The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-06-27 00:00:00

PRISONERS OF WAR.

Mr. N. CALVERT rose for the purpose of mov-
ing, that the returns upon the table of the French
Prisoners of War, who had broken their parole, be
printed. lie emphatically directed the attention of
the House to the large number, and to the rank of
: many of the officers included in the list. He lament-
ed that we were compelled still to have the disgrace
even of retaining men in England, who had thus
' shewn a disregard of the most sacred principles, and
who proved so unquestionably the present abandoned
state of the French army. He deprecated severely
the permission that was given to so many foreigners
to enter this country, and thought that the laws
of Japan, which prevented all intercourse with
China, were preferable to such indiscriminate inun-
' dation. At the same time he felt the propriety of
paying reverence to the sacred laws of hospitality to
such as, driven by calamities from their owu, sought
refuge in Great Britain.
Lord CASTLEREAGH contrasted the conduct of
French Officers under the old regime, with the de-
meanour of those under the new. Formerly such
' men as had thus degraded themselves, instead of
being, as at present, restored to their ratfk in socie-
ty and in the army, were considered so debased as to
he unworthy of the company of their fellow men.
He regretted that the list presented was so numerous,
and if this disgraceful practice were continued, the
Uriiish Government would be compelled to adopt
measures which would render the situation of French
prisoners of war much less comfortable.
Mr. BA:LING referred to the case of a French
General Officer, who had twice broken his parole '
of honour, and who, in consequence, had been
confined on boatd one of the prison ships at Chat-
ham. It appeared to him that this punishment was
more severe than was suited to the rank and educa-
tint, of this Geetlearati, since he was lodged in the
hold with four hundred of the common men, atul
was, according to his own statement, covered with ,
filth and vermin. The lion. Member had heard of
• several instances where British Officers in France had
broken their parole, and escaped to England.
Sir JOHN SEBRW HT thought that the treat-
ment
the officer alluded to received was perfectly
just, since he had shewn himself unworthy the so-
eiety of any bat the lowest of mankind.—[learl]:
He had resigned all claim to the title and to the
treatment of a gentleman.
Mr. CHOKER said, that he was fully aware. of
all the circumstances of the case referred to. This gen- i
tleman (he apologised to the House for giving him a .
title to which he had no right)—this man had been
allowed his parole when he first arrived in England, •
and had broken it. Upon various representations
it was again allowed him, and he again broke it— •
[lleur, hear .9—The statement of Mr. Baring, was
from beginning to end erroneous, but he was not
surprised that the individual who would forfeit his
'honour, would pay no regard to truth on the repre-
sentation he had made to the Hon. Member. lie
' (Mr. Croker) had visited the prison ships at Ports-
mouth, and the iiersons confined in them, were happy
and comfortable :—they were perfectly cleanly and
were provided with every kind of amusement—even
music and billiards.—Wegr, hear !I—He hate no j
doubt, that the prisoners at Chatham were in an
equally comfortable situation. Ile regretted that so
many inducements were held out by Englishmen tot,
French Officers to break their parole. These abet-
tors were -very numerous; and even Gentlemen of
high respectability were sometimes induced to sign a
. Memorial to the Transport Board, praying that Wl-
eers who had once broken their parole should be j
again allowed that privilege. Ile hoped that the
conversation of this night %mita put a stop to the
yam. variety of applications to him and others upon
the subject. 'Whenever any complaints were made,