that it can in no way be construed to have any
collusion or connection with the late event, and was expressly so
stated to the admiral, who came here from Plymouth.

We, on the contrary, in the name of the five thousand prisoners
confined here, accuse Shortland of a deliberate, pre-determined
act of atrocious murder--we have sufficient evidence in our
possession to prove it to the world, and we call on you (there
being at present no accredited minister, or charge des affairs at
the court of London) to make strict inquiries into the
circumstances of the case, and procure all the evidence necessary
for a proper investigation into the same; for well do we feel
assured, that our government will not thus suffer its citizens to
be sacrificed, for the gratification of national prejudice, malice
or revenge, of the petty officers of a foreign state.

We are at no loss to impute the misrepresentation of the British
officers to their proper motives. They artfully wish to excite in
your breast a spirit of enmity and resentment against the
prisoners, that you might use less perseverance, or feel yourself
less interested in making the proper inquiries into the late
affair.

With much respect, we remain, Sir, your most obedient and humble
servants,

WILLIAM HOBART,
WALTER COLTON,
HENRY ALLEN.

_R. G. Beasly, Esq. Agent for Prisoners, London._

No. XX.

Second Letter from Mr. Beasly to the American Committee.

_Agency for American Prisoners of War_, }
_London, April 14, 1815_. }

GENTLEMEN--My letter to you of the 12th inst. on the subject of
the melancholy event, was written under an impression which I
received from a report of it, transmitted to me by this
government: I have since received your report of the
circumstances. Had I been in possession of the information therein
contained, the letter would have been differently expressed. I am,
gentlemen, your obedient servant,

R. G. BEASLY.

_Committee of American Prisoners, Dartmoor._

P. S. I subjoin an extract of the report alluded to from the Lords