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Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
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An American ship Eliza, captained by Vickery, was captured by a French privateer Jean Bart near Eddystone on August 10, 1809, while bound for Tonningen. Brought to Paimpol, France, the crew was imprisoned in Morlaix, and cargo seized despite documents proving neutral origin. Highlights Napoleon's policies against American trade.
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The following extract of a letter from Captain Vickery, of the ship Eliza of this port, furnishes another instance of Napoleon's justice, and of his friendship for this country. Our ships captured and their crews imprisoned; others destroyed or ransomed (we think they call it) would pass for war; but this is the way that Napoleon vindicates the "liberty of the seas." This extract requires no comment from any American, but the advocates of the Corsican will justify this conduct. The letter from which this extract is made, was written by capt. Vickery to Mr. James B Timberlake, purser of the United States' Schooner Enterprise, cruising off the Texel, and by the latter transmitted to the owners of the Eliza. The ship was cleared, and destined originally for Amsterdam, had the French consul's certificate of origin, and every document that could be required; her cargo cost here eighty-two thousand dollars, and the ship was worth about twenty thousand!
"PAIMPOL, SEPT. 11, 1809.
"'Twas but yesterday that I was certain of your being at the Texel, and I am now truly sorry to inform you of my being in this part of the world, in the situation that I am at present. I was captured on the 10th of August nearly abreast the Eddystone, bound to Tonningen, by a privateer belonging to St. Maloes, by name Jean Bart, a lugger mounting one carriage gun, a one pounder and 30 men, about the size of my long boat, and brought into this place where I now have been 30 days, and it is but three days since I have been allowed liberty to go out of my ship. My officers and men have been marched all off to Morlaix and there confined in prison, they could not treat us worse if we were prisoners of war. Had I been bound to England I should not think so much of it, but being bound to an allies port, it is galling to be thus treated; I am here, and here I must remain, for I cannot obtain a passport to go out of this place; they have discharged my cargo and put it into magazines, under the locks and keys of the commissioners of marine."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Paimpol
Event Date
10th Of August 1809
Key Persons
Outcome
ship captured and brought to paimpol; crew imprisoned in morlaix; cargo discharged into magazines under commissioners of marine; no casualties reported.
Event Details
The American ship Eliza, bound from Norfolk to Tonningen (originally cleared for Amsterdam) with proper documents including French consul's certificate, was captured on August 10, 1809, near the Eddystone by the French privateer lugger Jean Bart from St. Maloes (one carriage gun, one-pounder, 30 men). Captain Vickery and crew held in Paimpol for 30 days; officers and men marched to and confined in prison at Morlaix, treated as prisoners of war. Captain denied passport to leave; cargo valued at $82,000 and ship at $20,000 seized despite neutral status as bound to allied port.