12. Sunday. Of late, there have not been so many people to see us as formerly.
13. To-day our agent has been in a very good humor, and he informed us that there is great expectation of a French war, and within a few days there have been four ships of the first class put in commission, and orders have come from London to man them as quickly as possible. He also tells us that he has had a letter from the commissioner, which says that Mr. Knapp, and another Newbury man, who made their escape from this place on the 5th of August last, are taken up.
14. To-day a mess of us bought a bag of potatoes, containing seventeen gallons, for three shillings, which is much cheaper than to buy them at the gate for fourpence a gallon.
15. It is eleven months to-day since we sailed from Newburyport.
16. To-day a Marblehead man came to see us, who has been on board the men-of-war ever since the disturbance. He informs us that there are a few Marblehead men on board the Blenheim.
17. This afternoon there were seven more prisoners brought on shore to prison; some of whom belong to the schooner Hawk’s prize, that was taken by the Fieutryant, and the rest belong to the Oliver Cromwell privateer, that was taken by the Beaver sloop-of-war.
18. We learn by those who came to prison last, that Dr. Franklin has written to the English ambassador, concerning an exchange of prisoners.
19. Sunday. This morning we found out that one of our company, confederate with a black man, had stolen, last night, an allowance of bread and cheese from those who came last to prison,—for which they made him run the gantlet up one side of the prison and down the other, one hundred and thirty feet, through a double file of men armed each with a nettle.
More Prisoners—Hears from Home—Suspicion—A hot Press—1500 Seamen wanted—News from America—Disagreeable Company—Destitution of the Prisoners—Digging, and Detection—A Pious Wish—Twenty years of age—Mournful Reflection—Letter from Bilboa—Bad Bread—Unpleasant Reflections—King’s Speech—Bold Project—Failure—Reports—Strictness of the Guard—Suspicion—Privation from the Gospel—Prisoners Threatened—Voluntary Sacrifice—Good News reported—Detail of General Burgoyne’s Defeat—Washington and Howe.