ng to. If so, the cool and
candid reader, both here, and on the other side the Atlantic, will
make that allowance which I could hardly make myself. I must,
nevertheless, maintain, that I have expressed the feelings of the
moment, and cannot now honestly alter my language; for whenever my
soul calls up many occurrences in my captivity, my tongue and my pen
will be found the faithful organs of my feelings.

I have endeavored to give due credit to the humane conduct of several
sailors, soldiers, and private subjects of the enemy. But, if, at this
period of peace, when it may be supposed that resentment was cooled
down, I try to obliterate the impressions made by cruelty and by
_contempt_, and find I cannot, then must the reader take it as a trait
of the imperfect character of a young man, on whose mind adversity has
not had its best effect.

If an animosity actually exists between the English and Americans, do
you mend the matter by denying the fact? This animosity has been
avowed to exist, within a few months past, in the parliament of
England. The following article is extracted from a London paper.--In a
debate, (Feb. 14th, 1816) a member said, "the spirit of animosity in
America, would justify an increase of the naval force in the West
Indies." This called up Lord Castlereagh, who said--"As to America, if
it is said great prejudices exist there against us, it must be
recollected that great prejudices exist here against her. It was," he
said, "his most ardent wish to discountenance this feeling on both
sides, and to promote between the two nations feeling of reciprocal
amity and regard."

What has occasioned this avowed animosity in us towards the British?
Our merchants, generally, feel not this animosity; neither is it to be
found, in a great degree, amongst our legislators. _How came we by
it?_ Our sailors and our soldiers, who have been in British prisons,
and on board British men of war, and _transports_, have brought with
them this animosity home to their families and their friends. They
tell them their own stories, in their own artless, and sometimes
exaggerated way; and these are reported with, probably, high coloring;
whereas, I have made it a point of honor, a matter of conscience, and
a rule of justice, to adhere to truth; and am contented that the
British reader should say all that fairness admits, to soften down the
coloring of some of the pictures of British barbarity, provided he
does not attempt to imp