four hours. Both parties were very much injured; and, without any
considerable advantage on either side, both drew off to make repairs.
The Spanish brig Prudentee, put into St. Jago de Cuba. Jamieson was
wounded in the action, by a musket ball, through his arm, and was taken
on shore, with the other wounded, and placed in the hospital of St.
Jago. Here he remained for a considerable time, until he had nearly
recovered, when he found an opportunity of escaping, and embarking for
Jamaica. He arrived in safety at Kingston, and from there, travelled
barefoot over the mountains, until very much exhausted, he reached
Montego Bay, where he had friends, and where one of his brothers
possessed some property. From this place, he afterwards wrote to me. He
told me that before he came to Massachusetts, he saw the villainous
pilot of the Mexican, the infamous Baltizar, with several other pirates,
brought into Montego Bay, from whence they were to be conveyed to
Kingston to be executed. Whether the others were part of the Mexican's
crew, or not, I do not know. Baltizar was an old man, and as Jamieson
said, it was a melancholy and heart-rending sight, to see him borne to
execution with those gray hairs, which might have been venerable in
virtuous old age, now a shame and reproach to this hoary villain, for he
was full of years, and old in iniquity. When Jamieson received the
letter which I wrote him, he immediately embarked with Captain Wilson,
and came to Boston, as I have before observed.

According to his own account he was of a very respectable family in
Greenock, Scotland. His father when living was a rich cloth merchant,
but both his father and mother had been dead many years. He was the
youngest of thirteen children, and being, as he said, of a roving
disposition, had always followed the seas. He had received a polite
education, and was of a very gentlemanly deportment. He spoke several
living languages, and was skilled in drawing and painting. He had
travelled extensively in different countries, and acquired in
consequence an excellent knowledge of their manners and customs. His
varied information (for hardly any subject escaped him) rendered him a
very entertaining companion. His observations on the character of
different nations were very liberal; marking their various traits, their
virtues and vices, with playful humorousness, quite free from bigotry,
or narrow prejudice.

I was in trade, between Boston and Philadelphia, a