The tobacco was weighed, and found to be six thousand four hundred and eighty-seven pounds,* which was sent on the 18th to Landivisiau, and on the 19th, they were committed to close prison at St. Pol de Leon, where they have been confined ever since.  They had, when they first landed, some money, of which they were soon disembarrassed by different persons, who, in various forms, undertook to serve them.  Unable to speak or understand a word of the language of the country, friendless, and left without money, they have languished three months in a loathsome jail, without any other sustenance, a great part of the time, than what could be procured for three sous a day, which have been furnished them to prevent their perishing.

* A hogshead of tobacco weighs generally about one thousand pounds, English, equal to nine hundred and seventeen pounds French.  The seven hogsheads he sailed with, would therefore weigh, according to this estimate, six thousand four hundred and twenty-three pounds.  They actually weighed more on the first essay.  When afterwards weighed at Landivisiau, they had lost eighty-four pounds on being carried into a drier air.  Perhaps, too, a difference of weights may have entered into this apparent loss.

They have been made to understand that a criminal process is going on against them under two heads. 1.  As having sold tobacco in contraband; and 2., as having entered a port of France in a vessel of less than thirty tons’ burthen.  In support of the first charge, they understand that the circumstance is relied on, of their having been seen off the coast by the employes des Fermes, one or two days.  They acknowledge they may have been so seen while beating off Pont Duval, till they could get a pilot, while entering that port, and again going round from thence to the road of the Isle de Bas.  The reasons for this have been explained.  They further add, that all the time they were at Pont Duval they had a King’s officer on board, from whom, as well as from their pilot, and the captain, by whose advise they left that port for the Isle de Bas, information can be obtained by their accusers (who are not imprisoned) of the true motives for that measure.  It is said to be urged also, that there was found in their vessel some loose tobacco in a blanket, which excites a suspicion that they had been selling tobacco.  When they were stowing their loading, they broke a hogshead, as is always necessary, and is always done, to fill up the stowage, and to consolidate and keep the whole mass firm and in place.  The loose tobacco which had come out of the broken hogshead, they re-packed in bags:  but in the course of the distress of their disastrous voyage, they had employed these bags, as they had done every thing else of the same nature, in mending their sails.  The condition of their sails when they came into port will prove this, and they were seen by witnesses enough, to whom their accusers, being at their liberty, can have access.