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JOURNAL; 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 AN ACCOUNT 
 
 WRONGS, SUFFERINGS, AND NEGLECT, 
 
 EXPERIENCED BY 
 
 AMERICANS IN FRANCE. 
 
 RV STEPHEN CLUBB, 
 
 LATE A PRISONER IN THAT empire. 
 
 Published at the particular request of a number of citizen* 
 of the United States, who were in confinement, and 
 treated as British prisoners of war, when Mr. Clubb left 
 France, which was in the month of July last, he being set 
 at liberty by express order of the emperor. 
 
 May the strong artn of local tyranny 
 Fall harmless on my persecuted friends, 
 Unncrv'd asid Uaccid ! lifeless may it rest. 
 Till sufferinss soften the iuird heart that dictates. 
 
 PRINTED AT BOSTON. 
 
 1809. 
 

PREFACE. 
 
 THE following narrative is given to the fraternity of 
 free and accepted Masons by a brother, as being strictly 
 fact, and he deems it his duty to pubUsh it in gratitude 
 to French free masons, and the good of the order in 
 general. 
 
 He is likewise induced to it by another motive, viz. 
 Being an Englishman bom, and not a naturalized citi- 
 zen of the United States, he apprehends that the ene- 
 mies of Mr. J. C. Bamett may make use of this circum- 
 stance to his disadvantage, as he took an active part in 
 his liberation. 
 
 In the following pages, therefore, he endeavours to 
 point out the clear right he had to be set at liberty, or 
 rather the neglect and injustice he suffered in being 
 first made prisoner, and that what Mr. Barnet did for 
 him, was from the purest and most laudable of motives ; 
 he therefore begs it may be read with candour and indul- 
 gence, and, as he is merely a sea officer, and has not 
 
11 PREFACE. 
 
 had the advantage of a regular education, hopes that 
 improprieties of diction and all defects and irregularities 
 in point of form will be overlooked, assmingthe read- 
 er tliat however wanting it may be in form, it shall be 
 perfect as to fact, it being entirely taken from his jour- 
 nal and remai'ks on the spot. 
 
 But the chief motive that actuates him, is the solemn 
 promise he made to the unfortunate Americans at Ar- 
 ras, while fellow-prisoner amongst those scenes of dis- 
 tress, that if he lived to arrive in America, he would 
 publish his wi'ongs and theirs, and the conduct of those 
 in office, which was the cause of their sufferings. 
 
A JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 1 WAS bora in England, in the year 1762, 
 in the county of Suffolk ; and at fifteen years of age 
 bound myself apprentice at London in the sea sei-vice. 
 In the year 1787, being, at London, mate of a British 
 ship, and the master a free mason, prompted by a de- 
 sire of kno^vdedge, or, perhaps, by curiosity, I was in- 
 itiated into the mysteries, and became a member of the 
 lodge, No. 66, called the Lodge of Sincerity, acting 
 under constitution of the grand lodge of England. 
 
 I before had looked on masonry as a jovial society, 
 who kept secret the signs by which they knevv^ each 
 other fni' the better cementing them together, and dis- 
 tinguishing them trom other men ; and that thev were 
 thus guarded merely to enjojr the pleasures of society 
 ■with more freedom and less interruption thiui they 
 could otherwise do ; and as, at that time, I ^vas in 
 every respect fitted to enjoy and support con^-ivial 
 mirth, I conceived myself well calculated for a mem- 
 ber of such a society, I had observed that my supe- 
 rior, the captain, never came from the lodge in a bad 
 humour, but always with a cheerful serenity on his 
 countenance, bordering on gaiety, which I took to be 
 merely the effect of the unimportant, or perhaps frivo- 
 lous, pleasures he had been engaged in. 
 
 Under these impressions I was led to masoniy : but 
 when I saw the aptness and propriety of the symbols 
 there exhibited to imprint on the mind the venerable, 
 useful, and sacred truths they are intended to inculcate ; 
 when I found myself admitted and instructed how to 
 contemplate the wisdom of the almight}- grand Archi- 
 
tect to conti'ive so excellent a fabric ; to admire the 
 strength of reciprocal support, where there is no open- 
 ing, no blank, or useless part, but although in different 
 degi-ees of elevation and honour, all are equally service- 
 able ; when I was suffered to enjoy the beauty with 
 which the whole structure was adorned, I ^vas convin- 
 ced that it was the nearest approach to perfection on 
 earth, and sincerely regretted that I had not sooner 
 been made a mason ; being made fully sensible, that a 
 mason in the lodge is taught the moral and social duties 
 in a manner far superior to that which can be convey- 
 ed in any other way ; in a manner which speaks at 
 once to the heart, and imprints, convinces, and de- 
 monstrates at a blow, planting itself in the memory so 
 as never after to be eradicated. But, alas, poor human 
 nature ! when I see a mason hurried away by his nat- 
 ural passions, or, what is still more humiliating, blinded 
 by inordinate love of gain, to be guilty of base and 
 dishonoiu'able actions, I lament the depravity of the 
 human heart, and the insufficiency of all human insti- 
 tutions to bring it to ^ grcaici degree of perfection. In 
 the course of following my profession, I have visited 
 lodges in various parts of the world, and have uniformly 
 found them travelling in the same direction, and have 
 been enlightened by them. Sometimes, in return, I 
 have administered consolation and support to a brother 
 under misfortunes, or otherwise in need, and have al- 
 ways found the balance in my favour. 
 
 In 1792, I mairicd a native of Boston, (Mass.) who, 
 to other qualifications which 1 approved, added that of 
 an inextinguishable love for her country and connex- 
 ions ; inid judging by her of Americans in general, I 
 was led to think they were -a very patriotic people. 
 
 Soon after my marriage I got the command of a ship, 
 and used the coal and Baltic trades, until she was taken 
 by the French ; after which I bought part of another, 
 which I lost by bad weather, and, by mistake of my 
 friend who WTote for the insurance, lost that also. I 
 then applied to the Trinity house, at London, for a pi- 
 
lot's warrant for London river and the north sea, went 
 through the examination, and obtained it. I exercised 
 that profession about four years, without any accident ; 
 in which time, by means of industry and frugahty, I 
 saved some money ; but the Danish war taking place, 
 I lost the greatest part of my business, and for that and 
 other reasons, determined with my wife to come to 
 Boston, and in May, 1807, sold my effects, and we 
 held ourselves in readiness to embark the first oppor- 
 tunity for the United States. 
 
 An opportunity offered in October following, and I 
 embarked from Lowestoft in an American ship for the 
 United States, plentifully fitted with provisions, clothes, 
 and necessaries of every description, and a sum of 
 money sufficient to purchase part of a vessel for a trade 
 I had in view. We experienced strong westerly gales, 
 and put into Margate road for shelter. The captain 
 went on shore, and brought a newspaper off to me to 
 read, contamlng liio Brlttu^nlc majesty's proclamation 
 forbidding all British subjects leaving the kingdom, or 
 sailing in any foreign siiips or vessels, and command- 
 ing all those to come to England who might be settled 
 abroad, under pain of being considered and treated as 
 traitors to their country. 
 
 I must confess I read this with indignation, consid- 
 ering it as an arbitrary and oppressive measure, derog- 
 atory to the rights of nature, and turning the great body 
 of the people into property, to be owned and com- 
 manded by the cabinet, unsanctioned by the parliament, 
 and therefore unconstitutional, null in itself, and void. 
 
 Seeing it in this light I determined to proceed ; but 
 after some detention by bad weather we were forced 
 into Cowes, Isle of Wight, in a gale of wind, and there 
 findmg the ship was likely to go to the West Indies, 
 we went on shore with our effects to wait a better op- 
 portunity, and, in the beginning of December the ship 
 Hyades of Saco from Charleston, with rice, arrived, 
 to wait for orders. I went on board to see the captain, 
 and agreed to take charge of the ship, as pilot, in the 
 
north sea, and second mate for my wife's passage to 
 America, he being a sti'anger there. Matters thus set- 
 tled we went on board, and I kno^ving that ship and cargo 
 were really American property, insured nothing on my 
 effects, much less did I doubt the safety of our persons 
 in case we were taken by the French, imagining that in 
 such a fair case, the treaty would be observed,for thought 
 I, the rice will speak for itself to be American produce, 
 and as for risk of weather, where we trust our lives we 
 will trust our property. 
 
 I got under weigh on the morning of the 31st De- 
 cember from Cowes road, the wind blowing very strong 
 at S. W. and thick with rain. Having our orders for 
 London, we carried hai'd on her, and at 2 P. M. judg- 
 ing myself to the eastward of the owers, bore aAvay for 
 Bcachy Head, and saw a small sail to Uie southward 
 chasing us. She soon came up with us, and hoisted 
 French colours ; we hoisted ourjj, and she fired twice 
 to bring us too. We obej eH ; and she. buciraed and 
 took possession of us, steering by the wind for the 
 French shore, the prize-master and his crew behaving 
 very civil, and it blowing a heavy gale all night. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1808. At 10 o'clock, A. M. made tlie 
 French land, and got into Calais in the evening. 
 Alter dark the commissary of marine, and other offi- 
 cers came on board, and imme^liately interrogated all 
 of us, asking our names, places of birth, and residence, 
 and likewise our fathers' and mothers' christian and sur- 
 names, and residence. These questions I truly answer- 
 ed. My wife was likewise interrogated with the same 
 questions, and answered in the same manner. Mr. 
 Heniy Derheim of Calais, a broker, interpreter, and 
 veteran hypocrite, officiated in this iniquitous business, 
 and assisted the owners and officers of the privateer, 
 his colleagues, in the main design of condemning ship 
 and cargo. He imagined that if he could get me to 
 declare myself a London pilot, it would be a strong 
 corroborating proof of her being bound to London, and 
 a help to forward her condemn;jtion. In order to this. 
 
his first carc was, to insinuate himself into my confi- 
 dence, which he began by telling me he was very sorry 
 that I had confessed I was born in England. I told 
 him, that as there was no decree of the emperor, order- 
 ing the imprisonment of a man taken in a neutral and 
 friendly service, merely because he was born in Eng- 
 land, that it could not be done without a violation of the 
 treaty, and that France had never violated a treaty with- 
 out being induced to it by her interest which could not 
 be in my case. I had no fear on me. He said he on- 
 ly ivished to serve me as he would any unfortunate 
 Englishman^ that he had been married to an English 
 woman, and that some of his children were bom in 
 England, that consequently his attachm.ent to that coun- 
 try was great, and he should be sorry to see me put in 
 prison, and that he knew of but one way to prevent it, 
 which was, to declare myself pilot of the ship, for that 
 no pilots were oent to prison : I measured his com by 
 my bushel, but was mistaken ; for thinking that he 
 might be like myself as much or more attached to his 
 wife's country, than to his own, I believed him to be 
 sincere, and produced my pilot's \^'arrant, of which he 
 set down and instantly took a copy, sayhig it would ef- 
 fectually prevent my going to prison. But too late I 
 perceived it was a ruse de guerre^ and that the traitor 
 had sent the copy to Paris, to ensure my condemnation. 
 Went to bed at the hotel where he recommended me. 
 Jan. 2. Breakfasted and dined at the hotel ; my 
 wife in tears almost all the day with apprehensions of a 
 prison ; after dinner a military officer camie and invited 
 me to the commisary of war office. I went and con- 
 firmed my first interrogation,* and I for the first time 
 in my life saw a receipt given for my body. 
 
 * In all the simplicity of truth, knowing my cause to be 
 just and clear, I scarcely apprehended any danger ; and the 
 commissary of war, the treacherous interpreter, my pretended 
 friend, and an officer of the pi'ivateer, played the game of 
 forces, shrugs, and obsequious French cringes on me with 
 Q 
 
10 
 
 The jailor gave me leav e to sit by his fire : I sat down 
 and reflected on the villany of mankirid when thirst of 
 gain has overcome the principle of rectitude. But I 
 had soon a harder and more painful sensation to expe- 
 rience, the sight of my wife, who came from the hotel 
 to me, to see me a prisoner, betra}ed and condenmed 
 the victim of consummate hypocrisy and treachery, 
 amongst obscure filth, damp and stench. She could 
 scai'cely support the sight ; 16 yeai's we had shared one 
 fate, and she was still detei mined that mine should be 
 hers, although the transiti\'e h dreadful and humiliating, 
 from neat and wholesome cleanliness, comfort, and re- 
 spectability, to the horrors of a jail, clcdiking of fetters, 
 noise of wooden shoes, and sight of pale half famished 
 wretches ; their sighs and groans she could hear, but it 
 was some consolation to me that she could not under- 
 stand their useless curses. 
 
 Curses ai'e impotent, therefore I lost no time in vent- 
 ing them, but prepared tor a night's sleep that I might 
 
 great success, and I really did not suspect that an order was 
 given for my imprisonment. It is true I suspected them all, 
 as well as Mr. Le Veux, (Gen. Armstrong's appointed agent) 
 to be interested in the capture, and coalesced for the purpose 
 of condemning the ship and cargo ; but did not know tnat 
 they considered it necessary to sacrifice me for that purpose. 
 The interpreter, addressing me with a bow and smile, said, 
 " we have done with you for the present, sir ; and as it is 
 very dark, and you a stranger in town, this gentleman (point- 
 ing to an officer in uniform) will conduct you back." The 
 officer received me en veritable Francais^ hat in hand, with 
 a scrape and Gallic grin, and I retvirned it, or I'ather receiv- 
 ed it, or perhaps neither returned nor received it, with all the 
 gaucherie of a real John Bull, and walked out with him. We 
 walked together, discoursing familiarly, until we came to a 
 flight of stone steps, which. I saw by the light of a lamp. 
 Montez par ici s'il vous Jilacit,, ?nonsieur^ sa.ys he. I did so: 
 a door opened. Entrez^ monsieur^ says he. I did so, and 
 found myself in prison. Words cannot express my astonish- 
 inent, which, when my friend the officer saw. Monsieur., sans 
 doiite., says he, aura sa liberie clemain ou ajires demain c'est 
 ■<<cule?nent en formalite. 
 
11 
 
 be the better able to take the necessary measures, and 
 write the next day. The jailor told me that if I had a 
 bed, 1 must pay 2 francs a night, which I agreed to, and 
 we supped, and recommended oMrselves to the protec- 
 tion of the gi'eat first cause who called us into being. 
 I slept sound all night, but Mrs. Ciubb laid awake in 
 tears, counting the clock, and listening to the watch- 
 horns, which sounded awful and sullen every quarter of 
 an hour responsive to each other ; which dull and heavy 
 noise, I could not help contrasting with the cheerful 
 voice of the British seaman, which I had been accus- 
 tomed to hear. Ail's well. Delightful sound to those 
 at liberty ! (shall I e^•er hear thee more, is the nat- 
 ural thought of every prisoner) instead of which, this 
 uncouth noise assails the ear of the unfortunate captive, 
 insulting, ominous, and dreadfully prophetic of the fur- 
 ther sufterings that a^vait him, uncler which perhaps he 
 is to linger out the remainder of his days in want, fam- 
 ine, and disease, far from the partner of his heart and 
 his innocent children, who, in want of his support, are 
 consigned to poverty, and that contempt which is ever 
 shewn to it by the unthinking many. It little avails 
 the widowed wife, the disconsolate widow, or their dear 
 little innocents, that they can lay their hand on their 
 heait, in the bitterness of their soul, and say. Our fa- 
 ther, our friend, our protector and support is torn from 
 us by remorseless war, and we are left isolated and 
 undone, evidently not by our fault, but by our misfor- 
 tune. I say it little avails ; for poverty, however hon- 
 est, is so disgusting, that in dread of it we frequentl}' 
 see a man even forsake his choice, the idol of his heait, 
 his other self, in whom he can see no other fault than that 
 of being poor ; and perhaps after seducing her with oaths 
 and promises, is himself seduced in his turn, and yields 
 to shining mammon ; and persuaded that hapj^iness 
 dwells with riches, forsakes her whom, by the ties of 
 nature and honour, he ought to be united with ; stifling 
 the stings of remorse, leaves her and his innocent off- 
 spring to want and contempt, marries for money, and 
 
12 
 
 becomes a rich wretch, wealthy in woe, the remainder 
 of his Hfe. 
 
 But it were well for many if the evil ended here. If 
 we believe the sacrec^MTit, the Almighty, for his o^vn 
 wise purposes, visits the sins of the fathers upon the 
 children ; and we well know that the world, in this 
 case, lays the infamy and contempt on the innocent 
 fruit of the forbidden embraces instead of the guilty 
 father. He out of the reach of law, lifts up his brazen 
 front and exults in safety, but often the ^vrath of heav- 
 en finds him out, and he who sees things as they ai'e, 
 punishes him perhaps in his omii body with remorse, 
 and tlie gout, or more excruciating stone ; perhaps 
 in his legal ofls])ring, who prove undutiful or rebel- 
 lious, or are perhaps crippled or insane, and the wild 
 glare of their distraction darts horror and anguish to 
 the conscious heait of the guilty paient. To the hon- 
 our of the sex, an unnatural mother is seldom known. 
 I was disturbed from these reflections by the jailor, 
 rattling his ke} s outside of the double door at 8 o'clock 
 on the morn of 
 
 Jan. 3, and the cautious bolts flew back, the pon- 
 derous doors turned slow on their hinges with sullen 
 groan, and he entered pale and circumspect, with a 
 candle in his hand, and examined round the damp and 
 dirty room ; then came to our bed side, and asked if 
 we would boai'd with him at tlii'ee livres each per day ? 
 to which I consented, not expecting to be there long. 
 We dressed, and he brought in our breakfast, 
 which was scant and meagre, being little more than 
 the name of breakfast. When we had finished, I 
 sent my wife to Mr. Le Veux, called tliere American 
 consul ; who told her that her husband wsls an English- 
 man, and that nothing could be done for him, and 
 refused to come to see me, saying, it would be of no 
 use ; but that if she would leave me, he would pro- 
 cure her a pass. She returned to me, heart broken 
 with grief at such a proposal ; and we lamented tliat a 
 Frenchman, who, to all appearance, was interested in 
 
13 
 
 the fortune of the privateer, should be appointed con- 
 sul : for how could we ask advice from one of the 
 robbers combined for our destruction, in direct viola- 
 tion of the treaty, without any decree, or even the law 
 of necessity y to plead for the proceeding. But, said 
 we, let us write to General Armstrong ; he is an 
 American, whose proper office it is to procure justice 
 to be done to American ships : my wife wrote, stating 
 the business exactly as it stood, viz. That I had been 
 torn from the flag of the United States, under which 
 she was born, and under which I had taken shelter, 
 being really second mate for our passages, and that my 
 name stood as such on the role of equipage ; from that 
 flag, whose first display and independence was pur- 
 chased with the blood of her countrymen, and that two 
 of her ancestors lost their lives in the cause on Bun- 
 ker's hill, and begging of him as her country's repre- 
 sentative, to try for justice for us, as there could not 
 be found any decree of the emperor by which I could 
 be considered prisoner of war ; or that if he could do 
 nothing for us, that he wr.nld let us know it by a line, 
 that we might trouble him no farther, and that we 
 might have the earlier opportunity of trying ourselves 
 to obtain justice of the emperor. 
 
 This letter she put in the post-office, and, at the 
 same time one for Mr. Richard Skinner of this town, 
 who was then in Paris, requesting him to wait on 
 General Armstrong in our behalf, and to write us the 
 result as soon as possible ; but we received no answer 
 to either of them while at Calais. 
 
 Jan. 4. Mrs. Clubb went on board, and took our 
 clothes and some of our effects out of the ship, and 
 some things they detained from her, not suffering her 
 to take them, she shewing her certificate of birth in 
 Boston, and of her marriage with a citizen of the 
 United States, by the Rev. Dr. John Lathrop, minis- 
 ter of the second church in Boston. They however 
 had all oiir chests, trunks, &c. taken to the custom- 
 house and examined, aiid exacted their fees at the 
 
14 
 
 same time of her, the Avife of a betrayed and A\Tetched 
 prisoner. She deposited our elothes at the hotel, and 
 returned to me in prison \\ith the dreadful fact in her 
 mouth, that " her foes were those of her own house- 
 hold," for that the consul for America, Mr. Le Veux, 
 was inaccessible, ai^.d would give neither advice nor 
 countenance to a wretched woman, who, merely for 
 the love of her coiuitry and connexions, had, m ith her 
 husband, put herself under the protection of the flag, 
 from which flas; and service that husband had been vio- 
 lentiy and unjustly torn and put in jjrison, evidently 
 for the purpose of forwaixling the condemnation of ship 
 and cargo, when at the same time there existed no de- 
 cree authorising them so to do ; the consul thereby 
 becoming negatively the colleague and assistant in tliis 
 nefarious business, and although not a professional 
 robber, like the captain of the privateer, the interpre- 
 ter, and commissary of war, who acted the principal 
 and most prominent parts in this act of commissioned 
 and adjusted depredation on American property, yet I 
 have reason to think that he prompted, and was no less 
 neeessaiy in the drama than the principal actor, or even 
 the great manager himself, both of whom always kept 
 out of my sight. 
 
 Jan. 5. Awoke in the morning very early ; reflected 
 on my dreadful position, how I have been deceived in 
 imagn\ing that American diplomatic men are vigilant 
 and active intlie exercise of their oflUce, jealous and tena- 
 cious of the rights of their flag. In the regular routine of 
 business, Capt. Savage, master of the Hyades, applied 
 for me his second mate as a part of his ship's company, 
 which had been unjustly tiiken from him, but Mr. Le 
 Yeux the consul would not listen to him. Thus be- 
 ing condemned the victim of interested and corrupted 
 men, black as night AA'hen compared ^\■hh him from 
 whom they dra^v their power, and for A\'hom they act. 
 To him then says I will I appeal, conscious of my in- 
 tegrity and my MTongs ; but how shall I cft'ect it, or 
 how support my present trials ? 
 
Masonry, thou first and purest of human mstitu- 
 tions ! calculated to inspire in the heart of man, uni- 
 versal benevolence and fraternal love. Thou who in 
 symbols bright, expressive and energetic, demonstrate 
 to man, that his true interest, is the interest of his 
 brother, and that his brother is the whole of human 
 race ; and in sacred mystic forms, unknovvn to the 
 prophane and unenlightened, who never sought thy 
 hallowed fane, impartest pleasures serene and pure, 
 that please on reflection, and with mild and gentle 
 beam brightens the dark transit of life : while the tem- 
 ples contrived by thy wisdom, supported by thy strength, 
 and adorned by thy beauty ; reflect on each other a 
 mild splendour inspiring the firmest confidence and 
 smoothing the asperities of the thorny way. 
 
 Masonry, bright emanation of thy parent light ! wis- 
 dom is thy peculiar attribute, tell me then, fair daughter 
 of heaven, tell me then, why I am thus torn by vio- 
 lence from society ? deprived of the sight of the sun, 
 and confined in the common alembic of misery. Vv^hy 
 am I shunned like a pest, and neglected by General 
 Armstrong's agent who ought at least to visit and con- 
 sole me ? is it because I have acted in a treacherous or 
 hostile manner against this nation, or diflferent to the 
 captain or the rest of the company who are at large in 
 the town ? no. Is it because the ship I was in was 
 prostituting the honour of her flag, and under colour 
 of neutrality favoring the enemies of France ? no. Is 
 it then in consequence of a tyrannic order of the em- 
 peror to imprison indiscriminately every man born in 
 England, that shall be taken in a neutral and friendly 
 service, whether that man is friend or foe ? no. There 
 is no such order ; but says the light of reason, circum- 
 stances will prove to you in the sequel that it is cupid- 
 ity, shameful lust of gain, that causes you thus to be 
 abandoned. You are considered a needful sacrifice by 
 a combination ; and while this is the case, you are 
 weak to expect the agent of Gen. Armstrong will no- 
 tice you ; and there is no way for you to obtain your 
 
16 
 
 liberty, but by getting a friend to present your case to 
 the emperor himself. 
 
 Merciful God, what a depth of misery ! but I am a 
 mason, and will not despair. My wife is left me yet, 
 weeping by my side in this dirty and digusting con- 
 finement, altered and almost frantic with grief. She 
 never quits me but when I send her ; a faithful 
 ambassadress carrying the cause in her heart. I will 
 send her to the master of the principal lodge, and ask 
 him to visit me, hoping that the mercy I have shewn 
 to others will no^v be shewn to me. She is gone, and 
 will not linger on her en-and. 
 
 She inquired for the house of Mr. Pigault, master 
 of la Loge de St. Louis des amis re-u?iis, who received 
 her very kind and politely, and with his amiable wife 
 and daughter did their utmost to console her distress 
 by kind behaviour, and he promised to visit me. My 
 wife came back to the prison, and fell ill of a fever, 
 brought on by grief and indignation, and went to our 
 damp and dirty bed. Then if, in the bitterness of rage, 
 I imprecated vengeance on the traitors who were the 
 cause of all this, forgive me, heaven ! it is past now 
 and over, and I have no desire of revenge. My only 
 wish is, that my simple relation of these facts may have 
 the effect of a beacon on a rock, and warn the unsus- 
 picious, put them on their guard, and hinder them 
 from confiding any more than is absolutely necessary 
 in any man whatever. 
 
 My wife laid sick two days, during which time I 
 watched her, and was a prey to dreadful apprehensions ; 
 but a good constitution, a mind in health, conscious 
 innocence, and a temper naturally cheerful, got the 
 better of the disorder without medical assistance, and 
 I had the inexpressible pleasure to see her revive again, 
 and with her sweet hope and cheerfulness. Hope, 
 thou dear deceitful phantom, emblem of the sex, de- 
 ceiver by profession, yet ever dear and necessary to 
 the peace of mankind, we chase thee from spot to 
 spot of imaginary bliss ! Sweet alluring sliadow, let 
 
17 
 
 me never lose sight of thee, although in prison, but 
 follow thee, like a boy after a butterfly, hat in hand, 
 from flower to flower, till death ends the sport. This 
 day, the brig Testimonj^, oi Scarborough, was brought 
 in, and the captain and mate confined in our room ; 
 but being decent and steady men, we did not find them 
 any embaixassment to us. 
 
 Jan. 6. Norfar, the captain of the brig, told me his 
 clothes had been stolen fiom him by the privateer's 
 men, and I wi'ote a letter for him to the commissary of 
 marine ; who sent to him, desiring him to make out 
 an account of what he had lost, and if any of his clothes 
 could be found in the possession of any of his men, 
 that man should pay for the whole of them, and be 
 punished besides. Two of the crew being found with 
 his shirts on, they received exemplary punishment, 
 paid for all the clothes he had lost, and were imprison- 
 ed till the lugger went to sea again. 
 
 Jan. 7. It being very cold I joined with Norfar to 
 purchase turf, and kept a fire all day. Mrs. Clubb 
 sick. Capt. Savage, and other American gentlemen 
 visited us. The day's fuel cost us thirty sous or cents. 
 
 Jan. 8. Mrs. Clubb on the recovery ; better to- 
 wards night ; and went out of the prison to the hotel, and 
 Norfar started for Arras. 
 
 Jan. 9. Mr. Pigault, and several other masons, vis- 
 ited me ; advised me not to flatter myself with being set 
 at liberty until a general exchange ; but said he would 
 furnish me with letters of recommendation to each 
 prefect on my route to Arras, being all masons and of 
 his acquaintance, that I might not be detamed in the 
 different prisons on the road, but forwarded with all 
 the expedition the circumstance would allow for Arras, 
 where he hoped I should obtain my pai'ole. 
 
 Jan. 10. Got our chests and trunks from the hotel 
 to the prison, and placed them in our room. 
 
 Jan. 11. Finding we were not likely to obtain jus- 
 tice, or obtain the least pity or consideration from the 
 consul, and being likely to be sent to the depot of 
 3 
 
British prisoners of war at Arras, we employed our- 
 selves in making the necessary dispositions, packing 
 our clothes, &c. 
 
 Jan. 12. The brig Mary, capt. Cathey, of Sunder- 
 land was brought in ; the captain and mate put in with 
 us. The jailor kept a smait eye on my eftects, and 
 hoping that, as the distance was about ninety miles to 
 Arras, that I would sell some of them, either for con- 
 venience or necessity, introduced a merchant to me. 
 
 Jan. 13. Mrs. Clubb went to Mr. Pigault, and took 
 his recommendatory letters, addressed to all the masters 
 of lodges on the route, and ai'e as follows : 
 
 In lodge, at Calais, the sixth day of 
 the first month, of the year of ma- 
 sonry, 5808. 
 
 To the brethren of the lodge of Friendship at Arras, the 
 brethren of the lodge of St. Louis, of the reunited friends. 
 
 Thrice dear and worthy brethren, 
 
 This will be handed you by bi^other Clubb, cafiitain en 
 seconder British prisoner of war, now at Arras, to whom, as 
 wallas to his wife, we have granted all those helps and broth- 
 ei'ly consolations, which their situations require, and our ob- 
 ligations impose. 
 
 We have been likewise guided by another motive, that of 
 rendering to brother Ciubb the good offices which he himself 
 has in this war rendered to our unfortunate brethren, and to 
 acquit them towards him and the order in general. 
 
 This is saying enough to you, and we are convinced that 
 you will be pleased to be a substitute for us as it respects 
 him, and will be glad that we have offered you an occasion 
 to be useful to a worthy, unfortunate brother : 
 
 He has likewise been favoured with the same good will 
 from the lodge of the Desired Reunion of the Elect National 
 Guards at St. Omer, and he is bearer of a pressing recom- 
 mendation from brother senator general Rampon. 
 
 If then you can be useful to him, and rei.der him any good 
 offices, we shall be the more grateful for it. 
 We have the honour to be, Sec. 
 
 PIGAULT, &c. Sec. 8cc. 
 
 All the British paper money I had when betrayed, 
 were three 1 pound notes ; these the prison cook (an 
 honest old Dutchman) changed for me at a money 
 
19 
 
 changer's at 20 francs each, and my expences having 
 already exhausted that, they thought I was pennyless. 
 Received orders to be in readiness to march for Arras 
 next morning. 
 
 Jan. 14, at 8 o'clock A. M. A gendaime enter- 
 ed and ordered us to march out with all expedition, 
 and a Merchant attended to purchase any clothes or 
 other eftects I had to sell, offering me about a tenth 
 part of their value, thinking I should be forced to sell 
 at any price to procvire money for road expences, and 
 I found a triple alliance Vas formed for this purpose, 
 viz. the gendarme^ ']M\or and merchant ; the two first 
 to huny me away quick, in as much confusion as pos- 
 sible, that the others might cheat me with the greater 
 facility, and I have no room to doubt, but they would 
 share the profits after, (as I afterwards found it to be a 
 trick connnonly practised on WTCtched prisoners. ) In 
 order the better to effect this, they agreed with the man 
 who drove the cait which w as sent me by the worth}'' 
 brother Pigault, not to take all my baggage, but to say 
 it was two nmch, and that his horses could not perform 
 the journey with such a load, and they actually endeav- 
 ored to drive us away with only a part of our baggage. 
 I stood at the jail door, with my chests, trunks, wid 
 packages, enclosed by the three robbers, and a hungry 
 rabble exulting over us, my wife by my side, a list of my 
 effects on a card in her hand, and with my friend Capt. 
 Savage, his mate, and the rest of my shipmates keep- 
 ing a sharp look-out that they stole nothing. 
 
 The gendarme ordering me to miu'ch, I saw that I 
 must have another cait, or leave some of my baggage. 
 I called out for a cart, and a woman came to me saying 
 she would let me one, asking twelve francs for the first 
 stage of my journey which was to Ardre, a distance of 
 eleven miles of excellent road. I offered her ten francs, 
 which after some talk, she consented to take, but insist- 
 ed on being paid before the baggage should be put 
 on the cart, which I was not very willing to do ; 
 upon which they thought I had no money, and that my 
 
^0 
 
 clothes and effects would fall a prey as had been the case 
 with many unfortunate captives. I saw the merchant's 
 cou.itenaiicc brightened with hope of my offering to 
 sell him something to raise the ten francs ; and stand- 
 iiig close to a irunk put my hand in my pocket, my eye 
 fixed on the merchant, who no doubt expected I was 
 feeling for the key to gel something out to sell him. 
 
 I pulled out two Spanish dollars ; at the sight of the 
 shining strangers, his countenance fell with disappoint- 
 ment, and he turned from me sullen as a tyger after 
 springing and missing his pret^ I eyed the two dollars 
 in their transit from me to the woman. Farewell my 
 bright circular envo3^s ; thy pacific countenances have 
 procured me at least an ai'mistice for a while, until an- 
 other occasion presents itself, and with necromantic 
 power have allured the face of affairs so much that I am 
 suffered to depart for the prison without any failher 
 depredation being connnitted on us in this place. Ac- 
 cordingly we mounted all our baggage, chests, trunks, 
 and packages, eleven parcels in number, on the two 
 voitures, and then the. interpreter, who till now had kept 
 out of sight, came and joined us when I did not want 
 him. Prudence prevented me from saying any thing 
 to this treacherous man, for I thought that some time 
 or other he might possibly lay a stumbling block in 
 the way of my release ; and telling him he was a scoun- 
 drel and traitor would be only what he had often been 
 told before to no purpose. 
 
 In all ni}^ life I never described the order of a maixh 
 of triumph, nor do I know hoAV. I have read indeed of 
 Roman emperors, and their triumphal arches, kings 
 chained to their chariot w^heels, &c. &c. &:c. with miuiy 
 other matters of the kind which I have forgot ; but 
 never read of a betrayed neglected man, with his wife 
 and a little boy, being separated in triumph from the 
 flag of a fi-iendly nation, from shipmates and country- 
 men, the children of peace. The first figure in this 
 tragi-comedy was the voiture which I had, with the 
 greatest part of my baggage. 
 
21 
 
 Then followed the voiture with which brother Pi- 
 gault took care to furnish me, with only 2 trunks in it, 
 in which we were to ride occasionally, we chusing to 
 folio\\^, that we might the better keep a watch o^^er the 
 voiture aJiead. 
 
 Then followed me and my wife ; the little boy close 
 astern of us, and the gendarme who guarded us, mounted 
 on a superb chai'ger. This hero was about six feet high, 
 wearing a tri- coloured cockade on a tremendous scraper, 
 underneath which, appeared his whiskered phiz ; by his 
 side hung his redoubtable glaive, pistols in holster, 
 military gloves en cavalier^ trimmed with martial fuiT, 
 over all was thrown his horseman's cloak, and thus 
 with left hand on hip, body erect, and head up in war- 
 like form, he drove us before him, swaggering over us, 
 and seeming to say, like tuneful Peter's cat, " this is all 
 my catching ;" and to close all, the citizens of Calais, 
 eager to feast their eyes on the glorious spoil and tro- 
 phies won by their valiant con-citoyens. Degenerate 
 men of Calais, how unlike your magnanimous ances- 
 tors, famed in story ! May the blessings of heaven 
 
 . Mfs, ^ght on such of you who are not in the confederac}^, 
 ■' " but with integrity of heait withstand the temptation of 
 
 *■ ' shining gold, whose fingers itch not to handle the prop- 
 erty of neutral and friendly men. 
 
 The weather was extreme cold, but fair and diy. We 
 .!'# walked out of Calais ; capt. Savage, and Mr. Emery his 
 mate walked a little way with us ; and now came the 
 dreaded moment of parting with those worthy friends 
 and brothers ; my wife vented her regret by shedding 
 tears most plentifully, and I had to muster all my forti- >?*■ 
 tude to prevent mine from falling, at having to part 
 with friends whom I might probably see no moi'e ex- 
 cept in a state of captivity like myself; for they did not 
 know how soon they might have to follo^v me, and I 
 well knew that the confederates would have been glad 
 to have sent them as well as myself, my being born in 
 England being merely a handle. 
 
22 
 
 I walked along with aching heart, cursing that base, 
 ^ovling, cowardly passion, thirst of gold, insatiute lust. 
 More, more, the glutton cries till death stops the note 1 
 Mistrustful fear of want must be thy basis ! Merciful 
 death contrived by the wild Indians for Baidivia. They 
 it is said poured melted gold down that voracious Span- 
 iard's throat, that he might go into the other world full, 
 with an account that he had been fully satisfied in this. 
 Sage savages ! 
 
 In the prospect of being drove into the interior of an 
 unknown country alone and a captive, with the hated 
 name of im Anglois among prejudiced people, I had 
 no apprehension at all, for understanding their language 
 pretty well, and having been led by my profession to 
 see the w^orld, and in the younger part of my time had 
 sailed with the French, my eai'ly natural prejudices were 
 gone, and I saw the -whole human race with the eye of 
 a mason. To these qualifications I added a resolution 
 to act in as conciliating a manner as possible with all 
 who came near me, and began immediately with my 
 son of Mars who guarded me, by asking him to take 
 a glass of brandy or wine, and he drank with me very 
 sociably, but sparingly. My wife mounted the voiture 
 and I walked along side of his horse being a pretty good 
 pedestrian, and conversed very fiuniliarly till we came 
 to Ardre, a small miserable old town,\^ ith a prison of the 
 same description. The jailor keeping a kind of grocery 
 and pedling store, I being an ofiicer was suffered to 
 stay in the shop, and sit by the lire among a number of 
 Frenchmen, who flocked round to hear what I had to 
 say. I principally directed my discourse to a Monsieur 
 Broussard, officer in the gendarmerie, who invited me 
 and my wife out to supper with him, and behaved very 
 politely. 
 
 At 10 o'clock, the jailor warned me to go to a bed 
 which he had piepared for me in the prison. I went 
 and looked at it, but it and the prison tout ensemble was 
 most dirty and disgusting, and there were t^vo French 
 
sailor deserters, confined in the same room. I tried 
 iiard for lea^ e to sleep in the store, but was told that 
 my G:oing into prison, could not be dispensed with ; in 
 we Avent and were locked up ; slept tolerably well. 
 
 Jan. 15. Awoke, I believe at about 6 o'clock, for 
 there was no glass in the wdndow^, that we could not see 
 wlien the diiylight made ; but at 8 o'clock the door 
 opened, and I was told that in about an hour a voiture 
 ' would be ready to convey us to St. Omer, which was 
 a favor granted at the request of brother Pigault, other- 
 wise wc must have stayed in this unwholesome hole 
 three or four nights. Accordingly, at 9 o'clock, the 
 voiture came to the door, and after much vociferation 
 on the part of the voiturier, saying my baggage was 
 more than he could take, and some persuasion on my 
 part, softened with a drop of brandy, he took up all, 
 and two French soldiers, their wives, and baggage, 
 which indeed was very small besides ; the weatlier 
 being now excessive cold, and one of the women with- 
 out a cloak, I offered her my great coat to ride in, and 
 walked with her husband, a veteran, who had seen ser- 
 vice, and been wounded, but did not conceive that he 
 had any cause to complain ; his company was very 
 agreeable, and beguiled the road, which was straight, 
 between rows of trees, and paved in the middle all the 
 way ; the country seemed veiy populous. 
 
 About 1 1 o'clock we stopped thirty minutes at the 
 half-way house for the refreshment of those who had 
 money to purchase it. For our parts, having provi- 
 sions, wine, and cordials with us, 1 thought to have had 
 the pleasure of having the soldiers and their wives to 
 partake of it with us, but they disappointed me ; whe- 
 ther from a native pride, or whether from a fear of de- 
 priving us, I cannot say, they only politely tasted with 
 us, and then sat dowir, and eat their own brown bread 
 and drank cider, with a cheerfulness and gaiety pecu- 
 liar to the French. 
 
 We arrived at St. Omer about 2 o'clock. ■ It is a 
 large old town, with a very good market square, in 
 
24 
 
 which stands the prison, a lai'ge old building, appear- 
 ing to have been built for religious purposes, now a 
 receptacle for the depraved, the unfortunate, the mis- 
 erable, and the insane. From the strong grated win- 
 dows we drove up to the door, and heard an English 
 voice, " Here's Mr. Clubb, here's Mr. Ciubb." The 
 sound of my native language in such a place struck 
 me with a pleasure I before had no idea of, and in a 
 mii^.ute saw myself surrounded by Capt. Nortar and 
 his ship's company of hard north- countrymen, who 
 were as glad to see us as we were to see them, and 
 indeed with reason, for we were reciprocal helps to 
 each other ; I could serve them as spokesman, and 
 they occasionally could help me with my baggage 
 (which altogether weighed at that time 900 weight) 
 besides which, their company gave an idea of strength 
 to our little caravan. 
 
 The jailor had given them liberty to come out at the 
 door, and unload our voiture, which they soon did, 
 and stowed the chests in a room in the jail set apart for 
 that purpose, and then they were locked into a room 
 adjoining that where we lived ; but we were allowed 
 to range in the different avenues and apai'tments on our 
 agreeing to pay the jailor six francs per day for our 
 boaixl, that is, fifty cents each for a plate at table with 
 him and his wife ; a kind of ordinary, where such 
 company was seated as we never before had been used 
 to. Amongst the rest was a private of the national 
 guard, who had attempted to assassinate his officer, for 
 which he had been tried by a court-martial, and sen- 
 tenced to be shot, was double ironed, and confined in 
 a cell for that purpose ; but saw^ed off his irons, under- 
 mined his cell, and had nem-ly effected his escape, when 
 he was detected. The jailor shewed me the bolt which 
 he sawed ; it appeai'ed to be about five -eighths of an 
 inch, and told me that he was led out to be shot, but 
 was told that his life should be spared if he would dis- 
 cover by what means he procured the instrument ; but 
 he positively refused, saying, " That secret shall die 
 
25 
 
 with me." His officer solicited the general ibr him^ 
 and the execution was suspended. When I saw him, 
 he had been eleven months with heavy irons on botii 
 legs, with a bolt athwait, which bolt reeved through a 
 hole in one end of a squai'e iron bar, which he had 
 nursed between his \inees until it was bright as silver, 
 and thus accoutred he sat at table, and we mustisit 
 with him, or lose our supper ; hunger pleaded so 
 strongly for the former, that, in spite of our reluctance, 
 we sat down and honoured the Jreco, which was toler- 
 able. After supper the jailor gave this wretch a key, 
 and he shuffled to a kind of closet, which he unlocked, 
 and took out a pair of bright handcuffs, and brought 
 them to the jailor, and reeving a proper part of them 
 through a hole in the upper end of the bar, placed liis 
 wrists in a position for locking ; they were locked fast, 
 and he shuffled away to his straw with as much com- 
 posure as any of the company. These were new^ and 
 disgusting scenes to me, but to my wife most dreadful. 
 
 At 10 o'clock we were ordered to bed, and Norfar 
 and his mate, with myself, and Mrs. Clubb, and a 
 French debtor, were conducted up stairs, and locked 
 into a four bedded room. The glass of the window- 
 was broken, and that night a storm of snow came on, 
 with as heavy a gale as ever I remember ; found the 
 cold excessive. 
 
 Jan. 16. At 8 o'clock our door was unlocked by 
 a servant girl, who caught me in the act of reading a 
 letter from her sweetheait, who was a soldier, and then 
 at Dunkirk. It contained a pressing request from the 
 hero, that she would send him eleven francs to take his 
 cloak out of pawn. This letter she had incautiously 
 left in the window. I gave her the precious paper, 
 and asked her if she had complied with his request ; 
 she answered in the affirmative. 
 
 I asked the jailor to let my wife out, to carry a letter ; 
 
 but he refused, saying, she was a prisoner. I however 
 
 found a Frenchman Avho did it for a small piece of 
 
 monev, and a ^voithy brother to whom it was address- 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 ■ ed, an ofticer in the national elect guaixl, came imme- 
 diately to me, imd consoled me as much as was in his 
 power, but could make no alteration in the manner of 
 our confinement, nor could he obtain leave for Mrs. 
 Clubb to go about the town, only by taking her in 
 charge as a prisoner, and going himself with her, which 
 he did with great politeness ; but this circumstance I 
 found to be an oppressive act of the jailor, dictated by 
 thirst of gain. The governor of the town came in to 
 see him, and they seemed to have a perfect good under- 
 standing between them. Several brethren from the 
 lodge came to see me, and assured me that they would 
 exert all their interest to have us forwai'ded towards 
 Arras as soon as possible. 
 
 Jan. 17. A brother told me that we should go on 
 next day, and that a waggon should be sent me for that 
 purpose. Capt. Norfar was glad of this news, because 
 he knew that he "would be sent forward under the same 
 escort. 
 
 Jan. 18. Left St. Omer, and proceeded to the to^\ii 
 of Aire. The snow being so thick on the road, the 
 carriages could scarcely get through ; suifered much 
 with extreme cold ; one of the gen d'arme who 
 guai'ded us, offered Mrs. Clubb his horseman's cloak, 
 which she refused on die presumption that the man 
 wanted it himself. 
 
 At 3 o'clock, P. M. arrived at Aire, Norfar, and all 
 hands in company. The cleanest prison we had yet seen. 
 The keeper, a man 50 years old, had a wife and two 
 daughters who were at home. They had likewise two 
 sons, one of whom ^vas then at home on the recovery 
 from a \vound he had received from British grape shot ; 
 a liberal minded youth, and very good company. The 
 other son was then in the army. This family shewed 
 a wish to alleviate our sufferings by every means in 
 their power, condoling sincerely with us, and sent foi- 
 two religeuse, the name of their order I have forgot, but 
 one of them spoke English well, and was well inform- 
 ed. She inquired into all oiu^ particular circumstan- 
 
27 
 
 ces ; and when I told her of the treachery used to- 
 wards me at Calais, and the* neglect and contempt I 
 suffered from Mr. Le Veux, she advised me by 
 all means to petition the emperor widiout delay. I 
 told her I did not think it possible for the emperor, in- 
 volved in war, to attend to the complaints of individuals, 
 even of subjects, much less to those of a stranger, an 
 avowed Englishman. She gave me an instance to the 
 contrary in herself, saying, that he had attended to her 
 individual petition, and caused justice to be done to 
 her, although then engaged in \vm\ This gave me 
 fresh hopes. We slept in a clean, good bed, and at 
 10 o'clock next morning, Jan. 19, proceeded for Bi- 
 thune with two voitures, Norfai^ and his crew travelling 
 cheerly altogether, and wishing to get to Arras. At 
 2 o'clock, A. M. arrived at Bithune, a \VTetched prison, 
 and lifeless town. We were locked into a little room 
 with a stone floor for two hours, all hands together, be- 
 fore the keeper had made arrangements to let us come 
 to his fire, ail which time we were almost perished with 
 cold and annoyed with the complaints and incoherent 
 noises and lamentations of an unfortrnate wretch, who 
 had lost his senses, who, in his ravings, wished to im- 
 press on us, that he had been unlawfully robbed of his 
 liberty, and taken by the gens d'arme and put into that 
 confinement. At length the keeper came, and opening 
 a door conducted me and my wife to the fire, where 
 they di'essed the victuals ; and, after much importuni- 
 ty they suffered Norfar to come and join us, but de- 
 claimed the mate must not come ; but by our joint soli- 
 citations at last they let him come to the fire too ; but the 
 men were not suffered to come neai' any fire, and the 
 greatest indulgence we could procure for them m-sls 
 some clean straw, and they were 34 hours without even a 
 bit of bread except what they bought themselves. This 
 was without doubt done in order to squeeze money out 
 of them. I had a masonic recommendation to the chief 
 magistrate, who came to me, and 1 begged of him to 
 have me forwarded to Arras as quick as possible, and 
 
28 
 
 he assured me every thing should be done that was 
 practicable. At 10 o'ciook, ordered to bed, and con- 
 ducted through a long avenue, something like the gal- 
 lery of an inn, to our apartments ; Norfar and his mate 
 to one room, and I and my wife to another. The glass 
 in our window being broke, I rammed my hat in, and 
 caulked up ail the crevices as well as I could ; but laid 
 very cold. 
 
 Jan. 20. At 8, A.M. the door vvas unlocked. 
 Turned out and surveyed the building, which I think 
 had been formerly a convent. The walls, which were 
 or had been, whitened, were scrawled over with char- 
 coai in many a. plaintive rhyme, expressive of the ill 
 usage the unfortunate baixls had met with, immured in 
 " durance vile." Although I thought I had much to 
 complain of, I did not add my name ; but, invoking 
 patience, passed the irksome day as well as I could, 
 and at 10 at night went to the same bed. 
 
 Jan. 21. The door was unlocked at 8, and I went 
 and agreed for an excellent covered voiture and two 
 horses to Arras, by which journey we should avoid 
 laving some days longer at Bithune, and entirely es- 
 cape one intermediate prison between there and Arras. 
 1 agreed to give thirty-two francs to the voiturier for 
 this journey, and at 9, A. M. set out for Arras, myself, 
 Mrs. Clubb, and the baggage with the gen (Parme^ 
 our guard, the little boy, and the driver. Rain and 
 wind all day. Drove on pretty smart, and at 3, A. M. 
 saw the tower of the municipality of Arras, which is 
 very high, and may be seen at a great distance in clear 
 weather, although it does not stand on high ground, 
 the face of the country being generally level. The 
 town is surrounded by a prodigious number of wind- 
 mills, and it struck me that I should find there a great 
 many prisoners, or perhaps soldiers, thinking they 
 were flour mills ; but found afterwards that they were 
 for the purpose of stamping oil out of popp}" and rape 
 eeeds. In the summer I saw half the country cultivat- 
 
29 
 
 ed with the former, which, bearing a flower much Uke 
 a taiip, has a most beautiliii appearance. 
 
 As we approached the town I kept a sharp look out, 
 thinking- to see some prisoners from whom I might 
 obtain information to govern my proceedings ; but the 
 weather was so bad, that we scarcely saw a human be- 
 ing till we came into the town, and then I found that 
 the driver avoided the pubhc streets, so that all seemed 
 silence and dismay. At length, after crossing the 
 outer ditch over a draw bridge appeiired the great gate 
 of the citadel of Arras, over which a large imperial ea- 
 gle in stucco extended his wings, and holding in his 
 claws the forked lightening, seemed to threaten the un- 
 fortunate captive as he entered, that he w ould never be 
 liberated till death signed his pass. Driving over the 
 inner draw bridge we entered this deposit of unfortu- 
 nate victims suffering in despair, because their govern- 
 ment sees it necessaiy, and there hundi'eds of these 
 brave men have literally starved to death, and that gov- 
 ernment has never sent them a single cent for their re- 
 lief, although they frequently petition majesty for 
 that purpose, and humbly lay a faithful representation 
 of their extreme sufferings at the foot of his throne ; 
 yet majesty has never deigned to take the least notice 
 of them. Two of these petitions were wrote while I 
 was there, and signed by all the ship-masters. They 
 were wrote in a very expressive manner, and, as I 
 thought, in an appropriate style for men in their dread- 
 ful position. They asked me to sign ; but I would 
 not, for in all my life I never had received a farthing of 
 majesty's money ; neither was I taken under his colours. 
 
 When we entered the citadel, I suffered a shock 
 which excited all my pity and commisseration at 
 sight of the livid, woe-worn countenances of the totter- 
 ing shadows who flocked round me to ask, " wdiat 
 news." Mrs. Clubb shed a flood of tears, and asked 
 if there were any Americans among them. They 
 said, there were. I inquired for the commandant, and 
 was cbnducted to the bureau of the depot, where I was 
 
30 
 
 again interrogated by the chief interpreter, who order- 
 ed ni}- baggage into the room, and then said, that I must 
 unlash all my packages, &c. and give the lashings into 
 his possession that they might not be useful to the 
 prisoners in escaping over the walls as had sometimes 
 been the case. I remonstrated very strongly against 
 this proceeding ; but he told me it must be done, and 
 that if I did not do it myself, his duty would compel 
 him to order a soldier to do it. 
 
 I was proceeding slo^vly, when, to my great joy, in 
 came the col. commandant of the citadel and his 
 lieutenant. The col. wore the insignia of the order of 
 Malta, and of the Legion of Honour. I accosted the 
 col. and he took me by the hand as a brother, and 
 listened with the kindest attention to my singulai' dis- 
 tressing story, and then assured me, that as long as I 
 conducted myself with propriety I should have a friend 
 in him ; that the interpreter -was perfectly right in in- 
 sisting on taking my ropes, he not knowing but that I 
 was to remain in prison, and in that case such were his 
 orders ; but as he should suffer me to go out imme- 
 diately and live in the town on parole, that order was 
 out of the question. He asked me what hotel I should 
 sleep at ; I told him hotel St. Pol. and he took leave, 
 saying he would come to me there in the evening. 
 
 I loaded the cart again, and drove out to hotel St. 
 Pol. looking at the prison with the same kind of hor- 
 ror ^vlih which I have seen a lee shore which I have 
 been approaching against my will, where the breakers 
 frowned in grizly horror, and death in different hide- 
 ous shapes seemed to await us, while our situation 
 called for all the firmness of the commander, and iill the 
 alert, intrepid activity of the seaman, and for every means 
 every lielp, that skill can suggest, or strength effect. 
 
 In this case I well knew my chief support would be 
 my ai'my of reserve, a shining train, not numerous, in- 
 deed, but true, my joy-inspiring compatriots whose 
 yellow visages reliect serenity on their possessor. 
 Sweet introducers, placing full confidence in him they 
 
31 
 
 usher ! Come then, economy, teach me to guard my 
 faithful friends ! 
 
 With these reflections we arrived at the hotel, and 
 noAV being left to my own discretion with respect to 
 when I should go to bed, and when rise up ; when 
 I should go out of the house, and when I should come 
 in, I felt a degree of pleasure unknown for some time 
 past, and my wife resumed nearly her former cheerful- 
 ness and vivacity, so that the daughter of the landlord 
 says to me. Monsieur, je crois que madame voire Jemme 
 ii'est pas Anglaise. 
 
 I sat down in the evening before supper, and was 
 writing an account of my misfortunes to a relation, 
 when brother Duhamel, commandant of the citadel, 
 came in to see me, and with him lieut. Kingdon of the 
 British navy, and his lady. I told my story exactly as 
 it stood, and they both expressed a wish to serve me. 
 At 10 o'clock, went to bed. 
 
 Jan. 22. Mr. Kingdon sent an invitation for us to 
 breakfast, and advised me to call for my hotel bill. I 
 did so ; and found 1 was charged 12 francs for supper 
 and bed only. Economy was so ofiended with this, 
 which she called extravagance, that I immediately 
 walked about the town, and saw " Qhamhre garnie a 
 louer presentemei^f at many windows, and one of 
 them in Rue d' Amiens I hired at 12 francs per month, 
 got my baggage from the hotel as quick as possible, 
 and tenanted my new habitation ; received notice from 
 the interpreter, that I must [ittend muster twice a day, 
 which order I observed punctually. 
 
 Jan. 23. Mrs. Clubb busy in washing our room, 
 which was very dirty. I went down to the dock for 
 coals, and found vessels vv hich came from Vaiencurmes 
 through a canal retailing pit coal at 22 cents a bushel, 
 and 4 cents each bushel to the porter. This canal, 
 or rather river, for it is in part natural, is very pleas- 
 ant and useful. We used frequently to vviilk by its 
 banks, the length of our limits, whicli was 6 English 
 
milcb, and see with pleasure the peaceable, industrious 
 inhabitants at their labour in the meadows and fields, 
 or on the river. They raise wheat, bai'ley, and rye, in 
 great abundance, the country being very fertile, and 
 Avell cultivated. The people seemed to know but little 
 about the wai% and very few of them troubled their 
 heads about politics. The boatmen generally have 
 their families with them in these vessels, where they 
 live far cleaner, and, as I thought, much more com- 
 fortable than the people on shore, the water of the riv- 
 er which is excellent, answering every purpose for 
 which that element is used in a family, and the banks 
 being in most places steep ; so they go on shore, and on 
 board when they please. At little distances from each 
 other by the river's side, are houses for refreshment, 
 and pleasure- gardens, which are open in the summer 
 season, and there on every feast day and on Sundays 
 especially, music is provided and with brow unbent 
 they join in couples, the dance a-la-ronde, the waltz, or 
 what they please, on the green turf; many of our j'oung 
 officers joined with them, and the French belles, gen- 
 erally speaking, seemed not averse to their company, 
 and I think nothing can be more pleasant than the sight 
 of this innocent festivity, to which the sprightliness of 
 the French is so well adapted ; many a time it has caus- 
 ed me to forget for a while my situation, until busy 
 thought would bring to my mind the picture of the 
 starvling, " I cannot get out," 
 
 Jan. 24. Went into the citadel to inquire after the 
 Americans. Some of them came to me, and I asked 
 why they were not liberated with their countrymen, 
 who were sent a^vay about a month before. They said 
 that those men were liberated as Americans at the in- 
 stimce of Gen. Armstrong ; but that the greatest part of 
 them were English captains, some of Vvhom had since 
 wrote letters to France, and that these things being 
 known to the minister at war, he had spoke to Gen. 
 Armstrong, advising him to take more care to discrim- 
 inate, and find out who had a legal right to the protec- 
 
53 
 
 tion of the American flag, and to liberate none other, 
 but that instead of endeavouring to come at the truth, 
 which might easily have been done, Gen. Armstrong 
 had not only entirely abandoned all the Americans, but 
 absolutely refused to answer any of their letters, and 
 these unfortunate men brought such indubitable proofs 
 that this was a melancholy fact, that I almost despair- 
 ed of ever obtaining notice from him. Supported, 
 however, by the justice and legality of my cause, I 
 rallied my forlorn hope, and wcvii and purchased plenty 
 of paper, pens, &:c. and made myself known to the 
 distributress of letters at the post office. I cultivated 
 the friendship of the interpreter, whose business it is to 
 break open such of the letters as ai'c directed "j&mo?z- 
 nie?' de guerre,^^ and made every disposition for carry- 
 ing on a vigorous and persevering coi'respondence, in 
 every direction where I might conceive any hope. 
 
 At 4 A. M. attended muster as usual, when a mes- 
 sage came from brother Duhamel, that my appeai'ance 
 there might be dispensed with till further orders. This 
 circumstance left me more at liberty to pursue my en- 
 deavours after justice. 
 
 Jan. 25. Wrote to capt. Savage, and to brother 
 Pigault. 
 
 Jan. 26. Weather very cold, and deep snow. 
 
 Jan. 27. Went to the citadel. Americans came 
 round me. Wrote a petition for them to Gen. Armstrong. 
 
 Jan. 28, The commandant and his inteq^reter took 
 tea with us. 
 
 Jem. 29y Went to market with capt. Ramsey, an 
 old prisoner, who instructed me how and where to buy. 
 
 Jan. 30. In eager expectation of a letter from Gen. 
 Armstrong ; rainy ; staid at home all day. 
 
 Jan. 31. Gloomy weather, coinciding with the te- 
 dious and anxious suspense we were kept in ; and 
 continually watching with eager expectation the aiTi- 
 vai of the post, in hope that if his excellency consider- 
 ed that my case was not his business, he would let us 
 know it by a line, he having a secretary 'for that pur- 
 
34 
 
 pose, aiid that being our ultimate and most pressing" 
 request, that we might have recourse to some other 
 method to obtain justice, regain our Hberty, or find 
 means to preserve our existence. 
 
 Feb. 1. Still watching for a letter from his excel- 
 lency ; none came. Wh it can be the reason ? 
 
 Is it that a man dignified with the title of his excel- 
 lency, can be ignorant of the stipulations of the treaty ? 
 surely, no. Is it that he is so much engaged in the 
 momentous affairs of nations, that he cannot attend to 
 individual concerns ? then why not give a line if that 
 is the case ? Is it that, being born in England, his 
 excellency is for that weighty reason prejudiced against 
 me, and determined not to notice the violation of the 
 treaty in taking me from an American sh.ip, in order to 
 gratify a private pique against all who happened to be 
 born in England '? An illiberal suspicion, Clubb ; for 
 shame, think not so of an ambassador. 
 
 Is it then, that not being a naturalized citizen of the 
 United States, and having been born in England, the 
 French government consider that being born in a sta- 
 ble they have a right to use me like a horse ? but 
 have patience, write to Mr. Skipwith, perhaps he will 
 answer you, though his excellency will not. 
 
 Feb. 2. Brother Wacheux commissaire de guerre 
 called to see us ; told me he would lend me any books. 
 Or give me any information in his power. 
 
 Feb. 3. Received letters from Captain Savage and 
 Mr. Pigault. 
 
 Feb. 4. Went to the citadel and received 14 days 
 pay, at 19 sols per day. 
 
 Feb. 5. A pretended American prisoner came to 
 speak with me ; found him out and made him acknowl- 
 edge. 
 
 Feb. 6. Sent a long letter to Mr. Fulwar Skipwith 
 at Paris, the receipt of which that gentleman acknowl- 
 edged afterwai'ds, in a letter to a fellow-pHsoner. 
 
 Feb. 7. Forwarded letters for America for several 
 fellow-prisoners by way of Calais. 
 
35 
 
 Feb. 8. Strong wind with snow and bad weather 
 all this month. Prisoners of the lower class d} ing, or 
 rather starving very fast. Employed myself most of 
 my time in writing to the American consuls and agents 
 to no purpose. 
 
 March 1. Masquerading about the streets, and out 
 and into the houses in a manner that appeai'ed to me 
 most senseless and ridiculous for reasonable beings, 
 hiring their dresses and masques at an extravagant rate. 
 Mrs. Clubb and myself invited to a masked ball, de- 
 clined the honour ; the English characters unfit tor such 
 mummeiy, which in the manner they perform it is as 
 unmeaning and bizarre ^ as their fetes champ et re are 
 pleasant and entertaining. 
 
 March 8. My wife wrote to Mr. Richard Skinner 
 at Palis, requesting him to speak to his excellency in 
 my behalf. 
 
 March 14. Received a letter from the worthy Mr. 
 Skinner, who, on the receipt of my letter, immediately 
 consulted Gen. Armstrong, whose arguments on the 
 subject were exactly those of the privateer's men, eva- 
 sive of the butt of my plea, (that I had taken shelter 
 under the American flag in a legal manner, and de- 
 manded protection according to the stipulation of the 
 treaty) and turning off to the subject of my wife (v/hom 
 I only mentioned in my petition to him as a corrobo- 
 rant, undeniable proof that I was bound to the United 
 States, and had expatriated myself) said she was no 
 prisoner, and being a nati^ c of the United States, she 
 could have a pass if she chose to leave me. Mere froth, 
 as I conceive ; for I cannot suppose that a native of 
 the United States, enlightened by education and expe- 
 rience, entrusted by his go\'ernment with so weighty a 
 charge could be so ignorant of human nature as not to 
 know that not one woman in an hundred will abandon 
 her husband in distress ; or that he could have so bad 
 an opinion of one of his countrywomen. No ; it appears 
 to me to be a dexterous shift, and that he was pi'e-de- 
 termined I should be a victim ; but for what purpose 
 I cannot positively say. 
 
36 
 
 As to his agent, Mr. Le Veux, at Calais, it requires 
 in my opinion no great degree of penetration to discov- 
 er that his refusing to do his duty towards me as part 
 of an American ship's company, arose from a violent 
 desire in him that ship and cargo should be condemned. 
 
 On reading this letter, which Mr. Skinner wrote in a 
 truly patriotic and polite mamier to my wife, in answer 
 to hers of the 8th inst. I was so enraged that I could 
 have execrated the cause of my being thus inhospita- 
 bly turned from American shelter, and being denied 
 that, for which even American savages are famed, for 
 they are said to protect with intrepidity, him ,who takes 
 shelter under their roof, even if not allied to them. 
 But in this cause, I had forever quitted my native coun- 
 try, and proved that I was in the closest alliance ^vith 
 this, and found myself inhumanly pushed out at the 
 door, into the possession of my native countries enemy. 
 
 March 15. Recived a letter from capt. Savage. 
 From this day to the 27, spent in writing, visiting the 
 sick, &c. 
 
 March 27. Made a party and walked to St. EIo, 
 a village where once stood a monastery of the same 
 name, now a magnificent and stupendous ruin, stand- 
 ing on high ground ; the towers are left, and seen at a 
 great distance, generally called by the English, the two 
 sisters. The country people shewed us with great 
 civilit}^ this monument of superstition, the extensive 
 and well secured vaults and brewery belonging to it, is 
 a proof that the holy inhabitants for whom it was built, 
 were bons viva?is, and that whatever might have been 
 their taste for retirement, meditation and spiritual 
 enjoyment, they had not quite forgot their temporal 
 good ; vous avez raisoii mes bons peresy says I to my- 
 self, and we walked to our lodgings at Arras, a distance 
 of about 6 miles. 
 
 March 30. Received a letter from Mr. Richard 
 Skinner, who was then himself under misfortunes. 
 
 April 1. Followed an old sea commander, and in- 
 timate friend to the grave. The burial ground of Ar- 
 
S7 
 
 ras, as in other French towns, is about a mile distant ; 
 and superstition being nearly done away, the prisoner, 
 though a heretic, is buried in the consecrated ground 
 amongst the good Catholics, and there distinctions 
 end. The deceased was a man with whom I had 
 often associated when we were both at liberty, and 
 each commanded a ship ; since which time his prop- 
 erty had increased, and with it his want, for he grew 
 so fond of his money, that he loved it better than he 
 did himself. When I first saw him in prison, I asked 
 him why he did not get leave to live in town, as he 
 was blessed with abundance, adding, that I would take 
 upon me to obtain him that liberty, if he would come 
 out and live with me in comfort. He answered, that 
 having been robbed of his clothes when taken, he could 
 not appear in company amongst others without buying 
 more at a high rate, and therefore chose to sta}^ in the 
 prison, and keep his money. He died the next week ; 
 and I lamented that so good a man should die through 
 such an error. 
 
 April 5. Went into the citadel to receive my 
 month's pay. My heait ached for the prisoners that 
 are poor ; sickness prevailed, brought on by want and 
 haidship. Gave some sous as usual out of my pay. 
 Conversed with a fellow prisoner about taking the ne- 
 cessary measures to inform the minister of war of the 
 malpractices by which the prisoners suffered. Obtain- 
 ed a sight of the emperor's orders and instructions for 
 the treatment and allowance of prisoners of wlu% which 
 we found to be just and equitable, being in certain 
 proportion Avith the French army, according to rank, 
 &c. and gained such information as enabled us to state 
 to his excellency,* that at least half of the provisions 
 and necessaries allowed by the emperor were withheld 
 from the lower class of prisoners, which was the cause 
 of so much death and desertion, and that the prisoners 
 ^A' hich Avere almost daily sent to the depot, were scarcely 
 
 * French minister of war. 
 
enough to make good the mortalit)-. This letter was 
 sent anonymous ; for some few days before, some sai- 
 lors, having had the hardiesse to go to the commandant 
 and complain of the deficiency of their provisions, 
 were confined in the Cashot among the rats. Captain 
 Little, of Massachusetts, called on us in his way from 
 Calais to Paris, and staid the night with us. 
 
 April 16. Little started for Paris ; sent letters by 
 him. 
 
 April 29. Went to the funeral of an unfortunate 
 prisoner. 
 
 May 4. Was paid in the citadel. 
 
 June 5. W\>nt into the citadel and was paid. 
 
 June 10. As the beef cart was coming into the 
 citadel with the beef in the morning, Vandamme, gen- 
 eral of division, stopped it and had the beef weighed, 
 when there appeared a deficiency of nearly half the full 
 quantity, and the quality was found to be very bad ; 
 he also put up a notice in the citadel, that the emperor 
 had issued orders that the prisoners were to be hu- 
 manel}^ treated, and if any one had a grievance, they 
 were to relate it to him, and it should be redressed. 
 It seems he had been sent for that purpose ; for they 
 set about doing justice to the lower class of prisoners, 
 and correcting the different abuses. The butcher was 
 sent to the military prison at Lille, and other steps were 
 taken for the better feeding and clothing the prisoners, 
 as the mortality had been very great, and their suffer- 
 ings such as hhock humanity to think of. Hundreds 
 were caiTied out at the Pcuis gate feet foremost, stal'^'ed 
 to mere skeletons, till death, the wretches' friend, came 
 to their release. Oh, shades of my lamented counti^--- 
 men ! had I the pen of our brother tar, the ill-fated 
 Fawkener, you should not want an elegy ! Your inglo- 
 rious and cruel fate should be transmitted to posterity 
 in some such poem as his inimitable Shipwreck, where, 
 in strains peculiar to himself, he bewails the death of 
 his amiable and faithful friends and gallant shipmates. 
 They fell in a hardy and generous struggle against thc^ 
 
39 
 
 fury of contending elements, and toiling, side by side, 
 emulous of each other's strength and courage, had the 
 chance to strive for existence ; but you, by unwhole- 
 some confinement in the pestilential air of numerous 
 breaths ; the painful gnavvings of inanition, and the 
 baleful effect of feverish disease, by the iron gripe of 
 hard-heai'ted avarice. Miserable is the fate of a prison- 
 er ! his comforts are small, and small his portion ; 
 but when the moiety is nipped from him by hard- 
 hearted local tyrants, it is in my view the lowest abyss 
 of human misery. 
 
 Inconsistence of avarice, increasing with age ! that a 
 man, who had passed his grand climacteric, should 
 shut the bowels of compassion towards his fellow men, 
 and purloin from their small pittance, to add every day 
 another prisoner to his useless bags, and hug those 
 bags till death strikes his blow, and then he is off", and 
 leaves the deai'-loved gold behind. 
 
 "Guilt's blunder, and the loudest laugh of hell." 
 
 Yet I have heaixl him style himself the father of the 
 prisoners, and say, that nothing gave him so much 
 pleasure as to see his children comfortable. Alas ! if 
 any prisoner there had in reality such a father, how 
 unnatural would he appear : 
 
 " If angels tremble, 'tis at such a sight." 
 
 June. This month I spent in a monotone of mar- 
 keting for the mess, writing respectfully to his excel- 
 lency General Armstrong, sometimes playing the fid- 
 dle, reading French romances of Pigault, Le Brun, or 
 other authors ; subscribed 30 sols per month to brother 
 Le Clere's librar3^ 
 
 June 29. The interpreter Mr. Derheim that betray- 
 ed me, came to Arras with capt. Fish of Massachusetts, 
 and came to see me. I gave Fish letters for Boston, 
 ^vhich reached their destination. 
 
 June 30. Capt. Fish mid Mr. Derheim went to- 
 wards Calais. 
 
40 
 
 July 10. Saw two French deserters receive theif 
 sentences, to be sent to the galUes.^" 
 
 July 19. Money uas distributed, which was sent 
 from the patriotic fund at Lloyd's ; but of this the 
 Americans have no share. 
 
 This month very hot weather ; walked in the even- 
 ings in the beautiful promenades of Arras, which w^re 
 full of conipcUiy ; the British officers on parole walk- 
 ing familiarly together "with the inhabitants in great 
 hainuony. The trees, walks, benches, &,c. &c. being 
 in good order, it is as handsome a place for recreation 
 as I ever saw^ 
 
 Aug. 1. Began to burn charcoal, as is the practice 
 in hot weather in this part of France ; and here eveiy 
 floor in the house, even to the gaiTet, is bricked over 
 the plank. All the reason I could get for this singular 
 mode of flooring was, that it had been the custom of 
 their ancestors ; be that as it may, I have reason to 
 think it has occasioned the death of many a prisoner. 
 It is well known to men of my profession, who have 
 carried all kinds of cargoes, that nothing that has a 
 solid body attracts and imbibes humidity more forcibly 
 than a brick ; so much so, that we kno^v that if in a 
 cargo of brick, the lower tier gets wet, the rest that ai-e 
 stowed over will all of them, spunge like, by attraction 
 
 * This was done on open parade, before all their comrades, 
 who were drawn up to see the example. The unfortunate 
 men were taken out of their places of confinement, with 
 their heads shaved, their clothes having been previously ta- 
 ken from them ; they were dressed in jackets and trowsers, 
 of very coarse grey cloth, wooden shoes, and caps of a pecu- 
 liar make, and marched from end to end of the parade under 
 a guard, in front of the regiment; then marched to the mid- 
 dle of the parade, and caused to kneel bareheaded while the 
 sentence of the court-martial was read ; each of them trail- 
 ing after them a cannon ball of about nine pounds, as it ap- 
 peared to me, made fust with about three fathom of a large 
 chain which went round their waists. This sight seemed to 
 draw the compassion of numbers of people, and as they 
 marched back to prison, they held their caps for the charity 
 of the beholders. 
 
41 
 
 fill themselves. This being the case, and the bricks, 
 when the chamber is washed, holding the moisture, 
 the unwary prisoner, o"\'ermaiched, lays dowai on his 
 straw, and there often receives rheumatisms, fevers, 
 coughs, consumptions, and all the dire consequences 
 of obstructed perspiration. 
 
 There is not at present in the to'^^"n of Arras a single 
 loom for weaving that beautiful tapestry that bears its 
 name. I saw some rooms hung with it, and inquired 
 about the- manufactory, but was told nothing in that 
 line had been done for many }-ears in the town. The 
 chief employment of the women at this time is lace- 
 making. 
 
 It appears that the revolution Avas a severer scourge 
 to Arras than to any other town in France. It was the 
 birth place of that miscreant Robespierre : and I have 
 it from good information, that the guillotine under his 
 direction entirely depopulated La Rue de Paris, where 
 the noblesse and principal characters resided, and I 
 have myself seen human bones in the brook that runs 
 thiough the town, the remains of some of those unfor- 
 tunates who lost their lives in those times of blood and 
 confusion. 
 
 The inhabitants generally behave very sociable and 
 friendly to the prisoners, many of whom buoy them- 
 selves up with a hope that they are willing secretl}-^ to 
 favour the British interest, and even have gone so far 
 as to say, and perhaps write, that they ai-e ripe for in- 
 surrection, when it is onh" their sua^^ity of manners and 
 natural smooth politeness, that cast a mist before the 
 eyes of John Bull. 
 
 The town was built b}^ the Spaniards near 300 years 
 ago, and fortified by the famous count Vauban about 
 250 years since, as I ha^'e heard, and as appears by 
 an inscription on a stone laid in one of the brick facings 
 of these stupendous works, which are in some places 
 ninety feet in height. Had I understood fortification, 
 
 " But knowledge to my eyes her ample page, 
 Rich viith the spoils of time, did ne'er unroli," 
 
42 
 
 I should have taken more notice of this famous fron- 
 tier. At Arras is Hkewise a building ui fiiii^ihedy in- 
 tended for a convent, as I was told. This is a Hercu- 
 lean undertaking. The scaffolding of the inside of the 
 great dome is not }'et taken down ; but the library is 
 finished, in which is a museum, conlainii5g mai^y cu- 
 riosities and antiquities : among the lattc]' is the shoe 
 of a queen of France, which they say is 900 years old, 
 and an ivory small-tooth comb 700 yeai's, according 
 to their account. Mrs. Clubb had the curiosity to 
 comb her head with it. We went to see all such 
 things, prisoners having much leisure. 
 
 In the town are three good market-squares, La Grand 
 Place, Le Petit Place, et La Mai'che au Poisson. In 
 the first is the corn market, in the second, that of but- 
 ter and vegetables, and in the third, that of fish, as its 
 name denotes. These markets are all well supplied, 
 particularly the corn market, the country being called 
 the granary of France. In the Petit Place is the hall 
 of the municipality, where the business of the police is 
 done, and where they perform the ceremony of draw- 
 ing conscripts. These conscriptions are the greatest 
 and indeed the only burdens they complain of, and 
 certainly are a great grievance, as bad perhaps as the 
 impressing men in England, only with this difference, 
 that in England the evil lays on the poor only, as the 
 man of property there can screen himself or his chil- 
 dren ; but in France every one bears a part of the bur- 
 den, ail being included to stand their lot ; and when it 
 falls on the rich, I have known two thousand, or some- 
 times three thousand, francs given for a substitute. 
 Add to to this, that commissions are never sold in the 
 French army, every one must begin in the ranks ; and 
 I believe that if there are exceptions to these rules, they 
 are very rare. I never saw any while among them, 
 nor did I ever hear them so much as hint that their 
 draughts are unfairly made. 
 
 Aug. 9. Despairing of ever obtaining a line from 
 Mr. Armstrong, wrote a long letter to Le Prefect Mar- 
 
itime de Bologne, stating facts in my usual way, and 
 fequesting a rehearing of rny case, and liberation. 
 Calais being in his department, his is the central office 
 for such business. 
 
 Aug. 29. Followed a worthy brother to the grave 
 in masonic form, according to his desire. It being a 
 new thing in France, numbers of the inhabitants went 
 out with us, and I heard them admire the steady, de- 
 cent deportment of the fraternity who appeared in this 
 dernier acte of social duty. 
 
 Sept. 12. A gentleman of the name of Collet was 
 introduced to us by the commandant, resident in France, 
 not far from Si. Omer, and citizen of the United States, 
 then on his road to Paris. He paid attention to my 
 singular case, and the commandant shewed us a letter 
 from the minister of war in answer to my letter to Le 
 Prefect Maritime de Bologne of the 9th ult. requesting 
 a rehearing of my case. This letter stated, that his ex- 
 cellency did not doubt the truth of my statement, but 
 that as the representative of the flag from which I was 
 taken had not applied for me, a rehearing was unneces- 
 sary. 
 
 On a mature consideration of this answer, I constru- 
 ed it to imply, that the emperor of the French is not 
 so severe on American persons or property, or even on 
 persons and property which ai'e legally and fairly un- 
 der the protection of the flag of the United States, as 
 the diplomacy is negligent in application. And strange 
 for an Englishman to tell, I felt more hope of receiving 
 justice from Bonaparte, than fro^ him 'Whose duty it 
 was to have justice done to all who were under x^mer- 
 ican protection ; from him who guarded the honour of 
 that flag which was insulted in this infringement. Ev- 
 ery man may not see this in the light that I do, or put 
 such a construction on it. If I am in an error, it is 
 merely in judgment, a mistake of the head, and I trust 
 my heart is right, for I do declare that rather than a 
 stripe should have been blotted, or the lustre of a star 
 diminished on my account, I would have endured 
 
44 
 
 captivity ; and heaven is my witness, that this was the 
 chief reason why I did no!:, Avhen first taken, alter rny 
 name, and make use of documents of proof (of a man's 
 deceased) of American citizenship, which, by chance, 
 I had with me. What ! deny the identity of my per- 
 son, and be found on board an American ship in a 
 feigned character ! Heaven forbid ! Aid me, integrity, 
 I'll tell the truth ! I did ; and what was the conse- 
 quence ? neglect and contempt ; poverty is my re- 
 ward. But I more glory in it, than ifpossest of all that 
 fortune ever threw on fools. I Avrote immediately a 
 letter to Gen. Armstrong, of which, the following is a 
 copy. 
 
 To his Excellency GENERAL ARMSTRONG, 
 
 AMBASS. PLENIPO. &C. &:C. 
 
 Alay it please your RxceUencxjt is'c. 
 
 The undersigned humbly represents, that he being second 
 mate of the ship Hyades of Saco, was taken and brought in- 
 to Calais for adjudication, and that being there questioned as 
 to the country of his birth, hesitated not to avow himse!/ born 
 in England; nothing doubting at the time, that circumstance 
 could militate against him or be considered as a crime, seeing 
 he was actually an officer under the flag of the United States, 
 carried on the roll of equipage as such, married to a native 
 of Boston then a cabin passenger on board with him with in- 
 tent and agreement with the capt. for her so to remain till 
 our return in said ship to America. 
 
 That under such circumstances, and having actually ex- 
 patriated himself from England, he conceived himself se- 
 cure under the flag of his adopted country ; but contrary to 
 this he had beeii excepted against, and with his wife sent to 
 and remain at this depot as a prisoner. We appeal to your 
 excellency. Admitting for a moment apart, the foregoing 
 facts, facts which we establish by the captain's certificate here- 
 to annexed, and which may be confirmed by the roll of equip- 
 age, now we presume at the council of Prizes. With all 
 due submission, we conceive that our case is fully embraced 
 by the 14th article of the treaty, which expressly stipulates, 
 " The flag shall protect the property on board, even if be- 
 longing to an enemy, and more particularly the persons, un- 
 less actually in arm.s and in the service of an enemy, &c." 
 
45 
 
 We entreat your excellency's consideration and commis- 
 eration of our unhappy case, and that you will have the good- 
 ness to procure our enlargement, and an early opportunity 
 of returning to our country, and our friends, and as in duty 
 bound we will ever be grateful. 
 
 Arras in France. Signed. 
 
 Copy of the Cafitai}i's certificate. 
 I, the undersigned, master of the American ship Hyades, 
 of Saco, taken and brought into Calais as a prize, do certify, 
 that Mr. Stephen Clubb was my second mate on board, and that 
 his wife, a native of Boston, (Mass.) was a cabin passenger, 
 with agreement so to be, until our hoped for arrival at home, 
 and that there are now on board my ship, water casks, and 
 other effects the property of the said Clubb, purchased by 
 him for his wife's comfort and accommodation on her in- 
 tended passage home to Boston. 
 
 Signed, THOMAS SAVAGE. 
 
 Mr. Collet took this letter with him, and delivered it 
 to Gen. x\rmstrong. 
 
 Oct. 20. Mr. Collet returned from Paris ; told 
 me he had seen General Armstrong, and that he saw 
 one of my letters laying on his table, but that the Gen- 
 eral would take no notice of me or my wife ; that he 
 did not appear to be inclined to favour any of his coun- 
 trymen, much less to fa^'our me Avho v. as only a stran- 
 ger, although in fact and legality under the protection 
 of the flag of the United States. 
 
 Oct. 21. Resolved not to be discouraged ; wrote to 
 the American minister in pressing, but respectful terms. 
 
 This month spent in much the same manner as the 
 last, writing in every direction. 
 
 Nov. 21. The worthy brother Pigault came to iVr- 
 ras as an elector of the imperial senate. He came to 
 see me ; and he being a man well informed of the pre- 
 sent state of political affairs, and, as I conceived, of a 
 solid judgment, I asked him whether, in his opinion, 
 Great Britain was likely to crush the empire of France ? 
 He said that, according to the present situation of af- 
 fairs, he judged that the emperor would in all proba- 
 
46 
 
 bility soon rule the continent entire ; and that he should 
 expect to see me liberated on a general exchange. 
 This month expended in the same manner as the for- 
 mer. 
 
 Dec. 21. Capt. Chambers, of a British merchant 
 ship, aiTived, with his legs swelled and otherwise dis- 
 ordered with the bad treatment he had experienced on 
 the road, and in the different prisons ; and brought 
 likewise, the entrails and dung of some beasts, which a 
 jailor had boiled and made soup of, and set the solid 
 before him and his crew to eat. This inhuman sight 
 was exhibited before a French surgeon, who was em- 
 ployed in the cure of this sufferer ; I asked him qii'est 
 cequeca, monsieur? Sucre Dieu^ dit il, c'' est T ordure. 
 
 Jan. 1. Time spent in perseverance in writmg ; not- 
 wilhstariding all these discouragements, my precious 
 army of reserve dwindling away every day, now reduc- 
 ed to a small handful ; in case I am ultimately disap- 
 pointed in my hopes of being liberated, I intend to com- 
 mence teaching the English language to the French, or 
 French language to the English, or both. Employed 
 myself in a revision of the French giT:mmar for that pur- 
 pose. Mem. mortaJl}', hate studying grammar, par- 
 ticiples passive, &c. uninteresting, dry employment. 
 In this month, the commandant was superseded by 
 monsieur Noirot, who immediately began to correct 
 former abuses, and clothe the prisoners, provide beds 
 for them ; and by his impartial and firm conduct, the 
 condition of the pooi'er class of these unfortunates, was 
 so much altered for the better, that the mortality ceased, 
 from 40 or 50 funerals in a month, to 4 or 5 ; and Mdien 
 I came away, the deaths were in the same proportion 
 with the inhabitants of the town. The hospital had but 
 few prisoners in it ; and the sailors began to look more 
 like Englishmen. 
 
 An unfortunate man, who told me he had suffered 
 much in the service of the United States, and had been 
 in slavery at Algiers, fell sick, and went to the hospi- 
 tal. My wife often went to visit him, and found (I am 
 
47 
 
 soiTy to say) that nothing ailed the man, but the crav- 
 ings of an empty stomach ; he had twice been in the 
 hospital before, was cured and sent to prison again, 
 but for want of nourishing diet as often relapsed, and 
 had not a cent to buy a bit of bread ; she often carried 
 little cakes, &c. which she concealed about her, (for the 
 order was, that nothing should be carried to the sick) ; 
 and as it was not in my power to help him altogether 
 by myself, I wrote a petition for him, and, amongst my 
 brother officers, collected 3 crowns which I gave him, 
 for he never drank spirits, and I had the pleasure of 
 seeing him revive from a mere shadow, to a stout m.an ; 
 he is about 35 years of age, but prison- worn to the ap- 
 pearance of 50. 
 
 In this month I obtained such allowance for my wife, 
 as the French government have thought proper to al- 
 low wives of officers who are prisoners, and shall I be 
 believed M^hen I say, that this polite nation allows la- 
 dies, who are under these misfortunes, nothing but the 
 common piison bread ? the utmost I could sell it for, 
 was 3 francs per month. 
 
 I saw some French ladies at AiTas, who had been 
 sent home from F.nglish prisons ; I asked thtm how 
 they had fared, they said their husbands enjoyed 
 parole, and had half a guinea a week ; but themselves 
 had but a shilling a day. When Mr. Collet was at 
 Paris, he recommended my case to Mr. Isaac Cox Bar- 
 net, whose truly patriotic exertions in behalf of the ini-^»» 
 fortunate Americans, ought never to be forgot by his 
 countrymen. He was the first American agent ^vho 
 took notice of me, and gave me hope ; I wrote 2 let- 
 ters to him explaining my case very fully. 
 
 Feb. 10. Received a note from Mr. Barnet, advis- 
 ing me to petition the minister of wai- ; which I did in 
 the same strain as I had before petitioned Gen. Arm- 
 strong. 
 
 Feb. 11. Went into the citadel. Severe frost. The 
 poor Americans flocked ai'ound me as usual to hear 
 what news ; assured Slawson in pailicular (a native of 
 
48 
 
 Stanford near New- York) and all the rest of the citizens 
 of the United States, that I would make every exertion 
 to serve them, and that should it be my good fortune 
 to arrive first in any pait of the United States, I would 
 publish the neglect and wrongs they suffered, by every 
 means that laid in my power, and they promised the 
 same to me. 
 
 About this time 3 ship's companies arrived from 
 Rochfort, from American ships, who had been stopped 
 for being engaged in a trade between England and 
 France, making a false declaration in that respect, al- 
 though warned by notice previously read to them, at the 
 custom-house in France, that if they declared any thhig 
 more or less than the truth, each master of any of the said 
 ships would be fined 4000 francs, each mate 500 francs, 
 and each seaman 100. The masters of the ships having 
 found means to escape on information being given of 
 the business, the mates and crews were sent to Arras 
 and treated as Biitish piisoners of war ; the 3 mates 
 were introduced to me, and told me the story ; they 
 were exhausted with fatigue in travelling such a dis- 
 tance, and thought it a ery hard that they had no appiii, 
 no one to appeal to. They imagined when the notice 
 was read to them, that if they paid the fine they would 
 be suffered to come home, and having made amende 
 according to law they would be considered again as 
 American citizens but no ; when I saw them, one of 
 tjirm had mc. -j then in his possession sufficient to have 
 "oaid his ransom, and the rest could soon have raised it, 
 but an American iU France appears always to me as if 
 he had no friend. It is a fact that my wife applied to 
 General Armstrong, saying she was a native of Boston ; 
 he made no reply. She then applied to the British 
 agent, who told her she was an American. 
 
 I here beg leave to remark that the conduct of the 
 three young men who were mates in the American 
 ships, was such as gave me great satisfaction, cement- 
 ed by the same circumstances, their aim and efforts 
 were united, such as I with every American will ever 
 
49 
 
 be, pointing sincerely and unanimously towards the 
 same end, their behaviour sober and circumspect, ab- 
 stracting themselves as much as civility allowed them, 
 fr*n the British, and all other foreigners. 
 
 Mm'ch. Time spent in the same manner ; the unfor- 
 tunate Americans in the citadel very anxious. Mr. 
 Biirnet corresponded, and gave us a glimse of hope from 
 time to time, that he might perhaps obtain justice for 
 us. 
 
 April 10. Received a letter from Mr. Barnet, of 
 which the following is a copy. 
 
 Paris, April 8, 1809. 
 Sir, 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform you, that I got assu- 
 rance yesterday that you ivill be liberated soon, that is, that 
 the decision is taken, but the order not signed, it may prob- 
 ably get his excellency's signature on Wednesday next, and 
 if so may reach me on Friday or Saturday. 
 
 If, as I confidently expect, you are liberated, it will be due 
 to the proper manner of presenting your case ; To my ap- 
 plication to the minister of war, through the department of 
 extra relations, and to the respect which his majesty's gov- 
 ernment shews to the stipulations of our treaty, undet which 
 your case comes. 
 
 Mr. Collet first made it known to me. Actuated by a con- 
 stant desire to serve those who have a right to the protec- 
 tion of my country(wherever born,) I most cheerfully exert- 
 ed myself without regard to official duty, or local authority, 
 and am happy that it has been to some effect. Be assured 
 that with me no personal influence of others has contributed 
 to your relief ; your case being presented by Mr. Collet, 
 his respectability and the justice of your cause has done all. 
 I have found good will and attention in the offices, but not 
 at the price of pecuniary consideration ; let no one deceive 
 you in these points : I again repeat that the justice of your 
 cause, and what credit a conduct of thirteen years in this 
 country may have entitled me to, have alone obtained your 
 emancipation ; for I consider it certain. Happy in the as- 
 surances I got yesterday, I beg you and Mrs. Clubb will 
 accept my congratulating compliments, and cordial saluta- 
 tions. 
 
 J. COX BARNET. 
 Mr. S. Clubb. 
 
50 
 
 This excellent man was so kind as to correspond 
 with me, and often as I went into the citadel the discon- 
 solate,friendless American sufferers would come around 
 me, and ask me what could be the reason that Gen. Arm- 
 strong would not notice his countrymen ? I could not 
 reply ; and they in expressive silence would walk away, 
 with woe and dejection in their countenances. 
 
 April 15. Received a letter from Mr. Bamet, say- 
 ing, patience yet a little. 
 
 April 21. Received a letter from Mr. Barnet, say- 
 ing my business was postponed; wrote the grateful effu- 
 sions of my heart to him, whose patriotic concern for 
 the respectability of his flag, caused him to feel an in- 
 terest for me, condemned the victim of interested men. 
 
 May 22. Received a letter from Mr. Bamet, say- 
 ing, that on account of my declaring myself born in Eng- 
 land, the minister of war thought proper to refer my 
 case to his imperial majesty, and that my petition was 
 sent to him at Vienna. Being fully confident that an 
 official nod from Gen. Armstrong, would cause me to 
 be liberated, I directed my wife to write to him once 
 more, as follows : — 
 
 To his Excellency General ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Arras^ May 30, 1809. 
 I AM a native of Boston, (New-England) and was taken 
 with my luisbund, who was second mate of the Hyades, and 
 his name is now on the role of equipage as such. I was cabin 
 passenger in the ship, by agreement with the captain, in or- 
 der to go home to the United States. To obtain this pur- 
 pose, my husband placed himself under the protection of the 
 American flag, in full confidence that he would be i-espccted 
 according to the stipulations of the treaty. The contrary, 
 however, has happened ; and he is unlawfully torn from the 
 sacred asylum he had flown to, and is arbitrarily confounded 
 among the British prisoners of war; the proofs of the 
 above are demonstrable, and place the fact beyond all 
 shadow of doubt. I apply to your excellency, as to the 
 guardian of the honour and rights of the flag under which 
 my husband was taken, requesting you would obtain justice 
 for him, in full persuasion that the just and enlightened mind 
 of the great emperor would disdain so unjust and arbitrary 
 an action, were it truly represented to him. 
 
51 
 
 With all submission to and high consideration of your ex- 
 cellency, in your elevated and important station, I conjure 
 you for a moment to consider the singularly distressing situa- 
 tion I am placed in ; between the love of my countiy on the 
 one hand, and the duty and fidelity due to my husband on 
 the other, my heart is torn with anguish. Father of a family 
 yourself, you might form some conception of it, if you would 
 imagine a near branch of yours in my position, eminent and 
 sole in misfortune. I am the only Amcricainc held prisoner 
 here ; add to this, that my husband's love and confidence in 
 me, my family, and my country, have brought him into this 
 misfortune. 
 
 Thus betrayed and neglected, I am sure you would think 
 me unworthy of my native country, were I to leave him. 
 
 I make bold to request your excellency would order the 
 counterpart to be sealed and sent as directed, having to add, 
 to my other misfortunes, that I have not had a line from my 
 family these two years. 
 
 If your excellency would deign to give me a line of advice 
 or encouragement in this my great and unmerited distress, 
 it would ever be gratefully remembered by yoiU", &:c. 8cc. 
 
 This letter, with one on the other part of the same 
 sheet for my wife's connexions in Boston, properly ad- 
 di'essed, I put in the post office at Arras ; but it never 
 came forward, nor did his excellency vouchsafe me any 
 answer. 
 
 I must confess, that when I found that the minister 
 of war dared not to sign the order for my liberation, 
 but had sent my petition to the emperor at Vienna, 
 I felt a little discouraged, although I had not the least 
 doubt but that if the emperor once saw and considered 
 the petition, he would grant it, for this reason, he had 
 no interest to prompt him to refuse it ; being of opin- 
 ion that there is not one man in a thousand who will be 
 guilty, positively or negatively, of any act of injustice 
 or cruelty towards a fellow creature, except he has some 
 interest in view. 
 
 My time passed in the most anxious suspense : some- 
 times 1 would think that if Gen. Armstrong, whose im- 
 mediate duty I conceived it to be, both by the rules 
 of patriotism and politeness, (even saying that circum- 
 stances hindered him from trying, at that time, to have 
 
52 
 
 his flag respected) at least to answer my wife's letter. 
 If lie neglect me, how can I expect that the real and 
 actual sovereign of the French empire, involved as he 
 is in warfare, will notice me, a wretched individual, 
 branded as I am with the name of Englishman ? 
 
 Jmie 11. Received an invitation in the name of the 
 commandant to go into the citadel ; he had something 
 to communicate. I cannot say but I felt a kind of 
 repugnance to attend an invitation from a French offi- 
 cer, for I had not forgot leur politesse at Cabis. But 
 I was in their possession ; so, with the best grace I 
 was master of, I went to the citadel, taking the precau- 
 tion, ho\^'ever, to carry my great coat, night cap, and 
 some other necessaries, so that in case the invitation 
 might prove so pressing, as not to suffer me to come 
 out again, I might be tolerably accommodated to sleep 
 there all night. 
 
 I walked without loss of time into the bureau, where 
 three English youths, who served as clerks and inter- 
 preters, sat writing ; they were well acquainted with 
 me, and knew the injustice of my detention. The 
 pleasingly animated expression of their countenances 
 assured me at once I had nothing to feai-, and they all 
 spoke together, " Captain Clubb, we congratulate you 
 on your release from captivity." " On what authority 
 do you ground your assertion ?" said I. " On noth- 
 ing less than an imperial order." " Can I see it?" 
 " Yes, here on the table." "Will you let me take a 
 copy of it?" "Yes." 
 
 (TRANSLATION.) 
 To Monsieur NOIROT, commanding the depot of 
 prisoners of war at Arras. 
 Sir, 
 I have the honour to inform you that his majesty has per- 
 mitted Mr. Stephen Clubb, aji English cafitain^ prisoner at 
 Arras, who had the intention to go and settle in the United 
 States, to go there with his wife. These strangers being 
 given up to *he disposal of the minister plenipotentiary of 
 the United States, WHOSE DUTY IT IS (qui doit) to send 
 them the needful passports to Arras. 
 
The general of division orders that when they have re- 
 ceived them, they may set off for the port from whence they 
 are to embark, and that their departure may be made men- 
 tion of in your accounts. 
 
 Signed by a General q/ Division. 
 
 I read and considered this, and sa\v, 
 
 " Alps on Alps arise." 
 
 The difficulty appeared now to be in getting a pass- 
 port from General Armstrong, without which I could 
 not get out of France, and I had little reason to expect 
 that his excellency, who had all along been so inflexi- 
 bly deaf to my just complaints, would now listen to 
 me. I had already exhausted all my logic on him to 
 no purpose, and had no new argument to offer. 
 
 The circumstance of having the emperor's permis- 
 sion to be sure was new ; but my hopes depended, as I 
 conceived, on what degree of weight and importance 
 his excellency might consider to be attached to the two 
 monosyllables qui doit, when pronounced by the empe- 
 ror of the French. 
 
 I should have interpreted them simply ivho ought, 
 but when I considered that I w^as in France, where, by 
 politeness and refinement in the extreme, it is the cus- 
 tom to invite a man to prison, and instead of being 
 forced in by a sheriff's officer or bailiff, he is politely 
 ushered into his confinement, perhaps by an officer in 
 imperial uniform, as I was, or perhaps by a messenger, 
 who has the appearance of a finished gentleman, with 
 all the agremens of burnished education. When I 
 considered this, I hoped that his excellency might in- 
 terpret the two little words in question, if not as a di- 
 rect, at least as an oblique conmiand, or (which is the 
 same thing from the emperor) advice to him, to do 
 that justice to me, which I had a right to expect from 
 the respectability of the flag of the United States. 
 
 I went to my lodgings, and read to my wife the copy 
 of our release, and she thought that we now laid at the 
 mercy of her countryman, General Armstrong, more 
 
54 
 
 than ever, which threw a damp on all her hopes, for she 
 had wTote so often to him, and in such pathetic terms, 
 that she forever despaired of moving his compassion, 
 or even his attention to what she conceived to be a du- 
 ty he owed, if not to his office as minister, at least to 
 his character as a gentleman ; that is, to give an an- 
 swer, no or yes, to a female. I discoursed on these 
 matters with many of my friends, among whom was 
 the commandant's secretaiy (a Frenchman) who said 
 that qui doit was his majesty's opinion iineqiiivoque, and 
 that neither General Armstrong, nor any man in the 
 empire would counteract it. The American mates 
 were of the same way of thinking, and immediately 
 began to write letters to send by me, as did the unfor- 
 tunate American sailors Avho \^'ere in confinement in 
 the citadel, to all of whom I solemnly promised that, 
 should I be so fortunate as to effect my passage to the 
 United States, that I would not only deliver their let- 
 ters, but publish the sufferings I had experienced, as a 
 specimen of theirs ; for it would be impossible for me 
 to recollect the wrongs and sufferings of each individ- 
 ual. Here perhaps some may say, that there are so 
 many false documents sent from England that it is just 
 as impossible for the General to discover the real from 
 the pretended American. I answer, that there are 
 always, or at least have been for some years past, some 
 prisoners whose Americanship is indubitable ; write to 
 any one of them, and he will point out the real Ameri- 
 can. Capt. Hugh Harrison was likewise released by 
 the minister of ^val* by his own petition, and the help of 
 Mr. Bainet. This man's case was veiy hard : He was 
 a citizen of Charleston, (S. C.) and commanded the 
 brig Lady Washington. She ^vas taken by the British, 
 and Harrison took a passage in an English vessel from 
 Gibraltar for London to tiy for his brig : on his pas- 
 sage they vv-ere taken by the French, and the vessel 
 burnt. Harrison, notwithstanding he saved enough of 
 his papers to prove his citizenship, was sent to Arras, 
 
55 
 
 where he remained 13 months, continually writing pe- 
 titions to Gen. Armstrong. 
 
 June 16. There came another invitation for me to 
 go to the bureau. I went in, and there laid on the ta- 
 ble an envelope, addressed, Messieurs S. Cliibb ^ 
 Hugh Harrison detinus cm depot d'^Arras^ which they 
 gave to me, and I read, as follows : 
 
 Paris, June 14, 1809. 
 Gentlemen^ 
 HIS majesty having been pleased to grant your liberty, 
 two passports are sent in consequence. You will fill up the 
 parts which have been left in blank, and give notice to this 
 legation of the port from which you intend to sail. 
 I am with great respect, Sec, 
 (Signed) DEVILLE, 
 
 Sec'ry of his ExceWy. 
 
 I then took the pass, and could scarcely believe my 
 eyes when I saw his excellency's signature at the bot- 
 tom. The blank was left for me to fill up ; and having 
 been informed by Mr. Bai'net (that friend of the real 
 American, or even of those who have a legal claim to 
 American protection) that the Mentor, government 
 despatch ship, was shortly to sail from L'Orient for 
 New York, I inserted L'Orient as the shortest way to 
 America. 
 
 I cannot tell what argument Mr. Warden could use 
 to falsify Doolittie's letters which I brought. A stran- 
 ger to speculative reasoning, I say, that those letters 
 were nothing but unequivocal facts, palpable and unde- 
 niable ; and maugre all sophistical arguments, I shall 
 continue to assert, sweai% and maintain, that black is 
 black, and Vv'hite is white, in the behalf of those unfor- 
 tunate men, according to my promise ; until they come 
 home,which I hope will be soon,andthen the}-, being na- 
 tives or citizens of the United States, will do it for them- 
 selves. For my own part, I have gained my point 
 and am here in safety, and but for the promise I made 
 to the unfortunate sufferers left behind, would trouble 
 myself no more about it. 
 
56 
 
 I have Ibrg-ot the names of many of these men, there- 
 fore shall insert none ; but I brought with me between 
 20 and 30 letters from them to their fathers, mothers, 
 wives, &c. in the United States. 
 
 1 call on capt. Shepai'd of Salem, who was 6 days 
 with us in Arras, and to whom I am under great obli- 
 gations for his kind attention, to witness their suffer- 
 ings. I call on capt. Litde of the Speculator, capt. 
 Caleb Hopkins, Mr. Jonathan Emery and Mr. Ephraim 
 Pain, mates, to support me in asserting these facts. 
 
 A little previous to my coming away, some British 
 officers deserted from parole, and all the officers were 
 confined, except those whose wives were with them. 
 Mrs. Clubb went and pleaded with the commandant 
 for her countrymen (the three American mates) alledg- 
 ing they were not prisoners of war, &c. He said they 
 \^^ere in his chai'ge as such, and if they came out on 
 parole it must be on my responsibility ; I consented, 
 and they were let out, so that ihey were sorry in one 
 way to part with us, but grounded great hopes that we 
 should plead with Gen. Armstrong, and persuade him 
 to notice them. 
 
 June 22. Left Arras in the Diligence. 
 
 June 23. On road. 
 
 June 24. Arrived in Paris. Gen. Armstrong so 
 much indisposed that he could not be seen ; sent my 
 wife to beg to speak to him,but it could not be. She then 
 asked to see ISlrs. Armstrong, and was answered, she 
 was sick likewise. She however at length got admit- 
 tance, and told Mrs. Armstrong who she was, and that 
 she came to return thanks to Mr. Armstrong for my 
 passport, and to deliver letters and petitions from the 
 American prisoners at Arras. Mrs. Armstrong took 
 them, and returned ^vith Mr. Armstrong's answer, 
 '' That we need not thank him for our release, for that 
 we must have had some other friend." Mrs. Clubb 
 answered, yes, all the local authorities inclined to do us 
 justice, and it was sanctioned by the emperor himself 
 Mrs. Armstrong then laid the sealed letters on the 
 
57 
 
 mantle piece, and said Mr. Armstrong' wcnld look at 
 them on some future du}", and rerui'ned Mrs. Cliibb die 
 Open letter, with Mr. Armstrong's answer, " that there 
 ai-e no American prisoners at iVrras." To which Mrs. 
 Clubb replied, it seems theie are, for I have seen as 
 many as 20 or 30 protections brought by white and 
 bJack men, enveloped and sealed on our own table, 
 and forwarded to Mr. Armstrong, and ha^'e letters 
 from all of them, to deliver to their parenis and fi iei xls 
 in the United States, and they have sent home a list of 
 all their names which will be published throughout 
 America. I ^\Tote this bad news to niv unfortunate 
 fellow-suiierers. Mr. Baniet was so kind as to afford me 
 hospitality during the 5 days I was at Pai is, and I saw 
 an invitation sent at the instance of Mr. Armslrorig 
 for h:m to attend at the police office on business which 
 concerned him, and saw the distress of his amiable fam- 
 ily at the dreadful summons ; my heait a.ched as he went 
 out. But at 5 in the evening he came home, and they 
 received him, transported with joy. I dropt a tear on 
 my plate. How M^as that? Even in Paris, I found 
 fiiendswhcml shall ever remember with gratitude; 
 true Americans who were glad to see their flag re- 
 spected. 
 
 June 29. Took leave of the worthy Mr. Barnet, and 
 left Paris for L' Orient, where we arrived on the 4th of 
 July, and soon embarked in the Mentor. 
 
 When I aiTived at New York, I wrote an abridsrnient 
 of this work, and carried it to the editor of a news- 
 paper, but he did not insert it ; and after that to another, 
 who served m^e in the same manner. 
 
 When I came to Boston, I went to an editor with it, 
 and Mr. Eph. Pain in company with me, to attest these 
 facts, but saw that shifts ancl evasions were the practice. 
 
 Now I submit it to a candid public, in the name of 
 the American prisoners at Arras, who argue thus : if 
 the emperor respects our flag so much as to liberate 
 capt. Clubb, an avowed Englishman, merely because 
 he had the intention to sro and settle in the United 
 
58 
 
 States, would he not most certainly liberate us, ^vho 
 are natives or naturalized, if we were applied for ? 
 
 To conclude : I now enjoy liberty, no thanks to 
 Gen. Armstrong, and exult in the pleasure (which no 
 mail can take from me) of seeing my fellow creatures 
 foiio^A^ their occupations without danger of polite invi- 
 tations or brutal press-gangs ; wishing that American 
 jouth (if this should fall into their hands) may reflect 
 a moment on the injustice of European treatment, and 
 from that consideration learn duly to appreciate the 
 l:>lessings they enjoy under their own mild and equita- 
 ble government, and the value of their local position on 
 the habitable globe. 
 
 Hoping the foregoing statement of facts, with my 
 own consequent reflections, will not be the worse re- 
 cei\^ed because I happened to be born in the countrj^ 
 from whence America Vv^as peopled, I most sincerely 
 wish unity of sentiment and prosperity to the United 
 States of America, where I wish to spend the remain- 
 der of my life. 
 
 JVQTE. 
 
 I find it is asked, even by ship masters, what right had the 
 American consul to apply for you, an Englishman ? I answer, 
 by a permanent maxim long established by justice and reason, 
 and still practised in all civilized nations, viz. If a seaman 
 or ofllicer, aliens by birth, are hired for service on board any 
 ship, and enrolled among the ship's company, then such sea- 
 man or officer, in case that ship's company comes to distress 
 by detention of princes, shipwreck, fire, or other cause, is 
 entitled to the same protection and support for the time be- 
 ing from the consul of the nation that ship belongs to, as the 
 citizens or subjects of that nation. 
 
 I believe no candid man will say this is wrong, or would 
 say to such a seaman or officer, I have no further need of 
 your service, get out and perish ; you are a stranger. NA- 
 POLEON would not say so, but liberated me, for which I 
 thank him sincerelv. 
 
59 
 
 The following is a translation of m?/ petition to the 
 French minister of war. 
 
 STEPHEN CLUBB, second mate of the American 
 ship Hyades, detained in the depot of Arras, To his 
 excellency, Count of the Empire, Minister of War, 
 Paris. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 The detention of me and my wife is prolonged in such a 
 eruel manner, that, in order to put an end to it, I thus make 
 bold to submit my case to the benevolence and humanity of 
 your excellency. 
 
 I was born an Englishman, which I freely declared in my 
 examination relative to the capture of the ship Hyades. 
 
 The question is to know whether, in the circumstances 
 under which I Avas taken, I can be considered and treated as 
 an enemy. Here follow facts, which to me clearly demon- 
 strate the contrary. 
 
 I prove by documents which will be submitted \ 
 excellency, that I am married to an American womai 
 
 My wife desiring to return to Boston, the place of 
 tivity, I resolved to go and establish myself there, ; 
 embarked on board the ship Triton for Baltimore. This snip 
 was forced into the Isle of Wight, and finding she was likely 
 to alter her destination, I had to seek another passao-e. 
 
 Not long after, the ship Hyades of Saco arrived, to^vait for 
 ord .rs. Her second mate had left her at the moment of her 
 sailing from Charleston, and the captain agreed Avith me to 
 serve as second mate for my passage and my wife's to the 
 United States. 
 
 We were taken and conducted to Calais. And from these 
 facts it results, that I was married to an American woman, 
 and actually on my way to go and settle in the United States. 
 I had besides the essential circumstance in my favour, of 
 being taken while I was exercising the functions of second 
 mate on board an American ship. These circumstances 
 cannot be weakened by a perfidious suggestion, that I was 
 taken Avhen only pilot of that ship. ^^ 
 
 A pilot would not have his wife and all his effects onboard S| 
 
 of a ship where he is only to remain a few hours. ^^ 
 
 No. I declare on my word and honour, that I was there ; 
 
 employed as second mate to facilitate my passage, as appears '■, 
 
 by the documents annexed. " * ■' 
 
60 
 
 1 am tho.^ yu E!U',i.=tiiiian,-AOt employed [n British service, 
 {wsscnger on board an American ship to go ivid settle in the 
 United Stater,, the native coyiv.ry of my wife v/ho embarked 
 u'ith me. 
 
 This being proved, my detention appears to be i ■ 'iirect 
 opposition to the treaty sigjicd on the 8th of Vendemairt . irn 
 the year 9, between France and the United States. 
 
 This treaty says, art. 14, It is equally ag-reed upon, thai 
 this same liberty shall extend to the persons on board the 
 free ship, even if they should be enemies of cither of the 
 contracting parties, and they shall not be taken from the 
 said free ships, a( lea.ft if they are not soldiers^ and actuallij 
 in the enemy's service. 
 
 The evident sense of this article was, to protect on board 
 of an American ship the person of an Euglishmi.n, even if 
 this man exercised no function on board the ship, and was in 
 no intimate alliance Avith the United States, nor any design 
 to go there to settle and remain for ever. 
 
 But if the above is the ser^se of the treaty, how is it that 
 the American colours cannot protect me, who was second 
 officer on board the ship, me, whose wife was on board with 
 me, passenger ur.d<,i' her native A-^i i^^^? finally, who would 
 not have been fovtnd on board the ship, had I not renounced 
 England for ever, and been goi.ig to settle in th^ United States. 
 
 This is impossible ; the iett^^r of the law speaks too strong 
 in my favour ; and when all these circumsttmces are consid- 
 ered, it will be seen that we need not make use of the treaty 
 in its full rigor, to clear me, even me, a friendless English- 
 man, whicli circumstance I have never denied. 
 
 I dare then to expect, from the enlightened justice of your 
 excellency, that you will deign to give the necessary orders 
 that my wife and myself, may be liberated from the depot 
 where we are detained ; andpei-mitted to take passage in the 
 lirst ship that sails for the United States. 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 with the most profound respect, 
 my lord, 
 
 your excellency's most humble 
 
 and most obedient servant, 
 
 STEPHEN CLUBB 
 
 Arras., February 13, 1809. 
 
 !■■ I N ; s .