y labor required of them.

Several officers of the "Ramilie" were captives. The treatment they
received from Captain Barry was so different from the usual treatment of
American officers by the British commanders, it "made them blush for
their country," notes Kessler, the Master's Mate. The captures numbered
three ships, one snow, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop, all
merchant vessels, variously loaded--nine prizes. Four other prizes were
brought by the "Alliance" to L'Orient and four sent to America. They
were sold at auction.

The shares of the United States as shown by Robert Morris' accounts
were:

The "Kingston," 75,834.11.3 livres or $14,083.39

The "Commerce," 104,263.12.5 livres or $19,308.08.

The "Britannia," 43,620.18.5 livres or $8,077.85.

The "Anna," 71,656.11.5 livres or $13,269.60.

The prizes were loaded with rum, sugar, coffee and liquors. One-half the
proceeds went to the Government--the other part to the captors. A
Captain was entitled to six shares. Captain Barry's report of the
cruise, dated October 18, 1782, reads: "A few hours after I sailed from
New London I retook a brigantine and sent her in there; proceeded as
fast as possible off Bermudas; on my way I took a schooner from that
place for Halifax; after cruising off there for twelve or fifteen days I
retook a sloop from New London and sent her to Cape Francois. Finding
the prizes I had taken of little value either to myself or the country
and in all likelihood should be obliged to return into port soon for
want of men, was determined to alter my cruising ground. I, therefore,
thought it best to run off the Banks of New Foundland. On my way thither
I fell in with a whaling brigantine with a pass from Admiral Digby; I
manned her and sent her to Boston. A few days after, off the Banks of
New Foundland, I took a brigantine from Jamaica bound to London loaded
with sugar and rum and sent her for Boston; by this vessel I found the
Jamaica fleet was to the eastward of us. I then carried a press of sail
for four days. The fifth day I took two ships that had parted with the
fleet. After manning them, and a fresh gale westwardly, I thought best
to order them to France. A day or two after I took a snow and a ship
belonging to the same fleet.

"Being short of water, and a number of prisoners on board, the
westwardly winds still blowing fresh and the expectation of falling in
with some more of them, I thought it best to proceed to France, with