The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-09-12

as coming from Bergen in Norway. but VIII,
1t was found had come from London and sail
ed with forged papers.
Inc person prisoner at St. Quintin, il an
pears is ropeTakcr and his Imprisonment
is employment at ropewa,k established
there by an American
AS to the rest, all we are told is, that the
American consul has very humanely bestow-
e'! on them some pecuniary aid. Here there
are then SO OF them, detained i'm France
we snail the hrst convenieRt day, furnish as
perfect list as possible, from the documents
laid before congress on this subject: and IS
the BRITISH ambassador, MFR. jackson is ex-
pected hourly, those who are DESTROYS of res
cuthg American citizens from their chains
can present the article to his view, and re-
commend to him by way of satisfying Amc-
RIGA, that it his government has the lease
disposition to do us justice, to have the cin-
zens OF America released, and the more par
tcalarly as those held by England, are nss
charged with carrying forged papers, nor
violating the laws of England.
The American prisoners confined in
France, of whom we now and then hear
some deplorable story, are OF two descripd-
ons.
LIST. part of the crews of ten or twelve
American vessels, whoto escape the n,,ar-
go remained in Europe. and lent themselves
to some English mercll ants to carry on a trade
In brandies from Charente.
L ms connection being suspected, the crews
were arrested and examined, and several Of
them confessed that they were in British
employment, and had Come directly from ar,
English port under English licenses; their
hrst declaration (that they Came from BeE-
GEM being thus established by their own con-
fession to have been false, they are now sut-
ferirS the penalty annexed by the law TO
their offence-viz fine and imprisonment
these are the men who compare themselves
10 Algerine capti,es and talk of the ransom
imposed upon them by the French govern
ment AS well might a fellow be Caught pics-
ing pockets, and sentenced by our courts Is
me @ imprisonment, complain OF the law Of
nations. and talk of the ransom demanded
from him by the government of the United
States.
The Cd description of American prisoners
confined in France; are seamcn found Ola
board Of British vessels, when captured by
he French; several of those are command
ers OF British ships, who, 10y hook or by crock
nave got American projections in their poe
kets-and who, to add their convenience in
using: them, have taken different names at
different times and placeS.--N Nearly one hun
dred persons coming under this general class
were released by the Emperor the last sum
mer, on gen. Armstrong s,mt diaton, several
Of whom have been already retaken on board
of British ships. >. ...
This, and many similar facts, have Less
ened the confidence or the French govern
ment, in the projections given to seainen 10y
our custom houses. Indeed it is well known
that projections and every other species oS
american papers, are forged iii I.onGcD,
and may be bought according tothe kind.
for from half a guinea or less, to five OF ten
guineas. After all, there are not above ;hir-
~ of the last description and of real A,neri-
cans, either taken or held as Americans,
there is not one in the French Empire
They do not impress our seamen nor do they
employ them on board their ships of war.
They are not compelled to fight battles in
which they have no interest nor concern.
The question ofimpressment must now be
speedily brought to an issue. 1t is very pro-
bable that out of 1900 sail of American ship,
now in the European seas, not 500 will ever
return, and that if the other noiety escape.
it will be with the loss of half their crews
aurora