January 22, 1813.
JAMES MADISON.
Extract of a letter from John Mitchell, Esq., Agent for American Prisoners of War at Halifax, to the Secretary of State, dated
"December 5, 1812.
"I cover you a copy of a correspondence, which took place in consequence of different applications I received, either by letter or personally, from persons detained on board His Britannic Majesty's ships of war in this place.
"I formerly mentioned to you that the Admiral had assured me that he would discharge all the citizens of the United States who were in the fleet, and actually did discharge several. This induced me to think I should be correct, and in the perfect line of my duty, in sending him a list of the applicants to me, and requesting an inquiry to be made, and discharges granted to all who were citizens of the United States; I, therefore, covered him a list of the names now enclosed to you, which produced his letter to me of the same date, (December 1, 1812.)
"I read it with surprise, because some of the men had informed me their captains had refused to report them to the Admiral. Now, if no one here was, or is, allowed to do it, their situation is hopeless.
"It is not my place, sir, to reason with you on this business. Proof of Nativity, in his first letter, is a strong expression; and how few are in possession of it, and how many who cannot obtain it.
"The second paragraph, in the second letter, prevents my interfering; and I have since been obliged to send a man away, requesting him to apply to his commanding officer."
Copy of a letter from John Mitchell, Esq., Agent for American Prisoners of War at Halifax, to Sir John Borlase Warren, dated