| CHAPTER I. | |
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| The Dolton sailed—Was taken—Breach of Honor—Disagreeable Lodgings—Advantage of being Small—A Report—English Women—Royal Salute—Removed—A Prize brought in—Daily Allowance on board His Majesty’s Ships—The Charming Sally—Orders. | [17] |
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| CHAPTER II. | |
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| Disease and Vermin—Reports—Pressed Men—Removal to the Tarbay—Cold Berth—Sickness prevails—General Lee—A Friend—An Act of Parliament—Removal for better—Better Quarters—Special Favors—Liberal Distribution—Great Contrast—A good Friend—Sickness increases. | [22] |
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| CHAPTER III. | |
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| Death of E. Hunt—Gets the privilege to Work—Good Pay—Act of Parliament—Poetry—A Captain’s Compliments—Wish granted—A Report—Paper—A Prize—Prayers on board—A Privilege—Reckoning—Critical Situation—Small-Pox—Visitors—Report from America—Small-Pox prevails—Captain Rowe—Ship Nancy taken—Terrible Punishment—Carried to the Hospital—Treatment for Itch. | [27] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
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| Royal Hospital Buildings—An Adventure—Taken down with Small-Pox—Three Prisoners Escape—Re-taken—Severe Sickness—Second Death—Joseph Hatch—Recovery—Kind attention of the Nurses—Samuel Shriggins, the third of the company, died—Attempt to Escape. | [34] |
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| CHAPTER V. | |
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| Fourth Death—Captain Brown’s Escape—His Men sent to Prison—Discharge from the Hospital—Yellow Fever—Fifth Death—Cruelty to the Dead—Examination—Commitment to Prison—Prison Allowance—Hunger—Prison Employments—Charity Box—Hard Fare—Guard Alarmed—Friendly Visitors—A Mean Trick. | [40] |
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| CHAPTER VI. | |
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| More Prisoners—A Present—Visit from American Gentlemen—Black-Hole—Fleet of Transports for America—Prisoners Escape—Death—Prospect of War with France—First Breach in the Prison Wall—Fox Frigate taken by the Hancock—A Newspaper—Number of Prisoners—Escape of thirty-two Prisoners—Bounty—Punishment—Cruelty to the Old—Captain Lee taken in the Fancy—Hears from Home—Bad News—False Reports—Daniel Cottle died. | [48] |
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| CHAPTER VII. | |
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| Attempt to Escape discovered—Awful description of Suffering—Dreadful Starvation—Gloomy Prospects—Death of Gideon Warren—Detection—Close Examination—Commissioner—A Newspaper—Relief Prohibited—Attempt to Escape—Oath of Secrecy—Another Attempt to Escape—Captain Johnston and the Lexington—Sea Fight—The Press continued—Love of Liberty—Meeting after a long absence—A Privilege granted—Agent in a good humor—A Purchase—More Prisoners—Running the Gantlet. | [58] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
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| More Prisoners—Hears from Home—Suspicion—A hot Press—1500 Seamen wanted—News from America—Disagreeable Company—Destitution of the Prisoners—Digging and Detection—A Pious Wish—Twenty Years of Age—Mournful Reflections—Letter from Bilboa—Bad Bread—Unpleasant Reflections—King’s Speech—Bold Project—Failure—Reports—Strictness of the Guard—Suspicion—Privation from the Gospel—Prisoners Threatened—Voluntary Sacrifice—Good News reported—Detail of General Burgoyne’s Defeat—Washington and Howe. | [69] |
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| CHAPTER IX. | |
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| Christmas Pudding—Christmas Presents—Clothes Served—Happy New Year—Friends appear—Presents—Friends increase—Large Donations reported—Donation from British Recruiting Parties—Private Donations—Exhortations to a Civil, Sober Life—Large Distribution of Clothing—Royal Salute—Regular Allowance from Donation Fund—Increasing Privilege. | [82] |
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| CHAPTER X. | |
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| Price of Tobacco—Cleanliness—Not to be Discouraged—Blankets—Distribution—Letter from America—Officers Escape—Arrival of a Fleet—Paper—Dr. Franklin to the Council—State of Troops—Deserters Taken—Visit from the Governor and Lady—Removal of Officers—General wish for Peace—A Newspaper—Commissioners—Public Fast—Allowance Withdrawn—Liberality—Petition Refused—A Newspaper—Reward of Bravery—Lights Continued. | [92] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
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| Awful Penalty for Desertion—Public Indignation—Remarkable Health of the Prisoners—Recruiting Party in Cornwall—Howe in Trouble—Two Fathers—Scarcity of Provisions in the West Indies—Black-hole—American Privateer—Hot Press—Detection—French Brig run down—Prisoners sell their Clothes to Gamble—“Preceptor”—Extreme Punishment—Sports—Examination—Use of Poverty—English Ambassador returns from France—Captain Boardman—Titcomb—Hope of Return—Commissioners to America—Newspapers. | [102] |
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| CHAPTER XII. | |
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| Letter from Portsmouth—Debate in Parliament—Cost of the War—Petition for a Trial—Traitors Detected—Traitors Punished—Attempt to Escape—Sickness in Prison—Paul Jones at Whitehaven—Letter from Portsmouth—Death of John Foster—Prison Wrangle—Commissioners Sailed—Another Hole—It Founders—Joseph Kensington died—Sick Prisoners Neglected. | [113] |
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| CHAPTER XIII. | |
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| French Privateer—French Fleet—Patience scarce—Escape—One Missing—Man with Red Hair—Blockade—Ball Play—Severity of the Guard—Admiral Biron’s Fleet—Effects of Rum—A Widow—A Surprise—Press of Fishermen—Another Detection—Voluntary Suffering—Captain Pulford—Attempt to Escape—Taken—Cruel Treatment. | [122] |
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| CHAPTER XIV. | |
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| Death of the Doctor—Sailing of Admiral Biron’s Fleet—Rev. Mr. Heath—Cold reception of Proposition of Peace in America—Effort to Escape—Gen. Burgoyne’s Compliment to American Troops—French Frigate taken—Preparation for the Fourth of July—Amputation—Another Hole—John Dam—Allowance to French Prisoners—Admiral Keppel’s Fleet sail—Boys attempt to Escape. | [131] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
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| Bad Conduct in Prison—Digging out—Four Escape—Fire, and Officers Escape—Sad News from Portsmouth—Pay Day—Admiral Keppel returns—England’s pride humbled—A curious plan for Escape—Battle Report—Wounded in the Hospital—Effort to Escape by Swimming—Invitation to join the Fleet—Americans pressed to the Ships of War. | [145] |
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| CHAPTER XVI. | |
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| French Prisoners—Admiral Keppel sails—Another attempt to Escape—Admiral Biron’s Fleet—A Gale—General Clinton’s Retreat from Philadelphia—Fever and Ague prevails—Captain Burnell and Wife—Escape from Portsmouth—French Privateer—Distribution of Clothing—Hot Press—Letter to Captain Lee—French Prisoners increase. | [157] |
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| CHAPTER XVII. | |
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| Rols’ Escape—Very Sickly—Another Escape—Unfaithful Doctor—Frenchmen Escape and Return—Captain Ravel’s Escape—Mr. Kirk’s Escape—Prisoners join Men-of-War—Cartel—Letters from Portsmouth—The Man that was punished unjustly, Rescued—Captain Lee’s Escape—New Arrangement—Spotted Fever among the French—Second Draft for the Ships—The Albion taken by the French—Sabbath Privileges lost. | [168] |
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| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
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| Oil of Tar for Prison—Frenchmen Break Out—One Shot—Reduction of Donation—Two Americans in Irons—Various opinions about the Cartel—Several Holes in hand—Fearful Apprehensions—Dominica taken by the French and Americans—King’s Troops on Martha’s Vineyard—Drunken Prisoners delivered up—Forbearance of the Guard—Fire in the Black-hole—Four American Boys—Dolton as Fortune Privateer—Base Treachery—Plans Discovered—Mitchell the Villain—Letter of Thanks—Two Years from Home. | [179] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
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| Twenty-one—Fort on Drake’s Island—Breach in Black-hole King’s Speech—English Prisoners at Brest—Hyfield’s Escape—Exposure of the Sick—John Lott died—Public Prayer—Captain Ross’s Escape. | [198] |
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| CHAPTER XX. | |
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| Cruel purposes of the Ministry—Petition for Pardon—Mr. Salter’s Escape—Cruel Act renewed—Last of the Donation—Court Martial—General Elopement—Discovered and carried back to Plymouth—A sorrowful New Year—Extreme Suffering—Good Friends—New Year’s Gift—Large Fleets—Captain Boardman Escapes—Heavy Bounty for Prisoners. | [200] |
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| CHAPTER XXI. | |
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| A Hurricane—Great Distress—Kills a Dog—Dog Divided—Cooked and eat—Rats Eat in Prison—Voluntary Surrender—Good News—Cartel Arrived—Pardon—Great Joy—A Small Donation—Spanish Fleet—Another Pardon—A Wonder—Number of Prisoners left—Wait Impatiently—Another Hole in hand—Eleven Frenchmen Escape—Good News from Bilboa—Happy Event—Twenty-six Months a Prisoner—Penitent Sick Prisoners—King’s Pardon. | [211] |
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| CHAPTER XXII. | |
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| John Foster, Elias Vickey, and Asa Witham died—Mr. Deal’s Escape—Milford Transport—Keppel Acquitted—Bonfires—Escape—Cartel Arrives—Leaves the Prison—Bonner Darling died. | [220] |
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| CHAPTER XXIII. | |
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| Journal Lost—Thirty enter with Jones—Joins the Alliance—Arrive at L’Orient with Prize—Second Cruise—Journal Lost—Extracts from Paul Jones’ Life—At Dr. Franklin’s House—Joins again the Alliance—Sails Home. | [229] |