Star. — London, England, 1810-12-15 00:00:00

rGE OF PRISONERS. I ' nom THE MONIMIR.- 4 - cower,uprio PROS[ THE STAR of YESTERDAY. • No. VIII. After some observations, Mr. Macken zie says :—The principal objection Stated against the counter-project is, that the fulfilment of its execution depends upon- the will of others. This is inevitable, in a transaction in which so many different Govern. ments are interested. It is impossible to avoid some delay, or to guarantee, under all possible cinatm stances, the execution of a principle, however gener il its adoption may be. An objection similar to this, advanced against the British counter-project, might , be well applied to the French project, since, not withstanding the enunciation of the principle of the universal exchange in some of its articles, the ex , ecution of this principle, as far as appertains to the exchange between France and Spain (without naming any other GOvernments), depends on the cow eau of the respective Governments. The only - point propo.ed, which should be definitively decided, was the restitution to France, without delay, and in mass, of alLthe French prisoners in England, and to England of all the English prisoners in France ; a • stipulation, all the advantage of which, notwithstand ing the singular arguinent of M. Dumoustiet, is on the part of France. Even according to theproposi • tion.last transmitted, the full execution of the prin ciple, as to 'all the French prisoners in Spain, and the surplus of Spanish prisoners in France, would depend en the success of the intervention of the British Go vernment as to that of Spain. - , M. Dumoustier will therefore remark, that in esta blishing that the execution of a principle, adopted at the same time by the English Government and that of France, should not be left at the discretion of what he thinks proper to call the insurrectional Governments of Spain, he substitutes for a principle really adopted, viz, the general exchange of all the prisoners on all aides, the principle put forward by France, viz. the liberation of all the French prisoners in England, to gether with that of all the English prisoners in France; .and then, because the Measure proposed does not agrees in certain points with the execution of -a prin ciple which England does not admit, he complains that it annuls or eludes the consequences the most important, which England does not admit. ,It was not within the competence of the functions with which MoDumoustier and the undersigned are charred, to establish, or even to discuss the question . illative to the Government of Spain. The Under . ,signed must, however, observe, that a Government coabie of putting armies in motion, and capable of, sitaking prisoners of its enemies, is, at least, compe teht to treat with these enemies for the exchange of Its prisoners. That Government, which Great Bri. tain acknowledges for her ally, ought, at least, to be consulted by her as to what concerns her interests, her sentiments, and her honour. It is for that Go vernment to decide, whether it wishes to obtain the deliverance of so many thousands of Spaniards, who may co-operate in its defence, in allowing for the - price of that advantage the deliverance of so many thousands of Frenchmen who may co-operate in at tacking her. It does not belong to the Undersigned to anticipate 'upon the probability of the duration, and on the final issue of the contest ; but if the overthrow of this Go . vernment is so certain and so near, that there is not even time to communicate the terms of a cartel, he . cannot refrain from asking what are become of all the arguments employed with so much warmth to in duce Great Britain to exchange the French prisoners in her power, together with the Spanish prisoners in the power of France ! If the war with Spain is in fact so near its end, what reason can there be that in such a case Great Britain should be ready to make a sacrifice for their exchange ? It should still be observed, that the plan now pro- posed by M. Doumoustier, differs considerably from that proposed in the French project, by which the alternative was established, of sending the Spanish prisoners in France, into England, or into the dif ferent towns in Spain which might he agreed upon.— Fhe last part of the alternative is alone admissible. It is not just that the embarrassment and the expente of the transport of her allies to their respective coun pies, should fall upon Great Britain. The only pro .per and equitable principle is, that each of the con. Sracting parties should engage to transport into their bespective countries the prisoners which are found in their possession. The undersigned is charged, in consequence, with infpnuing M. Dumoustier that this part of the pro position contained in his note is not admissible. Mr. Mackenzie is further ordered to add' to Mr. Diattrustier, that the British Government does not feel itself bound in justice to make any addition to the: humane and liberal proposition which has already been made in its name. It does not find itself dis posed to depart in any degree from its tenor. Nevertheless, to establish the sincerity of its desire to effect an exchange and a cartel, if possible, in a point of view still more clear, the. undersigned is au thorised to propose an additional article, which ought entirely to- remove the apprehensions of the French Government, of the possibility of a continuation of the captivity of its subjects, after all the British subjects shall have been liberated. M. Dumoustier disavows an intention of agitating 1 a question which he feels is misplaced, relative to the) treatment of French prisoners in England ; yet, not- I withstanding his disavowal, he enters into this mis- I placed. qpestion. Mr. Mackenzie will not imitate him, but simply assures him that the discussion itself is not more misplaced, than the enumeration of facts which M. Dumoustier advances is erroneous. If any convenient opportunity offered to enter into those de ,.tails, the undersigned declares that the British Go vernment will be able clearly to.prove that the in formation on which the French Government founds its opinion- on this subject, is altogether without foundation. He is sorry to be obliged to observe, that all comparison which could be made between the 1 situation and treatment of prisoners in Great Britain and France respectively, cannot turn out but in fa four of the former. - The British Government has charged Mr. Mac. -kenzie to declare, that the number of Hanoverians buying been fixed after the most attentive researchei Land consideration which could be given to the subject, 1,4 cannot depart from his proposition. „;Stri . th regard to Denmark or .to Russia, Mr. Mac kenzie cannot conceal his sutprize that M. Diunou- sties coarld - maintain that there existed, pith respect to them, a material omission in the British project, of which the first, the second, and the sixth article, com prehended the allies of both parties. If Russia and Denmark are allies of France, they will find them selves comprehended in these articles. If they are not so, what right has Great Britain et France to mix i their interests in this Convention ? Nevertheless, Mr. Mackenzie is authorised to an nounce, that there will be no difficulty in understan ding the principle of the British projet in regard to the Russian and Danish prisoners respectively, and that the British Government is ready tq enter into an ar rangement with these two powers, upon the basis of the project which has been offered in their name. (Signed) c. A. MACKENZIE. ADDITIONAL ARTICLE PROPOSED. In the state in which the Spanish Government is, tke terms of this Convention will be communicated ; but, as its acceding to the terms cannot be notified in less than three months from the date of the signa ture, the French subjects who may be prisoners in Great Britain or her possessions after the exchange of prisoners respectively, as expressed in the five first pa graphs of the fourth Article, shall be liberated suc cessively, without delay, by successive conveyances of one thousand men each, on proper receipts, in the form which shall be agreed upon, and upon the 'posi tive engagement (ratified by the French Government) that they shall not serve either upon sea or land against Great Britain, or any of her allies, in any country of the world, before they be regularly exchanged for similar British prisoners, who by the chance of war may fall into the hands of , the French, and who shall consequently be liberated from time to time, until the surplus of French prisoners formerly mentioned shall be discharged. A similar exchange will take place according to the sth and 6th paragraphs of the fourth Article. All the Officers not and those who may he permitted to return to France, as it is expressed abnve, must also be considered as if they were upon their parole of honour, and shall be bound to trans mit a regular report of the place of their residence to the Blitibh Agent in France, as was the practice List war. IX. Letter from Mr. Mackenzie to M. Dumoustiez, MorLair, August 25, Sir—Waving waited with anxiety for some comma nication upon the decision of the French Govern. ment, whether acceptance or refusal, relative to the proposition which I had the honour of presenting you on the morning of the 2d instant, which has hitherto detained the messenger and the vessel, I present my self in your house at the expiration of fifteen days, and to declare to you verbally, " that I received in structions to wait with patience during a length of time for an answer to the propositions which I have made, and that in case they are not agreed to by the French Government I shall return to England." I am at present desired to inform you, that the British Government feels itself repugnantly forced to con clude, that the disposition of the French Government is of a nature which renders a prolongation of the ne gociation useless ; and I am ordered to beg you will have the goodness to demand my passports for my immediate return to England, Ste. In No. X. (August 3.) M. Dumousteir resumes; and repeats, _ _ Ist. That the French Government offer s a general exchange, man for man, and rank for rank, consider ing Spaniards, Portuguese, English, French, Italians, &c. upon an equality. This is most just and rea sonable. 2dly. France also consents that all the French pri. soners shall be sent to France, and all the English to England; but as the number of French prisoners ex ceeds that of the English, they shall be sent to France on their parole, subject to the conditions of the addi tional article of the 3d of August. idly. Lastly, France at once consents that an French prisoners in England shall be liberated, but she never can consent to liberate only a part, and abandon the majority in England, without guarantee or hope. No. XI. Another project of a Convention for the Exchange of Prisoners, presented by M. Dumoustier, with the preceding note, dated the 30th of August. No. XI I. Note of Mr. Mackenzie. The Undersigned Commissary for the exchange of prisoners of war, has transmitted to his Government the Note of M. Dumottsteir of the 30th of August, together with the project there referred to ; and is charged, in answer to that communication, to in. form M. Dumousteir that his last project is in many respects inadmissible ; that it appears by his Note that he raises no objection as to.the basis of the British project, and that the difficulties regard merely two points of detail, namely, in the first place, that which regards the additional article regulating the de scription of the surplus of French prisoners remaining in England, on the supposition of Spain refusing to accede to the Convention • and secondly, that whi c h respects the number of French prisoners to be libe rated on account of the Hanoverian army of Count Walmoden. The British Government has considered these two points with the some disposition which it bath ever bestowed in doing away the - difficulties, and kath con tributed to the final success of the negotiation by every reasonable concession; and finding that, though ad heriog faithfully to the principles which it bath before manifested, and which it still maintains, changes might be introduced in the details of the Convention, of s I nature to give satisfaction to the wishes of the French Goiernment on that subject, he is freely disposed to offer them, in expectation that these alterations in the terms of his project, being the last which can b e ma d e on his part, will be found also the most acceptable, and that they will enable the French Government to . furnish its assistance heartily and candidly to bring this prolonged discussion to a happy termination. As, on the first point, the objections of M. Dumous. tier had a reference to the setting at liberty the sur plus French prisoners in England, and to the deter mination of an exchange between Fiance and Spain: and as the point upon which he insists is the libera tion without delay of all the French prisoners in Eng. land, in exchange for those of Great Britain and her allies now in France ; the British Government bath consented to !bake such a modification in its project as may be able to fulfil that object which M. Du.i moustier bath considered of such great importance. Instead, therefore ' , of sending, acc„,raing to .the' stipulations of the original Brit:ss proposal, the ex ,change of the surplus of French prisoaers remaidulg. itu England, for the surplus of Sfanish prisoners re maining in France, even to the full coMpletion of ex change,. man for man, and rank for rank, between France and Spain, Mr. Mackenzie is authorized to consent that the exchange of the surplus of French prisoners, who possibly might remain in England at the conclusion of the cartel between France and Eng land, should take place immediately, and without waiting for the conclusion of the exchange of man for man, and rank for rank, between France and Spain, or, in other words, the British Government consents to anticipate the exchange of the surplus, and thus to accelerate by this concession on their part, the liberation of so many French and Spanish captives. The unileisigned is charged to declare in addition, that by a communication which hath been made by l the Spanish Government, through its Minister resid. ' in g in London, the British Government is fully au thorized to accept, without more delay, the exchange of Spanish prisoners in return for French prisoners, in the proportion abdve ment:oned; and that the Spanish Government hash equally made known its disposition to accede to a convention for a general exchange, agreeable to the terms which for this end. may be agreed on, under the mediation of Great Bri tain ; and Mr. Mackenzie cannot help observing that this circumstance readers the entire discussion on.the additional article useless and superfluous. As to the second objection raised by M. Dumous tier, relative to the number of prisoners to be given up in tegard to the Hanoverian army of Walmoden, he requires, that, in reckoning of that number, those who might have entered into the service of Great Britain should be taken into consideration. The Bri tish Government is disrised, in like manner, to ac cede terthis proposition ; but the extension which M. .Dumoustier hath given to this demand is altogether inadmissible : no computation which could be made with any degree of exactness could raise the amount of the loss of those Hanoverians to the British service beyond the number of one thousand, in place of what was before offered as an equivalent. Mr. Mackenzie is authorized to consent that 3000 French prisoners, instead of 2000 formerly stipulated, be set at liberty in consideration of the Hanoverians comprehended in the capitulation of Count Walmoden, who either now are, or who may have hitherto been in the Bri tish service; that numbest of 3000 being independent to the total amount of 1905 men, immediately to be liberated in regard to the garrison of St. Domingo, as hath been agreed upon in the communication made by the Commissaries of the Transport Office to M. Riviere, of the 19th of January last. Mr. Mackenzie hash the honour of presenting now to M. Dumoustier, the minute of a project, which does not differ from that before offered by the British Government, but in the alterations necessary to be made with regard to those two points, and at the same time to inform him that no o the r alteration, or the giving up of any thing, can on no account be admitted. By presenting his final proposal to the rienCh Go vernment, and in offering to it the bounds of a series of concessions to which the British Government has been carried, from sentiments of humanity aud con ciliation, Mr. Mackenzie is charged to impress on M. Dumoustier the conviction of the numberikke ex tent, and the value of these concessions, and td recal to his attention how every new step of this negotia tion hath been .accompanied with a new proof of the liberality and candour on the part of the British Government. • The points in dispute relative to the capitulation of St. Domingo, and the exchange of the ci%il sub jects of Great Britain for French naval and military prisoners of war, and to an equivalent for the Hano verians, to an exchange of French prisoners in England for those of other countries in the hands of France, and to the immediate' liberation of French prisoners for Spanish, and to the chance of a surplus which might remain without any balance, h ave b een successively conceded4by Great Britain, though con. formably to precedents, and also agreeably to receiv ed usage, they might, in turn, insist on some recipro cal conditions on the part of the French Co yernment. Mr. Mackenzie must in conclusion observe, that in virtue of the abovementioned concessions, the French Government, in acceding to the liberal pro positions now offered, for the last time, by the British Government, will obtain the setting at liberty of al most 5000 men, independently of the final liberation of 45,000 other Frenchmen, who are now in, the power of Great Brinain. Mr. Mackenzie has the honour of renewing to M. Dumoustier, the assurances of his high consideratin. (Signed) C. A. MACKENZJE, Morleir, September if, No. XIII. is the project of a convention for an ex change of prisoners presented by Mr. M'Kenzie, and which appeared in our paper of the 27th ult. No. XIV. Note of M. Dumoustier to Mr. Mac kenzie, October 7. The undersigned Commissary for the exchange,of prisoners of war has transmitted to his Government the Note of Mr. Mackenzie, of the 22d of September, and the Project of Convention annexed thereto. He is directed, in answer tothis communication, to declare that this arrangement will meet with no opposition on the part of the French Government, provided the. 'British Government consents to modify the first, se cond, and fourth paragraphs of the fourth Article of the project, as shall be here mentioned below. In the first paragraph, it is wished that he follow ing alterations should be made . ; "All,thitish prisoners ofall ranks and degrees, detained in France or Italy, or in the dependencies of France and Italy, shall be set at liberty, and their exchange shall immediately commence after the ratification of this Convention, by sending them to Deal or Portsmouth, or any other port in the Channel that shall be agreed on, or by assigning over to the hands of the British Crmis sary, who shall be nominated to receive them, a thousand English pris on e rs , an d two t h ousan d o f allies of England, for three thousand French priso ners, or of the allies of France, who shall be set at librty by - the British Government, as stated in the said paragraph." In the second paragraph we propose, that all the- French prisoners of all ranks and degrees now de tained in Great Britain, or in the British possessions, shall be set at liberty ; their exchange shall take place immediately after the signature 'of this convention, and shall be carried into effect by successively send ing to Morlaix, or to any other French port in the Channel that mar be - agreed on, or by assigifug_orer into - the hurls or the French Cerritnissaries pointed to receive them, 3000 French:nen f or English, and 2000 of the allies of Engl ini, portion As the French G overnment shall Nil:, In the fourth paragraph it is wished tit th e ber of eight thousand Hanoverian: to be o l d for eight thousand French, be altered to that of thousand, as stated in the project, which will sion a total exchange of seventeen thousand v eri Ins who have capitulated, for less than La o number. The undersigned, on condition that these a , tinns be Admitted, is authori se d to .ign the; project. The alterAtions are founded on a pi to from which France cannot depart, that of cil i u m ; to the rher,ation of the great mess of E nglish soners, in proportion to the mass of French so liberated. The principle is that which has always been min ;ed, and particularly i n 178 0, when, to pin, I object, the excess of French prisoners was m L . ransom in money. England being unable to refuse acceding to a t , change of prisoners, including the Han , ,veri Ats, tuguese, and Spaniards, admits the pi iucipie ; 40 .4 that state of the question, she cannot deny th e j r of an exchange, man for man, and rank fur rank This mode of proceeding will establish v er y, a general and immediate exchange of all m e and all the English prisoners. The Spaniards th e may afterwards remain in France, and the Alli es ,' the French that may be in England, may b e i nc h ( under the 6th and following article. Mr. Mackenzie will observe, from the stm t of this answer, that it has ra.)t . been a subject cussion at Paris; it is conformable to all that dersigned has hitherto said in the discussiiin a t have taken place, that if England only wishes a p tial exchange, the negociatron may be conside n retrograde and broken off ; but if she wishes i t earnest a general exchange, it is imposdble ceive`any reason to preyen t h er a d opt i ng the eel; of removing all doubts. The Undersigned can only here repeat that es French Government will never consent to give 'vex English prisoner' that are in their power fora pat only of French that are in possession of England, old to leave the other part without guarantee in the hands of the British Government. Ns. XV.—Nete from Mr. Mackenzie. • Morlaix, October ie, 18% SlR—The determination of the French Core r& ment, thus repeated, to adhere to the reject on ir( the first proposition of the British Governmort, prev:nts the accomplishment of the general liberation of at the prisoners of war, and compels me, in cemplian ' with my instructions, to demand that you will ha the goodness to provide for me the necessary ps ports for my immediate return to England. Iha the 110110tIf to be, &C. (Signed) c. A. mrn7.ll. - No. XVL—Nute of M. Durnoustier. Morlaix, October 16,1810, hereby answer your letter of the Bth int, in which you say that we add the unexpected obstacle of loading the British Government with the arrange. anent of the expense and difficulties attending de conveyance of the Spanish prisoners, kc. Thi- SertiOn is not exactly true, and I am directed at to repeat to you what I have always hitherto hat honour of stating, that any question respecting monei will never prove an obstacle to the French Govern. ment, and that it will never be behind on any sub. ject of this nature. The British Government may determine as it pleases : to all its wishes France will give her assistance, provided that, in consequence the principle admitted in 1780, the exchange be nude en masse, and that all the French shall return to their own country at the same time that the English shag return to theirs. This condition is, and from the fug day of negotiation must have been, the " sine gin non." Every other consideration can only be regarded as matter of conciliation. It is the fourth time, Sr, that I have the honour of repeating to you the deter• ruination of my Government. (Signed) DUItOUSTUIL Ns. IWIL—Note oaf. bumeustier. Muria's, October t. Sir—The letter which I had the honour of writin; yon on the 16th instant, must have fully consigeett you of the desire with which my Government his been uniformly animated, of removing, by all the sacrifices in its power, the difficulties started by Eng• land against the carrying int• effect a general ex change, which must necessarily liberate, At the same time, on both sides, the great bulk of the prisoners of war. You will, without doubt, do me the justice, Sir, that en my part I have always seconded, AS maul as was in my power, the conciliatory dispositiin3fTuf i Government. I again give yost another proof of t in consenting to divide the question with you respecting the Itanoverians, and in only asking 6000 French ia stead of 8000, in exchange of 17,000 Hanovei:ans, comprised in the capitulation of Field-Marshal Coul.t Waltnoden.—l have the honour to be, &c. larks I 631 1(k , 'Ase , the 11 , 1 ' 'a c h a it of 4, o.!t kill • oc nd H a` hilfot t . )1 13 `se ,• 0 1141 "nfltlt S R , c.f. H.: . r J 9 6 +16 , , wei me t L. ; . to ; b y t the jut,. 1 to 4 h erY Gu t l / 4 .1 4 bt Itara s e . 19, aimnli c i ty NJ f.!CL of • At U. i ihes a p at . • Isiir T ed Toge es in p s d sle 4 .1 CtS. our ; fi t 1 R tpr Ridg t tit to ;ire up th di for a Pan flat: tl, ash L the Lai Be= Pri la, tat% Govern. on tt( the TL , prer:nrs 010 A on of alt I pmpliance Prn will lute • eel', ssary rah. N.] d. 1 htn )cmanr. r 16,1510, Bth inn. obstacle rd 'n l ' . te arrange- ov, nding the rte n This as. ch cted ag4il to had the ing tnoney h Govern. n any sub- ~ets assent mar ruler oil c m !guesser (I 1. e be Wit 2. urn to their 3. tglish shat • 4 int the fire " sine let: e regardci ' time, Sir, i the deter. ed) OUSTIIL )ctobtr if. • Of synths; convinced nmcnt i has is,i DiJUOUSTIER. (Signed) N. XVIII. Sir—l hive the honour of acknowledging tlle ceipt of your letter of the 26th instant, and am hap p! to observe there is a conciliatory disposition on thn part of the French Government; but I feel, at the same time, a painful sensation in seeing that you In' pose a diminution of the number (so often declarcd . as inadmissible) of the French prisoners, demand eJ in exchange for the Hanoverians of the army of Coul:: Witintoden. I have had the honour of repeating veryfreqUenti! my orders, which in this respect were positive , all d have now to inform you for the third time, that the British Government adheres to the just and equitab le plan of convention finally modified for the immediate exchange of all prisoners of war, and that in ca se it should not be accepted, I am ordered to return h e ' mediately to Engl a nd. (Signed) _SletelteSl TO -MORROW. Sun rises Sun sets, 1 Mann rises, S wwtes alter • 15S nnuutes alter $ f ntiuutes HIGH WATER AT I.ONDON BRIDGE TO-MOR Morning Afternooti LONDON Printed and published by LEVEL KENT, iTAA-Ottscas, 'temple-bar. and 'No. 1, Cary-wit!. NAM alter RROVi• 5 . 1, at tb'