The New Hampshire Gazette

A Letter from a Person lately returned from Confinement at Bayonne, gives the following Account of the Treatment of British Prisoners at that Place.

After being stript by the Privateers, they are forced to lye on the cold Boards having two Pounds only of Straw allowed them in a Fortnight, and no Blanket or Hammock. Many of them, poor Fellows ! have little or nothing to cover their Nakedness. Officers are allowed eight Sols (or 4d English) a Day ; but twenty Sols per Day is scarce sufficient to keep Soul and Body together ; for they are not permitted to go to the Town to buy their own Provisions, and at the Castle they are grossly imposed upon. For a separate Apartment from the Sailors each Officer pays two Livres per Month. None of them is admitted to go upon his Parole, unless he can procure Bail for 3000 Livres. Seldom a Week passes but some Prisoners is run into the Leg or Thigh by the Centinel's Bayonet, for the most trifling cause. Five Prisoners, endeavouring to make their Escape, were discovered by the Centinels, who calling for more assistance, the Prisoners fell down upon their Knees, imploring Mercy. The Guards seeing them in a defenceless Posture, boldly drew their Scymetars, killed Four of them outright, and left the other for Dead with the loss of his Right Hand ; and for this Piece of signal Bravery they were commended by their Officers. Another Prisoner had a very dangerous Wound given him by a Centinel's running his Bayonet into his Thigh, because he had omitted the Ceremony of taking off his Hat, and crossing himself, when he came to the Well to draw Water. With respect to my self, I had bribed the Centinels to carry me to Spain with Four others of my Acquaintance. The Commander getting Notice of it, resolved that we should have a free Passage as far as the great Ditch, and that there he would plant a File of Musqueteers in a Bush to Fire upon us, it being necessary, he said, to sacrifice us, in order to intimidate others from making the like Attempt. I luckily was informed of his Design in the Evening by a Maid of the House.

However, I was afterwards confined in a Dungeon under Ground, and there loaded with Irons.

If you acquaint them that French Prisoners in England are not so inhumanly treated, their Reply is, That they believe it ; but it is more out of Fear, than Good nature. Indeed I must do the present Commissary, M. de Freme, the Justice to say, that as far as lay in his Power, he hath always behaved with great Equity and Civility towards the Prisoners.

The Bayonners have not the Humanity which many in England have, to raise Contributions for the Relief of the poor naked Sailors. The French pride themselves much on being the politest of Nations ; and certainly they are so, if Politeness consists in fine Compliments, and external Gestures of the Body, without any Intention to perform what is said.

While in Subjection they are the most fawning and insinuating ; so far indeed as to make a considerable Progress in gaining the Hearts of our British Ladies. Thus I am informed, that a French Prisoner is seldom at a Loss for a Partner at an Assembly ; while an honest Englishman is but little regarded. Such is the Foible of many, that they can relish nothing but what is Frenchified. I only wish that such were to experience them as much as their humble Servant has done.

R. C.

P. S. As most of the Merchants in Bayonne are become Bankrupts, they make great Complaints against the Authors of the War. There are at present about twenty two Privateers belonging to Bayonne, from 16 to 28 Guns. They are all in the River, and are to cruize Four or Five together.