The ships and sailors of old Salem

by Ralph Delahaye Paine

After his surrender at Saratoga Major General Burgoyne was permitted to return to England as a prisoner of war on parole. When the British Government refused to release Henry Laurens from his imprisonment in the Tower of London, the Congress of the United States demanded that General Burgoyne be summoned to return to America to save his parole. This retaliatory measure and the unusual circumstances of Mr. Lauren’s confinement were discussed in Parliament in the debate referred to in the foregoing entry of the journal.

“8th. This morning we had a quarrel with the old Guard. The Sergeant was very insolent and went out and brought in a number of the Guard, primed and loaded, but we did not value them, but took our own time in turning out, after which we stoned and hooted them out of the Yard. They presented twice but the Officer would not let them fire. We had a sermon preached to us from the 22d Chap. 21st verse of Job, by My Lady Huntingdon’s Chaplain, who came down from London on purpose to preach our farewell sermon. Mr. Miles Saurey came with him, and brought letters from Mr. Laurens to Captain Greene, informing him that Lord Shelborn says we are to be sent away as soon as possible to our respective States, and that such as have property in France are to be paroled to leave for France.

“Mr. Laurens is to be Exchanged for Lord Cornwallis,[19] and will leave the Kingdom in a few days. Mr. Laurens writes that we are to be provided with necessaries for our voyage, and wishes us a good passage, and safe return to our Native Land.

“14th. Mr. Saurey brought a letter from the Rev. Mr. Wren of Portsmouth; the purport of which is that a Ship is Victualed and at Portsmouth to carry the Americans belonging to the North to Boston, and the men belonging to the Southward are to come around to Plymouth and join the men in our Prison. They are expected to embarque in a week or ten days.

“Mr. Pollard received a letter from Mr. John Joy formerly of Boston, informing him that the Cartels were fitting out and were to sail the next day, wind permitting. We are in high spirits, and hope soon to be delivered from this Castle of Despair. I’m afraid we shall be detained by contrary winds, for the wind keeps to the Westward and blows fresh, which is against the vessels coming from the Downs.

“15th. We are informed by a letter from Mr. Joy to Jacob Homer, that His Majesty has been pleased to pardon us, in order for our Exchange, and that we are to be immediately delivered from this Awful place of Confinement.

“We had an excellent sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Sampson, a Dissenter, belonging in Cornwall, from 61 Chap. of Isaiah, 1st and 2d verses. In reading the last Hymn, when he came to the word Rebel, he made a stop, and compar’d the Rebel to the Prodigal spoken of in the New Testament, and lest we should be offended at using the Word, altered it to Children and Stubborn. His discourse was very suitable to our circumstances. The manner in which he delivered himself drew the greatest attention. When he spoke of our Parents, Wives and Children and the tears they had shed for us whilst in this deplorable place, and when I come to reflect on the precarious situation we were in some months gone, in a strange land, not knowing what might happen, and then to comprehend the reality of the Transporting News, of being released from this dismal place of exile and suffering, I am compelled to cry out, O God, in the midst of Thy Judgments, Thou has remembered Mercy!

“9th. Capt. Malcolm came to see us, and informed us that the air is infected with this Disorder that is among us. Some persons have experimented by flying a kite in the air with a piece of beef to the tail. When it came down the beef was tainted. I desire to thank God that the pain in my head is somewhat abated, and the people in general are getting better.

“No news from any Quarter. Dark times, low in Spirits and low in purse.

“17th. Fair, a grand wind E. by N. for our Transports to come from Torbay. This morning Thomas Adams of Old York died in the Hospital. I have greatly recovered from my sickness, and find myself able to embarque, was the vessel ready to receive me.