Orleans County Louisiana Archives News.....British Proclamations, &c. October 12, 1814 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Savanna King savanna18king@gmail.com August 21, 2023, 9:24 pm Natchez Gazette October 12, 1814 By the honorable William Henry Percy, Captain of his Majesty's ship Hermes, and senior officer in the Gulf of Mexico. You are hereby requested and directed, after having received on board an officer belonging to the first battalion of royal colonial marines, to proceed in his majesty's sloop under your command, without a moment's loss of time, for Barataria. On your arrival at that place, you will communicate with the chief persons there; you will urge them to throw themselves under the protection of Great Britain; and should you find them inclined to pursue such a step, you will hold out to them, that their property shall be secured to them, that they shall be considered British subjects, and at the conclusion of the war, lands in his majesty's colonies in America, will be allotted to them. In return for these concessions, you will insist on an immediate cessation of hostilities against Spain; and in case they should have any Spanish property not disposed of, that it be restored, and that they put their naval force into the hands of the senior officer here, until the commander in chief's pleasure is known. In the event of their not being inclined to act offensively against the U. States, you will do all in your power to persuade them to a strict neutrality, and still endeavor to put a stop to their hostilities against Spain; should you succeed completely in the object for which you are sent, you will concert such measures for the annoyance of the enemy as you judge best from circumstances, having an eye to the junction of their small armed vessels with me, for the capture of Mobile, &c. You will at all events, yourself, join me with the utmost dispatch, at this port, with the account of your success. Given under my hand, on board H. M. ship Hermes, at Pensacola, this 30th day of August, 1814. (Signed) W. H. Percy, Capt. Nicolas Lockyer, esq. commander of H. M. ship Sophia. A true copy from the original in my possession. W. C. C. Claiborne. -- By the honorable William Henry Percy, Captain of his Majesty's ship Hermes, and senior officer in the Gulf of Mexico. Having understood that some British merchantmen have been detained, taken into, and sold by the inhabitants of Barataria, I have directed captain Lockyer, of his majesty's sloop Sophia, to proceed to that place, and to enquire in to the circumstance, with positive orders to demand instant restitution, and in case of refusal, to destroy, to his utmost, every vessel there, as well as to carry destruction over the whole place, and at the same time to assure him of the co- operation of all his majesty's naval force on this station. I trust at the same time, that the inhabitants of Barataria, consulting their own interest, will not make it necessary to proceed to such extremities. I hold out at the same time, to them, a war instantly destructive to them, and, on the other hand, should they be inclined to assist Great Britain, in her just and unprovoked war against the U. States, the security of their property, and should they be inclined to settle on the continent, lands will, at the conclusion of the war, be allotted to them, in his majesty's colonies in America. In return for all these concessions, on the part of Great Britain, I expect that the direction of the armed vessels, will be put into my hands (for which they will be renumerated) the instant cessation of hostilities against the Spanish government, and the restitution of any undisposed property of that nation. Should any inhabitants be inclined to volunteer their services into his majesty's forces either naval or military, for limited service, he will be received, and if any British subject, being at Barataria, who wishes to return to his native country, he will, on joining his majesty's service, receive a free pardon. Given under my hand, on board H. M. ship Hermes, at Pensacola, this 1st day of September, 1814. (Signed) W. H. Percy, Capt. and senior officer. Monsieur LaFete. A true copy from the original in my possession. W. C. C. Claiborne. -- Headquarters, Pensacola, Aug. 31. Sir--I have arrived in the Floridas fro the purpose of annoying the only enemy G. Britain has in the world. As France and England are now friends, I call on you and your brave followers, to enter into the service of Great Britain, in which you shall have the rank of captain. Lands will be given to you all, in proportion to your respective ranks, on a peace taking place; and I invite you on the following terms: Your property shall be guaranteed to you, and your person protected. In return for which, I ask you to cease all hostilities against Spain, or the allies of Great Britain. Your ships and vessels to be placed under the orders of the commanding officer on this station, until the commander in chief's pleasure is known. But I guarantee their fair value to you at all events. I herewith enclose you a copy of my proclamation to the inhabitants of Louisiana, which will, I trust, point out to you the honorable intentions of my government. You may be a useful assistant to me in forwarding them--therefore, if you determine, lose no time. The bearer of this capt. M'Williams, will satisfy you on any other point you may be anxious to learn; as will capt. Lockyer, of the Sophia, who carries him to you. We have a powerful reinforcement on its way here, and I hope to cut out some other work for the Americans than oppressing the inhabitants of Louisiana. Be expeditious on your resolves, and rely on the verity of Your very humble servant, (Signed) Edw'd Niccolls, Lt. Col. commanding H. B. M. forces in the Floridas. To Monsieur LaFate, or the Commandant at Barataria. -- By Lieut. Col. Edward Niccolls, commanding his Brittanic Majesty's forces in the Floridas Natives of Louisiana--On you the first call is made, to assist in liberating from a faithless, imbecile government, your paternal soil. Spaniards, Frenchmen, Italians, and British, whether settled or residing for a time in Louisiana, on you I also call to aid me in this just cause. The American usurpation in this country must be abolished, and the lawful owners of the soil put in possession. I am at the head of a large body of Indians, well armed, disciplined and commanded by British officers--a good train of artillery, with every requisite, seconded by the powerful aid of a numerous British and Spanish squadrom of ships and vessels of war. Be not alarmed inhabitants of the country, at our approach-- the same good faith and disinterestedness, which has distinguished the conduct of Britons in Europe, accompanies them here. You will have no fear of litigious taxes, imposed on you, for the purpose of carrying on an unjust and unnatural war--your property, your laws, the peace and tranquility of your country, will be guaranteed to you, by men who will suffer no infringement of theirs--rest assured, that these brave men only burn with an ardent desire of satisfaction, for the wrongs they have suffered from the Americans, to join you liberating these southern frontiers from their yoke, and drive them into the limits formerly prescribed by my sovereign. The Indians have pledged themselves in the most solemn manner, not to injure, in the slightest degree, the persons or properties, of any but enemies to their Spanish or English fathers. A flag over any door, whether Spanish, French or British, will be a certain protection. Nor dare any Indian put his foot on the threshold thereof, under penalty of death from his own countrymen. Not even an enemy will an Indian put to death, except resisting in arms. And as for injuring helpless women and children, the red men, by their good conduct and treatment to them, will, if it be possible, make the Americans blush for their more than inhuman conduct, lately on the Escambia, and within a neutral territory. Inhabitants of KENTUCKY--You have too long borne with grievous impositions. The whole brunt of the war has fallen on your brave sons--be imposed on no longer; but either range yourselves under the standard of your forefathers, or observe a strict neutrality. If you comply with either of these offers, whatever provisions you send down, will be paid for in dollars; and the safety of the persons bringing it, as well as the free navigation of the Mississippi, guaranteed to you. Men of Kentucky--Let me call to your view, (and I trust to your abhorrence) the conduct of those factions which hurried you into this cruel, unjust and unnatural war, at a time when G. Britan was straining every nerve in defence of her own and the liberties of the world--when the bravest of her sons were fighting and bleeding in so sacred a cause--when she was spending millions of her treasure, in endeavoring to pull down one of the most formidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the form of man--when groaning Europe was almost in her last gasp--when Britain alone showed an undaunted front, basely did those assassins endeavor to stab her from the rear. She has turned on them renovated from the bloody, but successful struggle. Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens justly to avenge the unprovoked insults. Shew them that you are not collectively unjust--leave that contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves of the Tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aids but let every honest upright American spurn them with merited contempt. After an experience of 21 years, can you any longer support those brawlers for liberty, who call it freedom, and when themselves are not free?--Be no longer their dupes--accept of my offer; and everything I have promised in this paper, I guarantee to you, on the sacred honor of a British officer. Given under my hand, at my headquarters, Pensacola, this 29th of August, 1814. (Signed) Edward Niccolls. A true copy from the original in my possession. W. C. C. Claiborne. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/orleans/newspapers/britishp823gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/ File size: 10.5 Kb