Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/96

82 by his proper officers, do blot out and deface all ensigns of honour, borne by such persons as have no legal title thereto, upon their carriages, plate, and furniture, and to make regular returns of their proceedings therein to the clerk of parliament.

His majesty's ship Lancaster being paid at Spithead, among the trades people that carried goods on board, were a great many Jews, who had large quantities of valuable effects with them; the Jews not meeting with the success they desired, were resolved to go on shore: it blew very hard, and they had a sailing boat, which they had hired for that purpose. About 20 Jews, and a few other people, got into her with their effects, but they had not gone far, when by gibeing the sail, they were overset. The ships boats immediately put off, and took up 9 or 10 of them. Nine Jews were drowned, and two died after they were brought on board.

Extract of a letter from Portsmouth.

"Yesterday arrived here, with a messenger belonging to the admiralty, in the greatest haste, a person who was immediately introduced, by orders from above, to Admiral Boscawen; of whom the following particulars have transpired. This person was some time since master of an English vessel, trading from port to port in North America, particularly up the river St. Laurence; but being taken by the enemy, has been prisoner with the General Montcalm and others near three years, who would not admit of any exchange for him, on account of his extensive knowledge of all the coast, more particularly the strength and foundings of Quebec and Louisbourg; they therefore came to a resolution to send him to Old France, in the next packet-boat, there to be confined till the end of the war. He was accordingly embarked (the only Englishman) and the packet put on board. In their voyage he was admitted to the cabbin, where he took notice one day, they bundled up the packet, and put it into a canvas bag, having previously thereto made it ready to be thrown overboard, upon any danger of being taken.

"They were constrained to put into Vigo for some provisions, as also to gain some intelligence of the English in those seas, and there found one or more English men of war at anchor; upon which he thought it a proper opportunity of putting the following scheme in execution. One night taking the opportunity of all, but the watch, being in a sound sleep, he took the packet out of the bag, and having fixed it to his mouth, he silently let himself down into the bay; and to prevent noise by swimming, floated upon his back into the wake of the English man of war, where he securcd himself by the hawser; and upon calling out for assistance, was immediately taken on board, and the packet entire. The captain examined him, treated him with great humanity, gave him a suit of his own cloaths, scarlet trimmed with black velvet, which he here appeared in, transcribed the packet, which is said to be of the utmost importance, in regard to our success in North America, and then sent him over land, with the copy of the packet to Lisbon; from whence he was brought to Falmouth in a sloop of war, and immediately let out post for London. Rh