The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

PHILADELPHIA, June 29.

As the late outrageous insult and cruel treatment I have received from William Didington, commander of the armed schooner Gaspey, and David Hay, captain of the Train, is become the common topic of conversation, I think I am bound in justice to myself and the public, to give a full and true narrative of the whole matter. What was my case yesterday, may be the case of every freeman who may unfortunately fall within the power of such cowardly insolent officers, who disgrace the commissions they hold, and who seem to think that their office entitles them to treat their fellow subjects with outrage, insolence and abuse.

On the 26th inst. going a fishing with Mr. Thomas Pedrix, of Chester, I saw a topsail schooner coming up. As I wanted to speak with a Pilot, who I was informed was in such a schooner, I went near and hailed her, and asked what Pilot was on board? The Captain of the schooner replied, that the Pilot did not choose to tell his name. Such an uncivil, ungentleman-like answer provoked me to tell him, that a civil question deserved a civil answer, and that I thought both the Captain and Pilot blackguards. Upon which the Captain ordered out his boat and five men, to bring me on board, at the same time presenting his firelock, and swearing most violently, that he would fire upon me, if I did not come along side directly. All this time I had no apprehension of its being a King's armed schooner. When the Boat came up the Coxswain immediately seized me, and in a piratical manner dragged me into the boat, and put me on board the schooner, when the Captain accosted me with the most abusive language.

Finding in what hands I had fallen, I endeavoured to mollify him, by making all the concessions which gentlemen ought to demand. I assured him I did not know he was a King's officer; that if I had offended him I asked his pardon. But at this time happening to see Capt. Hay, to whom I was known, I appealed to him for my character, expecting he would interpose his friendly offices. But Capt. Hay in a rude insulting manner said, "I know him very well, a tavern-keeper in Chester, a damned horse-jockey. They are all a parcel of damn'd rascals." Tho' I had heard much of the imperious insolence of the man, yet I was quite thunder struck at this instance of it. He did not seem drunk, as it is said he was when he committed the violent outrage in Philadelphia some years ago, and attempted to assassinate a gentleman of that city.

The words were no sooner out of his mouth, than the commander of the schooner struck me in the face with his fist, and redoubled his strokes, which I endeavoured to ward off, without offering to return a blow; but in fending off his strokes my hand happened to touch his face, on which, with an oath, he cried out, "you rascal, will you strike me on board my own vessel." I told him I did not, that if my hand touched him; it was not Designedly. "You lie, you rascal, (said Hay,) how dare you strike a Captain of a man of war?" With that they both fell upon me, at the same time calling for the mate, who seized and held my hands, while the Commander and Hay both beat me in a cruel manner. When they had tired themselves with beating me that they might add insult to cruelty, they ordered me to be put in irons, and as if nothing could glut their revenge they thrust me into the hold, where the Commander swore he would keep me and would not suffer me to see the light, nor to have pen, ink, or paper, till he carried me to Halifax. When he found that all his threats and menaces did not break my spirit, trusting to the protection of the laws of my country, defied his malice and insolence: his rage being somewhat abated he ordered the boat with 5 men to put me on board my own boat, if I would fall on my knees and ask his pardon. Finding he could not bring me to this, he ordered his men to carry me, bloody as I was, on board my boat, which was about half a mile distant, and during this inhuman scene he would not suffer to come near the schooner.

DAVIS BEVAN.

As soon as Mr. Bevan got to Chester he followed them to this place, where they endeavoured to make the matter up with their Cash, which he nobly scorn'd, and has enter'd an action at civil law against each of the captains.