our fellow-citizens, should be both applied properly and without confusion. At the head of these respectable veterans appeared Mr. Debuys, sen. their captain.

General Labatut had the command of the town. He performed his task with a zeal and activity that have done him infinite honour.

The mayor and city council of New Orleans, by the adoption of measures that indicate their foresight and humanity, have maintained our internal peace, and so far prevented a scarcity of provisions to be felt in town, as to make it doubtful whether the presence of the enemy in our neighbourhood had diminished our supplies.

The attention of Mr. Nicholas Girod, the mayor of New Orleans, in the meanwhile, was extended, with great benefit, to each part of the service. All the means placed at his disposal were applied in a manner that told a skilful administrator. Such families as were in actual distress, were relieved, and furnished with provisions agreeably to a decree of the city council appropriating a sum fully adequate to this purpose of benevolence

The fair of New Orleans, without exception, eagerly undertook a variety of needle-work, for the use of the army. Many of them, who till then had been accustomed to do none but the nicest work, did not disdain sewing cloaks of the coarsest woollens. They gave both lint and linen for the use of the sick and wounded.

The Ursuline nuns are also entitled to a particular notice. They gave admittance within the walls of their monastery to as many of the sick as could be conveniently lodged therein, and afforded them every aid, conformably to the dictates of true charity.

All the practising surgeons and physicians in the town have acted so as to do the highest honour to their profession. Their readiness in bestowing assistance to the military who wanted it, was such as did not permit them to wait till an application should be made for their services. A sympathetic feeling led them several miles below town to meet the wounded on the way and give them immediate attendance.

A committee named by the same veterans above mentioned, whose patriotism was not merely confined to the performance of the military duties they had willingly submitted to,-on which

committee they had appointed namely, Messrs. Fortier, sen. Jh. Soulie, and Mr. Louaillier, a member of the house of representatives, was affording relief to the sick and wounded with an indefatigable zeal; procuring subscriptions for the purchase of clothing, intended for our fellow-soldiers, who had left their homes, unprovided for a winter campaign. A sum exceeding fourteen thousand dollars was actually laid out for that laudable object, including in it the appropriation of six thousand dollars made by the legislature.

Every member on that committee deserves the highest praise for their perseverance and assiduity in fulfilling their task.

The enumeration of the corps and individuals who have given so many proofs of patriotism and devotion to their country, ought not to be closed without mentioning the governor of this state, whose efforts have constantly been directed towards cherishing the happy dispositions of the inhabitants, and whose authority to its utmost extent has been employed in securing the success of the measures adopted for the defence of this country.

Be it further resolved by the authority aforesaid, That each and every person and collection of persons mentioned in the foregoing statement are justly entitled to the gratitude of their country.

Be it further resolved by the authority aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the governor of the state of Louisiana, in the name of the said state, to present the corps of veterans of New Orleans with a stand of colours bearing the following inscription, "Our sons were repelling the foe, we attended to the safety of their mothers and wives;" and on the other side thereof will be seen a river, with an eagle hovering over the same, and this inscription on the river's bank "for common use, and the benefit of all."

MAGLOIRE GUICHARD,

Speaker of the House of Representatives. FULWAR SKIPWITH, President of the Senate.

NO. LX.

By the President of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION.

AMONG the many evils produced by the wars, which, with little intermission, have afflicted Europe, and extended their ravages into other quarters of the globe, for a period exceeding twenty years, the dispersion of a considerable portion of the inha

r

bitants of different countries, in sorrow and in want, has not been the least injurious to human happiness, nor the least severe in the trial of human virtue.

It had been long ascertained that many foreigners, flying from the dangers of their own home, and that some citizens, forgetful of their duty, had co-operated in forming an establishment on the island of Barataria, near the mouth of the river Mississippi, for the purpose of a clandestine and lawless trade. The government of the United States caused the establishment to be broken up and destroyed; and, having obtained the means of designating the offenders of every description, it only remained so answer the demands of justice by inflicting an exemplary punishment.

But it has since been represented that the offenders have manifested a sincere penitence; that they have abandoned the prosecution of the worst cause for the support of the best, and, particularly, that they have exhibited, in the defence of New Orleans, unequivocal traits of courage and fidelity. Offenders, who have refused to become the associates of the enemy in the war, upon the most seducing terms of invitation; and who have aided to repel his hostile invasion of the territory of the United States, can no longer be considered as objects of punishment, but as objects of a generous forgiveness.

It has therefore been seen, with great satisfaction, that the general assembly of the state of Louisiana earnestly recommend those offenders to the benefit of a full pardon: And in compliance with that recommendation, as well as in consideration of all the other extraordinary circumstances of the case, I James Madison, president of the United States of America, do issue this proclamation, hereby granting, publishing and declaring, a free and full pardon of all offences committed in violation of any act or acts of the congress of the said United States, touching the revenue, trade and navigation thereof, or touching the intercourse and commerce of the United States with foreign nations, at any time before the eighth day of January, in the present year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, by any person or persons whatsoever, being inhabitants of New Orleans and the adjacent country, or being inhabitants of the said island of Barataria, and the places adjacent: Provided, that every person, claiming the benefit of this full pardon, in order to entitle himself thereto, shall produce a cer

tificate in writing from the governor of the state of Louisiana, stating that such person has aided in the defence of New Orleans and the adjacent country, during the invasion thereof as aforesaid.

And I do hereby further authorize and direct all suits, indictments, and prosecutions, for fines, penalties, and forfeitures, against any person or persons, who shall be entitled to the benefit of this full pardon, forthwith to be stayed, discontinued and released: And all civil officers are hereby required, according to the duties of their respective stations, to carry this proclamation into immediate and faithful execution.

DONE at the city of Washington, the sixth day of Fe

bruary, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the independence of the United States the thirty-ninth.

JAMES MADISON.

By the president,

JAMES MONROE,

Acting Secretary of State.

NO. LXI.

DECISION OF THE COURT MARTIAL IN THE CASE OF MAJOR VIL

LERE'.

Head-Quarters, Adjutant-General's Office,

New Orleans, March 15, 1815.

AFTER a full examination of all the testimony for and against the prosecution, the court find the said major Villeré "not guilty" of the charges and specifications exhibited against him, and do acquit him of all and every one of them.-And the court consider it due to the accused, further to declare, that " major Villeré appears to have performed his duty, from the moment he was left in command under the orders of major-general Villeré, with zeal and fidelity; and that the circumstance of his surprise and capture by the enemy, though much to be regretted, might have occurred to the most vigilant officer, and must be attributed to the loss of the whole of his picquet or advanced guard, and the extraordinary rapidity with which the enemy moved from that point."

The major-general commanding approved the foregoing sentence of the general court martial, and ordered major Villeré to resume his sword without delay.

By order,

ROBERT BUTLER, Adj. Gen. NOTE-Major Villeré did not introduce any testimony in his

behalf.

NO. LXII.

COURT OF INQUIRY.

Extracts of the Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry relative to the Retreat on the Right Bank of the Mississippi, on the 8th of January, 1815.

THE court, on mature deliberation, are of opinion that the conduct of colonel Davis, Dijan and Cavallier, in the action and retreat on the 8th of January, on the western bank of the Mississippi, is not reprehensible, nor do they know of any misconduct, as officers, in either since that time.

The causes of the retreat are attributed to the shameful flight of the command of major Arnaud, sent to oppose the landing of the enemy; the retreat of the Kentucky militia, which, considering their position, the deficiency of their arms, and other causes, may be excusable;-and the panic and confusion introduced in every part of the line, thereby occasioning the retreat and confusion of the Orleans and Louisiana drafted militia.

Whilst the court find much to applaud in the zeal and gallantry of the officer immediately commanding, they believe that a farther reason for the retreat may be found in the manner in which the force was posted on the line, which they consider exceptionable. The commands of colonels Dijan, Cavallier and Declauett, composing five hundred men, supported by three pieces of artillery, having in front a strong breastwork, occupying only a space of two hundred yards, whilst the Kentucky militia, only one hundred and seventy men strong, without artillery, occupied more than three hundred yards, covered by a small ditch only.

WM. CARROLL, Maj. Gen. President of the Court.

NO. LXIII.

COURT OF INQUIRY.

At a Court of Inquiry assembled in the Naval arsenal, at New Orleans, by order of commodore Daniel T. Patterson, commanding the naval forces of the United States, on the New Orleans station, and continued by adjournment from day to day,-fromMonday the 15th, until Friday the 19th of May, 1815Present-Master commandant, Louis Alexis, presidentLieutenant commandant Charles C. B. Thompson, and lieutenant Charles E. Crawley, members-for the purpose of investigating