The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-12-25


take the positive assertion, muoh less the
Hypothetical differences, OF an agent oil an
enemy whose duty and whose practice is to
deceive, when placed in opposition TO the
UathS aud the visible evidence OF injuries ia
tnc'ed On an innocent man. he time was
when an officer of the American govern
ment paid more respect to the assertions of
81 British naval rutiian who denied the ont
rage which he had committed, than to the
oath of an American citizeh, but that tame
is passed, aud public contempt aud inSiigna-
ton have since forced the wretch TO private
life who was not worthy of national trust.
Whether gen. Mason has or has not been
informed Of the injustice done towards A.
merican prisoners, 1t is certain that the in
justice has beeo committed and thai the
treatment Of British prisoners here, exhib-
its contrast as honorable to cur govern
ment as it is disgraceful to that Of Mr.. Bar
clay.
The only allegations of a positive & spe
cihc nature in Mr.. Barclays letter relate to
the American agents for prisoners in Lon
don, Quebec and Halifax. The reference to
those gent en,en, and the treatment they
have experienced in their efforts to perform
their duty, are peculiarly unfortunate for
Mr.. Barclays views--the agent in London
has been repeatedly prevented from having
access not merely to Americans taken in
war, bit to Americans taken prisoners du-
rim protested peace MIR. Bea,ey has
made repeated efforts to obtain the release
OF men detained on board their shipa IS pri
soners who were impressed before the war
anu who are now detained As prisoners.
Prevarication and fraud, the most shame
full, have bee n practiseti 20 defeat Mr.. BE s.
ley in the discharge of his duty !; and when
ne mas ever sought for an opportunity to
converse with Americans de aimed, the pro-
mise has been made to aft rd that opportu
nifty, but the person has been shifted to an
other prison to defeat the promise by this
contrived absence.
AS to col. Gardner at Quebec, he, it is
true, resides with the prisoners # war at
Peauflrt bat he is in fact as much pri
Soner there as any OF those who were tax n
IN war; the officers of the Unied States ar
my before his arrival were obliged to sIbsist
ut their own etipence. and to hire lodgings
at en- rmous rates col. Gardner has pro
rided them wi II quarters a that place but
what is The situation IF pr .oners AZ Onebec ;
1t is held as great affair, that upon writ.
ten application be NAV visit tie prisoners.
kiow visit them Beaufort is about : miles
from Quebec the hmericar aren't for Dri-
soners.wh he wishes to visit the American
prisoners, must add css a letter to q1,,,e m
dering OF the colonial government g, wait N
answer; these answers have been DELAYED
as long as a week and "Hen asseoted TO-
N''S H-Nht VI lIi'StNGfS IS conducted TO hrs
duty like 2 Grim mai; q military Guard with
fixed bayonets attends him and his CONVEX.
sahons are conducted in the same way that
conversations we've formerly admitted he
tween prisoners in the Bastile and those
permitted to visit them; IN fact the agent
Tor prisoners near Quebec, is used on eyefy
such occasion as : aHecracie, bv which the
Canadians are taught hozD a2uch thr BrfigI
hcld .E17cricG - c0s'cnHt. The officers =,
Be9rport feel this ignomny IS Is was intend
ed, bus possess souls as superior t. the
meanaess Of their base oppressor as benie.
nifty is TO n lgni.v.
Of the agent at Hakfax VIC know verv
little; we hear of hin now and then from
precners who return, either BY Subjective
Ell rts to escape, or who have been ex
Changed, brt ~ letter can be obtained YIN
him by his friends, any more than if he w..
IN Sotzoergen or S IBERIA. All that is known
IS, that n his been forced from the onlv
place where he could render. service +,
where he can perform none. Nova Scotio
is not like Pennsylvania nor ffalifax ike
Philadelphia or New-Yofk there is M
comfortable settlement like Harlem " he, ,
Mr. barclay writes, within one or two hun
bred miles of Halifax there are no farm,
houses or markets; no populous villages NOR
Socict7 to supply the place az it there are
no families in Nova Scotia who will feast
Mr.. Mitchell on the score of hi3 dpynt;nn =,
his own countrv; while Mr.. Barclay find.
on every side he turns families witt, omen
arms ready to feast hira wholly ON accom-,
OF his devotion 20 the enemy, whose agen,
ne Is. 'oN'
The American prisoners are con6ped or
an Island near Halfax-bv an order If All.
Tniral Warren the american agent IL M,
permitted to reside near them he is cor,
ptlIed to move out of Hlhfax into.that +,
hosptabie country and compelled 70 send
tor his food to Halifax, rs we have beer in.
formed by prisoner who visited him and
escaped. He has been Id that y'hef he
WISHES to see the prisoners, he mag wish
them on application to Heuf. BTi1sr, : aava
oifcer who has the charge of tbera Inn,
such are TIE ignomninus forms and insult,
connected with the permission ttat ne b.L
oe.med 1t too degral ling to The pover-rnert
"hich has appointed him, ~ submit 10 II
snd has more than cnce intiG.a;etl his wiz
- qh stn'' , which is rendered nj ~,
frrr'ce by the extravagant meanness Of tbe
Cntmy VI INC
Boz Mr.. Barclay saws. those agent, oypb,
tohate remonStra ed. If the remorstran.,..
81 our government frcn 1769 to 1870 ~
Iaen listened to, we should now have boer
- peace had the British ever treated a
rem m trd"oe with dec ucy and sinceri,,
coming from A erica. MIR Barc.av migh,
nave rea son believe" what he. sI,,,,, 49,.