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death from his own countrymen; not even an enemy will an Indian put to death, except resisting in arms, and as for injuring helpless women and children, the red men, by their good conduct and treatment to them, will (if it be possible) make the Americans blush for their more inhuman conduct lately on the Escambia, and within a neutral territory.

Inhabitants of Kentucky, you have too long borne with grievous impositions-the whole brunt of the war has fallen on your brave sons; be imposed on no longer, but either range yourselves under the standard of your forefathers, or observe a strict neutrality; if you comply with either of these offers, whatever provisions you send down, will be paid for in dollars, and the safety of the persons bringing it, as well as the free navigation of the Mississippi, guaranteed to you.

Men of Kentucky, let me call to your view (and I trust to your abhorrence) the conduct of those factions, which hurried you into this civil, unjust, and unnatural war, at a time when Great Britain was straining every nerve in defence of her own and the liberties of the world-when the bravest of her sons were fighting and bleeding in so sacred a cause- -when she was spending millions of her treasure in endeavouring to pull down one of the most formidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the form of man-when groaning Europe was almost in her last gasp-when Britons alone showed an undaunted front--basely did those assassins endeavour to stab her from the rear; she has turned on them, renovated from the bloody but successful struggle--Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens justly to avenge the unprovoked insult. Show them that you are not collectively unjust; leave that contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves of the tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aid; but let every honest, upright American, spurn them with united contempt. After the experience of twenty-one years, can you any longer support those brawlers for liberty, who call it freedom, when themselves are free; be no longer their dupes--accept of my of fers every thing I have promised in this paper I guarantee to you, on the sacred honour of a British officer.

Given under my hand at my head-quarters,

Pensacola, this 29th day of August, 1814.
EDWARD NICHOLLS.

Edward Nicholls to Mr. Laffite, or the commandant at Barataria. Head-quarters, Pensacola, August 31, 1814.

SIR,

I HAVE arrived in the Floridas for the purpose of annoying the only enemy Great Britain has in the world, as France and England are now friends. I call on you, with your brave followers, to enter into the service of Great Britain, in which you shall have the rank of a captain; lands will be given to you all, in proportion to your respective ranks, on a peace taking place, and I invite you on the following terms. Your property shall be guaranteed to you, and your persons protected: in return for which I ask you to cease all hostilities against Spain, or the allies of Great Britain.-Your ships and vessels to be placed under the orders of the commanding officer on this station, until the commander-in-chief's pleasure is known; but I guarantee their fair value at all events. I herewith inclose you a copy of my proclamation to the inhabitants of Louisiana, which will, I trust, point out to you the honourable intentions of my government. You may be an useful assistant to me, in forwarding them; therefore, if you determine, lose no time. The bearer of this, captain M'Williams, will satisfy you on any other point you may be anxious to learn, as will captain Lockyer of the Sophia, who brings him to you. We have a powerful reenforcement on its way here, and I hope to cut out some other work for the Americans than oppressing the inhabitants of Louisiana. Be expeditious in your resolves, and rely on the verity of Your very humble servant, EDWARD NICHOLLS.

By the hon. William Henry Percy, captain of his majesty's ship Hermes, and senior officer in the gulf of Mexico.

HAVING understood that some British merchantmen have been detained, taken into, and sold by the inhabitants of Barataria, I have directed captain Lockyer, of his majesty's sloop Sophia, to proceed to that place, and inquire into the circumstances, with positive orders to demand instant restitution, and in case of refusal to destroy to his utmost every vessel there, as well as to carry destruction over the whole place, and at the same time to assure him of the co-operation of all his majesty's naval forces on this station: I trust at the same time, that the inhabitants of Barataria,

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consulting their own interest, will not make it necessary to proceed to such extremities-I hold out at the same time, a war instantly destructive to them; and on the other hand, should they be 'inclined to assist Great Britain in her just and unprovoked war against the United States, the security of their property, the blessings of the British constitution--and should they be inclined to settle on this continent, lands will, at the conclusion of the war, be allotted to them in his majesty's colonies in America. In return for all these concessions on the part of Great Britain, I expect that the directions of their armed vessels will be put into my hands (for which they will be renumerated,) the instant cessation of hostilities against the Spanish government, and the restitution of any undisposed property of that nation.

Should any inhabitants be inclined to volunteer their services into his majesty's forces, either naval or military, for limited service, they will be received; and if any British subject, being at Barataria, wishes to return to his native country, he will, on joining his majesty's service, receive a free pardon.

Given under my hand on board H. M. ship Hermes,
Pensacola, this 1st day of September, 1814.

W. H. PERCY, Captain and senior officer.

Letter from the hon. W. H. Percy, captain of his majesty's ship Hermes, and senior officer in the gulf of Mexico, to Nicholas Lockyer, esq. commander of H. M. sloop Sophia.

SIR,

You are hereby required and directed, after having received on board an officer belonging to the first battalion of Royal colonial marines, to proceed in his majesty's sloop under your command, without a moment's loss of time, for Barataria.

On your arrival at that place, you will communicate with the chief persons there--you will urge them to throw themselves under the protection of Great Britain-and should you find them inclined to pursue such a step, you will hold out to them that their property shall be secured to them, that they shall be considered British subjects, and at the conclusion of the war, lands within his majesty's colonies in America, will be allotted to them in return

for these concessions. You will insist on an immediate cessation of hostilities against Spain, and in case they should have any Spanish property not disposed of, that it be restored, and that they put their naval force into the hands of the senior officer here, until the commander-in-chief's pleasure is known. In the event of their not being inclined to act offensively against the United States, you will do all in your power to persuade them to a strict neutrality, and still endeavour to put a stop to their hostilities against Spain. Should you succeed completely in the object for which you are sent, you will concert such measures for the annoyance of the enemy as you judge best from circumstances;--having an eye to the junction of their small armed vessels with me for the capture of Mobile, &c. You will at all events yourself join me with the utmost despatch at this post, with the accounts of your success.

Given under my hand on board his majesty's ship Hermes, at Pensacola, this 30th day of August, 1814.

W. H. PERCY, capt.

NO. IV.

SIR,

Letter from Mr. Laffite to Captain Lockyer.

Barataria, 4th September, 1814,

THE Confusion which prevailed in our camp yesterday and this morning, and of which you have a complete knowledge, has prevented me from answering in a precise manner to the object of your mission; nor even at this moment can I give you all the satisfaction that you desire; however, if you could grant me a fortnight, I would be entirely at your disposal at the end of that time-this delay is indispensable to send away the three persons who have alone occasioned all the disturbance-the two who were the most troublesome are to leave this place in eight days, and the other is to go to town-the remainder of the time is necessary to enable me to put my affairs in order you may communicate with me, in sending a boat to the eastern point of the pass, where I will be found. You have inspired me with more confidence than the admiral, your superior officer, could have done himself; with you alone I wish to deal, and from you also I will

elaim, in due time, the reward of the services which I may render

to you.

Be so good, sir, as to favour me with an answer, and believe me yours, &c.

LAFFITE.

NO. V.

SIR,

Letter from Mr. Laffite to Mr. Blanque.

Barataria, 4th September, 1814.

THOUGH proscribed by my adoptive country, I will never let slip any occasion of serving her, or of proving that she has never ceased to be dear to me. Of this you will here see a convincing proof. Yesterday, the 3d of September, there appeared here, under a flag of truce, a boat coming from an English brig, at anchor about two leagues from the pass. Mr. Nicholas Lockyer, a British officer of high rank, delivered me the following papers, two directed to me, a proclamation, and the admiral's instructions to that officer, all herewith enclosed. You will see from their contents the advantages I might have derived from that kind of association. I may have evaded the payment of duties to the custom house; but I have never ceased to be a good citizen; and all the offence I have committed, I was forced to by certain vices in our laws. In short, sir, I make you the depository of the secret on which perhaps depends the tranquillity of our country; please to make such use of it as your judgment may direct. I might expatiate on this proof of patriotism, but I let the fact speak for itself. I presume, however, to hope that such proceedings may obtain amelioration of the situation of my unhappy brother, with which view I recommend him particularly to your influence. It is in the bosom of a just man, of a true American, endowed with all other qualities that are honoured in society, that I think I am depositing the interests of our common country, and what particularly concerns myself.

Our enemies have endeavoured to work on me by a motive which few men would have resisted. They represented to me a brother in irons, a brother who is to me very dear! whose deliverer I might become, and I declined the proposal. Well persuaded of his innocence, I am free from apprehension as to the issue of a trial;

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