Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-25

WIFI thc OiiCSrS OF my stan, aQueu TO the
obligation / had previously experienced,
claims from me this additional tribute OF
my thanks. May now finally flatter my
self, that in the further extension of your
generous and humane feelings. in the allie,
Walton of the misfortunes of war. that you
will have the goodness to fulfil the only
wish and request am now most anxious to
see Completed, by cnlarging on their parole
ION the same conditions you have acceeded
to with respect to myselD all the officers of
the Java still on board your ship--a favor i
never shall cease duly to appreciate by
your acQuiesceBce thereto
4" have the honor to subscribe myself,
dear sir, your much obliged and very obedi.
ent servant"
The request was instantly complied with
Men and all were released upon PAROLE
In the case of Commodore Perry, the
battle was fought on Lake Erie, on the 10th
of September, 1913. With vessels, carry.
ing altogether Sd guns, he not only defeated,
but captured the whole Of our fleet, six YES.
sells, carving 65 guns, as he stated in bis
official report; which report, BY the bye,
fully iustities our Admiralty as to Lake
Erie. take the following paragraph from
his report to his government upon this oc-
casion -
g also beg your instructions respecting
the wounded. am satisfied, Sir that what,
ever steps might take governed by huma~
nifty would meet your approbasion: Under
this impression, have taken npon myself
to promise Captain Barclay, who is very
dangerously wounded, that he shall be land
ed as near Lake Ontario as possible and
had no doubt you would allow me TO parole
him. He is under the impression that no.
thing but leaving this part of the country
will save his life. There is also number
of Canadians among the prisoners. many
who have families"
Captain Lawrence, in the brig Hornet at
tackled and sunk, in fifteen minutes, our
brig, the Peacock, killing between thirty
and forty of our men, while the Hornet had
only one man killed and two wounded
Thus says the American report. Ours
have not at hand. Then comes the follow
ing letter.
Nezv York. 9Th a7arch. 1918
Strive, the surSiving officers of his Bril-
tannic Majesy's late brig Peacock, beg
leave to return you our grateful acknow-
Judgments for the kind attention and hospi
tally we experienced during the time we
remained on beard the United States sloop
Hornet. So mpeh was done 10 alleviate the
distressing and uncomfortable situation in
which we were placed. when received on
not better express our feelings than by say.
ing" We ceased to consider ourselves pri
soners !" and every thing that friendship
could dictate was adopted be you, and the
officers of the Hornet, 20 remedy the ipcon-
venience we would otherwise have expert.
enced fTom the unavoidable loss of the
whole of our property and clothes by the
sudden sinking of the Peacock. Permit us
then, Sir impressed as we are with CRATE
full sense of your kindness, for ourselves and
the other officers & ships company, to re
turn you & the officer If the Hornet our sin
cere thanks, which we shall feel obliged il
you will communicate to them in our name;
e believe US to remain, with high sense o.
the Siud Offices you have rebderei US. vonr
humble servants,-F. A. Wright, 1st Lieu,
tenant c Lambert, Cd Lieutenant Ed
ward Lott, Master; ]. Whitaker, Surgeon !;
F. Donni,hrone Unwip, Purser. James
Lawrence, Esq. Commander United States
Sloop Hornet"
The American papers added, upon this
occasion, the following :-"It is fact wor.
thy of note, and in the highest decree no.
norahe to our brave tars, that on the day
succeeding The destruction of his Britannia
Majesty's brig Peacock, the crew Of the
Hornet made subscription and supplied the
prisoners (who had lost almost every thing)
with two shirts, blue jacket and trowsers
each"
Now, my lord, without going into more
particulars, let me ask you, whether YOU
think that this conduct towards our officers
was the effect of dsaffecton towards their
own government, of Misrepresentation of its
conduct, ofa hatred tf the war, and of a
disposition to put themselves under our pro-
lection ?" And if you answer in the neg
atve,a as you must, suppose, why do you
think, that the humane treatment of our of
fcers elsewhere indicates such DISPOSE
ton Does your lordship see no possible
danger IN d awing such an inference? Do
you think, that it is wholly out of all belief,
that your being reported to have drawn
such an Inference may render the treat
meut of our officers, prisoners of war, less
humane and kind in future Seeing that
dspositios in an American citizen to put
himself under the protection of our King is a
disposition to commit treason, in the eye of
the laws of his untrv, would it be so very
surprising, If, in future, the Americans
should be very cautious how they exposed
themselves TO the merit of such eompli.
meDt must, however, do your lordship
the justice to observe here, that what the
proprietors of our newspapers have publish.
ed rs your speech, might never have been
uttered by you. l would fain hope, that
they have, in this case, put forth, under your
name, the suggestions of their owa mi nds
J. therefore cornmeBt on the thing as theirs