Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-09

Il
claimed by n. Bonaparte to be allowed
between his place of residence and other
parts of the island, with any remarks by
| Napoleon on the subject. 9th. Copies
of any dispatches TO the Sec'rv of state
relative TO applications by n. Bonaparte
to the Prince Regent Some of those
! who had chosen to follow the fortunes of
Bonaparie had children; and it had been
stated, that their parents had manifested
an anxiety To have the means of religious
instruction for these children, and there
was no clergyman of their persuasion in
| the island: and, therefore, he moved,
Chilly. for copies ofall dispatches from the
Governor ofSt. Helena TO the Secretary
of state, respecting any applications by
| the persons in question, on the subject OF
religious instruction for themselves or
their children.
Earl Bathurst gave full credit 10 the no.
Die Lord (iolland) Tor the motives which
had induced him 20 bring forward the
present question. The Noble Lord had
justly stated the great principles upon
which the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte
stood, and which had never been depart
ed from by his Majesty's government
That it was necessary that some restric'
tons should he imposed OH u person in
his situation, could not be denied and the
| restrictions applicable were already well
understood, and had received sanction
| of Parliament /: but whether they were ex-
ecuted property was certainly matter of
fair consideration. That there had been
no improper or unnecessary restrictions
imposed, and that the governor had acted
according TO ms instructions, he should
show before he sat down. He was hap
py 10 ind, that II was not the intention
OF the Noble Lord TO found any argument
on publication by person named San
tine, which came before the public lin
no authentic shape, and could in no way
be regarded as evidence. He should,
therefore, consider that mans statements
as entirely given up, and that Montholon's
only were relied on by the Noble Lord.
To his letter to Sir Hudson Lowe, which
certainly was an authentic document, he
should accordingly, chiefly coniiDe him
self; and he was confident that he should
prove, that all the complaints in that do
cument were either unfounded, or gross
misrepresentation of the restrictions,
which were well understood by General
Bonaparte to be the result of the instruc-
tons given TO the Governor. The gen
eral regulations for the confinement of
Bonaparte IN ST. Helena, on which the in
structlons 10 the Governor were founded.
were no secret. IL happened, soon af,
ter General BOnaparte's removal from
tins country that a copy of the regula-
tons, generally believed 10 be authentic,
was published in paper on the Conti
nent. The universal opinion then was, Ill
this country and in Europe, that there
was nothing improper in these regulations,
as they were all founded OH the principle
laid down by the Noble Lord that the
prisoner should be subject to no greater
restrictions than were necessary for the
safe custody OF his person and upon that
principle had His Majesty's government
acted up 10 the present moment There
certainly had been no substantive altera
ton. Whatever notifications had taken
place had all been made for the benefit OF
the person who now complained of their
severity. He had, in fact, TO reason to
complain of the Governor relative to cor
respondence, for the instructions on that
head were fully communicated TO him
and he well knew there was no authority
ON the island that could depart from
thcm. The instruction required, that all
ietteTs addressed 10 General Bonaparte
and his suite must first be delivered TO fbe
Governor. All written by him. or The
persons attending him, were subject TO
the same regulation, and, as wellas the
former, must be open. No letters reach
ing the island, which may not have been
regularly transmitted through the Office
! OF The Secretary of State, could be deli
vered. 10 impute ii to the Governor.
therefore, as an act of severity, that he
was prevented from corresponding with
| his wife or his relations, was altogether
uDfounded; and the same observation
! applied to any complaint of impediments
IN The way of any representation he might
choose 10 make respecting his situation
or treatment. He had been given 10 I'M
derstand, III the most distinct manner,
thai lie was at full liberty 10 transmit TO
ms Idajesty's Government any represen-
tatlon or complaint he might think fit. Ii
was true, IT was required that the com
municatlon should be open; but the rca-
son OF that regulation was, that the gov
ernor might have an opportunity of ac-
| companylng the representation with such
remarks and explanations as might be ne
cessary Tor the information of his Males
! tvs Government. The rule i'm This case
was one which was common TO prisoners
OF war in general. The same rule applied
to letters written TO or received from the
wives and children of such prisoners, and
which formed one of the heads of com
| plant. If, therefore, General Bonaparte.
and the persons in his suite, mean TO saw
that they cannot write letters without for
wardlng them open, that was perfectly
true but it was fhc general practice of
all countries TO enforce such a regulation
with respect TO prisoners of war. Gene
raj BonapaTte, therefore knew that II was
a rIle TO which he was liable. both from
his particular situation, and from the in
strucilon which had been riyen to the
Governor; but il lie said he could not