Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p2.djvu/181

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WILLIAM NOWELL, ESQ.
605

character, the proprietor of above half the town, and supposed to be worth a million sterling. The blacks on their part were by no means deficient in cruelty. Captain Nowell, on his return from Aux Cayes, anchored off l’Isle de Vache, for the purpose of obtaining a supply of wood, water, and fruit. The inhabitants of the former place had previously bribed the soldiers, and detached them from their officers. A Colonel, the commander of the troops, in endeavouring to escape, was driven into a cane patch, and there burnt to death. The chief officer of engineers was also overtaken in his flight, but his life was granted him on condition that he would undertake to fortify the town. He had nearly finished the works, and knew that his death would follow their completion; availing himself, therefore, of so favorable an opportunity as the presence of the Ferret afforded him, he came off with his faithful black servant in a canoe, and implored Captain Nowell to save him; his joy on being assured that he would be protected, and restored to his friends at Cape François cannot be described; it drew tears from most of the spectators. The blacks at this time had possession of Fort Louis on the other extremity of the bay, where they kept 80 young French ladies in a state of concubinage; in fact the atrocities committed by all parties, but particularly the French, almost exceed credibility. Our limits will only allow us to add one other instance to those already related: – About 500 blacks had been embarked at Cape Nichola Mole, for the purpose of being landed on the Spanish Main. The wretch to whose care they were confided, and who held the rank of a Lieutenant in the French marine, fell in with some sandy keys at a distance from the coast, landed them with only one day’s provisions, and left them there to starve. Some days after they were discovered by a party of Englishmen employed in turning turtle, who immediately returned to Honduras with the information. The humane inhabitants, although poor, sent two brigs amply victualled to their relief, and forwarded those left alive, numbering about 300, to Port Royal, from whence they were sent to Cape François by Admiral Affleck and Governor Williamson, who received many compliments and thanks from the French authorities for their humanity; but no sooner had the English vessels departed, than the poor crea-