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was learned afterwards that the failure was due to a memorial forwarded by John Allan and the Machias people representing that Street was quite too mischievous a person to be set at liberty. General McLean on two occasions offered two rebel officers of superior rank in exchange, but in both instances the offer was declined.

After several months of irksome confinement on board the prison ship, Mr. Street contrived with the help of one of his men to seize "the rebel sentinel" as he was pacing the deck on a sultry night in August, without attracting the attention of the guard. Having bound and gagged their man and possessed themselves of his weapons, they then with the assistance of the other prisoners surprised and disarmed the guard, consisting of a corporal and twelve men. One of Street's men swam ashore and brought off the ship's boat in which all embarked. The guard were left on an island in the harbor. Street and his party landed on the main land and pushed through the wood as far as Marblehead. The day coming on they were so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of a detachment of American troops by whom they were conveyed to Boston jail where Street was measured for irons. However, the manacles were not put on in consequence of a threat on the part of the British to retaliate upon their prisoners at Halifax.

After enduring for some time the prison fare, which he describes as "putrid and offensive," Lieutenant Street made another attempt to escape and failing was again placed on board the prison ship. The guard, in order to avoid surprise, were placed in a boat moored under the ship's quarter. Not long afterwards Street managed to lower himself one dark night about eleven o'clock from the cabin window, and with the tide at flood swam off undiscovered. After