Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

ESQUIMAUX INDIANS.

Since the arrival of captain Hadlock, with those natives, much curiosity has been excited, and many thousand persons have seen them; many of whom have expressed a belief that they had been stolen from the coast.

Facts have now been developed, that induce a belief that captain Hadlock has taken these poor creatures from their country, and brought them to a land of strangers, contrary to their inclinations.

The circumstances as related to us are these.—The Rev. Mr. Mortimer, the Moravian minister, called to see them, and being acquainted with the language used on the coast of Labrador, he conversed with the man. At first he evinced a great unwillingness to answer any questions; but, on the Rev. gentleman mentioning the name of one of the Moravian missionaries, he caught hold of Mr. Mortimer's arm, and expressed much surprise. A full development was soon after made to a gentleman of this city.

The mayor was applied to, who immediately issued a habeas corpus, and the man, woman, and child were brought before him.

The man stated, that he could speak English; and that he had been accustomed to visit, in his canoe, all American and English vessels which touched at that part of the coast where he resided. On captain Hadlock appearing off the coast, he went off to the vessel—where captain Hadlock detained him, taking his canoe on board. After sailing down the coast for about fifty miles, the captain sent a boat on shore with five men, who brought off the woman and child, that are now with him, and who are palmed on the public as his wife and child. When they were all on board, he told them that they must go to America, and if they spoke any other word in English than Yes, Yes, he would immediately kill them; that it was from fear they have been kept from speaking English, since their arrival. The mayor issued a warrant for the apprehension of Hadlock, who, we understand, states that he came honestly by them, had treated them well, and had given them their choice to follow him or not. He has been committed for trial. The Indians are given in charge to the overseers of the poor.

A book was given to the Esquimaux, printed in his own language, parts of which he translated into English.

[Com. Adv.