Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-08


qualification of the nat onal prejudice, malice or
revenge, ofthe petty officers Ofa toreign State.
We are at no loss 10 impute the misrepresenta-
ton of the British officers to their proper mo
tives.
They artfnlly wish TO excite in your breast a
spirit ofenmty and resentment against the PR
soners, that YOU might use less perseverance, or
feel yourself less interested in making theproPer
Inquiries into the late affair.
With much respect, we remain sir, your most
obedient and humble servants,
Wln Hobart,
Bdite' Cotton,
Henry .4leR
X, C. Beasley, Esq.
Agents for American prisoners
ofwar, London.
No 30.
Letter from Mr. Deasley TO the before mentioned
COMMITTEES.
agency far .2,rerican prisoners ofrsdr,
LoNDoS, April IA, 1915.
GEvTLr,fgN.
Ny letter to YOU of the 18th instant, on the
subject OF the melancholy event was written un-
der IN impression which received from a report
OF 1t, Transmitted 10 me by this government:
have since received your report of the circum-
stances. Had been in possession of the infor-
nation therein contained, uiat letter would lave
been differently expressed
1 mn, gentlemen,
II. G. BEASLEY.
The Committee Of the
American prisoners of war, Dartmoor.
L subIom an extract Of the report alluded TO
from the Lords Commissioners of the Adni-
rally:
EXTRACT.
The rioters, It appears, endeavored to over
power the guard, to force the prison, and had ac-
tuaily seized the arms of some of the soldiers,
and made breachin the walls of the depot.
wien the guard found Itself Obliged TO have re-
course to their Ere arms, and five of the Rioters
were killed. and 81 wounded, after which the tu-
mutt subsidized, and the depot was placed in state
OF tranquility and security
Admiral SirJ. \ Duckworth. Commander in
Chief at Plymouth, havngreceved information of
this unfortunate event, lost no time in directing
Rear Admiral Sir Iosas Rowlev Bart and X. G.
d. and captain SchornbeIg the two senior officers
at that pert to proceed TO Dartmoor and to IN
quire INTO the circumstances: Those officers ac
cordmgly repaired to the depot, where they found
ON examination OF the Officers of the DcI,ot and
all the American prisoners who were called he
fore them, that the circumstances ofthe riot were
rs before stated but that no excuse could he DC
signed for the conduct Of the prisoners but tbei,
impatience to bereleased, and the Americans
unanimously declared, that their complaint of de
lay was not against the British Government. hut
against their own, which ought to have sent means
distinct questions 20 that effect they declared
they had no ground of complaint whatsoever
No. d.
DARrmoon, April II, 1915.
TO rear admiral SIR J. T, D,tck7go,9k
SrE-The officers whom you sent to this place
TO inquire into the circumstances OF the unfortu-
nate occurrence of tie 9th instant wI,ateye r;eif
they had to represent The conduct of capt. Short
land in the most favourable manner, we conceive
II an act OF gross Injustice that they should ha, a
given to you such false and scantlalous reDre
sentation Of what they were told by the prisoners
In the report from the admiralty board to Mr..
BeasieJ, Ca copy of which be has transmitted To
us) IL IS stated, that the prisoners, when called
upon to give m account the circumstances of
the 9Th, eS0nerated capt, Shorthand and the Enor
lish government from al blame respecting the
same, and accused their own government and its
agent OF being the cause
We, ON the contrary, solennly declare. that il
was expressly stated to admiral Rowley. that
whatever anxiety might have existed among the
prisoners for speedy release, could i'm no yav
whatever be construed TO have had anv colIus;on
or cnmexion with that event. THAI the prison
els SO tar from having an idea of attempting Ia,
break out, the gates had been opened and. every.
one suffered TO go who might with 20 do so. not
one in q hundred would have left the prison ha,,
ING no means ofsubsstence in foreign cotln,r,..
ani beng likewise liable TO imprsssment, when.
by staying few DAYS longer, they would proba
blF-be embarked for Their native country
They, on the contrary, accused CAPTAIN Short
land Of being the sole mover and PRINCIPAL per
petrator of the mlprovoked and horrrid butchery
Conceiring, from your well-known character in
the British navy for integrity and candour. that
yon would not wish to have your name the me
oium Of imposing such q gross misrepresenta
ton and such direct falsehoods on the admiralty
board, AID the British public, we have taken the
hDery on thus addressing YOU, and have the no
nor to subscribe ourselves your most obedient and
very humble servants, nm. Hobart.
Uaher Colon,
Henry .9Hsj,,
1Homas b 1foft,
I'm. u. Oyue,
Committee of the American Prisoners Of War
at Dartmoor
In addition TO the documents furnished Nv the
Committee Of the DaitmoOr prisoners, we Law the
following affidavit of Archibald Taylor before the
public.-Will msuamed federal editors doubt this
evidence alsO1 Isit likely that common soldiers.
hired assassins, would make use Of similar ex
pressions from their own impulses oris Ii not
much more coniormable to common sense to be-
lievc that this was tile language held by their Off
GERS, and tliat they echoed it n
ClVef .Nsw-York, SO.
9rclibqH Taylor, late commander of The Paul
Jones, private armed vessel Of war, being duJy
sworn, doth depose and say
That he was q prisoner IN Dartmoor prison NJ
the tine OF the late TDagsacvc OF fi,e Ar,ser.,s,.