and open seaman. The admiral informed the prisoners
that he was appointed by the commander in chief at Plymouth, to
inquire, _whether the prisoners had any cause for complaint against
the British government, as to their PROVISIONS_?--There ensued a short
silence, until our countryman, Mr. _Colton_, a man who was neither
intimidated by rank, nor disconcerted by parade, answered him and
said, that "the affair of _provisions_ was not the occasion of their
present distress and anxiety, but that it was the horrid massacre of
their unoffending and unresisting countrymen, whose blood cried from
the ground, like the blood of Abel, for justice. We have nothing now
to say about our provisions; that is but a secondary concern. Our cry
is for due vengeance on the murderer, Shortland, to expiate the
horrors of the 6th of April. We all complain of his haughty, unfeeling
and tyrannical conduct at all times, and on all occasions."--"THAT WE
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH," said the admiral, and then repeated the
former question, relative to the British government and the
provisions; to which Mr. Colton replied in a still more exasperated
tone of accusation against the murderer and the murder. "_Then you do
not_," said the admiral, "_complain of the British government for
detaining you here_?" "By no means," said our spokesman, "the
prisoners, one and all, ascribe our undue attention here, to a neglect
of duty in our own agent, Mr. Beasly." "_Then I hope_," said the
admiral, "_that you will all remain tranquil. I lament AS MUCH AS YOU,
the unfortunate occurrence that has taken place._" Upon this Mr.
Colton mentioned particularly the murder of the boy who was shut up in
No. 4, after the prisoners were all driven in through the doors, and
averred that he was killed by the direct order of a British officer,
who came to the door with some of the guard. "_That is the
lobster-backed villain_," exclaimed a young man, "_that stands behind
you, sir! who, I heard deliberately order his men to fire on the
prisoners, after they had all got into the building. I saw him, and
heard him give the orders, and had like to have been bayoneted myself
by his soldiers._"--The admiral looked round on the officer, who
reddened almost to a purple, and sneaked away, and was seen no more;
and thus was ended what was probably called Admiral R's examination
into the _causes_ of the massacre!

I know of no examination after this, if such an interview may be
called an exami