Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-09
rVOL. XIV.---NO.

of fact, Sir II. Lowe had had no opnor-
tnnity for refusing this permission. The
circumstance, If II really could form a
complaint nj all, occurred during tile
command of Sir George Cockburne.-
General Gonaparte asked Sir George
CoCkbnrnc, whether, If letter addressed
20 the Prince Regent were delivered 10
HIM, he would undertake to deliver II mn
opened. Sir Georges reply was, what it
was 10 be expected he would have SAID
on such Il proposition: he declared tuat
he could undertake no commission of the
KIND reminding Bonaparte, that accord
ing TO the instructions he had commune
Gated To him, no letter whatever could be
forwarded unless it was open. Thus il
was plain, that the information on which
The Noble Lord rested his argument on
this point was totally unioundeG. On
tins cniy occasion then, in which Rcna~
parte expressed wish 20 forward Il cons
munlcaiion respecting his situation, his
attention was particularly directed to HAT
part OF The Instructions which required
that any complaint ar representation he
might have 10 make should be immediate
~ forwarded, leaving the Governor 10
discretion az 10 Withholding il, but re-
qniring that it should be delivered 10 BIN
open. This RUE was proper, as on he
one hand it gave the Governor Ne oppor-
tunlty of vindicating himself, ard il there
really was any serious complaint, would
afford the government here thc means Of
forming some Judgment Of its truth with
out waiting to send back 10 ST. Helena
Tor explanations before any decision
Whatever could be adopted. Tho Noble
Earl having read the passage in the IN
struciions which required the Governor
TO transmit TO the Secretary ofSfatc what
ever representations any of the persons in
custody might deliver 10 him, observed,
that If either Sir George Cockburne or Sir
hudson Lowe had forwarded sealed let
ter, addressed TO the Prince Regent, lie
certainly would have opened if Before he
presented il 10 his ROYAL Highness. In
this country, where Ministers were res
ponslble, he should regard this course TO
be his duty. One complaint related TO
the difficulty of obtaining books. He
could assure their Lordshps, that no i'm
proper impairment in that respect had
been created. There was no disposition
TO refuse any reasonable request on this
subject: bat there had been only one in
stance of an application for books, and
then every thing had been done 10 oh'ain
those win were required. As they
could not be all procured in this country,
some were obtained from Paris a book
Ni'N Nsio dtSO pcTUlItlPtt 10 Forward some
hooks which were afterwards required.
No notice had hitherto been taken Of ihis
by Governments; but when so much in
d:nlgence had been shown, it was aston
Ilshlng that tie difficulty of obtaining
books should be made matter Of CON
plant 1t, however, the Noble I ord went
so far as TO saw, that General Bonaparte
should he at liberty to ceive eve,y iour-
nal he pleased, he must say, that he could
not agree with him. He must object 10
so extended an indulgence because he
knew that attempts had been made TO
correspond through the medium of news
papers. Ii was said that General Bona
parte was not permitted 10 open u cores
pondence with a bookseller or banker.
This was untrue hewas at perfect liberty
to carry on such Il correspondence, onlv
the communications must be opcn. 1t
was doubtless great restriction. a very
severe tax on correspondence between
friends and relatives 10 subject it TO snch
a condition but what illusions. of the
heart which required to be carefully seal
ed up, were likely TO be addressed 10 n
bookseller or banker2 No peculiarly
tender or delicate communications were
likely TO be made TO them.
Ihenext subject ofcompIaint he Should
notice, was that of letters to Bonanarfe,
or the persons attending linn, being liable
to be read hv suhaltern officers This
was as groundless as the rest Sir Hud-
son Love was most careful in preventing
any letter which he might receive, from
being seen, even by those nearest him in
office or authority. Inmediatelv on re-
ceivlng any letter, he never failed TO for
ward If according TO the address, or 10
return If to this cOuntrv, addressed to the
Secretary OF State, fit lad arrived on the
island unopened. In some instances the
Governor had been very i'll requited for
his clvlIty TO The persons in custody. I as
Casas bad addressed letter 10 a.ladv for.
some things which he wanted, and sent
his son TO get the letter forwarded. The
letter was sealed, and Sir Hudson Lowe,
after opening IT, sent it according TO The
address: The articles applied for were
received by Las Casas, file faiher-who,
instead of thanking Sir Hudson fspwe for
the trouble lie had taken, wrote TO him.
complaining of his presumption in open
ing letter addressed to lady. With
regard 10 the complaint that General Be-
naparte was cut off from all communica-
ton with individuals who might wish to
wait OF him, it was most untrue. TIE
chiei restriction IN that respect dcpended
upon bimsclf-So far from lis being The
fact that there were great restrictions on
visiting him, any person, OF obtaining a
pass from proper officer, was at liberty
10 proceed 10 Iongwood. On arriving
there, they had t9 present Themselves TO
Bertrand. or some other of General Bona.
parties attendants, and IL depended upon
them whether they could be admitted TO
his presence.-Thus care was taken that
thprp should mo M iufr,,eiCu ODD * tf,o