The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-07


crossed the frontier Of Russia, is type
Of the rrsplts Of what Napier claims TO
be the unseldsh policy Of this Emperor
for building up the welfare and happi-
ness OF the people Of France.
Only one more passage from Napier's
work remains to bequoted ami criticized
for its shallowness and injustice. In
volume ", p. 2SG, he says: The Por-
tuguese aud British sOldiers OF the left
wing had commenced the like outrages
and two French persons were killed in
one town However, the Adiutant Cen
eral, Packenham, arriving at the mo-
ment, saw and instantly put the perpe-
traitors to death. thus nipping this wick
edness in the bud, but at his own risk,
for legally he had not that power. This
General whose generosity, humanity and
chiyalrous spirit. excited the admiration
Of every honorablnperson who approach
ed him, il the man who afterwards fell
at New Orleans and who has been so
ioully traduccd by American writer's.
lie who was pre-eminently distinguished
by his detestation OF inhumanity and
outrage, has been with astounding false
hood represented as instigating his
troops TO the most Infamous excesses.
But from a people holding millions OF
their fellow beings in the most horrible
slavery while they prate and yaunt OF
liberty until all men turn with loatbing
from the sickening folly, what can be ex'
pected ?"
As TO these published libels againt the
American people no excuse on the ground
Of ignorance can be pleaded for Napier.
tie spent sixteen years, after 1918, In
preparing and writing bis book. Within
that time all the facts as to the capture
of the city OF Washington by the British
army under Gen. Robert Ross, and the
destruction by order Of the Regent and
Cabinet OF England of the public build
ings and library and OF much private
property had been commented upon az
| brutal violations oiinternatiOnal law by
Lord Grenville and by the British bis
torian Knight. And all public conscience
| has confirmed the sOundness OF these
comments. Ross and his army would
never have reached Washington but for
the digraceiul incompetency OF Arm
strong. the American Secretary OF War
He had known for more than three
months OF the coming OF Ross army, and
he could, with ease and safety, have
called down from the Canada line a suti-
cient body OF veteran troops under
Brown, Scott, Ripley or Jessup, to have
united with the American militia, and
the seamen and marines under the heroic
Barney. and utterly defeated Ross.
As to the facts at New Orleans in jan
nary, 1915, it has been proved by evil
dences never overthrown that the motto
Beauty and Booty" had been adopted
by the English army destined for the at
tack on that city. 1t was used so con-
stantly by their troops that it became
generally known. Yet we have no evil
dence that Sir Edward Packenham is
sued any orders against it. His heroic
death in that second fatal advance OF his
troops may lead US to forget.
But, as to Napier's charge against the
Southern slave holders, it is sufficiently
met by the perfectly ascertained coun-
ter facts against England, to
wit: that her own highly valued
sea officer, Sir John Hawkins, boasts oI
his attacking, without the least provoca-
ton, an African village of 5000 people,
OF killing or driving into the forests some
thousands OF them. and of capturing 250
whom be reduced to slavery and Snug
eled into Hispaniola And Queen Eliza
beth knighted him for these good deeds.
And England maintained the slave trade
and caused the "Assiento" Article to be
introduced into the Treaty Of Utrecht in
1713. by which she was to make for her.
self or her people enormous sums OF
money by introducing negro slaves into
the Spanish West Indies. And England
rejected every protest and every effort Of
the Southern American Colonies to put
an end to the slave trade, and for many
years and even down to the middle OF
the century just passed, English ships
and seamen were the chief promoters and
agents OF the slave trade
Il. r. HowIsoN.
"Braehead," Spotsylvania Co., Va.