Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-08-07 00:00:00, page 5

A Letter from General BURGOYNE, in
Answer to one wrote bins by General LEE.
[See Number 193 of this Paper.)
Dear Sir, Beflen, fu) 9, 1775.
WH EN we were last together in service,
I should not have thought it within the
vicissitude of human affairs that we
,should meet at any time, or in any sense
as foes: the letter you have honouredme with, and
niy own feelings combine to prove we are fall far
from being personally such.
I claim no merit from the attentions you so
kindly remember, but as they manifeft how much
it was my pride to be known for your friend: Nor
have I departed from the duties of that charac
ter when I will not scruple to fay, it has been al
most gener 1 offence to maintainit : I mean since
the violent part you have taken in the commotions
of the colonies. It would exceed the limits and
propriety of our prelent correspondence to argue
at full, the great cause in which we are engaged.
But anxious to preserve a confident and ingenuous
character, and jealous, I confefs of having the part
I faftain imputed to such motives as you intimate,
I will state to you as concisely as I can, the princi
ples upon which, not voluntarily, but molt con
scientiously I undertook it.
I have, like you, entertained from my infancy
a veneration for public liberty. I have likwile re
garded the British constitution, as the belt fafeguard
of that blessing to be fotrnd in the hittory of man
kind. The vital principle of the confutation, in
Uhich it moves and has its being, is the supremacy
of the King in Parliament ; a compound indefinite
indefeasible power, coeval with the origin of the
empire, and coextensive over all its parts —I am no
stranger to the doctrines of Mr. Locke and other
of the belt advocates for the rights of.mankind,
upon the compact always implied between the go
verning and governed, and the right of refinance
in the latter, when the compact (hall be so violated
as to leave no other means of redress. I look with
reverence almolt amounting to idolatry, upon those
immortal Whigs who adopted and applied such
dod:ine during part of the reign of Charles the Jft,
and in that of James the Ild.—Should corruption
pervade the three estates of the realm, so as to per
vert the great ends of their institution and make
the power veiled in them for the good of the whole
people operate like an abuse of the prerogative of
the crown to general oppression, I am ready to ac
knowledge, that the fame doctrine of refinance ap
plies as forcibly against the abuses of the collective
body of power, as against those ofthe crown, or
cither of the component branches Separately ; still
always understood that no other means of redress
can b? obtained.—A case I contend, much more
difficult to suppose when it relates to the whole
than when it relates to parts. But in all cases that
have cxilted, or care be conceived, I hold, that re
finance, to be justifiable, mult be directed against
the usurpation or undue exercise of power and that
it is moll criminal when directed against any power
:tfelf inherent in the constitution.
And here you will discern immediately why I
drew a line in the dilution I made above to the icrn
of Charles the firtt. Towards the elute of it the
true principle of resistance was changed, and a new
fy Item pf government projected accordingly. The
patriots, previous to the long Parliament and du
ring great part of it, as well as the glorious re
volutionists of 1688, refitted, to vindicate and re
store the constitution ; the republicans retired, to
fuhvert it
Now, Sir, lay your hand upon your heart, as
you have enjoined me to do on mine, and tell me,
to which of these purposes do the proceedings of
America tend ? Is it the weight of taxes imposed,
and the impeffibility of relief after due representa
tion of her burthens, that has induced her to take
arms ? Or is it a denial of the legislative right .of
Great Britain to impose them and consequently a
ilruggle for total independency ?—For the idea cf 3
power that can tax externally and not internally,
and all rhe sophistry that attends it, tho' it my
catch the weakness and prejudices of the multitude
in a speech or a pamphlet, is too preposterous to
weigh seriously with a man of your understanding,
and I am persuaded you will admit the quclton
fairl,put.
Is it than for a relief from taxes—or from the
controul of Parliament " in all cases whatsoever "
that we are in war ? If for the former, the quarrel
js at an end —There is not a man of ftnfe and in
formation in America, who does not fee it,is in the
power of the colonies to obtain a rtlinquifhment
of the exercise of taxation immediately and for
ever.—l boldly assert it, because, fen<e and inform
ation mutt also suggest to everyman, that it canneve {
foe the intcreft ot Britain to make a fecund trial.
Eat if the other ground is taken, and it is in
tended to wrest from Great Britain a link of that
substantial, and I hope perpetual chain, by which
the empire holds—l hink it not a miniiteiid man
date ; think it not mere profcffional ardour ; think
it not prejudice against any part of our fellow fub
jefy, that induces men of integrity, and among
such you have done me the honour to class me, to
@a with vigour : —But be allured it is conviction
that the whole of our political fyffem depends upon
preferring entire its great and essential put, and
none is so great and essential as the supremacy of
legislation.—lt is convi&ion,that as a King of Eng
land never appears in so glorious a capacity as
when he employs the executive power of the state
to maintain the laws, so j n the present exertions of
that power, his Majesty is particularly entitled to
our zeal and grateful obedience not only as Soldiers
but as citizens.
These principles, depend upon it, acuate the
army and fleet throughout: And let me at the
fame time add, there are few, if any, gentlemen
among us who would have drawn his (word in the
cause of slavery. But, why do I confine myieif to
P O STS CRFP T to Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet. NUMB. 198.
" There is reason to believe, that there are
" dispatches from General Gage on board the
" Sukey, Capt. Brown, which, though die fail
" ed four days before the vessel that brought the
" printed account, is not yet arrived."
To what doth this fhuffling Rate-produdion
amount 1 Is the American Masl acre less true,
because no accounts of it have been received at
the Secretary's office ? Is this a time to talk
of departments, when human blood, when the
blood of our Brethren, it poured out like water
by a detachment of his Majelty's troops? Are
we to pay attention to trivial formalities, when
the sword is drawn, and the hands of the King's
troops are uplifted to cut the throats of our
brethren ? Is this a time to talk of the routine
of office ? If the news received of a detachment
of his Majelty's troops having glutted them
selves with blood, if this news is untrue, why do
ministry not c,ntradi& it ? And, if it be true,
what have they to fay? Shall we adopt their
language, and call a bloody moffacre a trifling
JLrmij'b ? Or are we not to believe that either
massacre or skirmish hath happened, because the
American department hath not as yet received
those advices from General Gage, which are on
board the Sukey? The matter of fad is, that
minillry are so confounded at the arrival of rhe
news, that it will requite some time before they
Gin furbifh up their account of the matter.
Bronzed as they are, and now all over befprink.
led with the blood of our brethren, it still re
quires some time before fads can be falfified,
or the truta wholly explained away, she Court
Gazette mav talk of advices on board the Sukey
(which will never arrive) but there are better
0—
From the Public Ledger, London, June 1, 1775.
The public are requested to attend one moment
to the conduct of mimftry, and they will for ever
deleft their duplicity. A massacre is attempted by
the king's mercenaries in America; the peacea
ble inhabitants of the town of Concord are wan
tonly fired on, and many are inhumanly murdered.
Mimttry, unable to contest the proofs adduced in
confirmation of this infamous transaction cause
the following paragraph to be inlerted in the Ga
zette.
From tie LONDON GAZETTE.
Secretary of State's Office, IVbitebalt, May 30.
" A report having been spread, and an account
''having been printed and published, of aJkirmiJh
" between some ofthe people in the province of
" Malidchufetts Bay, and a detachment of bis
•' Majeftfs troops; it is proper to inform the
" public, that no advices have as yet been re
" ceived in the American department of any such
" event.
the fleet and army: I affirm the sentiments I here
touched, to be thole of the great bulk of the nati
on. I appeal even to those trading towns which
are fufferers by the dispute, and the city of London
at the head of them, notwithstanding the petitions
and remonrtrances that the arts of parties and
fadions have extorted from some individuals ; and
last, because lealt in your favour, I appeal to the
majorities of the last year upon American questions
in Parliament. The most licentious news writer
wants assurance to call these majorities ministerial ;
much lets will you, when you impartially examine
the characters of which they were in a great degree
Gompole4—men of the most independent principles
and fortunes, and many of them profeffcdly in
opposition in their general line of conduct.
Among other supporters of British rights against
American claims, I will not speak positively, but
I firmly believe, I may name the men of whole in
tegrity and judgment you have the highlit opinion,
and whole friendship is nearest your heart: I mean
Lord Thanet, from whom my Aid de Camp has a
letter for you, with another fr^m Sir C. Davers. I
do not inclofe them, because the writers, little ima
gining how difficult your conduct would render our
intercourse, desired they might be .delivered into
your own hands.
For this purpose, as well as to renew " the rights
of our fellowfllip," I wish to fee you ; and above all
I Should think an interview happy if it induced such
explanations as mi?ht tend in their consequences
to peace. 1 feel in common with all around me,
for the unhappy deluded bulk of this country —they
forefee not the distress that is impending. I know
Great-Britain is ready to open her arms upon the
firSt reasonable overtures of accommodation; I
know she is equally resolute to maintain her origi
nal rights; and I also know, that if the war pro
ceeds, your hundred and fifty thousand men will
be no match for her power. 1 put my honour to
these affeitions, as you have done to others, and I
claim the credit I am willing to give.
The place I would propose for our meeting is the
boufe on Boston Neck, just within our advanced (en
tries, called Brown's house. I will obtain autho
rity to give you my parole of honor for your Secure
return: I Shall expert the fame on your part, that
no insult be offered to me. If the propofai is agree
able to you, name your day and hour—And at ail
events, accept a sincere return of the affuranoes you
honor me with, and believe me affectionately vours,
J. B URGOYN E.
P. S. I have been prevented by business answer
ing your letter sooner.—l obeyed your commands
in regard to Gen. Howe and Clinton; and I like
wile communicated to Lord Percy the contents of
your letter and my answer.—They all join with me
in compliments, and authorize me to allure you
they do the fine in principles.
advices which have arrived, wherein it is in
conteltibly proved that the King's troops hve
pillaged the houses, set fire to t;e doles, sA
J7au,teted the inhabitants of the t. wn cf C.n
cord. That a d&taihmentot h ; s M^jedy's re
gular troops, alter a commission of these crimes,
should be forced to run acway and slitter under
the guns of a man of war, was rather an unfor
tunate circumstance. If a wish remnins to be
accomplished it is, that in case a similar maffu
cre should be attempted, an Englilh in^n ofwar
may not be disgraced by affording prtt<A^ to
a banditti who are enlisted into his Majcib's
service lor other purposes than that of ^utuher
ing his fabjeAs.
St. VINCEN T, July 1.
From Dominica we hear, that there has been
lately very great disputes between the Council and
Assembly of that island, relative to a bill for lay
ing a duty of four and a half per cent, on the pro
duce; insomuch that the Council lent a melTage
to the Assembly, that they had unanimonfly come
to a resolution to do no farther business with their
House; in consequence of v.hch the Assembly
addrefled his Excellency Governor Shirley re
queuing him to fulpend the Members of bis Ma
jesty's Council, dissolve the House of Assembly,
or adopt such other remedy sot the evils com
plained of, as his Exeellency should think meet.
Accordingly, the 15th of June, his Excellency
by message, required the attendance ofthe House
of Assembly in the Council Chamber, and, ad
drelling both Houses, lamented that instead of
putting an end to the session with a speech convey
ing such an applause as proceedings diftinguiihed
for wisdom and utility could merit, that such
heats and animosities had been introduced as seem
ed to make a reconciliation between both Houses
impracticable, and a dilFolution of the Assembly
unavoidably necessary. He consoled himlelf that
no endeavours had been unemployed by him to
obviate such a step, though he was sorry to fay
they had not had the detired effeft: He assured
the House of Aflembly that from the experience
he.had had of their ready attendance on public bu
siness it was with great reluctance he difl'olved
their House; but had the fatisfaCtion to thick
that it was one amongst the number of those expe
dients they themselves had pointed out for the
eale and tranquility of the Colony.
WATERTOW N, July 24.
Extras of a Letter jrcn London, dated June I, 1775.
" The intelligence by Capt. Darby of the
defeat of General Gage's men, under Lord Percy,
by the Americans, on the 19th of April lall, has
given very general pleasure here, as the news pa
pers will teltify. Tis not with certainty that one
can speak of the disposition of people in England
with respect to the contest with America, tho' we
are clear that the friends of America increase every
day, particulaily since the above intelligence.
" It is believed the Ministers have not as yet
formed any plan in consequence of the action of
April 19. They are in total confufion and conger
nation and wait for G. Gage's dispatches by the---,
Captain Brown. The talk of the day is that more
troopsand {hips are to be sent immediately ; but this
it is thought cannot be done without calling the
Parliament to ralfe more money; if it should be at
tempted, much disturbance may be expected in
England."
Last Wednesday fe'nnight embarked from Dor
chester-Neck, Col. Grearon, with 96 men in ten
whale boats for Long Island, in order to remove
from thence some fcek and hay; in his way he
was fired upon by the men of war lying near
said Illand, but notwithstanding the very heavy
fire from thefhips, he proceeded, when not find
ing any stock on the Island, he fired the Barns,
in which was a quantity of hay, he not being
able to remove it ; as he perceived several barges,
cutters, and an armed schooner coming upon him.
having executed his designs, so far as to deprive
our enemy of the advantage they might receive
from the hay, &c. which he destroyed, he re
treated ; and when on board he found himlelf
again beset by the savage enemy, who perhaps
would have taken some of the hindermoft boats,
had it not been for the good conduct of the com
mander, and a party from Squantum, polled on
the shore, whoby a warm fire drove off the ene
my; they killed one of our men on the shore,
and it is asserted by one in a boat that there were
two of the enemy killed. The house catched fire
from the barns and were consumed.
Since our last Major Vofe and Major Loring
have returned from Nantafket, and brought offa
bout iqoo bushels of barley, which they cut.
After they had secured thebarley and straw, they
went and burned the Light-House, took three boats
with four men belonging to Boston, who were a
fifhing; brought off three cades of oil, and about
50lb. of powder from the Light-House; they then
burnt the barn and hay upon tMe Brewfters.—Not
withftanding an almost incessant fire from the mere
of war and tenders, we had only (women flight],
wounded.