(Signed) CHARLES KING. His Excellency J. Q. Adams, &c. London, April 18, 1815. SIR. At the request of Lord Castlereagh, we have had interviews with him and Mr. Goulburn, on the subject of the transportation of the American prisoners now in this country, to the United States, and of the late unfortunate event at the depot of Dartmoor. On the first subject, we agreed to advise your acceptance of the proposition of Lord Castlereagh, to transport the prisoners at the joint expence of the two countries. reserving the construction of the articles of the treaty, which provides for the mutual restoration of prisoners, for future adjustment. It was stated by us, and was so understood, that the joint expence, thus to be incurred, is to comprehend as well the re sonal exasperation of the soldiery, nor for, in its prosecution, as well by the military the more deliberate, and therefore more un- officers commanding here and at the prison, justifiable, firing, which took place iuto as by the Magistrates in the vicinity. I three of the prisons, Nos. 1, 3, and 4, but have the honour to be, with much respect, more particularly into No. 3, after the pri- your most obedient humble servant, soners had retired into them, and there was no longer any pretence of apprehensions as to their escape. . Upon this ground, as you, Sir, will perceive by the report, Mr. Larpent and myself had no difference of opinion; and I am fully persuaded that my own regret was not greater than his, at perceiving how hopeless would be the attempt to trace to any individuals of the military these outrageous proceedings. As to whether the order to fire came from Captain Shortland, I yet confess myself unable to form any satisfactory opinion, though, perhaps, the bias of my mind is, that he did give such an order. But his anxiety and exertions to stop it after it had continued for some little time are fully proved, and his general conduct previous to this occurrence, as far as we could with propriety enter into such details, appears to have been characterised with tenderness, and even kindness, in the light in which he stood towards the prison-quisite tonnage, as the subsistence of the ers. On the subject of any complaints against their own Government existing among the prisoners, it was invariably answered to several distinct questions put by me on that head, that none whatsoever existed or had been expressed by them, although they confessed themselves to entertain some animosity against Mr. Beasley, to | whom they attributed their detention in this country-with what justice, you, Sir, will be better able to judge. They made no complaint whatsoever as to their provisions and general mode of living and treatment 9 in the prison. I have transmitted to Mr. Beasley a list of the killed and wounded on this melancholy occasion, with a request that he would forward it to the United | States for the information of their friends at home, and I am pleased to have it in my power to say, that the wounded are for the most part doing well. I have also enclosed to Mr. Beasley the notes taken by me of the evidence adduced before us, with a request that he would have them fairly copied; as also a copy of the depositions taken before the Coroner, and desired him to submit them to you when in order. I cannot con. clude, Sir, without expressing my high sense of the impartiality and manly fairness with which this enquiry has been conducted on the part of Mr. Larpent, nor without mentioning that every facility was afforded to us | prisoners; and moreover, that measures of your office, to attend to this enquiry in per- Plenipotentiary of the United States at this son. On that supposition we have stated to Court, and to the British Government. The the British government that we should re-mode of executing this service must be left commend to you the selection of Charles to the discretion of Mr. King and his colKin, Esq. as a fit person to conduct it in league. If they can agree upon a narrative. behalf of the American government. If of the facts, after having heard the evidence, Mr. King will undertake the business, heit will be better than reporting the whole will forthwith proceed to Dartmoor, and in mass of testimony in detail, which they may conjuction with the British Commissioner, perhaps find it necessary to do, if they canwho may be appointed on the occasion, will not come to such an agreement — We are, examine the persons concerned, and such Sir, your obedient humble servants, other evidence as may be thought necessary, (Signed) H. CLAY. and make a joint report upon the facts of the case to John Q. Adams, Esq. Minister R. G. Beasley, Esq. ALBERT GALLATIN PRICES CURRENT in London; Prices of FUNDS in England and France; and Number of BANKRUPTCIES in Great Britain, during the last week. BREAD.-The Quartern Loaf, weighing 4lb. 5oz. 8drams, 11 d. WHEAT.—The Winchester Bushel, or 8 gallons (corn and beer measure), taken on an average of all the prices at Mark Lane Market, 8s. 3d. MEAT. The average wholesale price per Pound weight, at Smithfield Market, where the skin and offal are not reckoned at any thing in the price.--Beef, 64d; Mutton, 64d.: Veal, 81; Pork, 6d; Lamb, 840. WOOL--Vigonia, 16s.; Portugal, 3s.; Spanish Lamb, 9s. 3d.; Leonosa, 7s, 3d.; Segovia, 5s. 9d. ; Seville, 4s. 6d. ;--This wool is washed and picked.-Wool Imported last week:-From Germany, 28.800lbs,From Russia, 144,000lbs. BULLION.-Gold in bars, £ 4 98. per ounce.-New Dollars, 5s. 7d. each.-Silver in bars, none.- ENGLISH FUNDS -The price of the THREE Per Centum Consolidated Annuities, in Bank Paper; 563. FRENCH FUNDS.-The price of the FIVE Per Cents, in gold and silver money; 62. BANKRUPTCIES.-Number, during the last week, published in the London Gazette, 27. Printed and Published by G. HOUSTON, No. 192, Strand; where all Communications addressed to the Editor, are requested to be forwardeda 1 VOL. XXVIII. No. 10.] LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 9, 1815. [Price 1s. d. [322 call on you and the rest of the Ministers, to cause America to be deluged in blood, for the security of England. They even now, already, bewail the dismantling of our fleet, while the American States, as they say, have formed the "malignant design" of building each a 74 gun ship, without any tax imposed by the General Government. But, it is towards France that their ef forts are now directed. That fine country they want to see ravaged, torn to pieces, the people all murdered, and the whole region left a wild wilderness. They are incessantly calling out for what they term Botley, 5, Sept. 1815. There you are, then, in the marrow of the counter-revolution now! Not, that I can suppose, that your Lordship will take delight in seeing the French Protestants stabbed, shot, ripped open, and burnt over slow fires. To delight in torture, to feel satisfaction at hearing the cries of dying, belongs only to men, who resem-justice on criminals, though it is notorous, ble what we are told of deyils. But, though you must commisserate the poor Protestants, I am going to shew your Lordship that there are others, and those others Englishmen too, who do not, and who, indeed, justify such acts, when committed by Royalists. that, if Louis XVIII. had not abdicated the throne of France, James II. never abdicated the throne of England. Still, however, one would have supposed, that even these men, certainly the most bloody that ever put pen to paper for the press, would have stopped short of justifying the massacre of the Protestants. Herbert Marsh, John Bowies, and Rowland Hill, will hardly go this length; though we do not see their pens in motion in behalf of these unfortunate victims of Royalist fury. The TIMES newspaper, however, that advocate for the Bourbon government, goes the full length in the following words :-"We hope the Allies "will not withdraw from France until they see all the parts of the social ma "chine in regular and accordant operation. In the name of humanity, let us The TIMES newspaper, which is the organ of a large portion of the people of London, especially the rich, speaks of these massacres in the words which I shall presently quote. From the day that the allies entered France, this man has been calling out for blood. He and his fellow labourers, before the battle of Waterloo, represented the main body of the French people as being zealous on the side of the King. After that battle their toue changed. Napoleon, when he was disposed of, was said to have been nothing," though it is notorious, that he was, before" not have the prospect of a new revolusaid to be, every thing. In short, these "tion the moment this unhappy nation is basc hypocrites are now calling for the "left to itself. Let us see the laws put in unnihilation of France. They now plainly full and vigorous operation, the most say, that it is the resources of France" dangerous criminals punished,, and the which they wish to see destroyed. They," others removed from all possibility of from time to time, express their longing" again disturbing the order of the world. desire to see America annihilated too. The "Nor is it less necessary that adequate battle of New Orleans, however, added. compensation be made to those who in to the naval victories of that republic, in- "the course of the last rebellion have sufduce them, for the present, at least, to "fered for their fidelity to their King and refrain from calling out distinctly for the country. We see in the instance of murder of the American people. But, "NISMES, that a refusal of justice by when they have finished France, or rather," those whose duty it is to restrain crime if their wishes with regard to that country "by punishment, drives the injured indishould be accomplished, they will then "viduals to take into their own hands the L 66 "exercise of an indiscriminate vengeance. "The Jacobins have made loud outcries "about the cruelties, as they call them, "which have originated from this re-ac❝tion; and they affect to attribute them "solely to religious bigotry: but the "truth is that the difference of religion, "though it might aggravate, would never "have excited the fury of the insurgents. "Most of the inveterate Bonapartists "and Jacobins in that part of France ८८ happen to be, (or rather to call them"selves) Protestants; and these men, "during the rebellion, had committed the "most unwarrantable violences on their "more loyal fellow citizens. At the re❝storation of the King's Government, was naturally expected that these crimi"nals would be punished, and the delay,or "rather total denial of justice, produced "an effervescence in the public mind, "which unhappily led to the violences "complained of. Whatever WEAK "MINDS may think of the magnanimity | "of indulgence to crime, a due execution "of the laws, a justice tempered, but not "annihilated, by mercy, will always be "found to afford the best security for pub❝lic peace, and to constitute the most truly PATERNAL GOVERNMENT. Thus, then, we see it openly declared, that PROTESTANTS, having been the most zealous friends of Napoleon, and the most active in the revolution, ought to have been put to death by the king; that it was naturally expected by the loyal that he would put them to death; and that, he having denied the loyal justice, they, at NISMES, took the infliction of vengeance into their own hands. Your Lordship will certainly agree with me that the man who promulgates sentiments like these, must be amongst the most base and most bloody of mankind; but, what will you say of his readers? What will you say of those, by whom he is encouraged and abetted? We here see, in an English daily print, published in London, the murder of Protestants, the stabbing of them, the shooting, the cutting of their throats, the ripping of them up, the holding them over a slow fire, ascribed to an effervescence in the mind of the loyal part of the community; and we also see, that it is asserted, that weak minds only are shocked at such acts. This massacre of the Protestants is a very unfortunate event for the friends of "social order." Rowland Hill declared that he believed Napoleon to have acted under the immediate influence of the Devil; and, of course, that we had been, aud were still (in March 1813) giving our money to carry on a war against tě Devil. But, the Devil, to do him justice, had instigated Napoleon to nearly anni hilate the power of the Pope; to put down the Inquisition in Spain; and to protect effectually the Protestant Religion in France; and, as soon as we had overcome this Devil-directed Champion, it did unfortunately happen, that the old Papa of Rome regained all his former powers; that he had the impudence even to restore the Jesuits; that the Inquisition was reestablished in Spain! that all the friends of religious liberty in that country were persecuted under the name of Liberals ; that to hold liberal, or tolerant opinions, in a country where we had accomplished our purposes, was punished as a crime. And, it has now happened, that, in France, where the Bourbons have been restored by the force of our taxes, and where there are more than half a million of English troops and of German troops, subsidized by Englund, the Royalists, the friends of the Bourbons, the enemies of Napoleon, the "Royal and Christian army," as the TIMES calls them, are cutting the throats of the Protestants. So that, you see, my Lord, if Rowland Hill was correct in his notiou, about the immediate interference of the Devil with Napoleon, the Devil was a very good friend to liberty of conscience and the Protestant Religion. The TIMES says, and truly, that it is not just to ascribe these horrid acts solely to religious bigotry. To be sure it is not. The same bigotry existed in the time of the Directory, the Consulate, and the Emperorship; but, the Royalists and Priests, those dear and inseparable associates, were absent. All religions were tolerated under the revolutionary governments. An religions were upon a level. All lived in harmony together. Men were not thought the worse for having no apparent religion at all. But, when the fo reign armies carried back the Bourbons and their Royalists; when the Triests were re-introduced; when the way-sides began to be again garnished with crucifixes, then the work of cutting the throats of Protestants began. The pensioned Burke, the Rev. Herbert For the continuation of this Letter, see the two last pages; the Titles, Contents, &c. for Vols. 25, 26, and 27, being printed on this she t, to save expence to subscribers.-N. B. After the sheet is folded the usual way, let it be cut into four parts, and separated. Marsh (also a pensioner), John Bowles, the Dutch Commission Loyalist, and the famous Old George Rose, all assured this nation, that it ought not to grudge its money to carry on a war, which, as they said, was absolutely necessary to the preservation of "our Holy Religion." What they might mean by "our Holy Religion" is more than I can say; but, if they meant the Protestant Religion, the present scenes in Europe are a delightful commentary on their text. The war has certainly restored the Inquisition to Spain and Portugal with all its ancient splendour; it has made the Pope more powerful than he has been for ages; it has revived the Jesuits; and finally it has let loose the knives of cutthroats against the Protestants of France. I think, that GOVERNOR STRONG of the State of Massachusetts, who called this war of ours "the Bulwark of Religion," must, by this time, begin to look a little as if he were ashamed of himself. The Cossack Priests of that country, who are never ashamed of any thing, will, I dare say, brazen out their couduct to the last. But, GOVERNOR STRONG, who can hardly have arrived at such a pitch of hardened impudence, will, I should imagine, now be sorry for having been so far fed astray by the spirit of faction and of envy. in England are not satisfied yet. They stare at one another; ask what news? No one can tell them. They are, in general, afraid that all will yet not end well. They are ruminating sometimes on the amazing glory that has been acquired; but, then, some how or another, their joy receives a rebuke from their fears. Big John Bull sitting in his easy chair, swelling with pride in contemplating the lofty monument of Waterloo, awaked, all at once, from his sweet reverie by a tap on one shoulder by a Collector of poor-rates, and on the other by a Collector of King's taxes, would make a picture truly enough representing the state of the nation. People know not what to think. Their vague hopes from success in war are disappointed. They feel no benefit, no relief from their burdens. And, they have little hope for the future. Farmers con plain; tradesmen complain; labourers and journeymen complain. The narrowing of discounts in Threadneedle-street was absolutely necessary to keep down the Exchange; but, it strikes a blow on all those who pay taxes without receiving, any thing out of the taxes. To make the taxes bearable, Paper must make prices high. If prices are made high, the paper is cheap, gold is dear, and the Old La ly, the real supporter of the war, and the gainer of victories over France, is smothered in her own rags. What a death for so venerable a Dame! "The cutting of the throats of the French Protestants is little known in England. The thing is smothered, in the usual way. There will be more persons well acquainted with it in the little State of Delaware than there will be in this whole kingdom. It is one of the things which do not suit. But, if it were universally known here, I do not think it would create any great sensation, especially if it were to appear, that the Protestants were friends of Napo But, our Church, where is its Protestant zeal! Far be it from me to find fault with the Prince Regent's mandatory letter to the Clergy to preach and make collections of money in behalf of the Waterloo Fund. On the contrary, I wish that all the money for carrying on the war, for subsidizing German armies, and even for the support of the sinecure placemen, and the greater part of the pensioners, were raised in the same way. But, as there have been subscriptions for Spanish Patriots, for German sufferers, for French Royalists, why not a subscription for the suffering Protestants of France? We pay annually pretty large sums for the support, even toleon, or Manufacturers. However, from this day, of French Protestant churches. And, shall we not draw out a few pounds for these newly persecuted Protestants? The Church has hardly had time yet to put itself in motion. In the course of a month we shall see what the Bible-Societies and the Clergy will be able, or willing, And now, my Lord, what is to be done to effect, in behalf of our suffering fellow-with the French? Beloved, piternal Louis protestants in France. XVIII. and his paternal race. must be in a strange situation. If they remain under the protection of foreign bayonets all their It is very strange, my Lord, but it is not less strange thau true, that the people this state we must be roused in the course of a very few years. The fashion of the time is an admiration of Germans and German Whiskers. This fashion will not last. The tax-gatherer will put all to rights. |