligencer.

In the mouth of February, 1797, I belonged to the ship Fidelity, captain Charles Weems, lying in the harbour of St. Pierre's, Martinique. About one o'clock Sunday morning, I was awaked by a noise on the deck, and on going up, found the ship in possession of a press gang. In a few minutes all hands were forced out, and ordered into their boat, and in a heavy shower of rain conveyed on board the Ceres frigate. We were ordered on the gun deck until day light, by which time about 80 Americans were collected.

"Soon after sunrise, the ship's crew were ordered into the cabin to be overhauled. Each was questioned as to his name, &c. when I was called on for my place of birth, and answered Newcastle, Delaware. The captain affected not to hear the last; but said, "aye, Newcastle; he's a collier; the very man. 1 warrant him a sailor. Send him down to the doctor." Upon which a petty officer, whom I recognised as one of the press gang, made answer, "sir, I know this fellow. He is a schoolmate of mine, and his name is Kelly. He was born in Belfast. And, Tom, you know well enough, so don't sham yankee any more." I thought," says the captain," he was a countryman of my own, but an Irishman's all one-take him away."

"The next was a Prussian, who had shipped in Hamburgh, as a carpenter of the Fidelity in September, 1796-He affected, when questioned, not to understand English, but answered in Dutch. Upon which the captain laughed, and said," This is no yankee. Send him down, and let the quarter-master put him in the mess with the other Dutchmen; they will understand him, and the boatswain will learn him to talk English." He was accordingly kept.

I was afterwards discharged by an order from Admiral Harvey, on the application of Mr Craig, at that time American agent or vice-consul I further observed that full one third of the crew were impressed Americans." JOHN DAVIS, of Abel.

Navy Yard, Oct. 12, 1813.

Copy of a letter from Commodore Decatur to the secretary of the nary. U. S. ship United States, New-London, March 18, 1814. "Sir-I have the honor to forward to you enclosed, a despatch received by me from captain Capel, the commanding officer of the British squadron before this port, written in reply to an application of mine, for the release of an American seaman, detained against his will on board the frigate Statira.

Hiram Thayer, born in the town of Greenwich, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was impressed into the naval service of Great Britain, in the Bonth of August, 1803. and detained ever since.

"About six years ago, when the Statira was put in commission, he was transferred to her; and has been constantly on board her to this day.

"1 am informed, and in fact it was stated by captain Stackpole to lieutenant Hamilton, who was charged with the flag, that the late general Lyman, our con

sul at London, made application to the lords commissioners for the discharge Thayer but they were not satisfied with the evidence of his nativity.

"John Thayer, the father of Hiram, assures me that the certificate of the so lectmen, the town clerk, and the minister of Greenwich, were forwarded som time ago to Mr. Mitchell, the resident agent for American prisoners of war a Halifax; but does not know why he was not released then.

"The son has written to his father, and informed him that on representing hi case to captain Stackpole, he told him if they fell in with an America inan of war, and he did not do his duty, HE SHOULD BE TIED TO THE MAST, AND SHOT AT LIKE A DOG."

On Monday the 14th inst. John Thayer requested me to allow him a flag, t go off to the enemy, and ask for the release of his son. This I granted at once and addressed a note to captain Capel, stating that I felt persuaded that the ap plication of the father, furnished as he was with conclusive evidence of the nativi ty and identity of the son, would induce an immediate order for his discharge. "The reply is enclosed. The son descried his father at a distance in the boat, and told the lieutenant of the Statira that it was his father; and I understand the feelings manifested by the old man, on receiving the hand of his son, proved beyond all other evidence, the property he had in him There was not

5 doubt left on the mind of a single British officer, of Hiram Thayer's being an American citizen. And yet he is detained, not as a prisoner of war, but COMPELLED, UNDER THE MOST CRUEL THREATS, TO SERVE THE ENEMIES OF HIS COUNTRY.

Thayer has so recommended himself by his sobriety, industry, and seamanship, as to be appointed a boatswain's mate, and is now serving in that capacity in the Statira: and he says there is due to him from the British government about two hundred and fifty pounds sterling He has also assured his father that he has always refused to receive any bounty or advance, lest he might afford some pretext for denying him his discharge whenever a proper application should be made for it. I am, sir, with the highest consideration, your most obedient humble servant."

tira.

STEPHEN DECATUR.

Extract from captain Capel's letter, enclosed.

On board his B. M. ship La Hogue, off N. London, March 14, 1814. "Sir-1 regret that it is not in my power to comply with your request in or dering the son of Mr. John Thayer to be discharged from his majesty's ship StaBut I will forward your application to the commander in chief, by the earliest opportunity, and I have no doubt he will order his immediate discharge." THOMAS CAPEL, Captain, &c. Extract of a letter from Commodore Decatur to the Secretary of the Navy. New-London, May 17, 1814.

I am, &c.

"The enclosed, No. 2, is the copy of a note I addressed to captain Capel of his B. M. ship La Hogue, on the subject of Barnard O'Brien, a native citizen of the United States. In the boat that bore the flag of truce to the La Hogue, the father of the man in question went,

"Captain Capel would not permit him to see his son. He directed my officer to inform me that he would answer my despatch the next day, since when I have not heard from him."

Letter to Captain Capel.

"Sir-At the solicitation of Mr. Barnard O'Brien, whose son is now on board his Britannic Majesty's ship La Hogue under your command, I have granted a flag of truce, conducted by lieutenant Hamilton, with permission for Mr. O'Brien to attend it. His object is to effect the liberation of his son, a native citizen of the United States. He bears with him a copy of the record of the town of Groton in the state of Connecticut, signed by the town clerk and select men, as also