The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-19

WHOM he wa. cs,.drs6, saving that they
did not restore hiai solitary cent OF his adj
venture and ne asserts, without the fea:
OF contradictions, that i'm no instance has as
much CT the adventure OF an American
master been restored us spoaid buy him u
Ginaer.
with respect to the usage Of masters
mates and crews OF captured American
vessels. captain Davidson states that they
nre landed under a strong gard, and con-
Quoted, as if they were criminals, to a pri-
son on Melviiis Island, about tuir miles
from the town of Halifax, all thrown indis-
c,iinmately into i, and fed on u half pound
of meat and one and half pounds of bread
= day they arc allowed nothing but water
70 drink. The Tailor invariably and strict
~ examines them, and plundcys whatever
he w ants Of the bucks, Quadrants, money
and other articles which they may happen
Tn have. Their condition has been much
Improved since the arrival 1t IL ,li.aX OF
Mr. Mitchell the American agent, who sup
plies them with additional provisions and
clothes but the mates and the sailors are
Still mingled into one common mass in Jail
TREY are allowed to make no noise il pri
son after six o'clock in the afternoon it
they do, the ccntinel on guard is ordered to
fire IN among them without discrimination.
Captain Davidson. possessing all the nice
feelings OF gentleman, alive to the suffer
inss of his unfortunate :onntrymen, and
smarting under the mean and illioerai treat
ment which he himself experienced, ex-
presses the utmost Indignation at the Con-
duct of the British TO American prisoners.
Upon his statement, of the truth OF which
no man who knows him can entertain a
doubt, we shall observe, that it pre- sents
Il. 81 90 .>I
the British prisoners have universally re-
ccived in America. The officers OF the
Guerrero, with some of whom captain Da-
wilson dinetl in Halifax, spoke in the high
est terms Of the liberality and civilities of
the Americans towards them. We all
know that Commodore DECATUR has used
dis prisoners in the most liberal, polite and
'dignihcd manner; they have been SO used
by our citizens. We know that the British
prisoners of war, of whatever grade, gene
rally find here every Accommodation, kind
ness and respect which they could desire.
The adventures of the masters of captured
British vessels are almost uniformly restor-
ed and they have experienced all that
can be said or dime to sootbc or render
them comfortable under their misfortune.
Such is the liberal conduct of an enlightcn-
ed republican nation, anxious to assuage, by
every practicable means, the asperities and
'calamities of war. Such is the humane po-
licy which distinguishes a nation that has
borne with unparalleled patience the nju-
ries ana indignities of the enemy, before its
government would consent to seek redress
amid the horrors of war. On the other
hand, we witness an enemy, instead Of COM
forting, maltreating our citizens taken into
captivity by them we see an enemy add
ing Indifference and contempt to the misfor
tunes of their American prisoners: we. be-
hold an enemy, in hue, seeking, by intro
dncing new, cruel and barbarous modes of
warfare, by employing the savage toma-
hawk and scalping kife to murder and des-
troy our citizens, to deter brave and vail
ant people from vindicating their honor, as
sorting their rights, and maintaining that
distinction ia the scale of nations, to which
" nature and natures God entitle them
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