a

liberty, peace, order, and humanity, must, and in an unquestionable shape. Those all rejoice in this decisive appointment, facts, it will be seeil, contradict the asand on the suppression of the Censorship persions which have been unnaturally cast of the Press, and the dissolution of the by some of our own citizens on their Pseudo-Senate and degraded Chamber of country's honour, with the view solely Deputies, who would submit to deliberate, to support pretensions of our theu enemy, as it was called, on a change of govern- which are now decisively proven to have ment, without any authority from the peo- been wholly groundless. ple, and with an host of invading and be

Nat. Intel sieging strangers at their gates. The characteristic and magnanimous instance of In Senate, March 3, 1815. intrusting captured Vienna to her own The Committee on foreign relations, to troops; to which I would add his generous whom was referred the message of the dismissal of the armies of Austria and President of the United States on the 26th Prussia ; and the King and Emperor them- of September last, respecting the unăuselves--35,000 men completely in his thorised mode of warfare adopted by the power, speaks the man the general, the li- enemy, on the plea of retaliation, report, beral statesman: his attention to this day that, although the war has happily termiof the wounded Austrian officers--his love, nated, they deem it important to rescue founded on knowledge and true approba- the American government from unworthy tion, of the arts and sciences-his remem- imputations with which it has been asbrance of the widow of Rousseau, when sailed during its progress. They have, neglected and in indigence—his power therefore, endeavoured to ascertain wheduring his late astonishing enterprize over ther the destruction of York, in Upper the best feelings of the human heart, which Canada, and the other cases assumed by nó man ever has to such an extent, unless our late enemy, as authorising a departure those feelings have first possession of his from the settled rules of civilized warfare, own :all these contradict the disgusting were of a character to justify or extenuate and horrible port raits by which our aban- their conduct. The result of the indoned papers have endeavoured to feed quiries of the Committee, manifestiņg to and enflame eternal war.-The Suffolk | the world, that the plea which has been Chronicle would not insert my letter in advanced for the destruction of the Ame-which I endeavoured to obtain a REQUISI-rican capital, and the plunder of private Tion to the High SHERIFF, to call, as property, is without foundation, will be early as possible, a County Meeting, to found in the communications of the secreconsider of a Petition to prevent our being taries of the departments of war and navy, made a party to a war for the purpose of and of General Dearborn, commander of interfering with the internal government the American forces in the attack on York, of France, after the clearest and fullest herewith submitted. manifestation of the national will.

-Capet LOFT.

Department of State, Feb. 28, 1815.

SIR-I have had the honour to receive REPORT ON THE RETALIATING System, &c. your letter, requesting, on behalf of the

committee of foreign relations, any inforThe following is a report made by a mation which this department possesses,

a committee of the senate, on the subject of relative to the misconduct that has been the pretences whereon our late enemy jus- imputed to the American troops in Upper tified his devastations of private property Canada during the late war, and in reply, and of public buildings, unconnected with I have the honour to state, that the charges the purposes of war. As great pains appear to be confined to three. 1st, The have been taken by the factious prints to alleged burning of York; 2d, the burning discolour the facts on this subject, with of Newark, and 3d, the burning of the a view to palliate the atrocities committed Indian villages usually called the Moravian at Washington and elsewhere by the Bri- towns. 1st. The burning of York, or any tish forces, in violation of the usages of of its public edifices or of any

of its private war and the dictates of humanity, it is houses, has never been presented to the satisfactory to receive a statement of facts view of the American government by its on this head from the highest authority, lown officers, as matter of information;

a

a

and it never was exhibited by the British , by the American general, as necessary to government, or any of its officers, as mat- his military operations ; but as soon as the ter of complaint; until it waz asserted in American government heard of it, instructhe address of the governor in chief to tions, dated the 6th of January, 1814, the provincial parliament of Canada, on were given by the department of war, to the 24th of January, 1815, “ that as a major general Wilkinson, “ to disavow the just retribution, the proud capitol at conduct of the officer who committed it, Washington, has experienced a similar and to transmit to governor Provost a copy fate to that inflicted by an American force of the order, under colour of which that on the seat of government in Upper Ca- officer had acted.” This disavowal was nada.” This assertion, having led to an accordingly communicated, and on the inquiry, I am enabled, from official do- 10th Feb. 1814, governor Provost ancuments, and general information, to state swered, “ that it had been with great satisthe following facts of the case, for the in- faction he had received the assurance, formation of the committee. The town that the perpetration of the burning of the of York, in Upper Canada, was taken by town of Newark, was both unauthorised the American army under the command by the American government, and abhorof General Dearborn, on the 27th of rent to every Anierican feeling; that if any April, 1813, and it was evacuated on the outrages had ensued the wanton and unsucceeding 1st of May; although it was justifiable destruction of Newark, passing again visited for a day, by an American the bounds of just retaliation, they were squadron under the command of Commo- to be attributed to the influence of irri. dore Chauncey, on the 4th of August. At tated passions, on the part of the unforthe time of the capture, the British troops tunate sufferers by that event, which, in on their retreat set fire to their magazine, a state of active warfare, it had not been and great injury was done by the explo- possible altogether to restrain, and that it sion, to property as well as to persons was as little congenial to the disposition of within the range of its effects. At the his majesty's government, at it was to that time of the capture, as well as at the time of the government of the United States, deof Commodore Chauncey's visit, the pub- liberately to adopt any plan of policy, lic stores were seized, and the public which had for its object the devastation store houses were destroyed; but the of private property." But the disavowdestruction of public edifices for civil uses, al of the American government was not or of private property, was not only un. the only expiation of the unauthorized ofauthorised, but positively forbidden by fence committed by its officer; for the Brithe American commanders; and it is un- tish government undertook itself, to redress derstood that no private house was de- the wrong. A few days after the burning stroyed by the American troops. It has of Newark the British and Indian troops recently, however, appeared, that a pub- crossed the Niagara for this purpose; they lic building, of little value, called the surprized and seized fort Niagara ; they Parliament House (not the Government burnt the villages of Lewistown, ManchesHouse) in which it is said that an Ameri- ter, Tuscarora, Buffalo, and Black Rock, can scalp was found, as a part of the de- desolating the whole of the Niagara froncoration of the speaker's chair, had been tier, and dispersing the inhabitants, in the burnt; whether it was so, and if it was, extremity of the winter. Sir George Prewhether it was' an accidental consequence vost himself appears to have been satisfied of the confusion in which the explosion of with the vengeance that had been inflicted; the magazine involved the town, or the and, in his proclamation of the 12th of unauthorised act of some exasperated in- January, 1814, he expressly declared, dividual, has not been ascertained. The that for the burning of Newark, “the opsilence of the military and civil officers of portunity of punishment had occurred; the provincial government of Canada, that a full measure of retaliation had taken seem to indicate that the transaction was place, and that it was not his intention to not deemed, when it occurred, a cause, pursue further a system of warfare, so reeither for retaliation reproach.- volting to his own feelings, and so little --2d. The burning of Newark, adjacent congenial to the British character, unless to fort George, occurred on the 10th De- the future measures of the enemy should cember, 1813.-The act was vindicated 'compel him again to resort to it.” With

or

as

2

his answer to Major-General Wilkinson, Extract of a letter from Commodore Isaac which has been already noticed, he trans- Chauncey, to the Secretary of the Navy, mitted a copy of the proclamation,

dated expressive of the determination as to his

Off York, U. C. April, 20, 1813. future line' of conduct,” and added, “ that « The enemy set fire to some of the he was happy to learn, that there was no principal stores, containing large quantiprobability, that any measures, on the ties of naval and military stores, as well as part of the American government, would a large ship upon the stocks, nearly finishoblige him to depart from it.”-3d. The ed." places usually called the Moravian towns, From the sume to the same, dated were mere collections of Indian huts and

Off Niagara, Ang. 14, 1815. cabins, on the river Retrench or Thames,

" In the evening of the 30th ult. we not probably worth, in the whole, one thousand dollars. The Indians who in- weighed and stood for York, arrived and

anchored in that harbour, at about 3, habit them, among whom were some notoriously hostile to the United States, had the upper harbour, landed the marines

P. M. on the 31st; ran the schooners into made incursions the most cruel into their and soldiers, under the command of Col,

, territory. When, therefore, the Ameri; Scott, without opposition ; found several

. can army under General Harrison invaded

hundred barrels of flour and provisions in Canada on the of

1813, the

the public storehouses, five pieces of canhuts and cabins of the hostile Indians

non, eleven boats, and a quantity of shot, were destroyed. But this species of warfare has been invariably pursued by every either destroyed or brought away. On

shells, and other stores; all which was nation engaged in war with the Indians of the 1st inst. after having received on board the American Continent. However it may all that the vessels could take, I directed be regretted on the score of humanity, it the barracks and public store houses to be appears to be the necessary means of burned; we then re-embarked the men, savage hostility; and it is believed, that and proceeded to this place, where we

arrived yesterday.” the occurrence would never have been made the subject of a charge against the Letter from General Henry Dearborn to American troops, if the fact had not been the Hon. Joseph B. Varnung a member misrepresented or misunderstood. Many of the Senate. people at home, and most people abroad,

Boston, October 17, 1814. , have been led to suppose, that the Mora- DFAR SIR.-In reply to your letter of vian towns were the peaceable settlements the 11th instant. I assure you in the of a religious sect of Christians, and not most explicit manner, that no public or the abode of a hostile tribe of savages.- private buildings were burned or destroyed I hare the honour to be, &c.

by the troops under my command, at York, JAS. MONROE. in Upper Canada, excepting two blockTo the Hon. Wm, W. Bibb.

houses, and one or two sheds belongChairman of the Committee on foreign relations.

ing to the navy yard.— I placed a strong Navy Department, February 18, 1815. ,

guard in the town with positive orders Sır—In compliance with the request of to prevent any plunder or depredation

on the inhabitants; and when leaving the committee of the scnate, communicated to by me by your note of the 14th, cur.

the place, a letter was received from

Judge Scott, chief justice of the superent, I have the honor to transmit to your rior court, in which he expressed his herewith, extracts from the letters of

thanks for the humane treatment the commodore Chauncey to the secretary of the navy, on the subject of destroying the

inhabitants had experienced from our public storehouses and stores at York, in troops, and for 'my particular attenUpper Canada, and which is all the infor- tion to the safety of their persons and mation in this department on that subject. property. A frigate, on the stocks, and a I have the honour to be, very respectful- large storehouse, containing their naval ly, sir, your obedient servant,

stores, were set on fire by the enemy, subB. W. CROWLINSHIELD. sequent to their offer of surrendering the Hon. Wm. W. Bibb,

troops and public property. Several of Chairman of a Committee of the Senale.

the most valuable public buildings, con

war.

nected with their principal military posi- | passion for the many who first called for tions, were destroyed by the explosion of the war, and who would still call for it, if their magazine, which proved so fatal to they thought it for their interest. For our troups; and although there were such men as these I feel no regret; they strong provocations for burning and de- merit all the calamities they have endured; stroyiug the town, nothing of the kind they are the victims of their own folly and took place, more than I have already men- avarice; they are justly punished for tioned, either by the army or navy. Yours' their cupidity. What measures may be with respectful esteem, H. DEARBORY. necessary to induce the legislature to Hon. Joseph B. Varnum.

lend a willing ear to the petitions against the threatened

war,

it is not

for me to say ; but after the way in PETITIONS AGAINST THE WAR.

which the petitions against the Corn The example of the Livery of London Bill were received, I do not expect a favorhas not been followed by the Citizens of able result, even although nine-tenths of Nottingham alone. In the City of West- our population were to remonstrate against minster, and in the Borough, petitions the measure. The country has supplied have been voted by the electors against in the means of commencing, at least, the volving the country in all the horrors of a Those now possessing these means, new war with France. These, I am afraid, have given pretty good proofs that they will have little effect, if the Allies, as is are not of disposing minds for peace. It pretended, are bent on renewing the work is useless, therefore, to talk to them on of slaughter. These are not the times that subject. Have all those, who are when the people are to expect that their now petitioning against the war, been voice will be heard, even by their repre- careful not to contribute to its support? sentatives. But who have they to blame How can they expect, after opening their for this? Why, none but themselves. purses, and willingly paying their quota It is they who have all along willingly of war taxes, that they should have contributed to carry on the war. It is any thing else buť war?-It is the taxes they, many of them, who now make the that occasions all the mischief. It is the greatest noise about the pernicious conse- taxes, the soul and sinews of

war,

which quences of the last war, that were the first to have involved the country in its present call for it. Poor drivellers! do they suppose distress. Until, 'therefore, measures are that after investing corruption with the vast adopted, and constitutional measures there power they have done ; after giving it the are, to bring these taxes within moderate unlimited controul of the national purse'; bounds, war we must have, war we shall after submitting the neck to that yoke; do have, and war will sooner or later involve these credulous dupes of a crafty system the country in irrecoverable ruin. expect, that the noisy lamentations they now set up to procure attention will be TRIUMPH met with any thing but a deaf ear. No, PuritY OF ELECTION.—The friends of no; it is not the way to tame the jackal freedom will, I am persuaded, be gratified to feed him with human flesh; it is not the to learn, that the eighth anniversary of Sir way to eradicate corruption to pour plenty Francis Burdett's election to represent into the lap of the corrupt. Those who the city of Westminster, is to be held in have all along been sincere in their desire the Crown and Anchor Tavern, on Tues. for peace have been but few in number. day the 23d instant; and that Şir Francis They are entitied, and have a legitimate is to be in the Chair. claim, to be heard, but I have little com

OF

WESTMINSTER,

AND

/

Printed and Published by G. Houston, No. 192, Strand; where all Comn:unications addressed

to the Editor, are regrested to be forwarded.

Vol. XXVII. No. 21.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1815. [Price 1s.

IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

611)

[612 TO CORRESPONDENTS, may be addressed to me at Botley, near

Southampton, and be put, at once, into any

post-office in this country.-The hiveling, Botley, near Southampton, 20th May, 1815.

who conduct nine-tenths of the newspaI have, within these few days, had ten- pers in London, have all possible fucilities dered to me, through the Post, a small in receiving American newspapers. But, parcel from America, with “newspapers" they publish from them that only which written on it. This parcel had, as ap- suits their purpose: 'Their object is to pears by the Post-mark, been sent from mislead the people here; or, to keep them Liverpool to London, and from London in the dark; and, they call out every pásto Botley. The charge on it was nine sage calculated to answer this end. Bed shillings and six-pence sterling; that is to sides, there are very few papers (the Na.

, say, however, in our paper money, being tionut Intelligencer excepted), which are about, at this time, a dollar and a half. sent to England, except the papers called I did not take the parcel, of course, much Federal. The persons who send these -as I wished to see its contents. From papers, if not English by birth, are Engthis account, it will be perceived, that, lish by connection. Thus we see only one unless parcels of newspapers, coming from side of the picture; and hence it was, that America, be actually conteyed by the malignant and beastly as is the Editor of bearer of them either to me at Botley our Times newspaper, for instance, the fel(which can seldom happen), or to London, low really might be deceived himself by the object in sending them must be de the cookoo clamour of the Aristocratical feated; for, a file of daily papers, for only, American newspapers; but, hence, though one month, sent to me by post from any I could get a sight of none but the same out-port, would cost, at least, the price of sort of papers, I was not deceived, because a good large fat hog. I remember one I had had that experience, which enabled parcel, which came to me, charged with me to put a proper value upon what I saw nine pounds some odd shillings of postage, in these papers. It is of great consewhich is now the price of a hog of seven- quence to the cause of truth and freedom, teen score weight.-As I am very de- that the Republican papers should come to sirous to receive, frequently, papers from us from America, and that other RepubliAmerica, and as the papers in that coun- can works should also reach us; for, it is try are not, as ours are, loaded with a tax from this Island that opinions and facts go equal to more than one half of their retail forth to produce impression on the mind price, I will point out the manner in which of the world. Bound up as our press is, they may be sent to me. The parcel we, by one means or another, contrive to should be addressed to me by name, “ to get a great deal into circulation. We are " the care of the Publisher of Cobbett's nearer the grand scenes of action than you 6 Weekly Political Register, London.” | are; and, if you wish your principles and But, it ought, if the vessel go to London, your example to have their due and speedy to be carried by the master, or mate, or by effect, we must be the principal vehicle of some careful person; and, if the vessel them. Some one at Philadelphia has reavive at some out-port, the parcel, with cently sent me a parcel of American pa. the same direction on it, should be carried pers, received at Philadelphia from other to some office, whence a London Coach places, from which I perceive, that my departs. There it should be delivered, Letters to Lord Liverpool have been reand the bearer should see it booked, as we published in all parts of the Republic, from call it.-By these means American papers Boston to Savannah, from Philadelphia to will reach me with very little trouble, and Pittsburgh. Flattering as this is to my at an expence of which I should think no- self-love, it is much more gratifying to we thing.--All single letters from America | as a proof of the powers of the press, and

X