points on which Shortland rested his plea
of justification, we deemed it highly necessary that they should
have been placed in a proper point of view. As for an idea of the
prisoners attempting to break out, a moment's reflection would
convince any impartial man of its improbability. Every prisoner
that had a sufficiency of money to defray his expenses, could
obtain his release and a passport, by applying to Mr. Beasly, or
through their correspondence in England; those who had not funds
would not have left the depot had the gates been thrown open,
having no means of subsistence in a foreign country, and there
being a very hot press of seamen at that time, they knew their
risk of being kidnapped was great, and when, by staying a few
days longer, they were assured they would be embarked for their
native country. The infamous falsehoods circulated in the English
prints, of the prisoners having armed themselves with knives,
clubs, stones, &c. seized a part of the guard and disarmed them,
and other similar reports, are unworthy of notice; for when the
disturbance occurred on the fourth of April, concerning bread, the
prisoners having burst open the inner gates, had they the least
disposition, they might have immolated the whole garrison, as they
were completely surprised and panic struck.

The artful policy of the British officers in coupling the
transactions of the 6th of April with that of burning Mr. Beasly's
effigy, may easily be seen through; the latter was done a
fortnight previous, by a few individuals, without its being
generally known, or the least disturbance concerning it; and we
deem it but justice to state, that whatever negligence Mr. Beasly
may have been guilty of, respecting the affairs of the prisoners,
he should be totally exonerated from all blame respecting the
massacre.

There was an instance that occurred on the evening of the 6th,
which reflects so much credit on the Americans, it should not be
passed over in silence. When the brutal soldiery were following
the prisoners in the yards, stabbing and firing among them, a lamp
lighter, who had come in a few moments previous, ran into No. 3
prison, to escape being murdered by his own countrymen; on being
recognized, a rope was fixed for hanging him immediately. In this
moment of irritation, when their slaughte