Star. — London, England, 1805-09-10 00:00:00

PRISONERS OF WAR. We yeltentay Inferted a part of the Correfpondence between the EDO& and F ench Governments relative to prifookrs of war, ard particularly the cafe of Captain Wright. Upon a confidera tion of the importance and novelty of the queftion, we think the public muff with to fee the whole of the Correfpondence.— . We. therefore. enntinut our eatrafts this day, and than give the maciefino re-morrow. COPY OF A LETTYR FROM LORD H•RROWDY, TO THR CHITALthR D'ARDVAGA, DATAD JULY let, 1804. " Sir—The obitacles which have been oppofed by the French Government to all commurication between the two countrie', as well as the want of any authentic information refpefting what paffes at Paris, have hitherto prevented me from expreffing his Majelty's fentirnents, as to the manner in which a Britith Officer. of diftingustbed charafter, is raid to have been treated. As, however, an opening appears to be offered (in confequence of the eonveifation I bad the honnur of holding with you on Monday laft) of apprifing that Government, through the medium - :he Spanith Ambaffador at Paris, of the light in !rh his Majefly views the proceeding which isun .ll,ind to have taken place, it is my duty not to the opportunity which you are pleated to zfford of endeavouring, by reprefentation, to avert the ilequences which mutt follow to great a violation the rights of nations, and the ufages of war. ' If the accounts publifhed in the French papers corral, it appears, that Captain Wright, corn tding his Majeity's fhip Vincejo, who was taken the coaft of Brittany. on the soth of May laft, veral gun boats. infiead of meeting with that :ral treatment, which has uniformly been experi :ed by French officers, in fimilar cafes, was tent, :h circomitances of peculiar indignity and feveri to Paris, fubjated to clofe confinement in the .mple, and obliged to undergo repeated interroga tes before a Court of Criminal Jultice. It is unnecefary for me to enter into the difctif ,n of thofe pretences, by which this treatment is Attempted to be ;unified, as none of the fans alledged would, even if true, autborife the French Govern ment to confider Captain Wright in any other light in as a prifoner of war, and as entitled to every vilege of that fituation. To call upon a prifoner of war, to anfwer inter aigatories, in order to produce proof againfi himfelf, of tome alledged crime, fuppofed to have been com mitted, previous to his capture, and even anterior to , relent war, is evidently inconfittent with every inciple of juttice, and to abridge his perfonal h .q. much more to confine him as a prifoner of le, is contrary to that mitigated exercife of the fights of war, which has formed the boaft of civilifed ',ltrope. " I have been direned. Sir, to ftate thofe fend, :nts to you, is the confidence that you will take e fill opportunity of conveying them to the Spar 1111 Ambaffador at Paris, and of requefting him to :o'nmunicate them to the French Government. " His Majelly, ever unwilling to add to the ca lamities of war, is defirous of trying, through a friendly channel, to procure that retina, by remom 4 trance, which he mutt ultimately be compelled to by means lefs agreeable to, his inclinations. ie wilt abfiiin from having recourfe to thole means, bile he entertains the hope, that filch an anfwer will given through the fame channel, as may fatisfy is jull expectations ; but, if he learns that, nntwith., itanding this reprefentation, the imprifonment of Captain Wright is fill continued, he will no longer I feel himfelf jultifiee in delaying to treat with the fame rigour, tome officer of equal, or fuperior rank, whom the chance of war has placed in his power, and• to confider fuck officer as an boftage for the fafety of Captain Wright. " I mutt beg you, Sir, to accept my belt thanks for the obliging manner in which you have allowed me • make ufe of your ineFrvenuon, upon an occafion interefting to humanity and to Mike. I have the honour to be, Etc. (Signed) nmotowirt." 'levy sncLosotto yams MR.COORI TO MR. MARSDAN. " Hit tvia;eftys thip Tbdens, Port Royal. Jamaica, Dmeglber sr, sBo3. • Sta.--Qn the morning of the 30th of Novem ber, I received orders from Captain Loring to pro ceed to Cape Francois to afcertain the real fituation of the French, and the rcafon of their remaining in the port, after the forts had been taken poffellion of \sy the Blacks; and, from my knowledge of the cir :umaanees, to ail as I fhould deem molt expedient. • When I had proceeded as far as the entrance of the harbour, I was met by the guard boat, which I thought proper to accompany on board the Surveil 'lante. I acquainted Captain Barre, that, having perceived the colours of the Blacks hoifted at the batteries, and every appearance of a ftrong north wind coming on, which would ucceffarily prevent their putting to tea, we were induced by motives, which always agnate a civilized people, to afford them once more an opportunity of entering into 'terms of capitulation, which would cifdlually pre. •ent their falling into the hands of the Blacks. They inllantly prefented me terms of capitulation, to which contented, with Come exceptions, and for which I received General Boyer's and Captain Bane's word honour, (in the pretence of the Officers, whofe names are hereunto fithfcr ibed) that they would alter according to my explanation, or Captain Loring's, ',he fenior officer), on their arrival at Jamaica. 4 ' I was difpofed to concur in this arrangement the ,more readily, as I was allured, by Captain Bane, that they were threatened with being fired upnn with rcd hot fhot, if every [hip was not out of the harbour by fn o'clock that evening. The time was critical, And I conceived it neceffary, in order to prevent this threat from being carried into execution, to have fame written dociment immediately to produce to Gene. tat Delfalines, to prove to him that they had become prizes to his Britannic Majelty's fquadron. On my waiting on the Black General, at half call five o'clock, it was with confiderable difficulty I prevailed upon him to &fig from his intention of 'firing into the [hips, if they did not kirre the Cape within the appointed time ; althosgh, at this time, it was an impoillislay, the wind blowing direa into t h e harbour, and nothing, hot their , laaeing farren dered to the fquadron of his Blitannill Majelly, pre vented him from doing to, 4:0. 64 I feel extreme furprife, Sir, in heating that Ge net al Boyer and Captain Barre, have refuted to make the alter atirms they had pledged thcmielves to do, on their arrival at Jamaica. They are well aware of the cirmingtances under which the capitulation was • made, as well as the urgency of the time, which ad mitted only of verbal explanation and parole evidence. " According to thofe explanations, the ad and sth Articles of the Capitulation were greatly refit-Wed. from the fenfe which, I underhand, they will have them to bear. " By the sd Article, it never was intended that any but the Officers fhonld have their parole; and that only to return to Europe, meaning England, in order that their exchange might be effelled without delay. And the sth Article meant only, that per tonal property lboutd be refpetted, of courfe without including merchandife, or public property, \which might be found on board the 'easels. " I have, &c. (Signed) lon* BERGH. " To Sir Join Duckworth. &c. &c." "We whole names are hereunto fubferibed. do tef tify to the truth of the above explanations, of the 2d and sth Articles of the capitulation off Cape Fran cois, and likewife of the promife made in our pretence by General Boyer and Captain Barre ; that they would ratify them accordingly, on their arrival at Jamaica. (Signed) John PRRLINS, Captain of H. M. S. Tartar " RANCIS MACDONALD, LiMIL Of H. M. S. Them. "EDWARD WROT Mitithiptnan of ditto." Admiralty-Me. July ty, " Sit —I am commanded by my Lords Commit (loners of the Admiralty to tranfmit to you herewith the inclofed copy of a letter from M. Riviere of the office of the French Minifter of Marine, to the Com miffioners for Iranfports, relative to the capitulation of the enemy's forces at the ifland of St. Domingo, and to requeft you will lay the fame before Lord Camden, for his Lorelfhip's information and direc tions thereupon. I am, &c. WM. MARSDEN. " Edward Cooke, Ffq aces " TRANSLATION FROM THE TRENCH, ENCLOSED FROM MR. MARSDEN TO MR. COORS. " Paris, lath June, Ike. GENTLEMEN—The Minifter of the department of Marine and Colonies being informed, that the crews of different veffels, as well as the leveret garri fons which evacuated the Cape in the ifland of St. Domingo (in virtue of the capitulation madeon board the frigate la Surveillante, the 3oth Novembero 803), are detained prifoners in England, his Excellency has ordered me to claim, in his name, on the grounds hereinafter Rated, the return to France of thefe crews and garrifons, in conformity to the fecond article of the Lid convention. " It is conceived in thefe terms—" The Garrifon of the Cape, einbaried on board of the iferent snide, and the crew: of thefe wireklhall be prifoners of war, and fent to Europe, as fovea as ;Ingle, upon their parole not to Jove snail exehanged, &c." " It is readily to be conceived, that the fpirit of this article would, for greater exadnefs, requies. the word France to he fithattuted for that of &grope. " But it would be an offence towards the Englifh national charafter, to fuppofe that its Government could take advantage of a mere clefs& of precifion in the choice of words, to infringe a capitulation, of which the fpirit is fo explicitly developed by the very conditions which they who capitulated have fob fcribed. " In effete, if the intent and fpirit of the capitula Lion had not been, that the garrifons and crews, who thereby conllituted themfelves prifoners of war, Would be fent to France, the fooneft poflible, inflead of being detained in England, it is evident that their conveyance to Europe would not have been !hackled' by the condition of giving their parole not to ferve be fore being exchanged. " No doubt but the military men on both fides, as well thole whom the events of war forced to abandcin the putt which they had to defend, as thofe to whom they were forced to yielk: it up, frankly and fairly un der-flood the fpirit of the conditions which they fign ed, without a grammatical arrangement of the phra feology. And they never fuppofed that any difcuf lion about mere words, would afterwards arife triton a matter fo thoroughly ellahliffied by the 'effential condition of Article 2. "His Excellency is therefore led by his own innate equity to think, that if the Britith Government be lieves itfelf authorifed to retain the troops and tai lors, who capitulated at the Cape, that belief can only be owing to its not having fufficiently fixed its attention on this fecond article of tl-e capitulation, and efpecially on thefe expreffions, which form fo very effential a part thereof, viz. " andjkall be Ant to hope on their parole, not to ferve until exchanged" " His Eseellency orders me to requelt you to lay thefe important obfervations before the Lords of the Admiralty ; and he likes to cherith the belief, that the very line of consiud he himfclf would purfue; in a firnilar cafe, namely, to conform to the manifeff fpirit of the capitulation, will turn out to be that which their Lordlhips will not hefitate to adopt in this. His Excellency obferves, that the misfortunes of war are ftifficiently grave in thcrufelves, without thofe perfons, who, called by their places to fuch ex tenfive influence- over the lot of humanity, defcend ing to aggravate them by retorting to evafions and quibbles unworthy their public charader. " It is come round to his Excellency's ears, that certain perfons in England have fuppofed, that pri loners of war, fent back to France upon parole, have been there employed, before they were exchanged.— Without chuffing to dwell upon an allegation, which has only reached him indiredly, his Excellency, however, charges me to acquaint you, that no infrac tion of this nature has taken place. " On the other hand, I have laid before him the repretentations which you have defired me to fubniit to him, concerning the treatment of pi Miners of war, detained in France. " His Excellency has very lately had occafron to carry on tome correfpondence with the moft diftin. vaned amongft thefe prifoners, and nothing in the cootie of it, has led him to perceive any tendency to complaint on this fubjea. Neverthelefs he has, in afmuch as the police over them depends upon the Miniller of War, applied to the Manna of the Em pire, having that department, for proper attention to be paid to your reprefentation on this head, Would it prove founded. And, as Coon as his anfwer (hall come to hand, you fhall be informed of the real (tate of things, " But, you may rely upon it beforehand, gentle men, that none of the duties which humanity pre . fcribe s in favour of prifoners of war, will he neg lefted ; for loch is the formal intention of his Imperial l Majelly. I have, &c. (Signed) " The Commlirioncre of his &karmic Majelty's transport fir ice be continued-] LONDON. TUF.SDAY. SEPTEMBER PRICE. OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK: Coofols, for massy 54 38—for O.L. 011111111 M at—Each. Balls, Is. prem. PRICE OP STOCKS YESTERDAY: 3 per Cent. Conf. Ann. s 8 371 Imperial 3 per Cent. At 5 per Cent. Navy 84 85: I Exch. Bills, is. prem. lodia is. a as. di& I Conf. for ace. 54 South Ssa Stock 63t A detachment of the Guards, amounting to 4400 men, havereceived orders to hold themfelves in readi. nets for embarking on foreign fervice. They are now quartered at Deal and the neighbourhood, and the tranfports dellined to receive them are affembled in the Downs. The troops expell to embark in the cottrfe of the week. _ _ A Cabinet Council fat yellerday at Lard Hui- GRAVE'S Office, on bulinefs conflated with the new Continental Confederacy. The deliberations con tinued about three hours, after which a Mellinger was fent off to his Mo.; airs , at Weymouth. Thole of our contemporaries who were the molt averfe to credit the potfibility of a renewal of halal ties upon the Continent, are now among the louden to proclaim its approach, and Come of them are even taking credit to themfclves for the fagacity they rnani felled in prediaing the event. In 14, no perfon can now that his eyes to the dangerous Rate in which Europe has been placed by the rapacious ambition of the Curtain Adventurer ; and the only thing fur- prizing is, that the 'awl& ads perpetrated by the French Government; fence Europe was mocked with the name of peace, did not long ere now batten on that cries which every on; now confiders as inevitable. • It is Come time fine we hinted thal the large army affembled at Boulogne" oftenfibly for the inv.lfion of this country, had for its real objea the invefion ~f Ger runny, as loon as matters should be ripe, or Auftria thould endeavour to throw any impediments in the way of BONAPAILTE, to the execution of the plans which he had formed of annexing to his dominions all the neighbouring petty (fates. The event has juftified cur fufpicio . n. It now appears, that all the pre tended regrets cf, the Cabinet of the Thuilleries, at the probable profpe!k of the peace of the Continent being difturbed, were mere crocodile ef fufions to gain time to ripen more effeilually the plans it had formed, for giving to BONAPARTR the fovereignty of Germany as the fowler of Citatt- MAGN t in the Throne of France ! It is the chlsralter of that Conn to temporize and dillemble. We bad a ftrikirg inftance of this, avowed lately is the Moniteur : Alluding to the period when Lord Won.- WORTH demanded an anfwer of his paffpfirts in 36 hours—" /Var, (raid the frionjw), from that mo. meat wab inevitable t but, to lave the French Sips at lea, Government thought fit to gain time, otherwife Lord Witsvvroavn would have ber thrown into a poit-ehaife, and fent off to Dover. '! Evadly of the tame nature were the late recom mendations of France to Auftria to lend her media tion to avert a war between the former and guffia. She had Come frontier points to put in fafety be fore throwing off the malls. That heing once ef fected, and her armies on the Rhine, Count Co asarzst. may thrciw hirnfelf into his carriage, and take the ihurteft route for Vienna. Indeed, it is ftrongly reported in fome political circles, that the Auftrian Minitter has ativally quitted Paris. In point of fad, it matters not whether that event took place laft week, or' will not happen till the week to come. War is decided on between the two powers, and the mere. etiquette whether he °ball withdraw himfell, or be ordered to retire, is a matter of indif• feteuce. War with Germany is now the topic of public con verfation in Paris. Every engine is let to work to influence the people in its favour, and to render it po_ pular. The government agents aired, that it will be a war of three months only, and that the French Emperor will diaate the terms of pFtee at Vienna before Chriternas l That a vigouroas effort will be made to penetrate into Germany befOre FIAIICIS can be prepared to give that refinance which a tew weeks more would have enabled him to do, we have no doubt ; but we do not think Auftria is unprepared for the war. It has long forefeen it, and has been taking meafures accordingly; and the Ufurper probably meet with more difficulties than the pride of his foul has allowed him to contemplate. In the lack of freth continental lournals this day, the following letter from Paris, copied from a morn ing paper, will futon our readers v i ta (come inter ening particulars'of the reports circulated in that capital. " NUB, AUG. 25. " Count CODENTZEL had yelkerday a conference wi h Tit xi avILAND, which laded fa hours, a'lter which he difpatched a Courier to Vienna. He has fence made arrangments, indicating the near approach' of his departure from this capital. A Continental war is confidered here as inevitable, and excites no flight murmurs and ditcontent. The Agentsof the Police, however, :alert that its duration will not exceed three mon►hs; as the Emperor of the FRENCH will, before Chriftmas, didate at Vienna, a Peace to the Em peror of Au STRIA, and as fucceffor to CHAQL►uAGH6, add the Imperial German biadetn to the Croivas of Italy and France. TALLEYRAND has fent orders to our Diplomatic Agents• at the Courts of the petty German Princes, to deinand an tiplicie declaration of the line they mean to adopt, in the event of a rupture with A n .. trig. Our MiPUNT at Ratifbon, BACeikt, 114 direftions to lay before the Diet, an extraordinat. Memorial on the fame fabjeft. The plan of the cam paign is faid to have been already drawn up by BR. Twili t eiltMOT, and Am:saws:4 and laid before B NAPALTM. It is reported to be the fame as that cf tBOO, with the exception, of fame alterations, rem. dered neceffary by the movements and menaces of Ruria. • _ " it is generally believed here, that Hanover is to be evacuated by our troops, and occupied by Pruffi, and that the line of neutrality will extend as far a s halt war, perhaps fo as to include Frankfort on the Main. Two Senators from that City are now ti er ciating with TALL/TR/lUD on the fubjea. Th e &vat Army of England is to be called the Army o f Anthill'. The command has been offered to Me:. INV*, MIDONALD I and Bawls, who are Paid to have declined it. Jou 'DAN, Berry at, Sou r, d'AvoosT, and Maebtawr, are now mentioned as thole who are to have the prominent fitnations in our armies. 44 A confiderable ferment is Paid to prevail it Switzerland and the Grifon Republic. Several fufpefted Swifs have been feized by our Go vernment, who will be kept as hoffages for the fide. lity of their countrymen. Our confcripts defect in great numbers, and therefore cordons of Gen: &Armes are formed on the Swifs, German, and Ba lavisn frontiers, to intercept their flight. Several bo. dies of confcripts have alto of ambled in the Weller"' Departments, and particularly in La Vendee ; but a flying column of ;2000 men, detached from the ar. spy of *nosegay, is Paid to be on its march to thefe departments, and will therefore loon re-eitablifis order, and difperfe the difairefted." I•. Lord Kam on Saturday gave official 'mice, that the tranfportyiying in the Downs, between two and three hundred, are perfectly ready toteceive troops; this notice will, W. 'epee, be very fbortly followed by an order for immediate embarkation of the troops sießined for the expedition. . The aft Regiment of Guards, which arrived at Chatham lag Saturday and Sunday week, have re ceived orders to prepare for embarkation, and are in daily expedition of being ordered to proceed on board tranfports at the Note or elfewhere. The 13th Light Dragoons, now quartered at Ramfgate, have received orders to hold themfelves • in readinefe to embark at an hour's notice. The 25th Light Dragoons, commanded by the Duke of Cuss ieteano, have received orders fromhis Royal Highnefs to keep themfelves in readinefs for foreign fervice, at a moment's warning. Sir &DRAY Salm, is to Natal Adm. Douosts in the command off Boulogne, I.ord OARDNIIR is arrived at Plymouth, prepare. tory to !miffing his Rag on board the TOPAZt frigate, in order to reform his command on. the Irifh Ration. Mr. Kamm', his Lordosies &Ovary, left tows yefterday morning to join the pliant Admiral. 4 cartel which carried Spenills prifoners to Vigo and Cormma, has reunited to Plymouth. Whillt Ike was at Vigo, the Captain of her rowed round the Atlas, of 84 guns, and two Spinals (hips of !befit*, which were left there after the action of the zad.— They were fo damaged in the action thst they will not be ready for fea for tome time. Friday the Right Hon. Sir WILLIAM GRANT, Mager of the Rolls Jessie Dasar unit, Efq. the Countefs Dowager Of Ritoinoroa the Hon. J. W. Wien, M. P. and the Right Hon:NJ/Ismail Dant. MOND, Jtc. arrived at Edinburgh. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has been pleafed to appoint Hswey %ovals, Efq. to be Co lonel of the South Mayo Battalion of Militia, in the room of Domisecit Gansraey Baowne, Efq. refign ed, and to fjgn s commillion, dated the 24th of Au• gun, log, accordingly. The Earl of HAIDWICKS'S letter has come over, recommending the Right Honourable STANDISH O'GRADY to the fituation of Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland ; and Mr. ' , mons antiMr.Bosii a, to be Attorney and Solicitor-General. The Irith Solicitor General, Mr Psoir CET, is join. ed in Commiflion with the Hon. Mr. Ju ft ice Fox, for the Connaught Circuit. Lieutenant General BURTON is arrived at Cork to take the command of the South Weft Dihia ; Ma jor General CAUFAG/IS returns to Bandon. Briga dier General DARBY is shortly expeacd, and is to have a command in the Diftria. The 47th regiment has arrived at Belfafl, to re. place the 63d, now encamped it the Curragh. Baron Waascist, a Steed& Nobleman, and an Officer in the Guards . of that nation, is arrived at Edinburgh, on a tour to the Highlands. In a few days the Camp at the Carragh will break up, previous to which the troops will be twice re. viewed by the Commander of the Forces. Wednefday last the company of Yagers at. ;ached to the Sixth Regiment of Loyal London Vo. hinteers, Lieutenant-Ct.lonel WIGRAM, tired for gold medal, which was won by Mr. J. BANKS. • On Thurfday lett, the fix troops of Percy Tenantry Volunteer Cavalry vieresdifembodied, after flax i•A been eleven days on permanent duty at Alny.ick. They were reviewed on the preceding Tneidav by hisCrace the Duke of NORTHUMBSRAAND, and in fpeaed on the Wednefday by LicutcfAnt Ctlonsi Rawoos. The Peadinefs and attention of the men, the precision and correanets 'in their evolutionary movements, were in both inflances highly a pprov edof. The Bithop 'of CARLISLE, on Sunday fe'nnight, preached an excellent fermoa, in the Cathedral of Carlifle, to a crowded and elegant congregation amongtt whom was the Earl of Sr. Vie cx KT. Captain 1-1/IaVRY is appointed to command the Srawjaao, of 64 guns, at Woolwich. 'Assize OF Bah A n.--This day there being no Court of Aldermen, the Lord Mayor. after initiating the Meal Weighers' return., ordered the price of Bread to be reduced 4d. per Peck Loaf. I ! i of Appriiipg of the Spani t which his M derflood to I , '; lofe the opp, ..1 I zne, of ende • 1 cPnfequence tt • ' of the right, " If the s are corral, ;\ manding hit off the roan by fcveral i i liberal treat, t enced by F with eircum 1 ty, to Paris Temple, an tories before " It is UT is Lon t Con of thof, attempted t. . I would, eve went toe(); than as a pi • 4 privilege of " To cal .. ..... • rogatories, . t of fome all mitted, pre , ',j', t the prefent r -, principle of betty, muo state, is c; ,i rights of w i. I 1 Elircpe. . " I hay. .1 • ments to y I the firft op l i t nifla Amba co'nmunic " His I • !amities o friendly ct /trance, w leek, by lie wiliab I ' while he e • 'I be given t his jilt ezi , l i 1 . handing t 1 . 1 . 1 . , Captain V 1 . feel himfel fame rigot iii whom the ~, ; ; to ,con fi de .. 1 1 Captain V " I mul . I . I ‘ the obiigit t, to slake u 1 equal', in , 11 i 4e Isamu VI 4COPUOIT II " SLIt . •• i i , 1:i her, I re< e eed to C tI !I of the Fr the port, !!, ; by the /31. I cumaanc " Mae 1 The harbo 11: thought i tante. I perceived i • tatteries, 1 '0 wind con I their put, which all • them ono ' • 'terms of vent thet inflantly I confent received of honou names u accordini (;he feni, I on • PM MO I:( Shat they ', red hot I by frz o' I And I co ,I i threat fr Ii , written ; 1 , tat Deff, . - 'prizes tc • o On , ' call five . I prevai I :, the strin g withinhash it t . ; 1 i tn t hee w toasi a t s tßei a t, 1 ; I , venteddt hheeeriercdiarti • ~, ‘ ~~