replied, "I hate a Frenchman, a Spaniard, and a Portuguese; but I
never can hate an American; and yet the three former behave infinitely
better; and give us far less trouble than your saucy fellows." Had
British prisoners behaved in this manner, in the prison ships in the
harbor of _Boston_, or _Salem_, would our officers have borne it with
more patience?

As there were but few prisoners now remaining, and ample room to run
and jump about for exercise, our men evidently recruited; and being in
good spirits, the rose of health soon bloomed again on their manly
cheeks. The soldiers, made prisoners in Canada, evidently gained
strength, and acquired activity. If we compare their miserable,
emaciated looks, on their arrival at Melville Prison, from their
wretched voyage down the St. Lawrence, with their present appearance,
the difference is striking. The wretched appearance of these new made
soldiers, reflects no credit on the British. The savages of the forest
never starve their prisoners. The war department of the United States
having ordered these men a portion of their pay, they appropriated it
chiefly to purchase comfortable clothing, which has been productive of
great good, and has probably saved the lives of some of them; others
squandered away their money in dissipation and gambling.

A becoming degree of tranquillity prevailed on board this prison ship,
during my residence in it. On the 15th of September, we were all sent
on board the Bahama prison ship, which lay farther up the reach. Here
we found about three hundred of our countrymen, who received us with
kindness, and many marks of satisfaction. I could, at once, perceive
that their situation had been less pleasant than ours, in the Crown
Prince. Little attention had been paid to cleanliness, and gambling
had been carried to as great excess as their means would admit of.
They seemed to lack either the power, or the resolution of adhering to
and carrying into effect, good and wholesome regulations. I never saw
a set of more ragged, dirty men in my life; and yet they were
disposed to sell their last rag to get money to game with.--Their
misfortune was, they had too few men of sense and respectability among
them. They had no good committee men; not enough to bear down the
current of vice and folly. We dread the contagion of bad example. Some
of our men soon resorted to their detestable gambling tables; and
pursued their old vices with astonishing avidity. We ser