The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1774-11-07 00:00:00, page 3

Refpeding the former of these, the firft evidence
fays, “ That on the sabbath the Boston alarm hap
pened, I was faying to some people that flood by me
that the news of Bolton’s being beset, was not cer
tain enough for the people to make such a stir on the
sabbath, when he {Mofes Andrus) flood by, and ob
served to me, that if Boston is beset, as the infor
mation is, no one can conceive what distress Boston
ds in. Whereupon I turned to him and said, What!
Will you fight against your King 1” I have no ma
terial objection to this evidence, only that he said
■more than is here related, and with rather more «f a
martial spirit than I expeded, especially from him,
which was the occasion of myTurning to him, and
puting the question he speaks us.
The next evidence hasfomething much stronger,
viz. “ That I said I thought it very strange the
people Ihould think of fighting in this cause, for
that I thought they had not a call or right to do it.”
But this I must utterly deny that I said, or any
thing that implied it. I have talk’d with this wit
ness, and he tells me there is a material error in this
part of his evidence. That instead of “in this
cause” it Ihould have been in this case ; under
standing by it, not the general controversy, but the
particular case then under consideration ; and that
he does not know that what I said, which is here
referred to, neceflarily implied any more than that,
in the case then before us, I did not think there was
a call, or that it was right for us to muster on the
sabbath, &c. I am far from granting, or from think
ing, that all the other expreflions in this sentence,
or in the other parts of this evidence are exadly true.
However, I (hall pass it without further notice.
The next evidence fays, “ I said, if I thought,
after the evening service as I then thought, I Ihould
forbid the people meeting, &c.” This I must needs
think is entirely a mistake. I appeal to all that
heard me, whether I said any thing at all of this
kind. I never thought of forbidding, or of having
any authority to forbid them. Nor did I intimate
an intention of faying any thing further on the
fubjed.
There is another evidence which fays, “ That
in the morning the Boston alarm happened, I came
to him, and leemed to be difeompofed, and said
I wondered whether the people thought they had a
right to fight in any case. This I left unexplained.’’
It is true, I went to this evidence, and one or two
other persons who were talking together near my
door, when the Ihocking intelligence firft arrived ;
and it is true, I was difeompofed ; but that I said
as is here related, I have no remembrance : Indeed,
lam very certain I did not. There were two other
men present, one all the time, the other a consider
able part of it, who both fay they remember nothing
like it. What I did fay, from which I conclude
this was taken, refpeded the beginning of the fray
at Boston. We had not a very corred story, but in
general, the news was that our people being highly
provoked, begun the fire. I laid I Ihould have
been loth to have begun the fight, in any case, or to
that efted. The sentence might be abrupt and un
finilhed, as it was a word by the bye-—but that was
the fubjed, and that was my meaning.'
Mr. Watsok,
Pltafe to give the following a Place in your next..
■’tX/’ERE itnot at ime in which there is,& ought to be
a very peculiar jealousy of every thing that has
the least appearance of unfriendlinefs to the con
stitutional liberties of America, I Ihould hardly
think it necessary to take any notice of a late piece
in this paper, by force whpftile themselves the Sons
of Liberty in this town, or to make any remarks
on the evidences they have collected against me :
Especially after my sentiments relative to those matr
ters have been so fully exprefled to the public ; and
after such an atteflation concerning the sermons in
question, &c. has been given by so many of my peo
ple, including most of the principal men in the pa
rifli. It is not strange if some things in the faft ler
mons were offenfive to some perlons, tho perfectly
.reconcilable with the most friendly intention to this
country, and nothing inconsistent with just n©t.ons
of civil and political liberty.—lt is aot flrange, if
some persons took up some things wrong, or it they
put things together afterwards in a very different
connection from that in which they were delivered,
and so as to convey altogether different ideas.—-It
is not strange if every thing said against muftering^
on the sabbath of the alarm, when the Ipiiits ot
the people were high, was taken ill, or chat consi
derable enlargements Ihould be made by lome, in
relating what was spoken on such an emergency.---.
It is not strange if some detached expreiiions, in
free conversation, in the compass of eight or ten
years, might be pick’d up, which, in an unconnect
ed view, may have an ill appearance. However,
upon the whole, it is not thought expedient that so
much mis-representation Ihould be fuffcred to pass
without a reply. 1 .
The evidence collected may most evidently be
confidercd in three parts. That which refers to
the Boston alarm—That which refers to_ the fall
sermons—and that which relates to old affairs.
It is teftified .that I said, “ Perhaps the reports
relpeding the present adminiftratipn are not true ;
if they be true, we ought not to oppose them, but
be still and calm.” This, which they have made
but a half sentence of, is taken part out of one ser
mon, and part out of the other, and part out of
nothing. That we ought not.to oppose bad rulers,
or that we ought not to oppose the present admi
nistration, I said no where. In the afternoon sermon
I said—“ We Ihould give glory to the Lord oiir
God, by maintaining a meek and quiet spirit un
der his judgments, however brought about by the
inflrumentality of wicked men.” Under this par
ticular, I enforced the duty of calm fubmiflion to a
righteous God, under all circumstances ; but not
the duty of quiet fubjedion to tyrannical rulers.
As to the other part, “ That perhaps the reports
concerning the present administration are not true,”
or as another has it, “ That we being at so great
a distance from Great-Britain, have not fufficient
evidence that the ads of parliament to enforce du
ties, &c. are not true.” I was speaking of what
would probably be the consequences if we Ihould
give up the point in controversy, and submit to
parliamentary taxation; what insupportable bur
dens would likely be laid upon us. And here I
said, Indeed, I do not suppose that all we have
heard upon this head is already true. The stories
of new duties and taxes, and oppreflive ads of par
liament, pending or already pafled, I suppose are
yet mostly fictitious. However, when I confider
how immense the national debt is—how great the
annual supplies required, whether for neceflary,
national purposes, or for pensions, and »he pur
poses of corruption—how numerous and amazingly
heavy the duties and taxes on the people of Old
England—considering also that the colonies have no
representation in parliament, I cannot but think we
Ihould, ere long, be made to feel the weight of na
tional burdens to a very heavy degree.
There are two other evidences, which relate to
old affairs. The Rev. Mr. Newell of New-Cam
bridge, and Mr. Stephen Lee. The Rev’d. Mr.
Newell fays, “ He did hear me fay that those re
presentatives of the Maflachufetts-Bay who refufed
to refeind the circular letter, &c. according as re
quired from Great-Britain, were guilty of right
down rebellion against Majesty itfelf.” Mr. Newell
tells me this was so long ago that he cannot be cer
tain as to the time when, the place where, or the
company in which, he heard me fay these words ;
nor can he recoiled any thing else in the conversa
tion only just this sentence. It is very poflible Mr.
Newell may mis-remember as to the expreflions
themselves, at this distance of time, and when he
has entirely forgot every Angle circumflance besides.
But if he is perfectly right in the words, yet, whether
they were spoken as my real ©pinion, or only as an
aflertion thrown out as a topic of disquisition, and to
hear what might be said on the fubjed, does not ap
pear from his evidence, nor from any thing he can
recoiled to illucidate it. For my own part, I have
no remembrance of it at all. Mr. Stephen Lee
fays, “ That in the time of the Stamp-Ad, I said
the ad will be but a trifling thing; that a manpof--
felled of an estate to the amount of a hundred
pounds on the lift, will pay but about eight (hillings
per annum, and that sum may easily be laved by
extraordinary prudence.” V/hat he might hear
me fay so long ago I cannot tell, nor he neither, I
presume, with much precision. I don’t think it is
very likely I ever undertook to calculate how much
the stamp-duty would amount to annually on a lift
of a hundred pounds. Nor do I think I ever’eonfi
dered that duty as a very trifling thing. I believe
I thought that by extraordinary prudence people
The next part of the evidence to be confidercd
refpeds the fall sermons. And here I would ob
serve, that I had about a Iheet and three quarters
wrote in fine hand, and that all the evidences (as far
as I understand their referrence) refer to paflages
that were wrote at large. But they have jumbled
things together so unnaturally, that it' is difficult
to follow them ; and I Paall not be indulged room, to
quote any pafl’age, in it’s cotinedion, out of which
they have pick’d words, or pieces of sentences.
It is teftified that! said, “That inobing is a de
ftrudive thing; and that perhaps by this means club
laws will rule the whole ; and that we have no right
to speak evil of our rulers ;” or, as another has it,
‘ 1 That we have no right to speak against our rulers.”
I was treating of the evils into which we are in dan
ger of falling, in this day of darkneft and temptati
on. And here I mentioned the danger of learning
to difpife dominions, and highly to speak evil of
dignities. I here likewise mentioned mobing ; and
said, “ It was a desperate remedy, and not to be
applied but in desperate cases.” I observed,
“ That it was growing frequent and getting into
falhion amonglt us, and that if the dispute between
the mother country and the colonies continues, I
was afraid it would not be long before all authority
would be put down, and we Ihould have no other
government but that of the mob, no other law but
the club law.”
STEPHEN AUSTIN,
Hereby informs the Public in general, and his Cus
tomers in particular, that he has lately removed
from his Ihop formerly kept by him at the south
end of the Court-House in Hartford, to one just
south of the north Meeting-House; where he
continues to carry on the taylor’s business as ufuai,
and where all gentlemen who will favour him with
their custom, may depend on having their work
done to their fatisfadion, as well for price as good
workmanship: He also makes gold and silver span
gled buttons, worked on cloth, on very reasonable
terms. Said AUSTIN has for sale a very large
quantity of neat PHILADELPHIA BUCKSKIN
BREECHES—AIfo, a number of neat mill’d LEA
THER SKINS. He employs the best of
Workmen who make them equal to any in America.
He flatters himfelf he can supply any gentlemen
who are pleas’d to favour him with their custom,
much to their fatisfadion.
Taken up by the Subscriber of
Simfbury , and now in his Custody, two Stears and one
HBftr,judg’d to be about two Tears old past, no Brand
or Mark. The Owner may have them again on proving
his Property andpaying Charges, Im applying to
Simfbury, Nov. 2, 1774. Afahel Holcomb.
t#t Several new Advertisements, for want of room,
tftuft be omitted till cur next.
Pickard Mansfield, fames Scp-vil, Sumuel Andrevss,
Bela Hubbard, Abraham farvis, Ebenescer Kneeland.
WE the fubferibers hereby certify,That we have
conversed freely and fully with theaforefaid
Gentlemen, upon the fubjefl to which their publica
tion above written refers ; and have received full
fatisfaftion from them, that they are in no measure
combined with, or aiding the Rev’d Samuel Peters,
in any measure or plan he may have concerted, or is
pursuing injurious to this colony; but on the con
trary, wc have received flrong aflurances of their
friendly disposition towards the government and
people of this colony : which we persuade ourselves,
and believe to be serious and candid : and they are
entitled to every degree, Eotonly of personal fecmi
ty and liberty : but of refpeift and esteem which e
very good fubjed, and friend to his country has a
right to exped and receive.
New-Haven, Odoberz2, 1774.
Erastus Welcott, Daniel Sherman, Nathaniel Wales,
jun. William Wolcott, Thomas Mumford, Benjamin
Huntington, Thomas Seymour,Titus Hofmer, f. Chandler,
Thomas Belding, fedidiah Elderkin, fonathan Trum
bull, junr.
To-Morrow the Proceedings of the late Grand
American Congress will be publijhed and ready for Sale at
the Printing-Office in Hartford.
TO THE PUBLIC.
AS there are a number of intercepted letters
wrote by the Rev. Mr. Peters, when at
Boston, and are now circulating, which cause a sus
picion that the clergy of the church of England, in
this colony, have with him enter’d into measures that
are form’d against its rights and privileges, and
greatly alarm the public.—We confider ourselves as
call’d upon to declare, as we do with the utmost
readiness and freedom,that,altho’fuch apprehensions
may appear to be juflly rais’d by those letters, yet
the fame is without any foundation, as wc were in
every refped entire strangers to his having any inten
tions to take the rout that he has, and of any scheme
that he has in design, suggested in them.
The truth of this, exempts us from any imputation
on their account, and difenables us from faying any
thing more in behalf of ourselves, in refpeft of them
or their author on this particular occasion.
We the fubferibers are able toaflert for many of
the clergy that ara not present, and have no kind of
doubt as to all, that they aflent to the whole in faft
and sentiment— -
miglitlive, notwithltanding the namp-ad. Anu •.
might think that a farmer of a midling estate, might
contrive the matter so as not to have occasion for
laying out many (hillings in a year for damp’d pa
pers. Very likely I might fay things ot this kind.
When I have seen men, as I thought unduly warm
or unduly anxious, I have sometimes endeavoured
to calm them. I have not been able fully to join
with the company I have been in on all occafionsi
I have not understood things so fait and so fully as
many others. Nor have I preached so much upon
politicks perhaps, as would have been agreeable to
some. But my interest, and my cohneftibns have
been entirely on the fide of the colonies from the
beginning. lam a lover of Liberty and of my Pro
perty, and profefs to be a friend and well-wifiier to
my country; and it is, and has been my most sincere
desire and prayer,’ that we may be delivered from
the rod of oppreflion that hangs over us, and that
all lawful and wife mcafures may be adopted for this
important purpose. JOHN SMALLEY.
Farmington, October 25, 1774*
IT he above piece came to baftd too late for our I aft.