Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

BOSTON, November 13.

The following is a copy of a letter from three American Captains, prisoners at Algiers, forwarded to Cadiz by the British Consul, and brought hither by Capt. Byrne, who arrived at Salem, a few days ago, from that place.

Algiers, August 27, 1785.

SIR,

WE, the subjects of the United States of America, having the misfortune to be taken by the Algerines, and brought into this port, and made slaves of, being stripped of every one of our clothes, and left in a state of slavery and misery, the severities of which are beyond your imagination, the British Consul Charles Logie, Esq. has taken us three masters of vessels to his own house :—one was a passenger in the ship Dolphin. Hope you will take our grievances into consideration, and make some extra provision for us, for the King of Cruelty's allowance no man can exist on. Inform Congress and the United States of our situation. All nations, whose subjects fall into the hands of these people, make them extra allowance---Hope you will write to the British Consul on the subject, and are sure he would be glad to give you every information relating to us, and how matters may be accommodated with America, If we dont make some terms, our trade is ruined. They are fitting out cruizers with all possible expedition : two will cruize off the Western Isles, and the rest off Portugal.

Americans beware ! Let nothing tempt you to come in the way of these people, for they are worse than you can imagine, A master of a vessel and a fellow that does worse than murder, are all alike here.

The ship Dolphin Richard O'Brien, master, belonging to Philadelphia, was taken, the 30th of July, 80 leagues S. W. of St. Ubes, belonging to Messrs. Matthew and Thomas Irving, merchants at Philadelphia. The schooner Maria, Isaac Stevens, master belonging to Messrs. Wm. Foster and Company, from Boston, was taken the 21st of July, consigned to you, at Cadiz. The ship had 25 Moors and Turks on board, and is not arrived. We are 21 in number. Captain Stevens's crew are all at the King's house ; the crew of the Dolphin are at the Marine, where they experience all the miseries of slavery. We hope you will write to Charles Logie, Esq. and us unfortunate sufferers. The Spaniards have made peace with these people: in consequence of which, they will be all over the Atlantick Ocean, and every trade must suffer. They seem to talk of ransoming us as high as from 400 l. to 600 l. sterling ; however, you perhaps know our price, and the customs of these heathens, in that particular, better than we do.—I take the liberty to mention, that it will be requisite, as a warning to all America, to advertise our sufferings.

We remain your most obedient, humble servants.

Richard O'Brien,

Isaac Stevens,

Zechariah Coffin.

To Richard Harrison, Esq.