The New Hampshire Gazette

"LEGAL ADJUDICATION."

BOSTON, SEPT. 6, 1794.

It is our duty to say, that depredations on the American commerce, still continue to be practised by the pirates of the Bermudas. We have in our possession, letters from Capt. Bickford, to Mr. Wells H. his owner, in this town, which informs, that the schooner Polly, of this town, with her cargo, and every thing on board, had been captured by a Bermudan privateer, carried into Bermuda, and condemned. The charge against her, for furnishing the French with provisions.

The following letter contains more particulars on this subject, than we can collect from others, which, with due allowance for the colourings, which injury and insult will of course produce, may be considered as authentic.

Copy of a letter received from Bermuda, dated July 30, 1794.

"The privateers out of Bermuda, continue to send in all American vessels, taken, bound to, or returning from, any French port, which are invariably condemned, and the owners obliged to pay cost of suit, and which amounts from 500 to 800 dollars for each vessel.

"Several American vessels have been sent in here, bound to, and coming from English and Spanish ports, detained a long time, and carried out of their way, to the great damage of their voyages, and after their vessels were ruined by the worms, and their cargoes perished, they have been discharged, paying cost of suit.

One vessel in this situation was robbed of a quantity of dry goods to the amount of three hundred pounds sterling, the only articles on board but what perished by laying a long time in the vessel. Her fish was sold for 3s. per ten quintal, cash, which, in America, must have cost twenty-five dollars, besides Freight and other charges: her bacon at 1s. per lb. and a large part of her cargo thrown overboard, entirely spoiled.

"A number of American Captains went to the Judge of Admiralty, and desired him to inform them on what grounds he could possibly condemn their vessels and cargoes, after the King's instructions to the commanders of his ships of war, dated January 8th; and after he had received incontestable proof that the Judges in all the other islands were acquitting all vessels in a similar situation to theirs, under their instructions. He answered, that he should not be governed by the conduct of Judges in other islands, and that his opinion of those instructions was, that they were intended merely to deceive the Americans, and that he should continue to condemn until he received counter orders from England.

"The attorney for all the privateersmen, who owns a number of privateers, one day observed, in presence of several Americans, that the Judge had a cause depending in court to a great amount, which was in his power to turn as he pleased; therefore he never hesitated to oblige him in his decisions.

"Captains Daigre, of Baltimore, and Smith, of Boston, whose vessels and cargoes were condemned here, being dissatisfied with the decree, moved in court for liberty to appeal therefrom, which was granted. They obtained the promise of a merchant to be their surety, as is required by law, in case of an appeal. A few days after, they desired him to appear in court, and enter into the usual stipulation for an appeal. He told them that, he was informed by his friends, that a number of the principal men had said he was too officious, in assisting the Americans, by being their surety for appeals; that their appealing would occasion dissatisfaction among the privateersmen, and if he was surety for any more, they would take measures to stop him that could not be very agreeable to him; and, from a number of other similar circumstances, he thought it would be putting every thing at stake to comply with his promise, and hoped to be excused. Not being able to find any person who dare be their surety was deprived of the privilege of appealing

The only ground for condemnation charged in the libel, against Capt. Smith's vessel and cargo, is French property; whereas, the contrary appearing, another ground for condemnation not pointed out in the libel. is taken in the Judge's Decree—to wit, coming from an island in possession of his Majesty's enemies.

"In many instances the Captains and crews of the prizes immediately on their arrival have been stripped naked, their clothes ripped open in search of money, and turned out of their vessels: disposed of every thing, and on the most submissive request, made by them, to the Governor for prisoner's rations, they were denied, and left to shift for a Subsistence amongst a den of robbers. Had it not been for the assistance of some Americans there with cargoes for sale, they must have suffered in the streets for want of a morsel of bread, after being disposed of their vessels and cargoes, from two to fifteen thousand pounds each."