ank of boatswain
of a frigate; and liberated from the service in consequence of his
declaring it against his honor and conscience to fight against his
countrymen, or aid in pulling down the colors of his nation. This man,
very deliberately, mounted an elevation, and with great force, and
with a characteristical freedom, pronounced an Address, which the
prisoners listened to with profound silence, excepting the clapping of
hands, and sometimes cheers, at the end of such sentences as warmed
and overpowered their silence. At the close of the whole, the orator
was greeted with three times, three cheers, throughout the ship, which
reached even to the shores. The oratory of the boatswain seemed to
electrify the officers and men set over us. The master and the surgeon
appeared _really_ pleased; even Osmer, our jailor, "grinn'd horribly a
ghastly smile."

After the Oration, we returned below to our prepared dinners, at which
our reverend orator asked a blessing, with more fervor than is
commonly observed in our Cossack clergymen; and we fell to, with a
zest and hilarity rarely to be found among a large collection of
prisoners. If, like the captive Jews on the Euphrates, we had hung our
harps upon the willows of the Medway, we took them down on this joyous
occasion. We felt the spirit of freedom glow within us; and we
anticipated the day when we should celebrate our anniversary in that
dear land of liberty, which we longed to see, and panted after, as the
thirsty hart pants after the water brooks.

The Fourth of July was celebrated in a very becoming manner on board
the _Nassau_ prison ship, by similar acts of rejoicing. I have
obtained a copy of the Oration, delivered by a seaman, on that day.
Among the audience, were several ladies and gentlemen from the
neighbourhood.

AN ORATION,[J]

_Delivered by permission, on board the Nassau prison ship, at
Chatham, England, by an American Seaman, prisoner of war._

MY FELLOW PRISONERS, AND BELOVED COUNTRYMEN,

We are assembled to commemorate that ever memorable Fourth of
July, 1776, when our forefathers, inspired with the love of
liberty, dared to divest themselves of the shackles of tyranny and
oppression: yes, my friends, on that important day these stripes
were hoisted on the standard of liberty, as a signal of unity, and
of their determination to fight under them, until America was
numbered among the nations of the globe, as one