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America had a truer heart, in her service, than mine; and I do not think an
English commission would have bought me. I have nothing to hope, from saying
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this, for I am now old, and a cripple but, as I have sat down to relate the
truth, let the truth be told, whether it tell for, or against me.
We were now sent back to the Ardent; where we remained three weeks, or a
month, longer. During this time we got our papers from New York; I receiving a
copy of my indentures, together with the sum of ten dollars; which reached me
through Sir Thomas Hardy, as I understood. Nothing more was ever said, to any
of the eight, about their being Englishmen; the whole of us being treated as
prisoners of war. Prisoners arrived fast, until we had four hundred in the
Ardent. The old Ruby, a forty-four, on two decks, was obliged to receive some
of them. Most of these prisoners were privateersmen; though there were a few
soldiers, and some citizens that had been picked up in Chesapeake Bay. Before
we left Bermuda, the crew of a French frigate was put into the Ardent, to the
number of near four hundred men. In the whole, we must have had eight hundred
souls, and all on one deck. This was close stowage, and I was heartily glad
when I quitted the ship.
Soon after the French arrived, four hundred of us Americans were put on board
transports, and we sailed for Halifax, under the convoy of the Ramilies. A day
or two after we got out, we fell in with an American privateer, which
continued hovering around us for several days. As this was a bold fellow,
frequently coming within gun-shot, and sporting his sticks and canvass in all
sorts of ways, Sir Thomas Hardy felt afraid he would get one of the four
transports, and he took all us prisoners into the Ramilies. We staid in the
ship the rest of the passage, and when we went into Halifax it was all alone,
the four transports having disappeared. Two of them subsequently got in; but I
think the other two were actually taken by that saucy fellow.
The prisoners, at first, had great liberty allowed them, on board the
Ramilies. On all occasions, Sir Thomas Hardy treated the Americans well. A
party of marines was stationed on the poop, and another on the forecastle, and
the ship's people had arms; but this was all the precaution that was used. The
opportunity tempted some of our men to plan a rising, with a view to seize the
ship. Privateer officers were at the head of this scheme, which was
communicated to me, among others, soon after the plot was laid. Most of the
prisoners knew of the intention, and everybody seemed to enter into the affair
with hearty good-will. Our design was to rise at the end of the second
dog-watch, overcome the crew, and carry the ship upon our own coast. If unable
to pass the blockading squadrons, we intended to run her ashore. The people of
the Ramilies outnumbered us by near one-half, and they had arms, it is true;
but we trusted to the effect of a surprise, and something to the disposition
of most English sailors to get quit of their own service. Had the attempt been
made, from what I saw of the crew, I think our main trouble would have been
with the officers and the marines. We were prevented from trying the
experiment, however, in consequence of having been betrayed by some one who
was in the secret, the whole of us being suddenly sent into the cable tiers
and amongst the water casks, under the vigilant care of sentinels posted in
the wings. After that, we were allowed to come on deck singly, only, and then
under a sentinel's charge. When Sir Thomas spoke to us concerning this change
of treatment, he did not abuse us for our plan, but was mild and reasonable,
while he reminded us of the necessity of what he was doing. I have no idea he
would have been in the least injured, had we got possession of the ship; for,
to the last, our people praised him, and the treatment they received, while
under his orders.
Before we were sent below, Sir Thomas spoke to me again, on the subject of my
joining the English service. He was quite earnest about it, and reasoned with
me like a father; but I was determined not to yield. I did not like England,
and I did like America. My birth in Quebec was a thing I could not help; but
having chosen to serve under the American flag, and having done so now for
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years, I did not choose to go over to the enemy.
At Halifax, fifteen or twenty of us were sent on board the old Centurion, 44,
Lord Anson's ship, as retaliation-men. We eight were of the number. We found
something like thirty more in the ship, all retaliation-men, like ourselves.
Those we found in the Centurion did not appear to me to be foremast Jacks, but
struck me as being citizens from ashore. We were well treated, however,
suffering no other confinement than that of the ship. We were on "six upon
four," it is true, like other prisoners, but our own country gave us small
stores, and extra bread and beef. In the way of grub, we fared like sailor
kings. At the end of three weeks, we eight lakesmen were sent to Melville
Island, among the great herd of prisoners. I cannot explain the reason of all
these changes; but I know that when the gate was shut on us, the turnkey said
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