The New Hampshire Gazette

Persecuted Neutrality.

On the 28th April last in the evening, a number of Officers and Seamen belonging to the St. Joseph, British Man of War, went on board the Schooner Catherine, of Marblehead, James Cocks, master-(who was then on board the brig Enterprise, of Salem, Edward Allen, master) all of them in the port of Lisbon— Capt. Cocks hearing a noise on board his own vessel, entered the boat of the Enterprise to go on board her, but before he got along side, he was cautioned to keep off by armed men. Notwithstanding which he attempted to get on board, and having approached close to the vessel, two of the said armed men (who by their dress appeared to be officers) flashed two pistols at him-he then took hold of the Gunnel of the vessel, on which one of the officers struck him on the arm with a hanger, aiming a blow with the same at his head, hit his hat-at this moment, the men in the boat (alarmed at the imminent danger of their Captain) pushed off, and he was compelled to abandon his vessel ; and returned to the Enterprise, after having taken up a man belonging to said vessel who had jumped overboard from the Catharine, as the only means of escaping the danger which threatened him there. These heroes continued on board the Catherine near half an hour, after which Capt. Cocks went on board : and, found they had carried off with them Benjamin Thompson, of the Catherine, a native of Marblehead, and Thomas Fuller, of the Enterprise, a native of Salem, both Citizens of the United States. Benjamin from the American Consul.

The above is extracted from the Protest of Capt. Cocks. made in the Chancery of the Consulate of the United States of America in the city of Lisbon, which is to be forwarded to Congress.