To the Editor. Prince Edward Island, September 1, 1817.
Sir, I conceive it would be of public utility, to give the following a place in your valuable paper.
About a week since, was stranded on the bar of New-London harbour, in this
island, the brig Harriet, Hanna, Master, from Dublin, with passengers,
and as it is said, bound to Quebec, and from thence to this island to load
with timber, out eleven weeks. They were seven weeks in the Gulf, attempting
to get to Quebec, and got as far as Gaspé; previous to that several
had died with sickness and famine, from so long a passage. All the provisions
which the passengers had laid in had been exhausted some weeks previous
to their arrival at Gaspé, when the Master then commenced to make
his fortune upon their miseries, by charging them at the most extravagant
rate for every pound of bread, and the fresh fish that could be occasionally
caught in like manner, not permitting them to catch any themselves. It
deserves to be mentioned that Mr. O'Hara, at Gaspé, was a true and
generous friend to those poor creatures, by compelling the master to procure
a vessel to take 40 of them to Quebec, 20 of them which, from their reduced
state, were landed and left in the woods at Gaspé, and the remaining
passengers on board, between 50 and 60, Mr. O'Hara furnished, with three
days provision, allowing them 48 hours to get to this island; and in a
measure to end their sufferings, they were driven ashore at New-London
aforesaid, where the inhabitants fulfilled the precepts of the Gospel,
by feeding and lodging them, and giving them every comfort within their
power. It is certainly not in the power of any pen to describe their sufferings;
one instance ought to be mentioned. One of the families on board, consisting
of husband and wife, with ten children, the father was unable to pay for
two of his children (boys), but in consideration of the father having paid
for all the rest, the master agreed to take the whole family, (the boys
in question). After sailing from Dublin, and one hundred miles from it,
they had occasion to call at a distant port, where the master met with
two persons who wished to take passage at £5 each. To accommodate
these men, the Captain landed the boys, contrary to the most solemn entreaties
of their parents, and sailed, leaving the boys on the wide world. The mother
died shortly after, on the passage, with grief and distraction, and one
of the children.
Several affidavits have been made respecting the captain's conduct, and
sent to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, and we have no doubt but
the captain will be taken care of.