us to be a true Copy, which he accepted. We then handed him the following Note, (1.) which, after having read, he promised to answer the morning following. And here it is proper to observe, that at the meeting, and at the many that followed it, Admiral Cockburn was calm, and his manner courteous in a high degree. During the evening of this day, we understood that Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane had arrived, and, consequently, we should not receive any Answer to our Note until there had been a conference between Admiral Cockburn and himself. At this delay we felt no regret, as we hoped from him, from many causes not necessary to state, a more liberal construction of the Treaty. The weather was so bad, that it was the 10th before this communication took place, immediately after which, Admiral Cockburn transmitted to us the following Note, (2) in Answer to the one we had addressed him.

Finding this Note was approved of in the margin by Sir Alexander Cochrane, and understanding, and even knowing from our own sight, that he had taken his departure from the Coast by the time we had received this Note, all attempts at demonstrating the incorrectness of the conclusion drawn by Admiral Cockburn from the Ist Article of the Treaty seemed useless; for Admiral Cockburn no longer had the power, (if he had the inclination) to correct his first opinion; and we presently understood, that even the small return of Slaves and Property embraced by his construction of the Treaty, was yielded with some reluctance by Sir Alexander Cochrane. We, therefore, the same evening, addressed to Admiral Cockburn the Note that follows. (3.)

And in the conversation, which took place after the delivery of this Note, it was agreed that Orders would be given to restore to the Owners, any Slaves that were received in the British Camp or Ships after the Ratification of the Treaty; and in consequence of this understanding, Orders were given to restore some Slaves so situated by Admiral Cockburn, but every means were used by the inferior Officers to prevent the due execution of these Orders, particularly on board the Regulus, Captain Robert Ramsay, as we were informed, and as Captain Newell himself was witness to. It was at the same time indicated to us, the course which would be pursued with the Slaves that bad repaired to the British Camp, or British Ships, from Florida, namely: that they should be sent to Bermuda, and there confined in a Ship, until the decision of the British Administration was taken on their case. We have deemed it proper to communicate this, as not unimportant to our own Government, and our own Citizens.

On the morning of the 11th, an Answer to our Note was received, covering a list of 77 Negroes, a few bales of cotton, and a few horses and cattle, which were to be restored as having been originally taken at Cumberland Island, and having remained there to the Ratification of the Treaty. (4.)

In order to place the matter in a proper light, we the same day transmitted the following Answer, which closed our joint Correspondence with the Admiral. (5.)

And here it is necessary, for understanding the last clause of our Letter, to state what led to it. Mr. Spalding had suggested to Admiral Cockburn, after every other means had failed, his giving permission to Claimants to go on board his Ships in the offing, to obtain the voluntary return of their Slaves; this he assented to with great willingness. He sent an Officer with them, and, in the presence of ourselves, gave the most positive Instructions to the Officer to have every facility afforded them. This produced a return of 13 Slaves; 6 of Captain Wylly's, 5 of Mr. Couper's, one of Major Butler's, and one of Major Johnston's; and would have produced the return of hundreds, if it had not been for the means employed by the inferior Officers to prevent their return. On the morning of the 13th instant, the British Flag was struck at Dungeness; and, having consulted with the many respectable Gentlemen with us, as to the necessity of the occasion, we called upon Captain Messias for an Officer and 25 men to be sent to Dungeness to prevent, as far as possible, Fugitive Slaves still joining the British Ships that were yet in the offing, and were to remain so for 2 or 3 days.

Mr. Spalding then addressed the following Letter to Admiral Cockburn, and followed Captain Newell, who had already taken his departure. (6.)

Having thus, Sir, closed the Mission with which we were charged by General Pinkney and yourself, it is important, in our opinion, that we should observe to you, that on our arrival at Dungeness on the 6th instant, the United States' Barge, taken at St. Mary's, was at the wharf, but was removed that evening; and we also understood that most of the Cannon taken at Point Petre, were removed, subsequent to the Ratification of the Treaty, from Cumberland. 5 or 600 Negroes, brought from St. Simon's as late as the 15th February, were at Cumberland long after the Ratification, and many of them sent off in the night of the day after our arrival.

In conversation with Mr. Spalding, it was admitted by Admiral Cockburn, that Major Kinsman, of the marines, had continued to enter Fugitive Slaves into the Colonial and West-India Regiments, after notice of the Ratification of the Treaty, and until he, Admiral Cockburn, had given written Orders to the contrary.

Accompanying this Letter, you will receive a List of such Slaves as their Masters have returned to us. From Mr. Hamilton, who lost 220 odd, and from Major Butler,* who lost 130, and from many others whom the terror of the times had driven away, we have no returns. Nor is it to be wondered at, that a thin population fled, before a War, which has been conducted in the spirit which this has been since January

This List has since been received.

last, for it carried insurrection as its means, and, like the awful visitations of Providence, ruin has marked its course. But we state, Sir, with pleasure, that the unhappy Sufferers look with manly firmness to their own Government for a reparation of their injuries, and to that Government we beg leave to consign them, with a firm persuasion, that they will not be disappointed in their expectations.

And we remain, &c.

Brig.-Gen. Floyd.

THOMAS M. NEWELI,

Captain of Sea Fencibles. THOMAS SPALDING.

(Enclosure 1:)-Messrs. Newell and Spalding to Admiral Cockburn. SIR, Cumberland Island, 6th March, 1815.

We are instructed by General Floyd to call upon you, and are by him authorized to receive from you any public or private property, or any Slaves, that are or were in your possession at the time of the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace by the President of The United States. The construction put upon this Article by us is, that all private property and all Slaves in your possession, whether on land or water, at the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace, are to be restored. We place this construction upon the Ist Article of the Treaty, because it appears to have originated in the most amicable dispositions of both the American and British Commissioners-amicable on the part of the American Commissioners, in only demanding what might be restored without inconvenience-amicable on the part of the British Commissioners, in promising to restore all that could be restored without great inconve nience-for we cannot persuade ourselves that the restoration of private property or Slaves is to be limited to the Slaves or property taken in the Forts or Places you occupied; for it must be obvious to you, Sir, and it must be obvious to all, that there are no Slaves, and that there is but little private property, ever taken in Forts. The limitation that appears to exist in the first part of the Ist Article of the Treaty, as to such property as may remain in the Forts and Places in your possession, is obviously confined to Artillery and other public property taken in such Forts or Places, and which, if once removed, would have required much trouble and much expense to restore; and this conclusion is the more obvious, from noticing that, in the following part of the same Article, Archives, Records, Deeds, and Papers, which are objects of easy transport, are promised to be restored, into whosesoever hands they may have fallen, or wheresoever they may have been transferred.

Begging that we may have an Answer upon this subject, so deeply interesting to the Inhabitants of Georgia, as soon as possible,

We remain, &c.

Rear-Admiral Cockburn.

T. NEWELL.

T. SPALDING.

(Enclosure 2.)—Admiral Cockburn to Messrs. Newell and Spalding. Head Quarters, Cumberland Island,

GENTLEMEN,

7th March, 1815.

I HAVE had the honour to receive the Document, which you state yourselves authorized to assure me is a true Copy of the Treaty of Peace that has been concluded between our respective Governments, and which you have been instructed to lay before me by Generals Pinkney and Floyd.

Accompanying this Document, I am likewise honoured with your Note of this day, informing me of your being authorized to receive from me any public or private property, or Slaves, to be restored by me under the Ist Article of the aforesaid Treaty, and explaining to me the construction you are pleased to put upon that Article ;-But I only find in the certified Copy you have laid before me, that all Territory, Places or Possessions taken during the War, or after the signing of the Treaty, (excepting only as therein excepted) shall be restored without delay and without causing any destruction, or carrying away of the Artillery or other public property, originally captured in the said Forts or places, and which shall remain therein upon the exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty; or any Slaves or other private property". It becomes therefore, alone necessary for me to state to you, that Cumberland Islaud, being the only Place or Possession taken from America in this neighbourhood, which was retained by me at the date of the Ratification alluded to, I shall as quickly as possible evacuate it, without causing any destruction, and I shall leave on it, or deliver to you, whatever public or private property or Slaves (origi nally captured here) remained upon the Island at the date of the Ratification.

I have not the slightest reason nor inclination to doubt the amicable disposition you state to have actuated the British and American Commissioners in forming this Treaty. It appears however clear to me, by the expressions they have thought proper to adopt in it, that I am only required or authorized to make the restitution I have above stated; and I must beg to decline venturing an opinion as to whether the Treaty is properly worded, according to the intentions of the Commissioners; but I apprehend, had they wished to imply (as you conceive)" that all private property and Slaves in my possession, whether on land or water, were to be restored," it might have been so specified without difficulty; and although you observe there are no Slaves and but little private property ever taken in "Forts," yet the continuation of the words " or Places," may perhaps do away the difficulty which presented itself to you on that point. Therefore, Gentlemen, in giving up this Place, in conformity with the Treaty you have done me the honour to lay before me, I must beg to be excused from entering into discussion relative to Captures made elsewhere on land or water,

and

which have been removed from the Places where captured prior to the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty.

I have the honour to be, &c.

G. COCKBURN, Rear-Admiral.
Approved, A. COCHRANE.

Captain Newell, of The United States Sea Fencibles,
and Thomas Spalding, Esq. Agents on the part
of The United States, for receiving property,
to be restored according to Treaty.

(Enclosure 3.)—Messrs. Newell and Spalding to Admiral Cockburn. SIR, Cumberland Island, 10th March, 1815.

YOUR Letter of the 7th is before us, and, after the desire you have been pleased to express, of declining all discussion of your construction of the Ist Article of the Treaty of Peace between The United States and Great Britain, it only remains for us to call upon you for a List of the property, public or private, and the Slaves" originally captured on Cumberland Island," which you have declared your readiness to deliver. It is our duty to add this further and final remark, that this List will, we presume, include all Slaves originally captured on the Island of Cumberland, whether such Slaves may have been usually resident on that Island, or, having come from other sections of the Country, have there first fallen under the dominion of the British Arms; and particularly, that it will include all Slaves and other property taken or received since the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace between our respective Governments.

We remain, &c.

Rear-Admiral Cockburn.

T. NEWELL.
T. SPALDING.

(Enclosure 4.)—Admiral Cockburn to Messrs. Newell and Spalding. Head- Quarters, Cumberland Island,

GENTLEMEN,

11th March, 1815.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Note of the 10th current; the first part of which obliges me to beg your reconsideration of my Letter of the 7th, as I believe, so far from declining therein "all discussion of my construction of the Ist Article of the Treaty of Peace lately concluded between our Governments," I have there quoted, verbatim, the major part of it, and have explicitly stated to you the line of conduct which my construction of the said Article called upon me to adopt, in giving up the Territory possessed by the Forces under my orders.

I declined only entering into discussion respecting "captures made elsewhere, and which had been removed from the Places where captured prior to the exchange of the Ratifications of the Peace," such not appearing to me to come within the specified intention of the aforesaid