for Prisoners of War, and two letters relative to the detention of British Prisoners; as also a minute of observations made by the Transport Board on the above agreement, with copies of those several Inclosures: and I have their Lordship's commands to request you will lay these Papers before Lord Bathurst, and move His Lordship to take the pleasure of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and signify the same to my Lords, as to the directions to be given on the subject to which they refer. I am Sir Your most obedient humble Servant JNO. CROKER. Henry Goulburn, Esqr. Endorsed: Admiralty, 15 Aug. 1818. Mr. Croker. Ansd, 19th. Six Inclosures. [Q 125, p 153 ] NAMES OF PERSONS CAPTURED IN THE SHIP LADY JOHNSON BY THE FRENCH J. A. Walker, Assistant Commissary, rank of Captain. Having laid before My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 14th Instant, inclosing, by direction of Earl Bathurst, copies of two letters addressed by His Lordship to Lieut General Sir George Prevost, on the subject of the confinement of a certain number of British Prisoners of War, by order of the American Government, to be held as Hostages for the same number of men taken from the Enemy & sent to England for Trial as British Subjects; I have their Lordship's commands to acquaint you that they have sent copies of those Letters to Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, with directions to him to conform strictly to the Instructions therein contained, as far as relates to the Naval Forces under his command I am Sir Your most humble Servant J. W. CROKER. Colonel Bunbury, &ca. &ca. &ca. [Q 125, p 202 ] JAMES GLENIE TO EARL BATHURST. 19 GEORGE STREET, ADELPHI, 25th August 1813. To the Right Honble Earl Bathurst, &ca. &ca. &ca. MY LORD, Last Autumn before I went to the Continent of Europe I gave to Viscount Sidmouth and partly at his own request a few observations in regard to the most advantageous mode of conducting our present unfortunate Dispute with the United States of America. Had I been personally known to Your Lordship, I would have delivered them to you as more immediately connected with the affairs of your department. Detroit which is about 316 miles above Niagara and on which Sir Frederick Haldimand when Governor and Commander in Chief in Canada before it was divided into Upper & Lower spent considerable sums, was also ceded to them, as was likewise Fort Michilimackinac which is about 360 miles above Detroit, and to which and the Grand Portage, that is 450 miles farther, the Indian Tribes even in the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay used frequently to bring Furs. Lake Huron is about 340 miles long and 80 broad. It does not freeze. REAR ADMIRAL ED. GRIFFITH TO COMMISSIONERS FOR TRANSPORTS. GENTN, CENTURION, HALIFAX, 1st Sept 1813. You will learn from Lieut Miller your Agent at this place, that the 450 American Prisoners arrived here in the Regulus and Melpomene from Quebec. This accession to the number already in confinement at Melville Island has filled both the Prison & Prison Ships there as full as, they ought to be & should the exchange be stopt, which there seems to be some reason to apprehend, they will soon become crowded beyond what would be consistent with either the security or Health of the Prisoners. I have therefore thought it advisable to send to England one hundred in the Regulus & in the hope that it may have the effect of deterring the American Seamen from serving in Privateers I have ordered them to be selected from amongst the crews of such as have fallen into our Hands-and sending even this small number to England may have a salutary effect in another respect, namely, that of convincing the American Government that whatever inconvenience we may find in subsisting our Prisoners they will no longer be released unless regularly exchanged. The Melpomene carries the British subjects taken in Arms in Upper Canada & sent here by Sir G. Prevost to be transferred to England. You will here with receive copies of a Letter on Service & of a private letter from Col. Barclay to Sir J. B. Warren & copies of letters from Col. Barclay to Genl. Mason, & to Captain Talbot of H. M. S. Victorious. These letters came in a Despatch by the last Cartel & in the absence of the Commander in Chief I was induced to open them. The Inclosures therein alluded to did not accompany them. Referring to the Colonels recommendation of immediately retaliating on the Americans in our possession for the severities exercised on British Subjects, Prisoners of War in the United States, I have by the advice and with the concurrence of Sir J. C. Sherbrooke, the Lieut. Governor of this Province taken on myself to act on Col. Barclay's recommendation & accordingly have given directions for immediately shutting up in the Goal of this Town two American Prisoners of War for every British subject of whose confinement in the Goals of the United States satisfactory Proofs have been obtained. I would next beg leave to call the attention of the Board to the establishment of Melville Island. On a late visit there, in company with the Lieut Governor the very insecure state of the Prison yard and of the Defences for the guard over the Prisoners was made so manifest by the observations of the Chief Engineer that at the suggestion & by the advice of the Lieut Governor, I have ventured to direct the works recommended for the security of the whole, a plan of which was sent to the Board last year by Lieut Miller, to be taken in hand without delay & I have no doubt but that they will be completed in a short time & at a moderate expence. But should the Exchange of Prisoners with the United States, cease altogether, the establishment here must be enlarged. The Commrs. for Transports. I am &c. ED. GRIFFITH, Rr. Adml. [Q 126, p 111] SIR. MAJ. GEN. HENRY PROCTER TO SIR GEORGE PREVOST. SANDWICH, 5th [13th?] September 1813. With the deepest sorrow I have to acquaint Your Excellency that His Majesty's Vessels upon this Lake* sailed under the command of Captain Barclay at three o'clock P. M. on the 9th Inst to seek the Enemy.t * Detroit, Queen Charlotte, Lady Prevost. Hanter, Little Belt, Chippewa. Two Ships, one Brig, Two Schooners, one Sloop. Nine Sail, Two Brigs carrying each 18-32 [20-82 ?] Pounder Carronades and Two long 12 Pounders. The Fleets met among the Islands, I understand from Lieut Colonel Warburton, who saw the Battle from an elevated situation about fifteen miles below Amherstburg, that it lasted from mid-day on the 10th Instant until half past three o'clock, during which the firing was incessant and the Vessels appeared to be very near each other. The Spectators were fully impressed with the idea that our Fleet were victorious, but with grief I say it, circumstances have since placed it beyond a doubt, that the whole of our Fleet have been taken or destroyed the wind was quite fair for Amherstburg, the whole of the 10th and 11th Instant-No accounts from, or of Captain Barolay, and on the latter day eleven vessels evidently under the one Flag were seen working down the Lake: This on many accounts may be looked on as a most disastrous circumstance. I evidently cannot maintain my present extensive position as the Enemy will now have the undisputed command of these waters by which he will be enabled to turn my Flank and cut us off probably in detail - I have made my arrangements to fall back on the Thames - the women & sick I send off to-morrow:-- the Stores &o shall be removed with all convenient expedition;-Depôts with Ovens I am endeavouring to form at proper distances; the management of the Indians may be a delicate, a difficult affair I trust I shall succeed in bringing them to this side of the Strait and on the Thames:It will be requisite to send the Indian Goods to the Thames;- I am endeavouring to get the Road thro' the wilderness rendered more passable. The first measure to be taken, and immediately is to erect Block houses, connecting them with Picketting, on a most eligible piece of ground, that over looks Turkey Point. The ground points itself out if this measure is not immediately adopted both General De Rottenburg's safety and mine will be endangered-The work of the description I mention, to contain from three to five hundred men can be quickly constructed by the aid of the Militia of that quarter who are most expert Axmen, and I am confident from dear bought experience, may be maintained by our Troops against any Body of the Enemy;-I beg to observe to Your Excellency that if we are drawn off from the Thames, especially before the Indians settle thereabout, they will look on us as deserting them: which I conceive we cannot do - in honor or Policy, nor should we permit the Enemy to get possession of the Thames;--I still hope to make him very uncomfortable after my falling back-tho' Your Excellency is aware that with the Fleet I lost my Ordnance and one third of my Regular Force-I still think we may preserve this District and |