The natives of St.Bartholomew, and also of Saba, which is a dependency on Holland, are exempted from impressment, provided they can exhibit proofs of their citizenship.

Therefore every sailor belonging to those islands is provided with a document, called a 'burgher's brief,' which, like an American protection, gives a minute description of the person of the bearer, and is signed and sealed by the official authorities.

Now, Hawser," continued the generous creole, "I had a younger brother who died of yellow fever in St.Kitts some six months ago.

He was about your age, and resembled you in appearance.
His 'burgher's brief,' as a citizen of St.Bartholomew, is now in my possession.

Therefore you shall no longer be a citizen of the United States, but a native of Saba.