Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-17
DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
From the National IatetHigencer.
MASSACRE Ar BARRYMORE.

The causes which led TO this horrible
outrage upon unarmed men confined in
prison, and entitled to protection from
the boosted laws of England, are not vet
sufficiently known to enable us to form
just estimate OF its enormity. We do not
yet know precisely what was the conduct
OF the Americans, which brought on this
massacre. Enough is known, however.
to mark it with every feature of cOwardIy
and malignant barbarity. 1t is known
thatnOt single English soldier was hurt
in the attempt to quell this formidable in
surrection, consequently the prisoners
were ailunarmed, for we know. by expe-
rience, that with arms in their hands
Americans are not so easily subdued. No,
danger then was to be apprehended from
their resistance, and it was therefore an
act OF cOwardly, wanton. inexcusable bar
barity-perpetrated by armed soldiers. on
men without arms and in prison. The
other day when two or three English rio
tiers were shot in the streets of London.
the gentle Mr.. Robinson, ofCo Law me-
mOry, she'd tears IL the House of ornmons.
to the great edi6catiOn of that orderly as
sembly, which shouted :. hear, hear" al
most as loudly as they do at one of my
Lord Castlereagh's" pump handle speech
es." On tins brilliant occasion, when near
y a hundred deienceless prisoners were
outchered in cold blood, we dare say, Mr..
Robinson thought it mighty clever thing.
and thinking Johnny Bull no doubt reioic-
ed exuberantly, at such decisive proof of
the superiority OF British valor. We
should not be surprized to see it quoted in
Parliament as an Offset against the affair
1t New Orleans.
One circumstance inthis massacre ought
nat to be overlooked. 1t appears that the
defenceless Americans were not only shot.
by these valiant soldiers, but stabbed three,
four, aye .fUe times, and that too in the
back. 1t proves, that these valiant Vel
lingtonians having, we suppose, clearly as
certalned that the American prisoners
we're without arms, went boldlyin amongst
them like butchers, tuckedup their sleeves
and stabbed, and cut, and hacked and
slashed away, even after all resistance had
ceased, if indeed any had been made.
They stabbed William Blake three times
IN the baclc ! This poor fellow had. it APP
pears, been discharged from the Repuise
man OF war, where he had been slave Tor
God knows how many years, remanded to
prison as an American, and stabbed in his
bacE three times, because he perhaps as
sisted to hang Reuben g. Beasley in efigy
that It, reader, hanging wooden image,
or thing of stuffed straw, and calling It by
us name. For this the renowned CAPTAIN
Shorthand went in among them. Ia expos
tulate, doubtless with that exemplary cour-
tesy usually praetised by British officers
towards TIE Yankees, Wihen Ia has Doner.
and it's said That pistol was snapped in
ms face. How came a prisoner with
arms But it is useless to ask this oucs-
ton there is :a'5ehoOd on the very face Of
.it, and even Il 1t were true, It would be no
justification Of the scene that followed.
Brave Enghshmen This was much Plea
santer work than you had at Chippewa.
Bridgewater and Erie, or even at New Or
leans. Here you had no awkward Ameri.
can bayOnets and rOadswOrds---no
Browns, or SCOTS, or Millers, or BrOokes.
or Aspinwails to cool your invincible va
Tor, and YOU gloriously achieved the only
victory you gained over Americans since
the declaration Of war. Shorthand, ii
seems, was the name of the gallant com
mander OF this invincibic troop of day light
assassins, and without doubt his name will
soon appear in the list of knights cOmpa-
nIons of the most noble order Of the Bath.
Immediately under those Of Captain Hone.
tbe notorious CockbuFn, and many other
famous conquerors,