* * * He
was a native of Rhode Island; his name was Gavot. He went to Rhode
Island in the same flag of truce as myself, about a month
afterwards. I felt extremely ill, but made out to keep about until I
got home. My parents then lived on the island of Nantucket. I was then
taken down, and lay in my bed six weeks in the most deplorable
situation; my body was swelled to a great degree, and my legs were as
big round as my body now is, and affected with the most excruciating
pains. What my disorder was I will not pretend to say; but
Dr. Tupper, quite an eminent physician, and a noted tory, who attended
me, declared to my mother that he knew of nothing that would operate
in the manner that my disorder did, but poison. For the truth of that
I refer to my father and brothers, and to Mr. Henry Coffin, father to
Captain Peter Coffin, of the Manchester Packet of this point.
"Thus, Sir, in some haste, without much attention to order or diction,
I have given you part of the history of my life and sufferings, but I
endeavored to bear them as became an American. And I must mention
before I close, to the everlasting honor of those unfortunate
Americans who were on board the Jersey, that notwithstanding the
savage treatment they received, and death staring them in the face,
every attempt which was made by the British to persuade them to enter
their ships of war or in their army, was treated with the utmost
contempt; and I saw only one instance of defection while I was on
board, and that person was hooted at and abused by the prisoners till
the boat was out of hearing.
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