DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0363
MATTHEW COX, ESQ.,
325
for Black river, to load for Kingston. On going round the
Point, in company with many small vessels, we were taken
by a French privateer, who put four men on board, and
chased the remainder of the small fleet; we had only one
puncheon of rum on board, which the Frenchmen made very
free with ; and at nine o’clock A. M. we clapped the hatches
over them, and came safe to an anchor in Black river. Here
we completed the necessary repairs of the vessel, and took
in a loading of building-timber for Kingston. On the 16th
of August, we were ready to sail; but were informed a pri-
vateer lay round the Point, on which we remained until the
26th, when we set sail, in company with fourteen other sail
of sloops, schooners, &c. On the 28th, about five P. M.
stood in for Withy Wood ; saw a strange sail, at six A. M.;
she came up, fired a gun, and hoisted French colours, and I
was again made prisoner. The crew informed us, that
Admiral Knowles, the governor, had sailed for England, and
that all the guns in the fort had been dismounted the day
before, and that they had eaten their dinners on shore. On
going on board the French privateer, I was known to the
captain, who offered to let me ransom, which I refused; he
then told me, in hopes to make me comply, that if he carried
me to Aux Cayes, I should be hanged for carrying off the
negro. I informed him that he was originally my property,
and that I had as great right to take him from them as his
countrymen had to take him from me. Finding I would not
comply to ransom, he gave me leave to go on board my
vessel for my chest, quadrant, and liqubrs ; the latter, them-
selves were in great want of. They sent me on board in a
canoe with two seamen, and the first lieutenant, an Irishman.
When I came on board the lieutenant took a fancy to my
swinging-compass which hung in my state room, my spy
glass, quadrant, &c. which he converted to his own use. I
then ordered my boy to make some hot weather punch
/which is very strong,) set a cold fowl before him, drew a
cork of Madeira, gave him a large tumbler of Bristol beer,
325
for Black river, to load for Kingston. On going round the
Point, in company with many small vessels, we were taken
by a French privateer, who put four men on board, and
chased the remainder of the small fleet; we had only one
puncheon of rum on board, which the Frenchmen made very
free with ; and at nine o’clock A. M. we clapped the hatches
over them, and came safe to an anchor in Black river. Here
we completed the necessary repairs of the vessel, and took
in a loading of building-timber for Kingston. On the 16th
of August, we were ready to sail; but were informed a pri-
vateer lay round the Point, on which we remained until the
26th, when we set sail, in company with fourteen other sail
of sloops, schooners, &c. On the 28th, about five P. M.
stood in for Withy Wood ; saw a strange sail, at six A. M.;
she came up, fired a gun, and hoisted French colours, and I
was again made prisoner. The crew informed us, that
Admiral Knowles, the governor, had sailed for England, and
that all the guns in the fort had been dismounted the day
before, and that they had eaten their dinners on shore. On
going on board the French privateer, I was known to the
captain, who offered to let me ransom, which I refused; he
then told me, in hopes to make me comply, that if he carried
me to Aux Cayes, I should be hanged for carrying off the
negro. I informed him that he was originally my property,
and that I had as great right to take him from them as his
countrymen had to take him from me. Finding I would not
comply to ransom, he gave me leave to go on board my
vessel for my chest, quadrant, and liqubrs ; the latter, them-
selves were in great want of. They sent me on board in a
canoe with two seamen, and the first lieutenant, an Irishman.
When I came on board the lieutenant took a fancy to my
swinging-compass which hung in my state room, my spy
glass, quadrant, &c. which he converted to his own use. I
then ordered my boy to make some hot weather punch
/which is very strong,) set a cold fowl before him, drew a
cork of Madeira, gave him a large tumbler of Bristol beer,