The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Letters from Capt. Summers to Capt. Smith, dated St. Pierre's Prison, Martinique, July 26, 1764.

SIR,

I take the freedom in troubling you with a few lines, relating to an unhappy misfortune I some time ago met with. Being bound from New London in North-America, for the island of Dominica, with a cargo of horses, lumber, fish and onions, We unfortunately fell in with the island of Martinique in prodigious thick rainy weather; not seeing any other land, and having no observation for two days before, took it for the island Dominica: and hauling in for the land, at the distance of near five miles from the land, was taken by the Guarda Costa of the said island, carried to St. Pierre's, in which place they put me and my people in a close prison, among criminals and negroes, and at a very small allowance per day; they likewise took away the principal part of our cloaths, and confiscated both vessel and cargo in a very unjust cause; and have not only taken away the vessel and cargo, but laid a heavy fine of 50l. the charges of condemning the vessel is 50l. more; with the charges of the prison fees for myself and people, the whole amounts to near 250l. which sum I am not able to discharge. I have now been in close prison six months, and likely to remain much longer, therefore humbly request, dear Sir, at your arrival in London, you will get the heads of this unhappy misfortune inserted in form in the papers, to inform the public of the ill treatment his Majesty's subjects meet with here. Your compliance with this, will much oblige, Sir, your very obliged humble servant,

WILLIAM SUMMERS.

The contents of my cargo--35 horses, 15000 lumber, consisting of hogsheads, hoops, and staves. 75 barrels fish. 2000 bunches of onions. 75 water hhd s. 12 dozen fowls. 15 sheep. 5 hogs.