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could not be brought to partake in the execution of them: but their dread and repugnance wore off by degrees; and he confirmed that extraordinary remark in the Journal, that "in the end our countrymen not only performed their parts, but became volunteers in the barbarities."

Davidson deserted from the Niger at Portsmouth in 1794; and, it was reported, he was afterwards pressed onboard the Royal George, and drowned by accident.

Journal of a Voyage kept by William Davidson, seaman on board a Russian Privateer in the Year 1789.

Dec. 3, 1788.-We sailed from Leghorn, in a prosperous gale, onboard the St. Dinian Russian privateer, bound to Messina, in Sicily, as a merchant-vessel. From thence she was to get a clearance, and to go cruizing.

Dec. 7.-We had not been long out, before the wind came to the eastward, and, blowing very hard we were obliged to bear away for Porto Ferajo, in the island of Elba. Soon got in, and moored. At that place, we were getting the guns and shot from under the ballast, and fixing them on the carriages when, on their taking notice from the shore that we were fitting out as a vessel of war, they sent an order onboard for us to sail immediately: if not, that they would stop the ship; as it is not allowed for a ship of war to fit-out in any port belonging to the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Dec. 22.-Sailed for Messina with a fair wind, and clear weather.

Dec. 25.-The wind coming a-head, and blowing hard, obliged us to bear away for Leghorn.

Dec. 27.-Got into Leghorn, and moored ship. Lay there thirteen days; in which time we got all our guns fixed, and every thing ready for sea.

Jan. 17, 1789.-We set sail for Messina with a fair wind, and clear weather.

Jan. 24. Arrived safe at our intended port, where all the English would have left the ship if they could; but the captain would not allow them to go

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Feb 9.-Got in.

Feb. 11.-Got pratique.

Feb. 12.-Hauled the ship up, and moored her. We mended all our sails, and made new nettings; and got small arms on board, in number thirty, cutlasses fifty, blunderbusses twenty four, pistols eighty; but the grand master would not allow us to take men, which made the English very discontented, as they could not get their discharge. There came on-board us three slaves on the 14th; they were assassins, that had made their escape; but our captain protected them, as they had entered with us.

Feb. 16.-Sailed for the island of Zante, and we were obliged to go with them, as it was said we were there to man our ship. This frightened us, as the inhabitants of that place are nothing but thieves, and mostly pirates. All this time we had a fair wind, and clear weather, until we got as far as Solen. Then the wind came against us, and, blowing hard, we were obliged to bear away for Cephalonia, where we got safe in, and moored. We had not been in many days before we got sixty of these pirates on-board. The carpenters cut two port-holes between decks, in which we put two twelvepounders, and then got every thing ready for sea.

Sailed on the 7th of March for the island of Prevesa, and on the 11th got in, and moored ship. On the 13th, we had not been in long, before we heard there were some pirates in the mountains. To them our captain wrote several letters, inviting them to come onboard; and so they did. There came down thirty-four of them, well armed; and we took in every one of them, which made the Englishmen and Italians very discontented, as they were all pirates.

March 16.-A boat came, and told us there were four vessels in Cephalonia with Turkish cargoes on-board. but Greek sailors; on which we unmoored ship.

March 17.-Steered for that place. March 18-Spoke a Ragusa brig, with Turkish passengers in from Candia, bound to Zea; who had a great quantity of dollars and silk, which we took from them. The Turks we let go as they were taken under neutral colours.

March 19. We shared the dollars, which came to forty-three per man. As for the silk, the captain kept it all for himself.

March 22.-We saw a vessel going down along shore. We hauled up the long-boat, put three swivels and thirtyfive armed men in it, and sent her after the vessel. It was calm, and we soon came up with her. We fired two guns, which she returned, and both sides fired for the space of forty minutes. Our lieutenant being wounded, and five men killed, our boat was obliged to re

turn on board.

April 1.-We saw a sail a-head, and gave chace, and soon came up with her. She was laden with wine and brandy; which we took out, and sunk the ship, first killing nine Turks that were on-board; but the Greeks entered with us.

April 2.-We sailed for Silere; and that same day got in, and moored ship. Some vesssels made an attempt to get away; but we armed the long-boat, and sent her out in the night, to lay in wait for them as they went out; but, taking notice of this, they never moved. In the mean time, the longboat fell in with a vessel under Jerusalem colours, but Turkish property, consisting of nine bales of silk, and honey and soap. The rest we sunk in the vessel.-people and all together; fifteen Turks in number. That same night we took another; but she had nothing but ballast; so we let her go.

April 6.-We got all our sails and lumber on-shore, and all the ballast out of the hold.

On the 8th and 9th we were working very hard, and had but little wine on-board, when the captain ordered the second lieutenant to go out in the little boat; and gave him orders to take the first vessel he met with, let her be what she would, if she had wine on

board; which he did, for he brought in a vessel that had seven pipes of Cyprus wine; which we took out, and let the vessel go. She was a Greek settee from Samos.

April 11.-We righted ship, and took all the ballast in. We hauled out from the shore, bent all our sails, and got the ship ready for sea.

April 13.-Unmoored, and got all the vessels' boats in the harbour to tow us out; but, before we went out, the merchants belonging to these vessels gave our captain 15,000 hard dollars, for not troubling them any longer; on which our captain told them, he would give them three days to get away, and no longer. We had a fair wind at four o'clock, and came to an anchor on the Turkish shore; where we sent the long-boat and yawl, armed for stock, of which they killed five bullocks, and thirty-four sheep, besides leaving a number which the boats could not bring off.

April 14.-We saw a pirate, which came on-board us, and told our captain, that if he lay here he would capture plenty of small vessels belonging to Cyprus; but they carried only firewood, and our captain said it was not worth his time to go after them. This pirate had in the harbour a Ragusan and three Venetians, which he had taken two days before, and was removing the best of every thing out of them, to sink them. As for the crews, they had killed them when they were taken. Instead of our detaining this pirate, we gave him powder, shot, and arms; and let him go because he was one of our captain's old acquaintance. We saw two ships coming towards us, when we got all hands to quarters, and every thing ready for engaging; as we took them to be Turkish men-of-war: but, as they came within gun-shot, they hoisted Russian colours; which we were glad to see. They were two privateers bound to Zante.

April 15.-We sailed for the island of Zante; and, the next day, got in and moored. The captain went on shore, thinking to get pratique; but could not,as we had been on the Turkish shore.

April 22.-We got all our provisions and water on-board.

April 23.-Employed setting the rigging fore and aft; and got every thing ready for sea.

April 24.-There was a Ragusa ship lying in Zante, that had Turkish passengers on-board for Smyrna, and had 2,500 dollars belonging to these Turks. Our captain was resolved to follow her.

April 25. She sailed about ten o'clock in the morning, and was about six leagues off when we got under weigh, and gave her chace: but she escaped.

April 26.-This morning stood-in for the Turkish shore, where we saw a vessel at anchor, and, seeing us coming in, she got under-way as fast as she could. We soon followed, and, coming within gun-shot, fired twenty-three guns at her before she hove-to. We plundered her of every thing she had on-board; and one of our men killed their captain and two men, for asking him to return a small chest of turbans and sashes.

April 28.-Saw several vessels, yet did not go after them; but went into an harbour in the island of Cerigo, where we came to anchor.

April 29.-A vessel came in under Jerusalem colours: was a good prize for us if at sea; but, as we were under a Venetian fort, we could not take her. This same day the captain went on-shore, to see if he could get any hands.

April 30.-Came in that same vessel which engaged our long-boat on the 22d of March, and our captain resolved to be revenged; so at night we armed the boats and sent them out to lay wait for her, if she should come out. About eleven o'clock at night she got under weigh, and was going out, when our boats fell in with her, and killed all hands on-board, except two boys, whom we put on shore at Thiona.

May 2.-There came on-board twenty-three sailors, which made our complement 215. In the afternoon our captain came on-board, and ordered all hands aft, and read his commission, which was, that we were going against the Turks; and, as they were a cruel enemy, that we must stand true

to our colours, and neither give nor take quarter, but burn and destroy all that came in our way; and the more we should take, the more we should have for ourselves, besides doing so much good for the Russian empress. All hands gave him three cheers, and said there was no fear. At night we sailed for the Archipelago.

May 3. We hailed a Venetian ship, bound for Smyrna; overhauled her, and took her.

May 4.-Saw a ship; gave chace; and at five o'clock got alongside her. She proved to be a Turkish cruizer of fourteen guns; and, after engaging her half an hour, she struck: on which we put the prisoners to death, (173 in number,) took the best of every thing out of the ship, and sunk her.

May 5.-Saw a small vessel from the mast-head, and, it being calm, we armed the long-boat, and sent her after her. She took her, and brought her alongside: she proved to be a Turk, loaded with wine and brandy. We put the prisoners to death, took what wine and brandy we wanted out of her, and set her on fire. In the mean time, there was another coming round the island; which our long-boat boarded without any defence. She proved to be a good prize, loaded with cotton, silk, and honey. In the afternoon it came on to blow and rain. At ten o'clock we lost sight of our prize.

May 6.-This morning we stood in for a small island belonging to the Greeks. All hands went on-shore, and plundered them of every thing they had on the island.

May 8.-We heard that our people in our late prize were prisoners in the island of Medras, to which the vessel belonged: this so enraged our captain, that he swore he would have them out, or put every man, woman and child, to death in the island.

May 9.-We sailed for Medras, but the next morning we saw a sail, to which we gave chace, and soon got alongside: she proved to be a privateer belonging to Tunis. She engaged us an hour before she struck. We took all the prisoners on board in number 125; and one of them told our captain they would have struck soon

er, only they expected us to board them, and they would then have blown the ship up; on which our captain or dered them all back. We then took some of their small arms, and made this man we kept on-board, go and set the ship on fire,-people and all togesher. It was a dreadful sight. We forgave the man, and put him ashore on one of the Greek islands.

May 12. At ten o'clock at night the wind came in our favour.

May 13. We got into Medras, and fired several guns into the town, which knocked down some of the houses, and killed several of the people. The governor came off to know why we behaved in this manner, when our captain made answer, that if he did not deliver his people up, and the vessel he took, he would put every one in the place to death. The governor made answer, that he had never seen or heard from her since she sailed from thence. The governor now went on shore, and sent us in provisions and 500 sequins. That night we sailed again, and the next morning spoke a French brig, who told us our prize was gone down to Cerigo. We then steered for that place, and the next day took a small vessel with Cyprus wine; from which we took what we wanted, and sunk the vessel. The Turks we put to death on board our own ship, fifteen in number.

May 15.-We got into Cerigo, and found our prize there and another which she had taken; but we could not make a prize of her, as she belonged to some Greek merchants. We took all the silk and cotton, and most of the honey, out of our prize, and, getting ten six pounders from the shore, put them on board our prize, with sixty hands, as a tender to go with us.

May 19. We sailed for the Arches; that same day we saw seven sail, to which we gave chase, and soon came up with them. These proved to be prizes to a Russian privateer, bound to Trieste, under her own convoy, and all richly laden.

May 21.-Anchored in Theans, where they were glad to see us come in, as a Turkish galley, on the other side

of the island, was going to plunder them in the night. At one o'clock we sent the tender after her, and at three in the morning she took her, without the least defence. She had on-board eighty-five hands, which we took onboard us, and confined them in the hold until the next day; when they were called up one by one, and had their heads cut off, in the same manner as we cut duck's heads off at home, and we then threw them overboard. This was the first time we were obliged to take it by turns to put them to death: the English, when called upon, at first refused it; but when the captain told them they were cowards, or people that were afraid of their enemies, and that he could not believe they were Englishmen, they went, and did the same as the rest; and, afterwards were even worse than the others, for they always were first when such work was going on; and, at last, got quite used to it. Sometimes we had three or four in a day to put to death for each man's share.

May 24-Our tender brought in a good prize, loaded with honey, soap, and tobacco; which we sent to Malta.

May 25.-About four o'clock saw a sail in the offing, which we took to be a Turkish man of-war; we slipped our cables and went after her, and got every thing ready for engaging her. When we got within gun-shot of her, we fired a gun and she did the same, and hoisted her colours: she was a French frigate, looking out for pirates. They sent their boat on-board to know where we fitted-out, and what we were doing; but our captain would only tell them he was a Russian cruizer, and that his commission was as good as their's: when the French captain told us to mind what we were about, and stood out to sea; and we into harbour for our anchors and cables.

May 26.-We sailed in the afternoon, and fell in with the French frigate again; but she said nothing to

us.

May 30.--Boarded a French ship from Smyrna, bound to Algiers, with Turkish passengers on-board. We took their goods from them, and let them go.

May 31.-Came to an anchor at the island of Cashio, and plundered it of every thing we could; besides burning the town, and all the vessels in the place.

June 2.-Sailed for the island of Narris; which we plundered of silk, and burnt the Turkish governor's palace, and a new frigate on the stocks; besides killing twenty Turks, that had no time to make their escape.

June 4.-Spoke a polacca, which told us there was a Turkish xebec in Scandaroon, bound to Smyrna, with money to pay the soldiers, besides coffee and rice; and that she would sail the first fair wind. We now hauled up for the north end of Cyprus, where we knew the xebec must pass.

June 7-Saw her, and gave chace; and, at four in the afternoon, got along side. She engaged us an hour and a half, and then struck. She had onboard twenty-four guns, and 250 men. We took all the prisoners on-board, and sent the prize to Malta. Our ship's company was now reduced to sixty-five.

June 8.-At two o'clock we put all the prisoners to death. We fell in with several merchant-vessels of all nations, and took out of them as many as made our ship's company 115; so that we were ready for a fresh cruize.

June 12.-Spoke a Venetian ship, that came from Jaffa, bound to Constantinople. She told us there was a Turkish vessel there, bound for Rhodes, loaded with coffee and rice; with twelve guns, and sixty men on-board. At four o'clock in the afternoon we were alongside of her: she engaged us half an hour, and then struck. We took all the prisoners on-board, and sent the prize to Leghorn.

June 13.-We put all the prisoners to death. At six in the afternoon we saw a sail to leeward; to which we gave chace, and soon came up with her: she was a Greek ship laden with wood for the Turks. We took the men out of her, and set her on fire; and then we steered for Syria. We had not sailed above three leagues before the man at the mast-head saw two "vessels at anchor, and our tender went 26 ATHENEUM VOL. 14.

in and spoke them. They were Turks: one had three bales of silk, and nine bales of turbans; in the other was nothing but ballast.

June 14.-We took the silk and turbans out, put the people on shore, and set the vessels on fire. Next morning we saw three more vessels at anchor, and went in after them. They were Turk ish ships loading for Alexandria. We took all the prisoners on board, and burnt their ships. At four o'clock we put them all to death.

June 15.-We steered for Castle R, and hoisted Venetian colours. Here was a large town, without any appearance of guns; and, as soon as we came within gun-shot, we fired in among the houses, hauled down the Venetian colours, and hoisted Russian. All hands went on-shore, and plundered them of every thing they had, besides burning one-half of the town, and killing all the Turks who could not get away. As for plunder no one could tell the amount, as we took much gold and silver out of their churches; such as images and candlesticks.

June 16.-Went out, and spoke a French brig from Smyrna, bound to Marseilles, loaded with wool and hemp.

June 17.-In the morning spoke a Venetian polacca, that told us there were three Turkish ships in Alexandria, laden with coffee and rice for Constantinople; on which we bore away for Rhodes, as they must pass there.

June 18.-At day-light we saw five sail close in with the land, which we went in after, thinking they were good prizes; but, to our great misfortune, found them to be Turkish men-of-war, of fifty guns, of forty-four guns, and three of forty guns each. They gave us chace, and at seven the frigate came alongside. The captain wanted to engage, but the lieutenant would not until the others should be farther astern of us. In the mean time, the frigate kept continually firing at us. At half past ten we hauled down the French colours and engaged her; and shot away her fore-topsail yard. She then tried to go down to the others; but, before she had got from under our guns, we

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