The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-12-25
from THE AURORA.
PRISONERS OF WAR.

PRISONERS OF WAR.
The iollo wing production OF Mr.. Bar
clay, Tie British Ggent for Prisoners Of
7rar, is AIKEN fro the New York Isazatte
(formely Rivinsstou'>) If the l4.h Instant.
While The hosincss and concerns of ,,riso-
ners % war remained in the hands Of IN.
agents appointed BY the respective govern
menis, il seemed to us that il woui be
questioning the fidelity of our own puhc
agents, whose character and zeal fnr the no
no" ct their ountrs and the rights cfLheirfel-
ioN-citiz 80 we well know. to submit asy
reflections on the conduct proper to be o.
served towards prs lners OK wa we have
therefore in this parer, hitherto, giycn,cn'Y
such com munications to the public, as the
scrro Vs and suferngs of individuals who
mad been 50 fortunate IS tn escape. induced
them to utter, without any animadversions,
and even without Publishing many imnor.,
tart t1cts, which have come 10 our know
ledge from persons who have been, & from
persons WIN stiIi are prisoners of war
MIR. BARCLAY, the authorised agent &C the
BRUSH government, has however thought
mt to COME before the public with bis own
name (, and his publication is therefore be-
fore the public for discussion by his OWE
seeking, and he shall have justice done
him
LtJ- Here follows Mr.. Barclays Letter
as pubH,hed in the Enquirer Of the 2.st
instant.
The motive os MFR. Barclay, FOR aldress-
ing the publio. he says, is the rchrqted a4is-
refreSen ctions in American Newspapers
concerning inc treatment Cf American pri
-'ners IN thc B,itiDh C;uui'ijou> .--.SoiS~ ia
Stonces lie docs not say whichl re has had
tan opportunity &c knowing not u be true &
I me res, he says. TN Scnri : Euc II no.
oestr' ne has Te0Sat 10 6slic0e gene, ally
| incorrect.
! MS KING G! argument upon r.arsiaI insl,o,
ees and. general qres,in;ing OF facts a5eer
Led apon o. II. b hIrcthifical references
| i"on 03ta urrrJdused .ud unkn ,wn may
| a'Qu't IA 70 barclay 10 his employers, ard
F.erVe 10 Ne=p w the tiag%leg spirits " the
fttr'inrs VINO abe kin, and u9on v no e ires.
| son lac and ,;is government rely far aid. a.
| 8 inst the risha Of this naticn, and for i'm
! 2u'lY IN their bar5aroas policy but
| nei't5 =! ms fTrHgf Instances nor Bis teaqom
! 20 ccEf -e, will b. taken ia opposition 10 tic
o"tiS ana constant decl 4raticns f every a
! hsrican "no has had the g od fortune 10 es-
! cape nom Their cruel tyranny.
"Is ittobe supposed he says, che A.
g meri'an p iso"ers do not receive the al
'owance Of provisions, ard government
remain uniformed ct it ?''
! 1t may he very well supposed---the Gus
/ tomary cruelty Of the BRITISH government to
nose who have tie misfortune TO be tbeir
| pris0ncrs--the habitudl jus.lence of their
oih1ers high and low--th ir arrogant and
| the'r supercilioHS pridc--ther Particular
! n tired TO 1aCkccs--r-qUir no reference 10
| ne way OF the revolution for suecihc cases
| ,heT arrogance and insolence were f.lf
every where that they dare be exhibited
before the present WARM the streets of
London and Livsrpooi-on the shore Of
! nansSatka and the river Of Canson-at
! Waiid ana Madeira-tbe envicus and over
bearing tyranny OF the governm> ut Cf Eng
land ta"atds every other pc pie every where
n2u.ested, his beeG Constantly more acrj-
inErinus and insulting tow ards Amerita and
Americans; added TO these notorious pre-
| d'spcs items, we need no rca soniugs TO sa is
| fy rs That TINS arrogance has not d niajsh-
| cd, nor has its vsru ence been cured or aba.
Ted alter the repeated hGmliation Of the
| BRITISH nag IN naval Combat. It is rot in the
nature OF tn fri.ish character, accustomed
as II is to treat all people with contempt
and as an inferior order Of beings. TO expect
! mat It has acquired as by inspiration spi-
| TIT OF ntdcrauon or that its government
| or us agents have, as By a miracle, become
! 81 cen ! generous, amisble, liberal or b H.
name tina they have divested themselves
= their antlpa;hies and suddenly become
IJHsf While the whole tenor of their policy
and the very transact rs Of the dine she,r
luaI their rancur has become more invetcr~
a-e and agsr1va 81 by every success of our
pubic force. On general principles, in eve
~ le.t which tE3CT.enCe and not,rj az
living facts demonstrate IN the very Gun
9Hct c/fhc Hc7pTaFcr8 cmHtoJed t5' IGiA by
Air. HarS|gj IN a. .ir hab4tual PRAGUE II
cai1urlatin8 and yiifyins the U s any,
eminent ana coituptug he morals Of toe
pccTis; We see the most Irresistible evil
denca # tne tprDjfu G of The ltish & vcin-
o'eni, end in these circumstances, i3st tea
son 70 attr51ie to il aoy o.her vii-ness
which rs hatred or tie brutality OF its a.
gents can detse.
Upon sencrl grounds therefore. nothing
IAN b. admitted gr tuitously 10 Mr. Bar
ay he IS hired to 10 ths work SIS ,gred to
90 his character svo~Sd. IS a.tut for
prisoners ms cbarace- CGndgy lhr go5cJ
IS p.omauc; j, j. part of his lshc8s and
MS Hs0ucHHs, indesepGenJ q rie wiling
1-s to deceive the A "cr:ceu ~, c. wher.
syr he can scc>mpiish it l,hout danger Of
detection; Z; to make as many ms.uments