After being at sea three months

At length

in a privateer brig of sixteen guns. without any success, we were taken by a frigate and carried into St. Johns, Newfoundland, and put on board a prison ship. At length, we were sent from thence to Boston. I then went on board another privateer of twenty guns, Capt. Rathbone, then late of the Navy. After being at sea between three and four months without any success, we were taken by the frigate Recovery, and carried into Kingsale, Ireland, and hove into a loathsome prison, where the survivors of us remained thirteen or fourteen months. About half our number died with the small pox and other disorders. we were sent over to England and put into Fortune prison. We were there about thirteen months, and until the peace in 1783, in April.1 The prison was then cleared of its contents, and we were sent over to Havre, in France, and there landed naked as we were. We had no means of getting to America from there. I, with six others, walked through France, down to Nantz-I believe about four hundred miles. We there got a passage on board a ship bound to Philadelphia, and there pray, sir, look at my condition I was landed in the rags I stood in, without friends, and only one arm, and knew not where to get a meal of victuals. My friends and relations were all dead or out of my reach. I, however, made the best of my way to Boston, and called on my old friend, Dr. Gardiner. After a short time he took me by the hand- sent me to a mathematical school some months - but my wishes were for the sea. He after a time built a brig2 and put me in master, with a nurse, as I was young and without much experience. I commanded her about three years, and until the death of the Doctor. Then I was enabled to buy one-half of her, which continued me in command. At length I sold out in '91. I had got in command of the largest Bengal ship out of Boston. I was in her and various other employments till '99. In October Mr. Secretary Stoddard sent me a com

1 The periods of service on board the several vessels, and of his confinement in prisons, as stated in his letter, would, if added together, extend beyond the time of his release. His letter, written fifty-seven years, and more, after the events transpired, doubtless contains a few inaccuracies.

2 Built at Woolwich, or Bath, according to statements of Captain Tallman's son and others, though no vessel of corresponding class and conditions is mentioned in a printed list of vessels built in the District at that time.

1

mission as Lieutenant in the Navy, but I then commanded a fine letter of marque ship of twenty guns, the John Adams, bound to Liverpool. I considered this the best business of the two, and therefore did not accept but returned the commission. I took a few trips in this ship and then left her and the seas altogether, since which I have been engaged in various mercantile pursuits, and have been twelve years in various Legislatures. In 1822, being in the Senate of this State, I found attending Legislatures materially interfering with my business, which had become considerable. I retired from public life with a determination never to engage in it again. I have met with various success in business sometimes lost and sometimes made.

I have written this, to you, uninteresting sketch of myself, in detail, for which I pray your excuse, that you may see how a poor invalid of the Revolution, with one arm, might with hard labor and watching make his way through the world among two-armed people. You may wonder then why I apply for augmentation of my pension? 2 Why, sir, because I think I deserve it, and am ashamed to receive from the office the small pittance which they vouchsafe to give me, and my friends are continually pressing me so to do. I am, with the most friendly regard,

The President having appd you a Lieutt in the Navy, I enclose your Commis

sion.

You will be pleased to take the enclosed oath and return it to this office; & repair immediately to Boston, where you will make application to Capt Talbott to know whether your services are required on board the Frigate Constitution under his command, & govern yourself accordingly.

Your Pay and Emoluments will commence from the date of your letter of acceptance.

I have the honor to be,

Sir

Yr obd Seryt

Ben Stoddert

2 He was pensioned in March, 1786, at the rate of $51 per year. In 1816 this was increased to $81.60, which was continued until his death, and afterward granted to his widow. After his pension was increased he expended it in the purchase of silverware for the table and sideboard. The increase to which he refers in the above letter, was not granted, evidently.

The writer of the newspaper sketch completes it with these remarks:

He spent much of the time he was confined in the hospital and in prisons in acquiring that education which insured his prosperity in after life, and made use of his misfortunes in early life to secure the means of enjoyment in old age.

The letter, of three closely written pages. is believed to be in his own hand, and signed by himself in the strong, open handwriting of the old school. To this signature there is no trembling, no uncertainty or unsteadiness - it is characteristic of the man.

Allow me to call the attention of our young men to the life of Peleg Tallman. Let them view him, landed friendless and penniless upon the wharves of Philadelphia, brave his course through difficulties and suffering, to a very high standing among the merchant princes of the East in affluence to the legislatures of the States of Massachusetts and Maine, then taking his place among the honorable men of the nation in the hall of the representatives of the people of the Union, and closing his days with the reputation of being kind friend and father-an example of industry, prudence and perseverance."

a

FIELD DAY EXCURSION.

THE Annual Field Day Excursion was taken September 6, 1899, by railroad to Pine Point, thence by carriages to the site of the ancient ferry at the mouth of Scarborough River, thence to Blue Point Hill, where a fine view was had of the surrounding country, from the Saco River to Richmond's Island. The route was then taken through Dunstan's Corner, passing the homesteads of Richard King, Robert Southgate and others; thence by the turnpike over Oak

Hill to Prout's Neck, where a dinner was enjoyed at the Checkley House.

After dinner a meeting was held on the portico of the hotel, and Hon. George F. Talbot took the chair, and introduced Hon. Augustus F. Moulton, who read a brief and instructive paper on the early history of Scarboro, calling especial attention to the points of historic interest visited in the drive from Pine Point.

At the close of Mr. Moulton's paper remarks were made by the chairman and others, and a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Moulton for his paper, and a copy requested for the Archives of the Society. The thanks of all present were passed to Mr. Moulton for his guidance of the party on their historic jaunt.

The following ladies and gentlemen, members of the Maine Historical Society, and guests, were present:

Rev. Dr. H. S. Burrage and wife, James G. Garland and wife, John S. Locke and wife, Dr. Dana W. Fellows and wife, Hon. A. F. Moulton, Mrs. Mary E. Baxter, Miss Sarah C. Moulton, Miss Stockbridge, Hon. George F. Talbot, Rev. Edward G. Porter, Col. Robert G. Carter, Dr. A. K. P. Meserve, Hon. Marquis F. King, George A. Norwood, Marshall Pierce, Samuel T. Dole, John W. Penney, George W. Hammond, Andrew Hawes, George F. Emery, George A. Emery, Frank C. Deering, Isaiah P. Milliken, James M.Larrabee, Leonard B. Chapman, Ira S. Locke, Winslow Homer, Hubbard W. Bryant.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

In accordance with a vote of the Society at the annual meeting in Brunswick, the publication of papers read before the Society will be discontinued for the present, and, commencing with the January number of the Quarterly, the publication of Miss Mary Frances Farnham's "Documents Relating to the Territorial History of Maine" will be commenced. The compilation of this important work was made by Miss Farnham under the direction of Prof. A. B. Hart, of Harvard University, and its publication cannot fail to be a matter of interest and value to the members of the Society. The number of volumes required for the completion of the work cannot as yet be estimated. Each volume, it is expected, will contain four hundred and forty-eight pages. The work will be issued in quarterly parts, but any member of the Society, who prefers to receive in a bound volume the four numbers issued each year, can make arrangements for the same with the publishers, The Thurston Print, Portland, Maine. This, of course, should be done at once.

HENRY S. Burrage,

HENRY O. THAYER,

HUBBARD W. BRYANT,

Publishing Committee.