4^ {[o:]} Clock, of a beautifull June morning, that the Carriage
stopped before the gate of Hotel de Boston, & the bell rung, having
been just 74 hours from the gates of Brest--during which time, I had
not lost myself in sleep, taken nothing warm upon my stomack, nor used
water, upon either hands or face--thus covered with dust, & exhausted
with fateague; I was received by the Porter, conveyed to a chamber,
provid^{d.} with washing apparatus, where I soon freed myself from
dust, applied clean linnen, and enscons’d myself in an excellent Bed,
saying to myself, _soul take thine ease in sleep_--but, it appeared,
that sleep had departed from me, I laid untill the clock struck 10,
without being able to obtain a doze, & then rose, & attended, thro”
the day, to finding out a train of my business, through the American
Consul &c, retired to Bed again at 9^ {[o:]} Clock, heard the Clock
strike 12, and knew nothing after, untill 11^ {[o:]} Clk the next day;
when awoke, feeling like myself again; although I slept very sound the
next night, for 9 hours without awaking.
[Sidenote: Hope Deferred]
After essertaining where to apply, my first object of attention was,
to scearch for my Accounts, sent on from Brest--the result was, they
denied, at all the offices, ever having received them, or heard of
such a Brig, as the Jane, nor of her comander, Cap^{t.} Cobb--well,
“as I before observed, I prepared for this event, before I left
Brewst; by procuring a copy of my Accounts &c &c, accordingly I laid
an official set before them, and thus introducing the _Jane_, & her
commander--I was told, to call the next day, & they would let me know,
when my Bills wou’d be ready. I therefore, was obliged to exercise
patiance & wait; but when I called the next day, my papers were not to
be found in the office--no one had put them away, no one could tell
any thing about them--and finally, after a long French jabber, it was
concluded, that they must have been left upon the counter, brushed
off, & burned, among the lose papers.
This was too much, for my already perplexed, agitated, mind. I knew of
no way, but to write back to Brest, for another set--& they, probably,
wou^{d.} meet the same fate, as the two preseeding ones had. I was now
fully conveinced, that the whole was designed, for the purpose of
procrastination & putting off pay day as long as possible--but it was
a severe trial for me, in my inexperienced state. I consulted with our
consul; & with our Minister at the court of France, but the only
satisfaction was; git another set of papers, & we will guard against
another loss--
While seting, with writing meterials before me in my chamber, in the
act of writing for another set of papers--a French gentleman, who
occopied the next room, & who spoke good English, passed my door; I
asked him in, & related to him my greivances--after he had thought for
a few moments; he advised me, to endevour to obtain an interveiw with
Roberspeire, & make known to him my greivances; assuring me that he
was partial to Americans, & had no doubt, but he would give me such
advice as would be servicable to me--But, I asked, will he, the leader
of this nation, condesend to listen to a private induvidual, &
interpose, in meely, a commercial transaction--yes, if the business is
managed right, I am confident he will. But, how shall I obtain an
interveiw--simply by writing him a billet yourself, in the republican
stile, an American cetizen, to citizen Roberspeire, & send it by a
servant of the Hotel, requesting an interview upon business.
[Sidenote: Interview with Robespierre]
After duly considering upon the subject, I wrote the following, & sent
it by servant.
An American citizen, captured by a French Frigate on the
high seas, requests, a personal interveiw; & to lay his
greivances before citizens Roberspeire.
Very respectfully
E. Cobb
In about an hour, I received the following note, in his own hand
writing.
I will grant Citizen Cobb an interveiw to morrow at 10 A M.
Roberspeire
This, gave a spring to my feelings, and banished that depression which
had held me in chains, for some days previous. I was puntual to the
time--sent my name up, & was admitted into the presence of the great
man. He pointed me to a seat without speaking; there was one man,
only, in the Hall, an enterpreter, who told me that, Citizen
Roberspeire whished me, to commince my relation, at the time of my
capture, and to tell the whole, up to this time--I accordingly
proceeded; and, thro” the interpreter, related my Capture & treatment,
up to that time--upon my closing the detail; with a waive of
Roberspeires hand, the interpreter left the hall, and he, R--e, began
conversing with me, in very good English, questioning me, upon some
perticcular points, of the former conversation; but more perticurly,
about the loss of my papers, since I arrived in Paris--finally, he
told me to call at an office, in Rue S^{t.} Honorie, called the office
of the 2^{d} department, & _demand_ my papers, I told him, that I had
been there repeatedly, & that I was forbid to enter the office again,
upon my telling him that, he exclaimed. _Sacra coquin_--go, said he,
to that office, & tell cetizen F. T., that you came from R--e, and if
he does not produce your papers, & finish your business _immediately_,
he will hear from me again, in a way not so pleasing to him. Observing
at the same time, that he regreted that _his name_ should be made use
of, in a mercantile transaction, but that my case, absolutely demanded
it.
I tendered my greatfull thanks for his services, & left him; after
receiving his injunctions, to call & let him know how I succeeded--I
went direct to the afores^{d.} office; and, by the previledge of
making use of Roberspeirs name, I was kindly rec^{d.} an opology made,
for former abuses, and my business compleated the next day--but as my
exchanges were drawn, payable sixty days after date, & the tribunal
had decred, demurage &c, untill I received my Bills, I refused to
receive them in Paris, as my pay wou’d then stop, but insisted on
their being sent to the agent in Brest agreable to contract--my object
was, not to receive them untill 12 or 15 days before they were due,
consequently I remained in Paris about 3 weeks after my bills were
sent to Brest. and during that time, the great man, who had so
assentially befreinded me, was beheaded by the Galliotine.
[Sidenote: Various Pleasant Towns]
This event, very meterially changed the aspect of affairs in France;
my exchanges, which before, I could have readily sold at par value,
now, would not bring 50^{cts.} on the dollar--this induced me, to go
on to Hamburg with them myself & know the result; and having a desire
to see more of the country, & could travell, principally, at the
expence of the nation, having full time, before my bills wou’d become
due--I took my seat in the accomodation stage for Burdeaux, visited
that City, tarried 5 days, again started, visited Nantes, Loreong,[2]
& various pleasant towns in La Vanda,[3] & arrived at Brest, 20 days
before my bills were due.
The agent of Merine, expressed a little disapprobation at my not
calling before for my Bills, having had them about 20 days--but I
setled with him, quite amicably; and found a small vessell, bound
direct for Hamburg, in her, I secured a passage, & embarked 3 days
after. We had a long passage, but I arrived the next day after my
bills became due.
[Sidenote: Welcome Advice]
And here, I will relate, one of those casual events, which frequently
take place, to the benifit of man--the vessell in which I took
passage, stopped at Gluxstad, a town on the river Elbe, about 30 miles
below Hamburg; the Captain & myself went on shore, & engaged a
carraige to take us up to the City; but night overtaking us before we
reached it, the gates were shut & we could not enter (the gates were
always shut at sunsetting, & upon no occasion, were opened untill
sun-rise) consequently, we turned back, about a mile, to the Danish
city of Altony, where put up for the night, at a famous Hotel, & there
I found a number of american ship Masters merchants &c; at the supper
table, various questions were asked me, by which they learned that I
was from France, that I came as a passenger; but I discovered that
curiosity was _wide awake_ to know my business--I, however, thought
proper, to keep that to myself; having my fears, relative to my
Bills--after riseing from the supper table, a gentleman came to me, &
asked me into his room; being seated; he introduced himself as
follows.--I am Sir, an american, from New York, my name is Loyle, I
noticed the curiosity of our countrymen, at the supper table, to know
your business; & Sir, I was pleased to notice your prudent
reservation, upon the subject--I do not ask you; but conjecture what
it is, and if it is, as I think; I can be of service to you, by way of
advice, probably.--my conjecture is, that you have French government
Bills on their agent in Hamburg; if so, I advise you, to let no man
know it, but go & present your demands, in person; otherwise, they
will be protested; for their agent De çhapeaurouge, has already been
prosecuted, for paying French claims, I think, therefore, if you
conveince him, that no one but yourself, is privy to the transaction,
that he may pay them. I tended to M^{r.} Loyle my thanks, for his
information & left him, and the next morning, I entered the city, and
by enquiry soon found the office of the said agent, & presented my
Bill--he cast his eye upon it, without speaking, then gave me a very
scrutenizing look, & said, how came you in possession of this draft--I
received, Sir, from M. V. la Fontaine, Minister of Marine at
Brest--did you receive it in person, or thro” other hands--I received
it myself--has it been in your possession ever since--it has--who are
your freinds in this city--I have none, nor even a corispondent, nor
ever was in the city before, &, Sir, your office, is the first, & only
building I ever entered in Hamburg,--where did lodge last night--I now
told him, that I came a passenger from Brewst, that the vessell
stopped at Gluxstaad, that I landed & hired a carriage to bring me to
Hamburg, that we were too late to enter the city last night, that the
driver landed me in Altona, at Lants’s Hotel, where I lodged &
Breakfasted this morn”, that I came alone into the city, & by enquiry
had found his office--He then observed, it is an unusual mode of
negociating bills, it is generally done thro” some resident merchant,
especially by a stranger, like yourself--I told him, that in so simple
a transaction, as that of presenting a draft for acceptance, I felt
myself competant to the task, and thereby save paying a
commission--well, ‘said he you have acted discreetly, took a pen &
wrote accepted, across the face of the Bill--He then said; your money
is ready for you; but this draft, must not go out of my hands again;
for if it does, it never will be paid by me.
This embarrassed me extreemly; what could I do, with 40,000 crowns in
silver, in my situation, an entire stranger, in a strange City.
After a moments reflection, I said to him, will you, Sir, give me your
due bill, & allow me to receipt the draft--certainly, said he, I will;
and accordingly, it was done. This, I knew, was exchanging the
obligation, of a great & powerfull nation, for that of a private
induvidual; but I thought, that circomstances justified the Act.
I then asked him, if he would name to me, a house of entertainment,
frequented by Americans, & he ordered a servant to conduct me to
Lilbons Hotel--and thus closed the important interveiw with De’
chapeaurouge; & I found his _due Bill_, as good as Cash.
[Sidenote: The Ways of Providence]
Thus, how fortunate the circomstance of my interveiw with M^{r.}
Loyle--but for his kind information & advice, I shou’d, no doubt, have
put my draft, into the hands of the American Consul for collection;
the consequence would have been, a protest; and another tour to
France, to seek redress. And all this saved, by the Gates being shut
before I reached them. How often, my dear Grand Children, do we repine
and murmer, when disappointment, affliction, and trouble come upon us;
& even distrust the goodness of our Heavenly Father; when we, very
frequently, afterwards, realize that it was for our good.
It was somewhat so with me, I felt, very much put out, at the gates
being shut, & chided the driver for his dilatoryness, when he knew the
city gates closed at sun-sett--but this very circomstance, was the
means, of freeing my mind from a burden, which had weighed it down for
months,--it was the means of a happy, and prosperous termination of my
labourous voyage--for nothing now remained to be done, but to remitt
the funds to T. Dickerson & Sons, London; & to take passage for Boston
myself, & give an account of my stewardship to my employers. And all
this, I could do, with bouyant sperits, having made them an excellent
voyage.
I was not long in closing my business in Hamburg, & took passage for
Boston in the ship Warren, Cap^{t.} Hodgkins, where we safely arrived
after a passage of 54 days.
My arrival, gave great relief to my owners, for, from the accounts
they had from France, they doubted the validity of my Bills on
Hamburg, & expected I wou’d have to return to France.--
The fortunate close of this tedious voyage, and my return; being the
first instance of the kind, under the then state of things in France,
produced, no small, excitement among the merchants of Boston, who had
property in France; and applications was continually made to me, for
all the whys & wherefores, relative to the fortunate result of my
business; and the consequence was, it added greatly to my fame, as a
ship master.
[Sidenote: Another Voyage to France]
Another voyage was immediately planed, by my owners for France, & I
was only allowed a very few days, to visit my family,--although, our
first child (now Aunt Sampson) was but 24 hours old when I left
home--when I return’d, could say, _my par_. But short, endeed, was the
time allotted me, for injoying the objects of my affection, I must
leave them; and persue the road marked out, for obtaining that
subsistance for myself & family, which nature required, and reason
dictated.
After staying at home 4 days only, I returned to Boston, fitted out my
vessel, & sailed for Alexandria, & there purchased a cargo of Flour &
sail’d for France--on my arrival in Harvre de grace; I found that
government purchased all the flour that came to market Consequently, I
sold my cargo to the governments agent, at 20 crows p^{r} bbl, under a
promis, that I sho’d have my pay, in 40 days after delivery.
But I found, to my sorrow, that no confidence could be placed in their
pledges; & that I was again subjected, to a tedious altercation with
the agent & his government. After dancing attendance upon them about
2½ months, my vessell, at the same time, laying Idle & at a great
expence, I again concluded to send her home, under charge of the mate,
& stay myself, & fight it out. Accordingly, I dispatch^{d} the Brig, &
went on to Paris, prepared for the seige & expecting a long one.
In about two months more, I received, about one third of my demand, in
Ingots of silver, & made a trip over to London, & deposited their
amount with, Bird, Savage, & Bird; subject to my owners order--I then
returned to France, and renewed my claim for the remainder.
And after about three months more of attendance, upon the government
of France, I received the ballance due me; about 40,000 Crowns--here,
probably, you will conclude that my anxiety terminated. But, on the
conterary, it was, if posible, increased.
I had attained the object of 10 months contention with the french
government--I had on hand, a fine voyage for my employers--but the
great deficulty now was; how I should git the property out of France.
There was a special law, against exporting _specie_ from the
country,--exchanges were not to be obtained, in which my confidence
coul’d be placed; my vessell gone, so that, investing in goods, was
out of the question,--and 40,000 crowns in my sleeping chamber,
brought there publickly, at noon day.
Thus situated, you may judge, whether my mind could be at
ease--however, after having taken the necessary precautionary measures
against robery, or theft; I went to work, & purchas^{d} all the _foreign
Gold_ I could find; in order to git the value, into a smaller bulk,
for the purpose of smuggling it out of France.
[Sidenote: Brings Back Gold]
After about two months; by my agents, in Paris & Roen, & my own, in
Harvre de grace, I succeeded in converting my 40.000 crowns, into less
than 3000 peices of gold, prinsapally, Spanis doubloons--this had been
done, in as secret a manner, as posible.--I then, went to a village,
about 3 miles, & ordered 2 leather belts made, of a sufficient size to
hold 8 or 9 hundred peices, and after puting each peice, into a
wrapper of silk paper, I stowed my belts, & stiched it, in such a
manner, that there could be no motion of the peices--the two belts
contained 1700 peices--the remainder, I made up into wads, of about 50
peices each, inveloped in paper, & cloth.
I then engage my passage for Boston, in the ship Caroline, Cap^{t}
Cutter, and after two or three days, the ship hauled out of the bason,
and stopped opposite the custom house, and within Six rods of my
Lodgings; having free exces to the ship, at all times, I soon decided,
in my mind, how to dispose of my money, not, contained in the two
belts; and in a short time, it was safely & secretly stowed away on
board the ship. On the morning of the day, on which the ship was to
sail, I made interest with the ships Steward, to put one of the Belts
round his waist, by the promis of a guinia, & wear it, untill we were
clear from the peir head, the other belt, I secured to my own
person,--and thus curcomstanced I had to submitt to the scearch of 8
french officers at the head of whom, was an old experi-^{d.}
Scearcher, who strongly suspected that there was money on board.--But
notwithstanding all, I got off clear with my money, and after a
passage of 35 days, I had the satisfaction of delivering it to my
owners in Boston.
On my return home, I found that my pertner, in lifes voyage, had run
me in debt, for a cape Cod farm; and as the place was distitute of a
suitable building, for the accommodation of our little family, it was
thought advisable to proceed to errect one, the following season; I
consequently, felt myself under the necesity of declining business, in
the sea-faring line, and attend to that of a more domestic nature, for
a while--I remained at home, from August 1798--untill Sep^{t.}
1799--and, as the events of this year, are something remarkable, I
will name a few of them.
This year 1799, the beloved Washington, the Father of our Country
died,--this year, our first son was born--this year I took possession
of the farm, built my house, and the family moved into it on new years
day 1800.
In Octo^{r.} 1799 I took charge of the Brig Mary, went to Savannah, in
Georgia, from that to Lisbon, from thence to London, to Rotterdam,
Copenhagen, S^{t.} Petersburg, and back to Boston--and performed the
voyage, in 8 months & 4 days--
[Sidenote: Commands the Monsoon]
After remaining at home, a shot time, I received a letter, offering me
the charge of a new ship called the Monsoon, I accordingly repaired to
Boston & took charge of her--she was owned by the following company;
Mess^{r.} Hayden & Baxter, M^{r.} Joshua Hall, & Jacob Tidd, they put
on board a valuable Cargo, & ordered me to find a Market for it in
some part of the north of Europe, but as I had, in the cargo, a
quantity of American Rum, they recomended that I shou’d touch into
Ireland, upon the supposition that if I cou’d obtain permission to
land it that it would command a high price.
I accordingly made the best of my way for Cork, and after a passage of
26 days arriv^{d.} at the Cove of Cork, this was meerly a harbour, & a
village of a few thousand inhabitants--I landed & proceeded for the
City, which was about 12 miles above; called upon the House of Jn^{o.}
& Isaac Carrel & Co. to whoom I had a letter of introduction--they
received me very politely, but doubted my obtaining permission to land
the rum, even if I was willing to pay foreign duty. They, however,
went with me to the custom house, to consult with the collector, who,
I found was in favour of landing it; but dare not give permission,
without consulting his superiors in office, and said he wou’d attend
to it & essertain in a few days.
I returned on board my ship in the evening, & found her in possession
of 3 custom house officers, seized, ship and Carg, with the Kings seal
upon her hatches--when I enquired the cause, I found it was for having
on board sperits, not of the growth & manufactory of the British
plantations--I called upon the deputy collector who ordered the
Seizure of the ship--& he appeared so pleasant upon the subject that I
felt quite a releif. I consequntly return’d to the city, & called
again upon the Collector,
[Sidenote: In Ireland]
He told me, I would have to apply _in person_, to the Admirallity of
Dublin relative to the Seizure of the ship--& he at the same time he
wou’d write them relative to landing the sperits. I consequntly,
post’d of for the City of Dublin a journey of about 200 miles, &
arrived there without accident; much amused in traveling thro” the
hart of Ireland, and observing the Irish people, in their symplicity
of manners, and to appearance, almost, in a state of nature I called
upon the board of Admirallity and after a lengthy investigation, & I
employed council, twas found, that the ship & cargo, was forfeited to
the crown, and was ordered fourthwith, to be adverti^{d} & sold at
publick Auction--. It was (however) intimated to me (in private) this
was intended as a _shem_, & that I wou’d have liberty, to buy ship &
Cargo at my own price--& so it proved; for when I returned to Cork, I
found the ship advertised, to be sold in 3 days, I appeard at the time
& place, ship & cargo, with all appertunances, were set up together,
to be sold for Cash down, some one, freindly to me, bid 2/6--I then
bid 5^{s}/. and the whole was struck off to me--and thus, I was again in
possession of ship and Cargo,
Finding no prospect of obtaining permission to land the rum, I
concluded to proceed elswhere for a Market for my Cargo, and was
advised to try the Island of Geurnsey--& therefore applied to the
custom House, to clear the ship, which was readily complied with; the
collector, observed to me when about taking leave, Cap^{t.} Cobb, I
must confess, I think your usage has been something rough here; and I
shou’d not blame you, if you was to help yourself a little, in the way
of smuggling.--no Sir said I, but wou’d you not be one of the first to
make a prize of me therefor--oh said he, I shou’d have to do my
duty--well Sir, said I, when you _Catch’em_ you _Hab’em_ God blesse
you said he, & thus we parted, and the next morn” I sail’d; matters
were, however, so arrainged, that between the cove of Cork, & the
Scilly Islands, that I hove overboard Eight hogheads of N. E. rum, and
a pilot boat sheer’d along side, and hove on board a small bag, which
I found contained 264 English guineas--and although I saw them pick
up, & hoist on board the 8 hhds of rum, _I was satisfied_.
[Sidenote: A Hurried Departure]