We, the undersigned, citizens of the United States of America, do
hereby certify, that on the second day of June, 1815, at twelve
meridian, being in lat. 40, 30, long. 69, 30, by mutual agreement of a
majority of prisoners now on board the cartel Maria Christiana, bound
for Norfolk, did take possession of her, and directed her for the port
of New-York.
At four o’clock on the third, we discovered the highland of New-Jersey
bearing W. by S.; at eight made the light house, distance three or four
leagues; at two P. M. obtained a pilot and stood within the Hook; at
seven came to an anchor; the next morning arrived at New-York.
Having received the report of the commissioners since our arrival in
the United States, we shall give it to the reader verbatim. The reader
will perceive that it differs somewhat from the account of the massacre
which I have given before, and that of the committee of prisoners. The
public are to judge of the report; the facts seemed not to warrant just
such an one; but to give my simple opinion as an individual, I believe
that the commissioners, through a sort of _pia fraus_ for the love of
peace and harmony between the two governments, have made it a vail of
amnesty, and a preventative of new troubles.