Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-29

altogether uhjusti6able aad unpree eGen.es
For our own part, we never doubted tia,
their punishment, however terrible il mar
have been, was authorised by the laws &c
nations, as it was merited by the macni.
tuds Of their offences; tho we could have
wished that the grounds and proofs upon
which they were tried and cordemnet, had
been officially promulgated.
SONG facts connected with the history
of one Nof these individuals have come /,
our knowledge, which may be interesting
to some of our readers, though they are
entitled Ia no importance in a political
point of view; they are contained in tho
following memorial addressed by the father
cf the young man Armbrister, Ia resident
of the Island Of New Proyidence) 20 Inc
governor OF the Bahamas. While we Weld
our assent TO the stern decree of Justice
pronounced against the son, hunspily
claims our sympathy in behalf OF the slict.
cd parent.
The Memorial Of James Armbrister. of
the island Of New Providence,
Humbly sheweth as follows:
Your memorislists youngest son, Re-.
bert Cbristye Ambris,er, was born in hi,
colony in the year 1897; he served as a
MIdshIpman in his Majesty's Navy for a.
bout 4 years, he afterwards obtained under
admiral Cochrane, Lieut.. commission in
bis Majcsty's late corps of Royal Colonial
Marines, destined 10 he employed during
the late war with the United States of A.
merica, in which capacity he served with
Major Nichols in the Floridas, and from
thence he returned to New Providence on
the establishment Of peace without having
been then, or any time since, confirmed to
his last mentioned rank in any way what
ever, by bis Majesty's Government.
Some short time since, your memorialist's
said son, when on visit to the Floridas, as
a passenger in small trading vessel from
these Islands, certainly on this last oc-
casion without any Military commission
or appointment OF any kind which your
is aware Of, was Gas your me-
with the deepest pain has lately
learned from different quarters, seized
upon at his Catholic Majesty's Fort St.
Marks by a military force from the United
States of America tried by Court Martial
and condemned TO be shot, on some pre-
Ience of crime, not yet known 10 your Me-
norislist; ami actually executed in pursu-
aLce OF his sentence.
As your Memorialid understands, his
ION had not been on shore more than IA
lays when lie was thus fatally proceeded
lglinst.
By the same public accounts your Me-
norialist further.learns, that Mr.. Alexander
trader of this place, who is
we'll known never to have had any cOnnec-
ion with military life, was also seized at
81. Marks, at the same time as your Memo
'ialist's son, and executed in pursuance
Il sentence OF the same courtemartial.
Your Memorialist, without being able to
conjecture what offence either his son or
ir. Arbuthnot could well have been guilty
f within his Cathslic majesty's dominion.,
which could according TO any known prinr
iple Of natural law subject their lives y
,rfeiture in this instance, without the fair
lrisdiclion of the invading force, respect
lilly represents as characteristic aggraya-
ion Of this apparently hagitious mockerylof
ustice, SHOULD the fact prove to be as is
represented and be!ieved) that the printi-
val witness produced against the prisons.
'efore the extraordinary tribunal whith
laimed the right Of bringing them 10 triJ,
vas an Infamous person Of the name Of
cooke, a vendue masters clerk, who sonf
ime before quilted these Islands in conse.
uence Of having robbed his master, and
gho was afterwards imprisoned at 81.
iarks for similar offence against Mr.. Ar.
uthnot, who had the misfortune to employ
i'm in his mercantile concerns there.
Your Memorialist therefore trusts, tht
our honor, in kind indulgence to the natu-
ii feelings and solicitude of parent atsc
ark and melancholy an event, as well az
ON motives of more important general
haracter, will be pleased to lay this state
lent before his Majesty's government;
our Memorialist huInbly but anxiously
oping that your bonor's communicates
Jay lead to an enquiry of high authority,
hich your memorialist confidently DO
ewes must redeem the memory Of his 500
ON all unjust imputatIon Of dishonor, and
your Memorialist begs he may be excused
" adding) the British character also, from
lose fabricated tales and foul aspersiors
it'll which the public ear is abused, par
culariy in the United States Of America,
full Justification of the above mentioned
nguinary measures Of their present mill
~ commanders.
Your Memorialist will ever pray. &c.
;igned) JAMES ARMBRISTER.
Nassau, June 29h, 1918.