“Dec. 31st. We have now 122 Dutch prisoners. The year closes at twelve o’clock midnight; and we still in prison.
“1781. Jany. 1st. A Sentinel informed Captain Manley to-day that a Minister in Cornwall had been in a trance and when he came out said that England would be reduced and lose two Capital places or Cities, and that in the run of a year there would be Peace.
“3d. To-day eighteen or twenty of the Americans innoculated themselves for the Small Pox. Mr. Saurey came to-day and brought our money which is augmented to a Shilling a week and to be continued during our confinement. Such as are necessitated for clothes Captain Connyngham is to make a list of and Mr. Saurey[14] will send it to Mr. Diggs[15] at London in order to obtain them.
“Feb. 4th (Sunday). This morning Captain Manley communicated to me that he had received a great deal of abuse from Captain Daniel Brown and was determined to have satisfaction by giving him a challenge to fight a duel with pistols, and desired me to load them. Accordingly Captain Manley[16] went into the chamber and took his pistols with ammunition and put them on the table and told Captain Brown that he had been ill-treated and desired him to fight like a Gentleman or ask his pardon. Brown said he would not ask his pardon and refused to accept the challenge, upon which Captain Manley told him he was no Gentleman but a great Coward, and bid him have a caution how he made use of his name again.
“28th. Read the speech of Sir P. Clark in the House of Commons, reported in the Sherbourne Gazette, who said that the American refugees, instead of a Prison ought to have a Halter.
“An Agent from Congress with proposals is undoubtedly in London at this time and it is whispered that his terms will be agreed to by the English Cabinet.
“March 4th. Wrote a letter to my wife and mother.”
The letter referred to has been preserved and reads in part:
“Mill Prison, March 4, 1781.
“Notwithstanding my long confinement, I bless God that I have not experienced the want of any of the necessaries of life in this prison, for with my industry[17] and what I am allowed, I live comfortably for a prisoner.