1801 EL British POW in Dutch Surinam."29.09.1803 Fort Amsterdam Curacao, I am extremely sorry to inform you that I have at last been obliged to give up His Majesty's Sloop Surinam after repeated demands from the Dutch Government, of this Island, it is impossible to describe the behaviour of my officers and men, their conduct has been remarkably good indeed, in every respect. The duplicity of the Dutch Govt, since the Surinam has been in Curacao is beyond anything I can describe, ever since we have been prisoners of War, we have been fired upon in the night, in the house allotted for me, and my Officers - You will no doubt be surprised at receiving no Officers with the people send down to you, the reason is, the Council required us to sign a paper that war, or no war, or in the event it should prove a war hereafter, between England and Holland, we should engage not to serve against the Batavian Republic, or their Allies until we were regularly exchanged, agreeable to our rank and situations, which we positively refused, saying we would sooner stay in prison for seven years, than sign any such paper. I intended to have sent a letter to you by the people, but from being denied all access to them for some days before they sailed, it was utterly impossible, however have no doubt, but the people will confute any information, the Council of this Island may have sent to you, until such time as my Officers are brought forward to prove the propriety of my Conduct."