The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-12-14 00:00:00

WE STATESMAN.

elude its most important consequences. The French
'Government is renvinced• itt t the Juntas of 041lipkft
Valencia, and other insurgent Governments iteSpiin,
ntay submit or eisappear from those quarters, there.
fore it becomes evidently impossible to execute with
awn .the paragraphs I I and it of the ankle 4 of
the counter project of the British Government ; and
at the same time i$ may be foreseen that England
may refuse to liberate French prisoners-who May
remain in her poirer after the exchange of English
prisoners.. Thus the adoption of the counter-pro,
ject of the British will be no more than a partial
exchange, which llberaies the whole of the English
prisoners, and part of the French prisoners only,
and the general principle of liberation, on which
both proveraments: aro to agree, will be found deb.
civet.
'lire only and laconic/I;6bl° means of executing
completely a concerted prinsiple of a general ex,
change, is to convey to the road of Calais all the
French prisoners, and thoie of the Powers al.
lied to France,, which are in England. To bring
also all the English prisoners, with a number from
the Allies of England, making together a number
equal to that of the French, or the Allies of
France, who are prisoners in England, and there
make the txchange.

By this meausan exchange, which only depends
on ine will of the two Governments, will be cf.
fueled.

From Calais, the British Goierement could
,ranspurt the Spanish prisoners to the ports of
Spain 6611 in a state of insurrection„ where they
may diapose of them es molt convenient. Thu
plan is simple and without obstacle, because it'
suits well eoinigh both Governments. All the
French prisoners in the power of England, and all
the English in tho power of France, being liberated
by these means, the surplus of the Spanish prisoners
;hall be exchanged against the French prisoners in
Spain, and to this cull the British Government
promised its intervention (as far as circumstances
rendered it practicable to bring about the eit..-
change).
In waking an actual balance of prisoners of war
between France and England, it is evident, from a
Report of the population of both nations, that
there is to one and the other a proportion nearly
equal of prisoners or %as. ; consequently there is
an equal proportion of wishes in Fraute and in
England for their liberation ; an equal' proportion
of warranty fur the treatment which they may ex-
perience; and an equal pia% er of making reprisals„
if circumstances should render it necessary. But
if. we begin to deliver all the English prisoners,
Cligland finds herself inintedietely disinterested in
this specks of misfortune; so mulch so, that the'
Frenchmen detained in England will find them.
selve.s without warranty of exchange, and without
warranty of the treatment which they expect.'
On this reasoning Is established the principle
of a general exchange, sod the principle of con:
veniepce. It is this argument which id reason,
Fo'policy,'and in humanity, admits not the ear.;
Caution of 'means tending directly or indirect.
ly to model ~the con,equences. The Undersigned
raises not a question which,can be here removed, in
entering into the detail of the deplorable situation
of the French prisoners in England, crowded in
hulks, tither. they are deprived of .all exercise.
Cdopitir tfp 'hy -thouilinds 'in the pritnitilit-Dart.
moor. described by all the reports which have
reached us, as situated in the must unwholesnme
sp.( in ail Englaed,breathingin this prison, as in the
hulks, end, perhaps, Worse, a feetid and eurruplid
air, they have contracted ebtitagious disterdeis
which carries them off by hundreds, or which ter-
minates in diseases incurable ; to say the least of
them, while they remain England will nut derive
any advantage from them.
The Undersigned dues not oppose to this Biwa_
lion of the French prisoners, the good treatment
r..eeieed by the English prisoners in France, diritri.
bitted in large citadels situated in the most healthk
cities of the empire ; they exercise themselves in Ili
she extent of these places as freely and familiarly 'as
our owe people, and those among them who are la-
borious often obtain the reward which they deserve
from their talents and industry.. .So far from hat-
ing contagious maladies, they. have fewer diseases
.among them, perhaps, than if they were perfectly
free. . s
The Undersigned will make no more observations
on the untidier of Ilanoverians described by the
counter-project, nor on the omission of Russia and
Denmark, which are to be taken into considertion
with FralICC, in a treaty for the exchange of their
prisoners of war, France will attend to all these
accidental questions, whets the basis of the negucia.
lion is agreed on.
No. Yin. After some observations, Mr. Mae.
ketaie says :—The principal objection stated
against the counter-project is, that the fulfilment
of its czacutimt depends upon the will of others/
This is inevitable, in a transaction in which so many.
different Guscratnents are interested, • It is impel.
sable to avoid some delay, of to guarantee, under,
all possible circumstance., the execution of a print.
ciple, however general its adoption ploy be. An
objection similar to this, minimal against the
British cUtoiter-project, might be well isptilled •to
the French project, since, notwithstanding the'
enunciation •of the principle of the universal
exchange in some of its articles, the execution
of this principle, as far as appertains to the ex.
change between France and Spain ( without naming
any other Governments), depends on the consent
of the respective Governments. The only point
proposed, which should be definitively decided,
was the restitution to France, without delay, end
iti mass, of all the French prisutrers in England,
and to England of all the English prisoners in.
France; a stipulation, all the advantage of which,.
notWitlistandiug the singular argument of M. Bs.
awastier, is on this part of France. Even, ac.
cording to We proposiOnn Last transmitted, the full
execution of the principle, as to eU the French pri.•
soners in Spain, and the surplus of Spanish prison-
ers in Fraoce, woulti depend on de success of the
intervention of the Ilrilisli Quaniolltaat as to that
•f SO". - - , •
'1• llioldhalief will airtime remark, that io
,
establishing that the elevation of a principle, adopt
id "at the cone limo by the Enslish Goveruipant awl-
ih,t, 9t Icauce, Shoald not hp kit 4 .011 11.isSectig011

of what he 4bilikl proper, ti call, th, Wu ruCtiunal
Gogernments of Spain, be imbetitotes fora princi.
pie rally atipfe4","ele. 71W gtaWrateschatege skill
thee pritinsers IA all siAles, Ahe principle pat forward
by France,. .41. the litrerstioe of all the french
prisoners in England, together with 'Niro( till the
English prisoners in Frahm; and then, beeiuse the
taeuare proposed dues'not agree in cerlaiw points
with the execution ,of a principle which Euglan4
does not admit, he complains that it ;work or elude!,
the consequences the pluAt itnportenta which Eng.
land does out admit, ,
It was not within the ennipetenceollthe functions
with which M, Dumoustier awl the Undersigned are
charged, to establish, or even do discuss the ques.
tion, relative to the .Government of `pain. The
Undersigned must, however, observe, that a Go.
vernment capable of putting armies in motion, 1%1
capable of making prisoners of its enemies, is, at
least, competent to treat with Nose enemies fur the
exchange of its prisouers. That Government,
which Great Biitain acknowledges for her ally,.
ought, at least, to be cousulted by her as to what
concerns her interests, her sentiments, and her ho.
flour. It is for that QO4 erntnent to decide; whetbei
it wishes to obtain sbe deliverance of so many thou:
sands of Spaniards, who may cooperate in its de-
fence, in allowing for the price of that advantage
the deliverance of as many thousends of French.
men who may co-operate in attacking her.
It does not belong to the, undersigned to antici.
pate upon the prottability of
_.the duration, and on
the final issise.nt *lie contest; bur if the overthrow
of•tbis.Government is so certain and so near, that
there is not even time to communicate the terms of
a cartel, he cannot refrain front asking what are
become of all the arguments employed with so much
warmth to induce Great Britain to exchange the
French prisoners in her power, together with the
Spanish prisoners in the power of France! If the
war ss ith Spain is in fact so near its end, what rea-
son can there be that in such a case Great Bri.
1 tain.should be ready to make a sacrifice for their el-
change ? . ..
It should still be observed, that the plan now
proposed by M. Dumoustier 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 different towns in Spain which might be
agreed upon.' This last part of the alternative is
alone admissible. It is not just that the embarrass- '
meld and the expence of the transport of her allies•
to their respective countries, should fall upon Great'
Britain. The only proper and equitable principle
is, that each of the contracting parties should en.
gege to transport into their respective countries the
prisoners which are found in their possession. '
The Undersigned is charged, in consequence, with
informing M. Dumoustier that this part of the pro.
position contained in his Note is not admissible.
Mr. Mackenzie is further ordered to add to M.
Dumoustier, that the British Government does not
feel itself hound in justice to make any addition to
'the humane and liberal proposition which has already
• Won madein its name. it does nut fintritself
its tenor.
front is-
posed to depart in any degree ront . •
'Nevertheless, to establish the sincerity •nf Its de-
sire to effect an exchange and a cartel. If possiblts,.
in a point of !kg still naopgge ntlere..--

propose is autism-slim p n a thou a cid, Wtii
ought entirely to remove the apprehensions of the
French Government, of the possibility of a conti,
nisation of the captivity of its subleces, aftireall the
British subjects shall have been liberated.
M. Dumuustier disavows in intention of agitating
11 question which he fuels is misplaced, relative to
the treatment of French primers in England ;
yet, notwithstanding his disavowal, he enters into
this misplaced qoestion. Mr. Mackenzie will not
imitate him, but simply assures him that the discus.
slim itself is riot more misplaced, than the enume-
ration of facts which M. Dumoestier advances is
erroneous. If any convenient opportunity offered
to enWr into those details, the untiersi,gned declares
that the British Government Mil be able clearly to
prove that the information on which the French
Government founds its opinion on this subject, is
altogether without foundation. Be is sorry to be
obliged to observe, that all comparison which could ,
be made between the situation and treatment of pri.
limners in Great Britain and in France respectively,
cannot turn out but in favour. of the form,r.
The British Government has charged Mr. Mac.
konzie to declare, that the number of flanoverians
having been fixed after the most attentive researches'
and coosideration which could be given to the
subject, he cannot depart from his proposition.
'With •regard to Denmark or to Russia, Mr.
Mackenzie canisoc conceal his surprise that M. Du.
moustier could maintain that there existed, wish re-
spect to them, a material omission in thu British
Project, of which the first, the second, and the
sixth article, comprehend the Allies of both partly'.
If Russia and D.,nmark are Allies of France, they
will find thinbeelves comprehended in these articles.
If they are not so, what right has Great Britain of
France to nil! their interests in this Convention.
Neverthelesi; Mr. Mackenzie is authorized to
announce, 'that there will be no difficulty in un.
dersta'nilitig'the principle of the British' Project in
tegard to the Russian and Danish prisoners re.
speptively; . and that the British Government• is
ready to Cuter into an arrangement with these two
Powers, upon the baiis of the Project which ha,s
been Wrenn' in their name.
(Signed) C. A. MACKENZIE:
ADD;tIOSAL AlltTlett pitoPOSEO.
To to state in which the Spanish Government is,
the terms of this Convention will be cominunicatzd ;
but, ,snits acceding to the terms censint he notified
in less than three months from the date of the sig.
nature, but the French subjects, whia may be pri.
sutlers io Great Britain or her possessions after the
exchange of *prisoners raWctively, as expressed in
the five' first paragriphe of the fourth Article, shall
be liberated successively, without delay, by succes-
sive coneeyances, of one thousand men each, on
peeper receipts, in the form which shall 00 .o‘fei..ll
tenon, and upon the positive engsgeinetit '
raeti
bed by the Crencb.GoverntOunt) that they shah)
not eerie either upon sea pr laud aganst, Great
Britain, or tiny of her Allies, in any COentlx
the world, before they be regularly ophOnitegtor
*kik; British prisnnersOho, to the chance of OW,

mgy fall iptq the hands of the Feenah*lod who shell
eensenuentky be liberated fris time to time, Until
41111•411rPlill yf FI:CROI Openers fernsetty.hieotioned
shell bedischarged. A similar exchange *ill' take
place according to tho ith dth pidweraplie of
.the fourth article. -
All the Officers not egehanyd; led those who
may be permitted to tetnetC to :Pan* isle *ex:
pressed above, must also IWiensiderid tf stliejf •
were upon their parole `o(•fitatisierl and ehill be
beaud to trip** itTgoler report of *lilac,' of
th_ir 'residence to 'thy British Agen; lit tritnet, ai
*as theprectiii lad war..
'otter Lars Mr.- Meek erhliftio M. Denton!.
tier..
Medals, A.agast 15,• IslO.
• .
estli••••-•ttattos waited with anxiety fur some corn.
mutileation upon the decision of the French Go.
'eminent, whether acceptance or refusal* relative
to the proposition which I had the honour of *pee. •
muting you on •the mroruing of the 2d inst. which •
has hitherto. detained the messenger and the vesNel;
f' reseal myself in your house at the expiration of
10 dap, end to declare to you terbellev,. 4Othat j .
rrcdeed instructiens to wait with patietiee during-n,,
length of time far an answer to the •propesiiiens •
which have been made ; and that in case they ere
not agreed to. by the French Govemment,"l shall
retura to England." tam at present desired teen.
form you, that the Windt government feels 114,4 f
repugnantly forced tosintietode, that the dispositiollk
of the Preach Otereiiinieiti• is le-witufe- *brat'
Menders a prUlougatiew• of the negsiciation .eseless
and I am ordered to beg you *ill have thogoodeese
to demand my pusports for my immetliete totereio
England," &r,
In No. X.4(tstig. 3), M. Demolisher reetteseti,
and repeats; • .
Ist. That the French Government offers a gene. •
ral exchange, man for mane and rank for rank*
considering Spatriaecls,Purtuguese, Eitgllsh,frenoh,
Italians, &c. upon an avidity. This is must jest
and re as =ea' le.
2lly. France also eansents that all the French
prisoners should be sent to France, and all the
English to England; bet as the-number of French
prisoners exceeds that of the English/ they *hell be
sent to France on their parole, subject to the eon,
ditions of the edditionel article of the 4tl of Al. • .
gust.
3411 y. Lastly, France at once cements that all
French prisoners in England should be liberetqls •
but she never can coosent to liberate only a part,
and abandon the majority in England* without g eel
rantee or hope. .
No. XI. Another project of a Con/engrft*
the Exchange of Prisoners, presented by M. Di;
moustie.r, with the preceding Note,. dated the >3eJ4
of August. ~ •
No. XII. Note of Mr. Slacketerie,
The undersigned Commissary for the exchange
of prisoners of war, hath transmitted to his*Go.
verntnetit the Note'of Ptunoustier of the 30th
of August, together with the project there refer, .
red to ; and is thatged, in answer to that communis
cation, to inform M. Ductioustier that his •last pro.
.jeet is is many respects inadmissible ; but it appears
'by his Note that he raises •no objection as to the ha.
sis of the British project, and that the „difficulties
re,eard erri.•ly_tere poin.ta,of detail, oametyl to
ffise'pllcr; kii.kt which regards the additional article
regulating the description of tlic surplus of French
prisoners remaining in Fellow's on the agelutailioti
of Spain refusing tfi accede to the Convention ; and
secondly;that which respects the !timber of ?wilds
prisoners tV he liberated on accuent of the Hone..
veriatt army of Count Walmoden. •
The British Government bath considered these
two points with the same dispositiou which it bads
ever bestowed .in doing away the difficulties, end
hath contributed to the 4041 seems of the negocia,
tiun by every reasonable concession ; and finding•
that, though adhering faithfully to the ptinciplee
which it bath before menifested* and which it still
maintains, changes 'debt be introduced in the de,
tails of the Coovention* of a nature to give satl". •
faction to the wishes of the French Govereinent uq
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 be made ott hie
part, will he found also the must acceptable, and
that they will enable the French-Govertiment let
furnish its assistance heartily, and candidly, es-
bring this prolonged dis.coassiou to an happy kind,
nation.
As on. the first point the objections of M. Do. ••
tooostier had a reference to the setting at liberty the
surplus French prisoners in England, and to the,
:doterteitiation of an exchange between France end
'Spain ; and as the point alien which he insists ho thet
tiberation, 06°4 (falai, of ell the Preach nrian•;
tiers in Englaud, its eacharsge for those of Great
Britain Lind her allies now in France i the Pritisb
Government bath consented to make such a moth,
ficatitaniii its-project as may be able to .fulfil that
•Obj'ect ' which M. Pumeestior hash censidered of
`such greit 'importance, . •I
Instead, therefore* of sending pecording to (he
etifatillonaortbe original British proposal) the eg.
iitiogo-tvf the settles of Frenchprisotiers rensaiitie4
in England, rOt autßiut for Spanish prisoners re.
•maining in Fraticei even td the full completion of
exchange, man for mari)astd rank for rank, betweeo
'France and Spain, Mr, Mackenzie is authorised to
COIISCiit that the exchange of the surplus of french
prisoners who possibly might remain In England at
the -concession Of the ewe; between France an.
England,. should take place immediately, and with, .
'out waiting fur the 'conclusion of • the exchange 4
prin for man, and rank fur rink, between Irene.
and Spain ; or, in other words, thd tritish•Goverol.
'meta consents to anticipate the eachange of the sore
plus, and thus to accelerate, by this rewillerisioy 00.
dick part, the liberation of so many flock 14
spenish captives.
The litidersigeedis charged to declare in ettlitioeo •
thet by a commutlication which bath bees !Web, •
the sow's', Government, through its Mieister rep
siding in London, the British Government is fully
inthorised to accept* without more delay tbe cx.
change •of Spanish prisoners in 'return for .frinitt
prisoners? its the proportion ebove mentioned velitt •
that the Seenlch Government hath equally toedp
known is disposition to accede to a copreittitin• fee
ja general e*tange, agreeehleto the term; Olc4fof
•