Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-22
WAsHINcroN CITY J
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. IS.
Cohy of a letter from, 1t. Gen. George Pre-
Uost, Lieut.. Genernt aud Commander Of
the British forces b. CanaGG, 10 Major Ge-
neral WKkinSon, Commander ofthe forces
Of the United Sfafess on The Northern
frontier,
Head Quarters, Montreal,
18th Oct. 1918.

~~SNN s'iNSioJ NAO9NiSsAAB
18th Oct. 1918.
SIR
Having transmitted to his maiesty's 60
vernment copy of letter addressed to me
on Slst OF May last, by Major Gen. Dear
born, in wlnchit IS sta ed that the Ameri-
can Couimissary OF prisoners III Iondon, had
made il trpwiito his government that twen-
ty three sosdiers of the 1st, 9th and 18th re-
giments of y. States iufantrf's made prison.
ers, had been sent to England & held in close
confinement as British subjects, and that
Major General Dearborn had received in
structions from his government to put into
close confinement twenty three British sol
diers to be kept as hostages for the safe
keeping and restoration in exchange of the
soldiers of the u. States who had been sent
as above stated TO England, and that in ODE
dience to those instructions General Dear
born had put twenty three British soldiers
in close confinement to be kept as host
ages ;" l have now the honour of acquaint.
ing you, that l have received the instruct
ons of his majestYs government, distinctly
TO state to you, for the Information of the go
vernment of the u. STAGES, that have re-
ceived the commands Of his6iLyal Hi Illness
tie Prince Regent, forthwith to pat in close
confinement fory SIX American officers and
non-commissioned ffic>rs, TO be held as
hostages for the safe Keeping OF the twenty
three British soldiers stated to have been
put in close confinement by order of the A.
| mcrlcan government.
have been directed at the same time to
apprize you that if any of the said British
soldiers shall suffer death by reason that any
of the said soldiers of the u. S. now under
Confinement in England have been found
guilty. and that the known law not only of
&. Britain, but of every independent state
under similar circumstances, has been in
consequence executed, that have been fur
| Their instructed TO select out of the a meri-
can officers aud non-commissoned officers
| whom / shall have put into confinement, as
many as may double the number of the Bri
fish soldiers who shall have been so unwar
rantably put to death, and TO cause such Off
GERS and non-commissioned officers to suffer
death Immediately. have been further in-
structed by his majesty government to no.
tify to you, for the Information of the goS
vernment of the u. S. that the commanders
of his majesty's armies and fleets OH the
coast of America have received Instructions
to prosecute the war with unmtigated ses
verify, against all cities, towns and villages
belonging to the u. S. and against the inha>
bitants thereof, if, after this communication
shall hske been made to you, and a reason
able time given for its beng transmitted TO
! the American government, that government
shall uDhaPpilY not be deferred from put
ting to death any of the soldiers WHO now
are or who may hereafter be kept as host
ages for the purposes stated in the letter
| from Major General Dearborn
have the honor to be, with great conss
Iteration and respect, your ExCellency's O,
bedert humble servant,
(Sigued) GEORGE PROVOST,
| Lit. Gen. e. Commander of tie Forces,
| His Excelleucy,
Major Gen. Wilkinson.
We ave hot a'little pleased to learn, fros
an official source, that, AS soon as these
measures of the enemy We're made know
to our government, the President gave or
ders to have forty siX of the htincifaL Off
Gers of the Enemy in our possession put II
close confinement. We presume these Off
GERS will be selected from those who wer.
taken by Commodore Perry and Genera
J Harrison, and are now in Ohio and Kentuc
! ky. This just measure of retaliation is no
so severe as it might be but it will teach tn,
British government that Republics posses
Nat mt
FROM BELOW. O'' ~.
! gentleman station dAt tintLook Out, AIary
land, writes, uudert datelof November I5th, tia
the enemys vessels ielt ibis vicaty on the even
ings Of Thursday and Friday last, huce which tim
The wind has been blowing a galS from the north
ward, 50 that If they are disposed to return il ia mo
in their power" Messrs KIRK and Hal, WHO bay
been kept as prisoners by the enemy, have to III,
neNpressibc JOY OF their friends returned. The en-