The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-10-09


ish, confined frsr, at Melville Xslund, Hal
i/ar) hen al Chatham, Engiand, and taa az
DlRYMooR PRysox"
The popularity ard ,apfd sale Of this work
has been 80 extensive, that he fret edition (of
1000 copies,) is entirely absoi bed, and q &c.
eond one demanded with encreased osgerness.
This Is now in tho prsss Of RowR & tloopEn,
Boston, on an entire new,ype, with many sd-
dilious, notes and remarks, tending 10 illus.
,raie the work--and will be completed 10 the
month Of October.
II there be sny Of oor readers ~ho have 10,
yet perused II, we beg 20 r~eommsnd il te
their consideration, not as q wo'k of great lit
csary merit, for il 10 modest in It's pretensions,
but as one which relates, IN q style vigorous
and sprightly, facts Interesting 10 the feelings
Of Us all as Americans.
Britain has often been reproached for cru
city towards our captive prisoners. The char
ges have froquen,ly been vague and indefinite,
Of Doubtful authenticity xnd of limited cifcu
lation. The sutferings Of sa individual have
been communicated to his friends, by himself,
If he survived them, if not, BY some fellow
companion Of distress. Within their own cir.
clc,, these relations have produced strong aud
dcepy.founded sentiments Of indignation, and
the frequency OF such cases has made ,his 10
dgna,ion q, tinos quite gcnsral. But the stery
soon becomes too well known Tor repetition in
tho same circle those individuals die, and ihe
facts are forgotten. Other generations sue
ceed, who have heard The whisper Of BsI,ish
cruelty, but iook in vain for accuracy Of tetAii,
or for authenticity Of reports. The subjec, is
then forgotten or dissegardcd, aud the seat OF
all the virtues 10 placed in the same little island
which contains tho bulwsrk Of religion the
clemeney aud humanity Of Eigl land is annnua.
ccd with hosannas, 10 the same breath which
proclsims that she hes done ~ 40 essential
injury.
The conduct Of power tswarcs its captive
prisoners, is often assumed % q criterion If
its civilization: at aoy rate II has been stated
as ono of the great objects Of refinement, 20
lessen the extenl OF individual suffering, with.
out impsiring the efficiency OF belIigeren:
measures. The superior policy Of modern
ines, II. not their greater refinement, has ex.
acted from an enemy The utmost tenderness
towards prisoners and disregard Of this
duty is viewed as the infraction Of principle
cf national law. There never was nation
whose regard for ttis principle has been 30
un,for m and inilsxible, as our own, il ws may
infer from the absence of all complaint on ihs
part Of our enemies, and the frequency si
heir scknowlcdg ments Of acts Of peeulis
dslicaey aud kindness from individuals no
p. aoy nation manifested . deeper solicitude
60 provide for the wants Of her own citizen
VIXEN in the hands Of an enemy. bus the
suaerings Of our countrYmce are not always
known it 10 but seldom they possess both
the ability and ths opportunity to give them
he noioristy Of n publication. Ia the pres
,nt instance, however, this has happened
The public are taken by the hand aod COZ
,uetcd into the interior Of British prisons
= No provisions Tor sostensnce are placed be
i,re their eyss; they hear the complaints Of