Star.
London, England, 1814-02-26 00:00:00

PlacetoittlealliaEd 'difficult, as it is important,
am, standing,- cheered and animated in the.
discharge of its duties, by the•conviction that I shall
always meet with your- suppprt, in maintainingtht
honour, and promotinkthe serviceof my Severe**,
To forwar4 the prospenty, and to preserve the
grity of this Province, are objects of which I shall
Heuer lose sight; and confidently relying on your core
dial assistance for their attainment, it will be my
treat ambition to be able faithfully to representto his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, the loyalty, teal,
and unanimity of his Majesty's Canadian subjects, and
to carry with me, whenever I small return into the
Royal Presence, the good oplidetirand the affection of
the people of this Provinc4.' • • . •
Pncitt.2k.O.ttOki. •
BY HIS RICRLLENCY LIRIIG4tHruttAL SIR G. PREVOST,
HARt. COMMANDSR OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES IN
NORTH AMSRICA, &C. &C. &C.
To the lsahahltiats et 7 MajestraPrwrioces to North America.
The coMplete success WhiCh has attended his Ma-
jesty's arms in the Niagara frontier, having placed is
our possession-the whole of the Enemy's posts on that
line, it beconitia matter of imperious duty, to reta-
liate on America the miseries which the unfortunate
inhabitants of Newark had been made to suffer upon
the evacuation of Fort George.
The villages of. Lewiston, Black Rock,- and Buf-
falo, tvee accordingly been burned.
At the same time-that his Erielleney the Com-

wander of the Forces sincerely deprecates this mode
of warfare, he trusts, that. it will be sufficient to call
the attention of every candid and impartial person,
both amongst ourselves and the enemy, to the cir-
cumstances from which it has arisen, to satiify..tbem
that this departure from the established usages of war
has originated with America herself, and that to her
alone are justly chargeable all the awful and unhappy
consequences which have hitherto flowed, and are
likely to mink froth it. •
It is not necessary to advert tothe conduct of the
troops employed on the American coast, in conjunca
tion with his Majesty's squadron, under Admiral Sir
J. B. Warren, since, as they were neither within the
command, nor subject to the controul of his Excel.
lency, their acts cannot be ascribable to him, even if
they wanted that justification which' the circum.
stances that occasioned them so amply afford.
It will be sufficient for the present purpose, and in
order to mark the character of the war, at carried on
upon the frontiers of these provinces, to trace the line
nI conduct obseried by hivErceltency, and the troops
under his command, since the commencement of htss-
tilitiss, and to contrast it with that of the etteiny.
The first invasiow of Upper Canada took place in
July, 1812, when the American forces, under' Brig.-
Gen. Hull -crossed Over and took possession of Sand.
wich, -where they began-to manifest a disposition so
different from that of a magnanirstous enertty, and
Which they have since invariably displayed; in mark-
ing out as objects of.tbeir peculiar resentment, the
loyal subjects of his Majesty, and in dooming their
property to plunder and conflagration.
Various instances of this kiid occurred, bath at
Sandwich .and its neighbourhood. at the very period
when his Majesty's standard •ss as -waving upon the,
Fort of Michilimackinac, and affording protection to
the persons and property of those, :Niro had submitted
to it. Within a feW weeks 'afterwards, the British
flag was also hoisted on the Fortress at Detroit, which,
together with the whole of the Michigan terrauf-y,'
had surrendered to his Majesty's arms.,
Had not his Excellency been•acruated by senti-
ments far different • front. tlaMe.which. had influenced
the American Government,l.artd. the' persons em-
ployed by it, in. the creator, ads of destruction of pri,.
vate property, conimktestdrieing theirshort occupa-
tion of a part of Upper Canada, his Excellencpcould
not have failed to have atiaile/i bintseifof the oppor-
tunity which the undisturbed possession of the whole
of the Michigan territory *afforded him of amply re-
taliating for the devastating system which • had Wei
pursued at Sandwich and on the Thinks: •
But strictly in Conformity ;o the views and digits.
..sition of his own Government' audio:thin liberal rand
!-tinagnanimous policy 'which ithad.dictated; he'cbase
rather to forbear arrimitation of the enemy's cram.
ple, in.the hope that such forbearance -would beltulf
appreciated by the Government of the United Brats*
and would produce *a return. to the more civilised
usages of war.
Tne persons and property, therefore, of the ;Ms
bitants of the Michigan territory Were respected, and
remained unmolested. •
In the winter of the following year, when the -anc
cess which attended the gallant enterprise vein*
Qgdensburgh bad placed that populous andflo
ing village- in our possession, the generositi'otjltp
British- character was•again cnaspicuous'in the Salo!
p dons preservation of every article which Could be
raSniiderecCas private-property ; such public buildings
only being destroyed its were used-for the PeC01171)0,
dation of troops and for public stores, •
The destruction of the defence* ofrpgdensburgh,
and the dispersion of the enemy's to +, iq that:**
bourhood; laid open the whole of .their" frontief
the St. Lawrence to the incursions of his ti44,kiite,s.
troops, and Hamilton, as well as the numemas eft,
elemcotson the bank' of the River, might, at isty
boor, had such been • the disposition of hut Majesty
Government, or of those acting under it, been plan-
tiered and laid wkste.
During the come of the following summer, br
fortunate result of the enterprise against Plattsburghi-
that town was for several hours in the complete pos-
session of our troops, there not being any force in the
neighbourhood which could attempt a resistance; yet
even there, under circumstances of strong temptation.
and when the recent example of the enemy, in the.
wanton destruction at Yrrk, of, private property, ands
buildings not used for military purposes, must, how.
ever, be fresh in the recollection •of the forces em.
ployed on that - and would ha- 'ustifleslAa'

t'ttioZ

frotitier, arhoth Of __
wai rest:setts/4 I asstelsel
: likaliWtet- .• , .
destroy.ed. .c.-.l.bet ; ....ifclutl etit 11,1 L. ...i,ct cc •'1 •
destroyed.
- . n*
ctitibn,
duet pursired-'l*. hist Eitellersit ; 40,• ~sli 'gent
ilecasions• *wetskt have had • its IV gll'et molds the
American GOVATIIIIItIIt, and. would llawet'led li:tO
home Absta4tedcirs „theinetbecpeeeecution of she -earn.
-Woe any we of wenteraaesa er vialteee which could
only tend'uniniclitari to add to its ,car it arl, cala•
mities, and to bring down upon their b tinliffend-
,ing citizens n•tatelfWestr which, thOugh ifittaht, they
must have knOwn'tvdttld temait and certainlrfollow
such conduct. • .
Undeterred, however, by Excellency's example
of moderation, or by any of the consequences to be
apprehended from the adoption of such barbarous
measures,' the American forces at Fort George, act-
ing, as there is every reason to believe; under the or-
ders, or with theapprobation, of% their Government,
for some time plyricius to their evacuation of That
'fortress,- undet various peiteliee,bliened and deettai-
ed the farm-houses Ana bilitelligir 'of many cit the
respectable and • peaceable initatinanu of 'that neigh-
bourhood. But the fulissamere of this, species of
'barbarire remained to he -.completed.. at_ a: season
when all its horrors might belinore fullY,-4/Id.lfeenly
felt by thOse who were to 'became the wretched
victims of it.. -
It will hardly be credited by thoebilho shall here-
after read it in thepar.ot Name& *et, intim en-
lightened era of the 19th cetiteuryl..eld,;itk tile jade:
. . cy ota Canadian iltitie;;- the tops of ination
calling itself Civilized and tititillettil,- 'hid'' wantonly,
glut
__without the shadow cof. ii peeeetti- forded 400
helpless women and children WA*, their dwellings,
.and to be the mournful spectators of the conflagration
and destruction of all that belong to them.
Yet such "Pa the fate of Newark on the 10th of
Deedllher-eday Which the inhabitanti of Uppei
Canada can never forget, and the recollection of
which cannot but enerve their arms when-agaie op.
posed. to their vindictive foe. On the. night of that
day the American troops, under Brigadier-General
M'Clure, being about to evacuateFortGeorge;which
they could nolonger retain, by an act of inhumanity
disgraceful to themselves, and to the nation to .whic6
they belong, set Are to upwards of 150 hodses, com-
posing the beautiful village of Newark, and burned
them to the ground, leaving without covering or
*shelter those 64 innocent, unfortunate; and distressed
inhabitants," whom that Officer, by his Proclamation,
.bad previously engaged to protect. -
His Excellency would have ill consulted the hon Our
of his country, and the justice due to his Majesty's
iaiured and insulted subjects, had he permitted an
let of such 'needless cruelty to pass unpunished., or
had 4e failed to visit, whenever the -, nortunitt ar.
-rived, upon the inhabitants of the neirthn, urine Ame-
rican frontier, the calamities thus infie• d upon those
0,
of our own. . . . . .
The opportimity has occurred, .and a full measure
of retaliation hai taken -place, such as it is hoped Will
teach the 'enemy to respect in future Ile laws of War, ;
and recall -him to a sense of what is due to himself at,
well as to us. ._ , . . ..,
' • 1
In the further prosecution of a contest. to which eb!
extraordinary a character has been given, his Eteei!
leney niust be guided fry the course of Conduct which
the enemy shall hereafter pursue. Lamenting, as bt,
Excellency does, the necessity imposed upon him of
'eetriliating upon the subjects of A merit* the miseries
indicted on the inhabitants of Newerk, it is not hive'
intention to Pursue farther ,a system of warfare so
,reireltihg to his own-feelings, and so liule.congenial
to the British-character, dnleu the fatale measures of
the enemy should compel him' again to resort to it. • •
r, s:e those possessions *the enemy along the whole
Hue a frontier, which hive hitherto remained undie:
turbid, and which are now within his • Excellency's
itosich;and at_the meitey of the troops under his tom.
maid,' his' Excellerky his determined to extend the
same forbearance, and the same freedom from rapini
and plunder, which:l4*y have-hitherto- experiencedl
,the' ftolo.4his .deteresination the -future -c,,ncluet dt
Arnerieanigoverement shall alone induce his,
Ititelleney to dePiut.
'the inliikanis of these provinces will:* in 'the
mead- ll* iiii litepared to resist, with firmness a 4 i
courage, ialtsillver attempts •the resentment of the'
enemy, arising from their disgrace and their merited
sufferings, may lead them to make, well assured that.
they will be powerfilly assisted at all, points by the
troop under hie. znellelncy's command: and that
•empt esid4gikal vengeance wilfbe taken fel. eyery,
*Omit.' 'by the enemy from that :rite* of
Isetufdre akiefrought alone to subsist betweeli siffigh-
lietied Anil chitized nations..; - "1:
I tiiiveo ueder my band and seal et arms, at *aka,
ity,esh
' this 12th day of January, 1814, . - ,
OdOttOn PREVC)ST.

- ,'

.. . • -1
The Adlivres,', g t cruise,
.the
I ter ate •
simrican brig True-blooded Yankee, of 18 guni and
aeseue,,for some hours, during which she gained on
. tentslind at length reached so near as to begin to
-,bar small calls,. preparatOry to laying her
:..
.. Tile chase „hoisted' an American ensign,
,4)014;y4t veld tan 9% her guns; but finding the-
iiaiis stilt itiirupg,..4c Owew Jur spars, boats,
nilAtinii, civerbeiid, rind cut het' auchora from her
s. whith gave leer so decideita Superiority in sail-
' g, that she left the ACHATES at the rate .of half a
mile an' hour, and night coming on, obliged Captain
blenalsort tbitasikellUthe lied, the Isle of Bas being
‘lrigse
ithnle two leagues distant. •It was-in contemplation,
itt,lll..tinte, to throw her gonsoverboards close with
dpe'l9jarican, and board her.. ! ,
i 'ffse 'Gazette, of this evening, will,coetain, besides!
'thidispatches received on Tliorn4yfroen Francsund
Canada, the official account of 'the'cipture of the
French frigate! Mkt**, acid Islphigettle!. .nii.
or Maiiiim
ft

)bheettid
the
by

ployed on that occasion, and would have justified a' two French frigate! Mkt**, add Islphlenie. The
retaliation on their part, their forbearance was strongly fries were OW rbis idth 'lomat; off Madeira.
manifested, and the direction* h& Excellency bad, The Commotipre, cal4aia Vw+astlaws,- tutpbew of
fovea to the Commits* of Wit:, ition so sc!:s
..,the late Adhural log that name. was mad enough to
puloudy obeyed, that statcely * other instanse„r* akyglitie they eljost she boom, wry.
be shown, to which, 4004 a hate of war, and under. .4,00 F labOar.rijog Pigitoliebooteded
sitnil.r dire de1,!"'704 $ll3l-1.1 under PrriOd, ..ctsweitisnewk ipleasvOlui Avail*
sly power and It in!, wer.l.P!FPrits tvidt 411ilisplyatplisilliddownz
so little cam, of tdinr.nr,i -..• .a- 'I.:1 ' •• ' 41.111,11, !Ant' out of.
Dating tWebul gj14.4140 summer, Fa lts
*Own itad the afilipAig. Wit Marinignalitril • • Alkausummiusaisisse44lli-
tibak fitcgt lore* eget pcsausa geese, • itia opCipjtions: :4* sii,!r!
• • •