THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 545 concealed we will burn the ship with you all in it which indeed we would do were you ·of any other nation if of the Ud States you would instantly be set on fire as soon as we had taken all we want. ,ve gave up all our cash since they opened the hold boxes cabins lockers etc etc searched every where and took away as the Capt 0 tells me Cochineal, cash including (1700 mine), sails, ropes, Indigo, all our stock arms, knives, Powder, w·atches, Jewellery, etc etc to the amount of 60,000 Dre they ordered us to stand off all night and themselves stood in for the shore 2 days afterwards 5 th being nearly in the same place since the Captain notwithstanding my remon- strances would not stand out to sea and the current together with our bad sailing prevented our getti1:1g to the Eastward they again boarded us, called us Pufiateros etc for not quitting the coast menaced our lives particularly mine as an Englishman and Patriot Off• tying ropes round the necks of me and the Capt 0 almost half hanged me as they swore they would and whilst in this situation stroke me with the flat and iron scabbards of their sabers asking where our money was concealed they then we1:1t carrying off all my cloathes and several other things belonging to the ship with the exception of one or two they are I believe all old spaniarcls about 50 state they have a companion far larger and as we saw two faluas such scoundrels never before breathed nor was such a system of Piracy ever before·carried on or could be except amongst such villians as Spaniards - charleston S C: 20 th Sept• 22 \,Ve arrived here on the 17 th in order to repair [our ship be]fore we proceed to Europe but I shall be [quit of] this cl hie [damnable] brig which sails not so fast as a dungbarge and has every other disad- vantage and go to England on board the English ship London a noble bessel and very fine sailer wherefore I shall hope to reach Liverpool about the 1 st of Nov• Let _me know const~ntly how you get on and believe me ever yours A. WAVELL. by the bye read if you can the Charleston Gazette of the 18 th or 19 th of this month which gives a ful~ detail of what has happened to us- [Addressed :] S 0 • D 0 Estevan F. Austin en·la Ciudad de Mexico HuoH McGuFFIN TO AusTIN 1 State of Louisiana Parish of Nachatoches 13 th Septr· 1822 DEAR Sm permit me to address a few lines to you to inform you that I and family is well at present - We have had severall reports respecting
• Printed in Tc:ra, Ht/lto1·11 Teaolior', Bullctln, Fcbrunr::,, 1918.
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