the inhabitants of the United
States as unanimous in their political sentiments, as we are, in the
river Medway, they would all be ready to exclaim, each man to his
neighbour,

Rouse, and revive your ancient glory,
UNITE--and drive the world before you.

_July 1st, 1813._--Our feelings are all alive at this joyous season,
for we are now making preparations for celebrating the birth-day of
our nation; and though in captivity, we are determined not to suffer
the glorious _Fourth of July_ to pass over without testifying our
undivided attachment to our beloved country, and to the cause it is
fighting for.--Each mess are making arrangements in, besure, a small
and humble, but a hearty way, for the celebration; and it is a curious
spectacle to see the pleasureable anticipations of the prisoners, in a
feast of good things, all of which would not amount to so plentiful a
repast, as that which the criminals in our State Prison, near Boston,
enjoy almost every day, the plenty of good porter excepted.
Application has been made to Capt. Hutchinson, for an additional
allowance of beer and porter, which request he has granted, with his
usual goodness. Every brain is at work to know how to spend what we
have been accumulating for the _Fourth of July_, with the most
pleasure, and the most propriety.

The FOURTH OF JULY, 1813, is past. We petitioned the commander to
allow us to hoist the American flag, but he refused to gratify us.
Application was then made to the Commodore, who gave permission that
we might hoist our national colors, as high as the top of our
railings; and the same permission was granted to all the other prison
ships. We had obtained a drum and fife; and being all assembled on the
forecastle, and such other parts of the ship as were accessible to us,
prisoners, we in the morning struck up the animating tune of _Yankee
Doodle_; and saluted the Nassau prison ship with three cheers, which
was returned; the ships more distant caught the joyful sound, and
echoed it back to its source. The fife and drum, the latter ornamented
with the king's arms, played the whole forenoon, while the jovial
prisoners drank, in _English porter_, SUCCESS TO THE AMERICAN CAUSE!

At twelve o'clock, an Oration, hastily prepared, and rather too
inflammatory for about a tenth part of our audience, was delivered, by
a prisoner of respectable talents; a man, who, having been impressed
into the British service, had been promoted to the r