This afternoon, six more Frenchmen we brought to prison.
25. Yesterday a ship of seventy-four guns, and a frigate, arrived in the Sound, from Admiral Biron’s fleet, with two hundred and forty-six sick men on board. The occasion of this ship’s coming home was that she had sprung a leak, and the frigate came with her for fear that she might founder at sea.
26. Sunday. I daily expect to hear of an engagement between the English and French fleets as we have heard several accounts of their being seen in sight of each other.
27. Cool weather for some days past, which is much better for us, as so many of us are confined together.
28. This afternoon we received two letters from Portsmouth prison—one from John Dame, the other from Benjamin Tappan. They give us a very disagreeable account of thirty-nine young men belonging to Newbury, who were lost with Capt. Tracy. Many of their names were mentioned in the latter; some of them I was intimately acquainted with. I could rather wish them in prison with us, than entirely lost.
29. This morning a large three-decker dropped down into the Sound, in order for sailing. Also, we have the London Evening Post, which informs us of the Lively, twenty gun ship, and a frigate, being taken. The last paper before this gives an account of two cutters being taken. They were captured by the French and carried to France.
30. Yesterday was pay-day, and there are a number of men who make it a practice to get drunk every opportunity, and two men last night, who were in liquor, struck and abused two Frenchmen, who were taken in the American service, and the majority of those in prison who were Americans, took their part, and complained to the officer of the guard. The offenders were sent to the Black-hole, and this morning we took the Frenchmen up stairs with us, where they will not be abused any more.
31. Yesterday, some in this prison had an invitation by a sentry to go over the wall, but as it was in the day time, they thought it not proper; but at twelve o’clock at night, the same sentry came to the same place and gave a signal, upon which seven men went out at a window where one of the iron bars were loosened, ready to be pulled out. After these seven men got out, the sentry alarmed the guard, and four of the number were soon taken. If they had waited a few moments longer, we should have had a hole in the back side of the prison, for a number more to have got out. The guard tell us that they have orders to fire at any one they see getting over the wall, and also, that the soldier who let these men go is now under confinement, and will be either whipped or shot.
This forenoon, Admiral Keppel’s fleet arrived in the Sound. The greatest part of this fleet now lay where we can see them from this prison. We hear that they have had an engagement with the French fleet, but have not learned the particulars. To-day, also, a dozen more Frenchmen were brought to prison. Six came out of the Black-hole; among whom was Captain Lee. While he was there, he received a letter from General Burgoyne. There are six remaining there still.
August 1. All that I can say to-day concerning the fleet, is, that several of the ships are very much shattered. Two or three are now lying on their beam-ends, in the Sound, and the boats have been passing and re-passing from them ever since they came in. We have seen a vast number of men come from the ships, in boats, whom we suppose to be wounded, as we are informed that there are between seven and eight hundred wounded men in the royal hospital, who were taken out of the fleet. This is the fleet which they have been raising for the two years past, concerning which they have boasted so much, and which they have called the terror of France. This was England’s pride—the fleet that was to sweep the seas, and accomplish such wonders. Alas! many of them are disappointed of their expectations, for in their first engagement they were worsted.