Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-22
CEIA3. KING,
FRAS. SEYMOUR LARPENT.

PLYMOUTH, 2oth April, 1915.
SHIN pursuance of Instructions received
from Messrs. Clay and Gallat'n, / have now the
honor to transmit to You the report of Mr. Lar
pcnt and myseffon behalf of our respective Gov
ernments, in relation to the unfortunate transac-
tions at Dartrnosr Prison OF War, on the 9Th of
the present month. Cons .dering it Of much i'm
portance that the report, whatever il might be-
should go forth under our Joint signatures, have
forborne TO present some of the points which it
involves, as far as otherwise might have done,
and it therefore NAV MOI be impr per in this let
ter to en- or 'nto some Little explanation of such
parts of the report. Although it does not appear
that part of he prisoners were on that evening in
such n state, and under such circumstances as to
have justified, in the view which the commander
OF the depot could rot but take of it, the inter,
veuJion oft military force, and even in a strict
sense, the frs, of fire arms, vet cannot but
express it as my settled opinion, that by con-
duct little more temp0rising, this dreadful al,
Tentative of firing upon unsrmcd prisoners might
: have been avoided Yet as tins opinion has been
the result of subsequent examination, and at, err
having acquired knowledge of the conpar tive
ly harmless state OF the PRISONERS, 1t NAV be but
fair to consider, whether in such moment of
confusion and alarm, as that appears TO have been,
the officer commanding could have fairly est-
mated his danger, or have measured ont with pre-.
cison the extent and nature of the force necessa-
ry to guard against it.
But when the firing became general, as it after.
wards appears 10 have DONE, and caught with
electric rapdity from the square to the platforms,
there is no plea nor shadow of excuse for il, ex-
cept in che personal evaporation Of the sold cry
nor for the more deliberate, and therefore more
unjustihable, firing which took place into three
of the prisons, No i, 8, and 4, but more particu-
larly into No. 3, after the prisoners had retired
into them, and there was no longer any pref ence
of arpTehensions as to Their escape. TJnon this
ground as vou Sir will DerCefye bv- the reDort
MIR. Larpent and myself had no d ference Of OPT.
mon, and am fully persuaded that my own re-
gret was not greater than his at perceiving how
hopeless would be tie attempt to trace to any
individuals of the military these outrageous pro-
eeedngs
As 70 whether the order 10 fire came from
Captain Shorthand, yet confess myself unable TO
form any satisfactory opinion, though perhaps
the bias Of my mind is that he did give such an
order But his anxiety and exertions TO stop it
after it had continued for some little time, are
fully proved, and his general conduct previous TO
this occurrence, as far rs we could with propric-
~ enter into such details, appears to have been
characterized with great fairness, and even
Kindness, IN which he stood towards the prison,
ers.
On tie subject ofany complaints against their
own government existing among the prisoners it
was invariably answered TO several distinct ques.
tons put by inc on that head, that none whatsoe-
yer existed or had been expressed BY them, altho'
they contested themselves 10 entertain some ami.
mostly against Mr.. Beasley, to whom they attri.
buted their detention in this country; with what
justice you will be better able TO Judge Tlscy
madeno complaint whatsoever as to tier provi-
SONS and general mode Of living and treatment II
the prison.
I have transmittedto Mr.. Beasley list ofths
sihel sRd wounded on this melancholy occasion,