The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-01-31 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

BRITISH PRISONERS IN FRANCE. .!

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATESMAN.
Stn,—Poor old England has to lament more than
20,000 of her sons drooping under captivity in France;
and yet, through our selfish indifference, we seem to
have forgot them. The few people who think of
them, and know their dreadful situation, seeing no
probability of a termination to the war, are terrified
at their sad prospect, and ask to themselves, how it
1 happens that an Exchange of Prisoners of War can:.
not be effected between two nations, the most civi-
lited in Europe. Those who, in political matters,
as well as in their own private affairs, endeavour
I always to see things as they would wish them to be,
Isay, without any further concern, with the periodi-
cal writers, who write after the same principle, that
the blame lies entirely upon the French Government.
i those, on the contrary, who do not seek for illusion,
but endeavour to see the objects as they really are,
and to make use of their own understanding to dis-
'cover the truth (however unßleasant it may he to
them), do not decide without examination, and
wilt impartially consider the matter. I fin 4.
1 that the first obstacle So lan Exchange of PrlS
sonera of War, between this Country and France,
has been the detention of our travellers in the
French dominion, whom Bon temtvt caused to
be arrested, - under the pretext that we had
taken at sea his ships of war and merchant ves-
sels, before the declaration of war, . and while
our Ambassador was still in Paris. Every body in
this country was shocked at such violation of the laws
of hospitality and of nations. The French Govern.
meet, however, were determined to consider these
travellers as Prisoners of War, and insisted .upon ex-
changing them according to their ranks ; but our Go-
vernment would not consent to it, and gave for rea-
son, that an exchange could not take place, en
any account, upon such terms, because, in ex-
changing our travellers, as prisoners of war, it would
be acknowledging an injustice unprecedented, which
was incompatible with the honour of the British na-
tion. But this, in fact, is false reasoning ; for, by
the )odi -'f

—Any impartial person must here confess, that
these proposals Were reasonable, and I cannot
possibly see why we did not accept them ; since
no objection can be made against them, though
proposed by our enemy. We have boasted very
much of the great sacrifices we have made to
bring
,the French to an Exchange of Prison-
ers ;—when, in fact, we did only what we should
have done, through duty, many years sooner, to
release our unfortunate countrymen; because, there
was no probability, that the French Government
:Would give sup their pretensions. By conceding to
them, we should not have forfeited our honour
more than •we have done afterwards.—Nov,
I am sorry to say, that, in refusing to adopt
this mode of evacuation proposed by the French, we
justify their distrust, and.render applicable to our-
selves the invectives we have poured against Boiva
Calera for having refused to make the exchange..
What a shame for this country ! it would be a most
desirable thing, if this matter could be settled, for I
foresee, that the French will never alter their plat? ;
whereas, in justice to our countrymen and allies, and
,for the interest of the country, we shall certainly he
obliged, at last, to come to it, as we have done to the
rest ; and, as I do not see any thing dishonourable
in doing so, but, on the contray, as we shall find in;
calculable advantages from it; then, the sooner we
should do it, the better it would be for us, and our
unfortunate countrymen. Why, indeed, should
they remain captives for ever ? If there had been any
good motives for their captivity, they would have
been produced before now; but the Ministerial
Prints have not said /word to what has been lately ad-
vanced upon the subject, and no wonder;- it is more
easy to be silent, than to answer evident and palpable-
truths. It is to be remarked, that the French have
not given up any thing in their principal request%
concerning the exchange; while we, on the contra-
ry, have granted every thing we bad refused, for
seven years, on account of the honour, the good,
and the welfare of the country. But, alas! bow
often these great sounding words are employed to
justify measures, which produce a result entirely

, -
Still, however, we think It highly necessary that in I the same mode of arguing, it might be said we en- ''
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lone, and remains with the East and West Indiamen, &c. , :' i 7
I opposite to their meaning; and which I apprehend '
the general revisal of the Police System, which we courage robbery, when we give up our purse to the •, to be the case here. For, in this unaccountable bu- TORBAY, Jaw. 39.
Yesterday, arrived his Majost's skips A 'neon rt and Light-
trust is about to take place, some attention should : highwayman, who demands it e ith a pistol in his ; shires there must be something wrong, and which
,Wing; and this morning early the Elizabeth 'man' °Iwo:: also a
• s
•
be paid to this particular part of the subject. It is l hand. Of what advantage is it to belong to a great ! re-masted schooner.
gives just ground for suspicion. Why should those three-masted ; •
notorious that men who have not had the advantage !and powerful nation, if when its individuals, sisitingl A brig was yesterday in great danger aear Solemnise. from •
who object to the exchange, have always had re- which place a boat went to her assistance, but was unfortuaately
even of a common education, have sometimes been ithe dominions of a foreign Sovereign, cannot find ,
, course to subterfuges, to prevent the matter from last and an her crew, consistffig of six people; and I am in-
appointed
Ir '
to the Magisterial Bench, Lo the manifest ! redress nor protection from their own Government 1 being
candidly examined 9 and fairly elucidated? forme., that the vessel is since also lost, and all her 'crew pe-
injury of the public cause : and it is high time that for the injustice committed against them ? These tra-
How is it that in a matter •of such importancee
a remedy should be applied to the evils so obviously 1 yellers were Englishmen ; and had nothing to do s 9ritedslOop belonging to this place was boarded on Sunday night ,1'
as thiss the Negotiator who treats for the ex- by a French cutter of 16 guns, about seven leagues routh.yi eft ) *.'
resulting from this most glaring and palpable defect. with •: attars ; their detention was an act of injus-
change has been appointed by the Commissioners of Berry-bead; after taking some ask they uttered the shop
Ia .
TheCommitteeof the House ofCommons are proceeding thet; but that injustice surely entitled them to, rather to proceed on bee voyage.
of the Transport Board, and the negotiation carried if.,'
in their great and important labours, and the ansipfy than excluded them from, the protection of their on in the name of those who have themselves the care TIM .61.e1RAEIN. ••
of the public in regard to the result is great lies mid country. They had a sacred right to its protection,
of the French prisoners. These Gentlemen, I have _.....„„,_
all maple, An effectual remedy Is confidetiee eke end therefore should' have •'been redeemed immedi- CORN EXCHANGE, Jaw. 31. •
no doubt, are very honest and disinterested. lam To day the Market has but short supplies of Wheat, the trade
petted; and this great object cannot be accomplished ately, or, at least, as soon as we saw the enemy brisk in Sale, and funy at last prices; some prime Dantric about 1,
not acquainted with their administration ; but do thee
without a thorough revisal of the present system of i persist in his pretensions. We could, at that time, / .e 6. per quarter—Rye at less—Barley likewise in short supply, I:
not derive some emoluments and advantages for their and dearer—Malt and White Peas still nearly at late prices— : j,
police. It is rotten to the very core, and will, lee ' have done it very easily, without injuring our iu- Beans of each description also rather g—There.are very few 1,?
care of the prisoners ? and, in this case, though theyo
are persuaded, be found the real source from whence terest. What were a few thousand French prison- arnyals of Oats, this trade ready sane,and again somewhat
\ '
act only under the direction of the Lords of the Ad-, dearer—Flour, in full stock, at late quoted prices. 1 • ,
all those evils have sprung that have occ.asionet such en for England, who had many thousands more in ere 74s 98s 1 Tick do. (new) .. 45 50 >,'Y'
miralty, and the Administration it prudent to trust ;;Ileanelitta 10:3 110 Do. (Floe Old) .. 52 54 .e • , 1
uuiversal consternation and dismay throughout all her power ; and particularly for such a purpose as to them the fate of our countrymen, upon which they Rye 4B 54 ' Oat'
the peaceable and well-dispesed classes of the con-1
that of rescuing our countrymen unjustly detained. Barley 3B 501 Poland do.
can have so much influence by the turn they may give melt 7B ,86 1 Potatoe do,
munity. The people, in their continued state a Y 1
e have seen, last year, that our Government have (boilers) 74 to r.ahip,e ;roe: r
i to the negotiation, and the manner of representing it ? , Z..ttedarval
85s 90e.
nightly dread and terror, look for an effective pre- changed their mind in this respect, and that, after 1 I
What has led me to these reflections is, that, in a Bans
'entire-system of police, for the protection of their more than seven years consideration, they have con- !
! journey I made lately into the country, I have had .
i —......
SMITHFIELD MARKET.—Jaw. 31. ,
' t ,
lives and property against the attacks of the nume- sented to these long-refused conditions of the enemy. ian opportunity to get acquainted with three Agents • To sink the Oral, per stone of titb. •
roes gangs of murderers and robbers, who, with if I I would ask now, if they could not hare done it at' for the prisoners on parole. I found they were very 1....:tet,.......5591..
Od.
tot Ls.. 11.. B Hetatis of Cattle this day :770
1 i
possible increased daring, continue nightly to menace , first, or many years ago, with as much proprie • t I
yt , much against the exchange ; and, upon examination, Veal ....7s. Dd. to Rs. 04. Sheep
our safety, and against whose horrific designs, to I honour, and justice ?—lint what a difference, tel ;Ts
I disctivered, that it was only because they should ti:Lrke'.7,..6o;, It to 701: tal, iiitsi I‘2o
280 * 1
tlw disgrace of the public authorities be it stated, we 1 for those unfortunate prisoners, and their fa. I
loose by it the very good salary they receive for HAY-MARKET. • , t
1 1
litre nothing but our own indis ideal exertions to op- milks ?—The second obstacle was the Hanoverians,ltheir trouble. The h
great personages w o were amongst Hay
Straw
pase, who, having capitulated to the French, entered af- the hostages detained in France, at the beginning of the Clover
—.mom.— • terwards into the British service, and for whom we' h II th ghth • W *nte t b h
war, avea , rou or oni res , eenexc ang- The
Grand Jery of the County of Duldin have
I IWe yesterday aaapuncest the (Wore, in the Me- agreed to send 3000 French prisoners without ex-
diterranean, of the krona frigate Pomona, of 44 led • b sor other,have obtained a passport voted Resolutions in favour of the repeal of the
, , or, y some mean
guns, by the Adige
of 38, altar, a smart
action,•
in change. Could we not have consented to that too Ito their native country : but, does it not hence appear I Union, The following are the two chief Resolu-
,.; It
which the Coustnantier of the latter, Capt. GORDONII I
several years before ?—The third obstacle was the as if we have no care for the other prisoners ? I twos :---
i " Resolved unanimously, That Iry are convince& from the
lust a leg. The Captain of the Pomona has been I Garrison of the Cape Francois, composed of 1905 1 The h • those who have rendered real ser.l
y are, however experience of thirteen years, that the Act of Legislative Union
permitted to teturn to France on his parole, and he I men, who capitulated in 1803, and were, it appears, ' boweea Great Bri:ain and Ireland bar been, and maw continuo 1
ivices to their country ; either in exposing their
has forwarded a letter to the Marquis of Heerreir, I detained
here, I do not know why, against the ,
, life, or in shedding their blood, for it ; mud, be- their
to be, &cause of opprenion to the Irish People—lnjurious to
Commerce-and destructive to their Trade and Masa-
informing his Lordship that his gallant relative, Ca terms of their capitulation, but were sent home,' factures.
lain Goitoort, who testa leg in the action, is doing , cause they are not Lords, or sons of Peers, must e Resolved, That the Repeal of the Union Aet, sad a Grant ,
however, last year. Could we .not, for the honour of the Prayer of the Catholic Petition, are both necessary to
LA. No other particulars are mentioned. they be sacrificed, and perish in captivity ? What , !
suirport the Strength, increase the Wealth and to restore Peace,
! ;'!
There is reason to hope that a satisfactory account of the country, have sent them sooner ?—The fourth !
, better cause for an Orator to plead ? What better Order, Good-with, and Unanimity, to this Empire
will very shortly be given by our cruizers of the two obstacle was, the exchange of our Allies, the Spa-l Accounts from all quarters state, that the Annivere IN
opportunity to show his talent, his and
humanity,
French frigates which lately ventured to sea. A let- niards and the Porto
guese. In reply to this, I
- . his love for his ceuntry ? What honour, what Wes- sary of Mr. Fox's Birth has been celebrated through.. 1
1
ter from Plymouth, of the 28th inst. says :--44 Ely the would state tbc follow in •• g case . S! out the kingdom, in a manner worthy the recollec-
--appose England i flogs would attend his success, which, to 'be ob. •
1
Peace and Plenty, American ship, just arrived from had, • her I non of that eta Statesman. limits, we are
in uo French prisoners at •
Wilmington, is learnt, that yesterday morning, twoterritory, all,.[ tamed, wants only to be undertaken, since he has-i sorry to state, do not admit of our publishing the
leeettes S. W. of Scilly, she fell Liu with the En- and France, on the contrary, had 20,000 English
'on his side, truth, justice, evidence, and all the ! proceedings of the tremorous Meetings, at greater
d,rWt n end Parlance frigates, then cruising in prisoners :—suppose too, that our Allies, the Spa- ' good reasons, which can have any power upon the length than we have already done. ,•
seateh of Two Frgmch frigates, which had chased I niards, had in their possession 20,000 French prison- feelings and understanding of mankind. And, is it The strong propensity this country has long and I,
il
the rvtanee off Cork, where she was joined by the ers more than Frimch had of Spanish prisoners— • • inveterately shewn for the baneful passion of War,
• not astonishing that those who make so fine speeches
Etta enton, and both went to find them. While thecan only be equalled by the folly of an Irishman,
should we not, most justly, be exasperated against upon the hustings
at the time of the elections, have who, once travelling in the Mail to London, while Ft etheie was boardine the Peace and Plenty, her t 'refuse
the Spaniards, if they were o to make an ex-
lii, ' I observed two large frigate-built ships in the , nothing to say upon a subject in which the country is the horses were changing, was aware of a scuffle
°".' 'on her ke-bow, to which both our frigates I change, and to redeem our 20,000 prisoners by the :so highly concerned, and on which the liberation, or or contest between three or four countrymen on the
gr., i mediate chat*, and we hope will give a good , surplus of French prisoners remaining in their hands. eternal banishment, of 20,000 Englishmen, and , footway ;—w hen the
.Hibernian. immediately opened r
tie rivet of them." All these great difficulties, however, were removed, 80 000 Allies, is dependent. That the Courier, .
. , the coach door, and, jumping out, without any
s !ceremony ran and laid obout them heartily with 4 :
French store-ship, of about 000 tons? laden with at Morlaix, by Mr. M'Keszies negotiation; and and his •
tribe, should be silent on an occasion like sii k
c ;—thu consequence was, as might be expected,
co !t ha-
L. • * bee* captured going into Corfu, by the our unfortunate countrymen, after having been I • nobody will be astonished ; but, I hope, that
a'4 '°,6ell:. wee of war, and carried into Malta. The
tossed, between hope and fear, for more than 'Six ' such an independent writer as you, Sir, will have nose, and a ) tale of teeth knocked out :—when
Sellieich eatieet arrived at Malta on the 10th of
- -ember, frfai England. months, rejoiced at the prospect of an exchange.
'no objection to transmit to the Public the ideas coa- having return
~ . m the coach and seated himself, he
i
V'sterd"Y 4'. beautiful East Indianian was leeched But, alas! they were cruelly disappointed : a new , tained in this Letter ; and, I wish, they may excite eaged--%6 By Jesus this is the first bit of • coolly excla . , , ,
it
is
with , ,
fr•the t fun Pre had since I left Dvlblan !"—So
' -letehati- are of Mr. OUTMAN, Deptford. and unexpected difficulty came to break the treaty, a noble and generous ambition in those who have su- i
1. nation that wantonly interferes • h '-
wit t..e quarrels •
.he Directors o the East India Company, it is and reduce them to despair.—We proposed to dis- eeriest talents and understanding, and who are more others • •get broken Aged. ;---it is sure to a -
*tty have ell '‘
a protest against the claim to prize- the English first, by one thousand at a time, able than myself to write in favour of our unfortu- Lrrowtav Paomerrv.—Bythe Act alr'Queen , . ,
1111 ite'Y tilt tie the King's troops, for the capture
)71 charge ' •
and afterwards the Allies in the same manner ; but , - . protection of literary property, it is (or as,k -.4, 7,
of the Isle et 'ranee. nate Countrymen.' to be) that woe copies of every book -4 1 I',
A hlornin Paper states, " A rumour was con& the French objected to it, on account of their die- jun. lc AMiCUS. , Stationers' Hall, which °Other, by 417t0r V II:- t. 11, i l
dr. its A land, was raised toeisma.
in t years ago # '
, 11.1 circa ted yesterday that the Marquis Wee- trust of our Government, and of the great length of ' , detenniaed in two cams, qoe in the Court- of 1
b.."I'IT h tendered his resignation to the PRINCE time necessary to accomplish the exchanges they The Restrictions to the present Regency, and the. and tbeetber in the courier King slkoch,that meet .
1
taro • • necessary, or that such entry hot being made, did
tis •
"?) d that his Royal Highness had signified propesed proposed only
wish tt: t the Noble Lord should continue to hold to alter our, plan in such a Reetrictions to ear Cares and Troubleomy both end eige-e-t-e, &envy propeety, the hooksektees :
that we might obtain the same adsan. en the same day ; the Legislature fixed the period such entries, and the -Universitiessmil •
•• , I
manner, as .
t!h' "ail :, his office till the period when the PRINCE of the one, and the Minister the other, in. appointing the books were ordered to be Betty f- ' ,
s '• ity for the continuance of the
tages, and they secur
withsity a Cambridge, therefore, . .
-. con • r himself released from the Restrictions the 18th of this month for the Drawing of the Rich lately, to try the question. whigian,. •, . -•t •
!lb !, • 110 in- exchange ; and this was by exchanging along 1
• * isCovernoteurls now rendered but Small Lottery of Only SAVO St
tensile( the Act of Quetta Mae, *sentry al ' .f.
iioister , t'svery thoosood Englishmen, two thousand Allies. coseptsksrl • t
N• 4. . . .
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