"calling out that they wished A SECOND "SAINT BARTHOLOMEW. On the 19th the Prefect published a "Proclamation, recalling the peaceable" 66 persons who had quitted the town; they 66 ebeyed this order, and a great number 66 were assassinated. From the 20th to the 29th, the pil"lages and assassinations did not discon"tinue. Those who sought their safety "in flight were assassinated on the roads. "Some were conducted into prisons where "they are still groaning. 66 "The Altornics (Notaires) and the "Avocats have formed resolutions not to retain or to receive into their bodies any but Roman Catholics. (Mark this!) "Nismes has already lost its rank amongst the commercial towns. It is on the brink of complete annihilation. "The Prefect named by the King was a "Mr. d'Arbot; he has done no good. "The foreign troops have been implored "to force the brigands to repose, and to "assist the TRUE ROYALISTS, for the "brigands ABUSE THIS NAME (Mark this!) which they will render univer. sally odious. "On the 29th the Prefect of the King" "arrived. The other Prefect had been "named by the Royal Commis❝sioner. "On the 30th, a TE DEUM was "chaunted. On the 31st the new Pre"fect published a very prudent proclama66 tion, but he quitted Nismes. 66 "The number of deaths is prodigious; we have not an exact enumeration. "Horrors of the same kind are conti"nued in the neighbouring towns.” mind, who are stabbed, shot, burnt by ROYALISTS. That is the fact. Here are Protestants butchered by the friends of those for whose restoration you have put up thanksgiving. Come, come! Don't turn your heads on one side. Be not ashamed! Look at it. "On the 1st of August, M. de Cal-"Any religion is better than no religiou 66 viere, the person whom the Royal Com-" at all," is it? But that is not the ques"missioner had named, resumed the function here; for these are PROTESTANTS, "tions of Prefect, and 16 PROTES"TANTS were massacred. They went "about seizing them in their houses, and they cut their throats before their own "doors. Many were massacred in the "fields. The night between the 1st and The COURIER, from whom I take this "2d was the most cruel. M. de Calviere horrible account, wonders why the PRO"caused an order to be posted up, which TESTANTS became objects of such atroci66 seems to have somewhat calmed these ties; "for," says he, "they were not "PRETENDED ROYALISTS. (Mark" more friendly to Bonaparte than the "this!) On the 4th several country seats 66 were set on fire. "The peaceable citizens, the Members "of the Urban Guard, have been again "forced to flee to save themselves from "destruction. The Prefect sent an order "to them to return, under the penalty of having the laws respecting emigration put in force against them. Those who "returned into the town experienced 66 either death or captivity. It is uncer"tain whether M. de Moncalm or M. de "Calviere is most guilty of allowing or causing the commission of all these horrors; but suspicion fal's principally on "the former, who is a ROYAL COM"MISSIONER, (Mark this!) and whom "it is said, the King had a considerable "time ago ordered to cease his functions. 66 "Nothing promises any security to the "friends of order; for all the authorities, "with the exception of two persons, are "composed of the most timidated feeble (6 me:. 66 Catholics." Oh! yes, but they were, and this was evidently their offence. They knew, they felt, which government was best for them. They loved the revolution, They were for the new dynasty in preference to the old. They were against the restoration of the paternal Bourbons And, will you say, that they deserved to be burnt alive, or to have their throats cut for this? Come! you may as well go the whole length, and say it at once; for you will have full credit for the sentiment. It is clear, that this was, and is (for it is still going on) an attack by "the Royal and Christian army," as the impious and bloody writer of the TIMES calls such perfidious and cowardly wretches. The country-houses of the Protestants were, I dare say, monkish property, which the Protestants had purchased, and of which the priests have taken this method of despoiling them.— The chaunting of the Te Deum was quite in style. There need now only a proces, 1 sion by the Pope, as was the case in honour of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and another procession at Boston, in commemoration of this new triumph of "the "Royal and Christian army "of France, this bastion of" the bulwark of religion." What blessings France is likely to owe to the paternal Bourbons! The priests are at work, and blood will flow in torrents, Mr. WALTER, of the TIMES news-paper, will begin now to enjoy himself. WM. COBBETT. OFFICIAL PAPERS. REPORT Relative to the Killing and Wounding of the Plymouth, April 26, 1815. During the period which has elapsed since the arrival in this country of the account of the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent, an increased degree of restlessness and impatience of confinement appears to have prevailed amongst the American prisoners at Dartmoor, which, though not exhibited in the shape of any violent excesses, has been principally indicated by threats of breaking out if not soon released. On the 4th of this month in particular, only two days previous to the events, the subject of this inquiry, a large body of the prisoners rushed into the market square, from whence, by the regulations of the prison, they are excluded, demanding bread, instead of biscuit, which had on that day been issued by the officers of the depot; their demands, however, having been then almost immediately complied with, they returned to their own yards, and became unnecessary. On the evening of the employment of force on that occasion the 6th, about six o'clock, it was clearly proved to us, that a breach or hole had been made in one of the prison walls sufficient for a full sized man to pass, and that others had been commenced in the course of the day near the same spot, though never completed. That a number of the prisoners went over the railing erected to prevent them from communicating with the centinels on the walls, which was of course for We, the undersigned Commissioners, appointed on behalf of our respective Governments, to inquire into and report upon, the unfortunate occurrence of the 6th of April instant, at Dartmoor prison, having carefully perused the proceedings of the several Courts of Inquiry, instituted immediately after that event, by the orders of Admiral Sir John T. Duckworth and Major-General Brown, respectively, as well as the deposi-bidden by the regulations of the prison, and tions taken at the coroner's inquest, upon the bodies of the prisoners who lost their lives upon that melancholy occasion; upon which inquest the jury found a verdict of justifiable homicide: proceeded immediately to the examination upon oath, in the presence of one or more of the Magistrates of the vicinity, of all the witnesses, both American and English, who offered themselves for that purpose, or who could be discovered as likely to afford any material information on the subject, as well those who had been previously examined before the coroner as otherwise, to the number in the whole of about 80. We further proceeded to a minute examination of the prisons, for the purpose of clearing up some points which, upon the evidence alone, were scarcely intelligible; obtaining from the prisoners, and from the officers of the depot, all the necessary assistance and explanation; premising, that we have been from necessity compelled to draw many of our conclusions from statements and evidence highly contradictory, we do now make upon the whole proceedings the following report: that in the space between the railing and those walls they were tearing up pieces of turf, and wantonly pelting each other in a noisy and disorderly manner. That a much more considerable number of the prisoners was collected together at that time in one of their yards near the place where the breach was effected, and that although such collection of prisoners was not unusual at other times (the gambling tables being usually kept in that part of the yard), yet, when connected with the circumstances of the breach, and the time of the day, which was after the hour the signal for the prisoners to retire to their respective prisons had ceased to sound, it became a natural and just ground of alarm to these who had charge of the depot. It was also in evidence that in the building, formerly the petty officers' prison, but now the guard barrack, with stands in the yard to which the hole in the wall would serve as a communication, a part of the arms of the guard who were off duty were usually kept in the racks, and though there was no evidence that this was in any respect the motive which induced the prisoners to make the opening in the wall, or even that they were ever acquainted with the fact, it naturally became at least a further cause of suspicion and alarm, and an additional reason for precaution. Upon these grounds Captain Shortland appears to us to have been justified in giving the or der, which about this time he seems to have given, to sound the alarm bell, the usual signal for collecting the officers of the depot and putting the military upon the alert. they ought to have been quietly going in for the night. It was also in evidence that the outer gates of the market-square were usually opened about this time, to let the bread waggon pass and repass to the store, although, at the period in question, they were, in fact, closed. Under these circumstances, and with these impressions neces sarily operating upon his mind, and a knowledge that if the prisoners once penetrated through the square, the power of escape was almost to a certainty afforded to them, should they be so disposed, Capt. Shortland, in the first instance, proceeded down the square towards the prisoners, having order. ed a part of the different guards, to the number of about 50 only at first, though they were increased afterwards, to follow him. For some time both he and DF. Magrath endeavoured, by quiet means and per suasion, to induce the prisoners to retire to their own yards, explaining to them the fatal consequences which must ensue if they refused, as the military would in that case be necessarily compelled to employ force. The guard was by this time formed in the rear of Captain Shortland, about two-thirds of the way down the square; the latter is about one hundred feet broad, and the guard extended nearly all across. Captain Shortland finding that persuasion was all in vain, and that, although some were induced by it to make an effort to retire, others However reasonable and justifiable this was as a measure of precaution, the effects produced thereby in the prisons, but which could not have been intended, were most unfortunate, and deeply to be regretted. A considerable number of the prisoners in the yards where no disturbances existed before, and who were either already within their respective prisons, or quietly retiring as usual towards them, immediately upon the sound of the bell rushed back from curiosity (as it appears) towards the gates, where, by that time, the crowd had assembled, and many who were at the time absent from their yards were also, from the plan of the prison, compelled, in order to reach their own homes, to pass by the same spot, and thus that which was merely a measure of precaution, in its operation increased the evil it was intended to prevent. Almost at the same instant that the alarm bell rang (but whether before or subsequent is upon the evidence doubtful, though Capt. Short-pressed on in considerable numbers, at last land states it positively as one of his further reasons for causing it to ring) some one or more of the prisoners broke the iron chain, which was the only fastening of No. 1 gate, leading into the market square, by means of an iron bar; and a very considerable number of the prisoners rushed towards that gate, and many of them began to press forward as fast as the opening would permit into the square. There was no direct proof before us of previous concert or preparation on the part of the prisoners, and no evidence of their intention or disposition to effect their escape on this occasion, except ing that which arose by inference from the whole of the above detailed circumstances connected together. The natural and almost irresistible inference to be drawn, how. ever, from the conduct of the prisoners by Capt. Shortland and the military was, that an intention on the part of the prisoners to escape was on the point of being carried into execution; and it was at least certain that they were by force passing beyond the limits prescribed to them, at a time when ordered about fifteen file of the guard, nearly in front of the gate, which had been forced, to charge the prisoners back to their own yards. The prisoners were in some places so near the military, that one of the soldiers states, that he could not come fairly down to the charge; and the military were unwilling to act as against an enemy. Some of the prisoners also were unwilling and reluctant to retire, and some pushing and struggling ensued between the parties, arising partly from intention, but mainly from the pressure of those behind preventing those in front from getting back. After some little time, however, this charge appears to have been so far effective, and that with little or no injury to the prisoners, as to have driven them for the most part quite down out of the square, with the exception of a small number who continued their resistance about No. 1 gate. A great crowd still remained collected after this in the pas sage between the square and the prisoners' yards, in the vicinity of the gates. This assemblage still refused to withdraw, and, according to most of the English witnesses, and some of the American, was making a noise, hallooing, insulting, and provoking, and daring the military to fire; and, according to the evidence of several of the soldiers and some others, was pelting the wailitary with large stones, by which some of them were actually struck. This circumstance is, however, denied by many of the American witnesses; and some of the English, upon having the question put to them, stated, they saw no stones thrown previously to the firing, although their situation at the time was such as to enable them to see most of the other proceedings in the square. continued for some time, by which several of the prisoners sustained injuries, the greater part of them appear to have been running back, with the utmost precipitation, and confusion, to their respective prisons, and the cause for further firing seems at. this period to have ceased. It appears, accordingly, that Captain Shortland was in the market-square, exerting himself and, giving orders to that effect, and that Lieutenant Fortye had succeeded in stopping the fire of his part of the guard. hension which the soldiers might fairly entertain, owing to the numbers and conduct of the prisoners, that this firing to a certain extent, was justifiable, in a military point of view, in order to intimidate the prisoners, and compel them thereby to desist from all acts of violence, and to retire as they were ordered, from a situation in which the responsibility of the agents, and the military, could not permit them with safety to remain. From the fact of the crowd being so close, and the firing at first being attended with very little injury, it appears probable that a large proportion of the muskets were, as stated by one or two of the witnesses, laUnder these circumstances the firing velled over the heads of the prisoners; a commenced. With regard to any order circumstance in some respects to be lamenthaving been given to fire, the evidence is ed, as it induced them to renew their insults. very contradictory. Several of the Ameri- to the soldiery, which produced a repetition cans swear positively, that Captain Short- of the firing in a manner much more deland gave that order; but the manner instructive. The firing in the square having which, from the confusion of the moment, they describe this part of the transaction, is so different in its details, that it is very difficult to reconcile their testimony. Many of the soldiers and other English witnesses heard the word given by some one; but no one of them can swear it was by Captain Shortland, or by any one in particular, and some, amongst whom is the officer commanding the guard, think, if Captain Shortland had given such an order, that they must have heard it, which they did not. In addition to this, Captain Shortland denies the fact; and from the situation in which he appears to have been placed at the time, even according to the American witnesses, in front of the soldiers, it may appear somewhat improbable that he should then have given such an order. But, however, it may remain a matter of doubt whether the firing first began in the square by order, or was a spontaneous act of the soldiers themselves, it seemed clear that it was continued and renewed, both there and elsewhere, without orders; and that on the platforms, and in several places about the prison, it was cer tainly commenced without any authority The fact of an order having been given at first, provided the firing was, under exist ing circumstances, justifiable, does not appear very material in any other point of view than as shewing a want of self-possession and discipline in the troops, if they should have fired without order. With regard to the above important consideration, of whether the firing was justifiable or not, we are of opinion, under all the circumstances of the case, from the appre Under these circumstances, it is very difficult to find any justification for the continuance and renewal of the firing, which certainly took place both in the prison yards and elsewhere: though we have some evidence of subsequent provocation given to the military, and resistance to the turnkeys in shutting the prisons, and of stones being thrown out from within the prison doors. The subsequen: firing rather appears to have arisen from individual irritation and exasperation on the part of the soldiers who followed the prisoners into their yards, and from the absence of nearly all the officers who might have restrained it; as well as from the great difficulty of putting an end to a firing when once commenced under such circumstances. Captain Shortland was from this time busily occupied with the turnkeys in the square, receiving and taking care of the wounded. Ensign White remained with his guard at the breach, and Lieutenants Avelyne and Fortye, the only other subalterns known to have been present, continued in the square with the main bodies of their respective guards. The time time to the firing of any particular indivi dual, but without success; and all hopes of bringing the offenders to punishment should seem to be at an end. In conclusion, we, the undersigned, have only to add, that whilst we lament, as we do most deeply, the unfortunate transaction which has been the subject of this inquiry, we find ourselves totally unable to suggest any steps to be taken as to those parts of it which seem most to call for redress and punishment. (Signed) CHARLES KING. FRANCIS SEYMOUR LARPENT. Plymouth, April 26, 1815. SIR-In pursuance of instructions received from Messrs. Clay and Gallatin, I have now the honour to transmit to you the report prepared by Mr. Larpent and myself on behalf of our respective Governments, in relation to the unfortunate transactions at Dartmoor prison of war, on the 6th of the present month. Considering it of much importance that the report, whatever it might be, should go forth under our joint signatures, I have forborne to press some of the points which it involves, as far as otherwise I might have done, and it therefore may not be improper in this letter to enter into some little explanation of such parts of the report. Although it does appear that a part of the prisoners were on that evening of the day, which was the officers dinner hour, will in some measure explain this, as it caused the absence of every officer from the prison whose presence was not indispensa ble there and this circumstance, which has been urged as an argument to prove the intention of the prisoners to take this opportunity to escape, tended to increase the confusion, and to prevent those great exertions being made which might perhaps have ob. viated a portion, at least, of the mischief which ensued. At the same time that the firing was going on in the square, a cross fire was also kept up from several of the platforms on the walls round the prison where the sentries stand, by straggling parties of soldiers, who run up there for that purpose. As far as this fire was directed to disperse the men assembled round' the breach, for which purpose it was most effectual, it seems to stand upon the same ground as that in the first instance in the square. But that part which it is positively sworn was directed against straggling parties of prisoners running about the yards, and endeavouring to enter in the few doors which the turnkeys, according to their usual practice, had left open, does seem, as stated, to have been wholly without object or excuse, and to have been a wanton attack upon the lives of defenceless, and at that time, unoffending individuals. In the same, or even more severe terms, we must remark upon what was proved as to the firing into the door ways of the prisons, more particu-in such a state, and under such circumJarly into that of No. 3 prison, at a time when the men were in crowds at the entrance. From the position of the prison and of the door, and from the marks of the balls which were pointed out to us, as well as from the evidence, it was clear this firing must have proceeded from soldiers a very few feet from the door way, and although it was certainly sworn that the prisoners were at the time of part of the firing at least continuing to insult and occasionally to throw stones at the soldiers, and that they were standing in the way of, and impeding the turnkey, who was there for the purpose of closing the door, yet still there was nothing stated which could in our view at all justify such excessively harsh and severe treatment of helpless and unarmed prisoners when all idea of escape was at an end. Under these impressions, we used every endeavour to ascertain if there was the least prospect of identifying any of the soldiers who had been guilty of the particular outrages here aliuded to, or of tracing any particular death at that stances, as to have justified, in the view which the commander of the depot could not but take of it, the intervention of the military force, and even, in a strict sense, the first use of fire arms, yet I cannot but express it as my settled opinion, that by conduct a little more temporising, this dreadful alternative of firing upon unarmed prisoners might have been avoided. Yet as this opinion has been the result of subsequent examination, and after having acquired a knowledge of the comparatively harmless state of the prisoners, it may be but fair to consider, whether in such a moment of confusion and alarm, as that appears to have been, the officer commanding could have fairly estimated his danger, or have measured out with precision the extent and nature of the force necessary to guard against it. But when the firing became general, as it afterwards appears to have done, and caught with electric rapidity from the square to the platforms, there is no plea nor shadow of excuse for it, except in the per |