The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1777-03-24 00:00:00, page 2

ffld & railite^ we fare, by reprobating the Farther
exchange of our valuable faplei, for the worthies
bawblei and finery, of English maaufa&ure. Add
60 thia, that in a cause so just and righteous on our
part, we have the highest reason to exped the bleffiag
of Heaven, upon our glorious conflia For who can
doubt the iaterpofiuon cf the SUPREMELY JUST,
in favour of a people, forced to recur to arms, in de,
fence of every thing dear and precious ; against a na
tion, d:af to our complaints, rejoining in our misery,
wantonly aggravating our oppt^ffions, .determined to
divide our fubfla^c#, and by fire and sword to compel
#a into fubmtffion.
Rafpeding the constitution of Great Britain, bating
certain prerogatives of dangerous tendency, it has in
deed been applauded by the bast judges; and displays
in its original flrnaure, illustrious proofs of wifdora,
and the knowledge of mankind. But what avails the
bertconftitution, with the word administration ? For
what is th rir prcfsnt government, and whst has it been
for years past, but a pensioned confederacy against rea
son, and virtue, and honour, and p&triotifm, and the
rights of man ? What their governors but a fat of po
litical craftfmen, flagicioufly conspiring to ered the
Babel of Despotism, on the ruins of the ancient &
beautiful fabric of Law ? A ihamelefs cabal notori
ous, employed in deceiving the prince, corrupting
the parliament, debating the people, depressing the
most virtuous, and exalting the moll profligate! In
Ihort, an insatiable junto of public fpaileri, lavishing
the national wealth, and by peculation end plunder,
daily accumulating a debt already enormous !--. And
what the majority of their parliament, formerly the
most august assembly in the world, but venal pension
ers on the crown, a perfed mocker, of all repiefenta
tire, and at the abfalute devotion of every minister r
What were the charaaeriftic# of their administration
of the provinces ? The fubfiitution of infyuaions in
the room of law: The multiplication of officers to
strengthen the court interest : perpetually extending
the prerogatives of the king, and retrenching the
rights of the febjea : Advancing to the most eminent
Anions,man without education, and of diffolnte man
ners : Employing, with the people's money, a band
of emissaries, to misrepresent and traduce the people.
And (to crown the system of mis rule) fperting with
oar perfansand estates, by filling the highest feats of
justice with bankrupts, bullies and blockheads.
From such a nation (though all this we bore, and
ihoaid probably have borne for a century, had they
ant avowedly claimed the unconditional disposal of
life and property) it is evidently cur interest to be de
tached, To remain happy or fife in our conntfion
with her, became thenceforth utterly impossible. She
as, moreover, precipitating her own fall, or the age cf
piracies is returned ; and Britain a phenomenon in the
political world, without a parallel.,.
The proclamations to rfnare the timid and credu
lous, a<e beyond expremon, difingenious and tantaliz
ing. In a gilded pill, they conceal real poison. They
addinfalt to injury. Afar repeated intimations of
commiffiouers to treat with America, we are presented,
rafted of the peaceful olive-branch, with the devour
ing frord. laftaad of being visited by plenipotenti
nries to bring matters to an accommodation ; we are
invaded with an army, in their opinion, able to subdue
ns; and upon difeovtfing their error, the terms pro
pounded amounted to this, " if you will submit with
" out refinance, we are content to take your proper
" ty, and fpae your lives ; and then (the confirmati
" OR of arrogance) ws will grecionfly pardon you, for
64 having hitherto defended both."
Considering th^a their bewildered councils ; their
blundering nriniftry ; their want of men and money ;
zhfir impaired credit, and declining commerce ; their
loft revenues, and barring islands; the corruption of
their parliament, wi r h the effeminacy of the nation---
and the fucce^ rftheir enterpriz? is against all probe
bility. Cmfideri^g farther, the horrid enormity of
their waging war rgeinft their own brethren expostu
lating for an audience, complaining of injuries and
supplicating for redraft ; and waging it with a ferocity
and vengeance unknown to modern ages, and contra
ry to ail laws humantad divine,—-and we can neither
queftiou the jaftice of our opposition, nor the assistance
of heaven to crown it with vidory.
Let us, however, not prefumptuonfly rely on the
Saterpofiticn of providence withent exerting those ef
forts, which it is our duty to exert; and which oar
bountiful creator has enabled ns to exert. Let us do
our part to open the next campaign with redoubled
vigour; and until the United States have humbled
the pride of Britain, aid obtained an honorable peace,
cheerfully furnilh our proportion far continuing the
war : A war, on our fide, founded on the immutable
obligation of felf-defence; and in support of freedom,
of virtue, and every thing tending to enoble our na
ture, and render a people happy. On their part,
prompted by boundlefi avarice ; and a thirst for ab
Solute sway ; and built on a claim repugnant to every
principle of reason and equity : A claim subversive of
all liberty,, natural, civil, moral, and religious ; in
compatible with human happiness, and nfurping the
attributes of deity ; degrading man ; and blasphem
ing Gad.
Let as ,11, therefore, of every rank and degree, re
member our plighted faith and honour, to maintain
the cause with our lives and fortunes. Let us all in
flexibly persevere in prosecuting to a happy period,
what has been so glorionfly begun, and hitherto so
prosperously conduded. And let those in more distin
guished stations, use all their influence and authority,
so rouse the lupine ; to animate the irrefolaie ; to cot.
firm the waterings sal to &uw from his lurking lick)
the talking neutral, who, leaving to others the heat
and burthen of the day, means in the final result, to
reap the fruits of that victory, for which h 6 will not
contend. Let us be peculiarly affidvous in bringing
to condign punilhmen l , those deteitable paricides, who
have been openly adira against their native country.
And may we, in all our deliberations and proceedings,
be influenced and direfttd by the great arbiter of the
fate of nations, by whom empires rife and fall ; and
who will not always fuffer, the Sceptre of the Wicked to
rtf on the Lot of the Righteous; but in due time, avenge
an injured people, ma their unfeeling oppraffor, and
his bloody inftiuments.
WIL. LIVINGSTON.
Hadd+rfield, 2,b rs February 1777.
To THE P RIN T E R.
Si r,
— TS tbe following letter is fab arart fam,le of elegence and
accuracy of di&ion; Jucb a curious fpecimex °f the
'aft, natural, familiar andperJpicucus file in letter writing,
at the fame time embellifad with inimitable frokes of the
true Jublime, and the whole fanaified b, an ardent zeal for
the noblf cause on earth,that of (be church, I think it apity
it f^uld lit an, longer in ebfenritj, and mankind not enjoy
the benefit of it. 1 have therefore transcribed it with ibe
greateJi cars and exa&nefs frost the original, new in ray
bands, not omitting the small circumfar.ee of punctuation,
that none of its grace or beauties mu, be ltf,b, its appearing
in,our ufeful paper. If any Jhall be inclined to doubt the
genuinefs of it, as being altogether Superior to any American
genius, Ido assure them it is, i, so fa&o, a genuine Ameri
can preduaieup of an American-born too ; and be original
is now in the poffjfan of a gentleman in this State.
R av'd S IR,
THE caufeof the church in America is so sacred
and interacting a point, that every faithful
friend to it who even ventures to wilh hin.felf ^ble to
contribute the le&ft In its favour, difeovers a well as.
faded zeal to express his affedion, and intrant the pro
motion of it. This indeed more evidently appears in
the clergy, ^ here it ought to appear; hav'pg the
concurrence of all, from whem the bell wifhe„ and
their religious needs in the present imperfitt Stue
which they etjoy the church, can only be expelled to
strengthen an« inforce the common plea ; and also the
adjuvant agency of others, that are coafpicurus enough
to afford some encouragement from their endeavours.
Spirited by that ardent affeaion for the church,which
the faith of the invaluable treasure ffie contains in her
divine and apo iolic authority and constitution, a^d
the wholefume do&rines Ihe difpeafo, in the language
and geaies of the fcriptuies, animates : The c ergy of
several of the provinces have refpeaively transmitted
addresses to the $ h one, and feme of the chief dignita
ries of the church, and the incorporated feciety, far
an American epifeppate. To engage as ex e»five an
late aft in the affair ^^ight be practical Ic, particu
lars have thought it expedient, a:d have applied to
such persons as might, and from whom they had good
grounds of hope woulQ be nfeful in a cause so greatly
beneficial to us, and the a& so highly charitable in
them. Solicitous to bear a part in overy effort cf this
kind, joint as well as feperate ; I tske the freedom to
propose the fubj^a to you, as what, lam peifuated,
must be efleemed by you, fufficient to merit your ele ftft
attention. The cause is sacred to the honor cf God,
and the fouls cf men : we also apprehend it so to
the health of the coaftitution : a cnnfideiaticn proper
to be attended to in these diftint parts ofhis majehy's
dominions : and which is conceived may be advan
tagioufly improved as the arguments in favour of it,
may be more pointedly urg'd and inforced upon the
minds of different persons as they shall be inclin'd to
^regard the church in a r*\s u% or civil view, or both
together. Your connexions with feme of the nobili
ty, and with his majesty's chaplains, is apprehended
to place you in a filiation kind to this purpefe:
and this cherishes hopes of your readinefi and abili ,
to be nfeful among thuf< in this particular befinsfi.
If the important affairs of the eftabliihad church
could be properly laid before, and febmined to, the
considerations of the Duke of Chandete and the Earl
of Carnarvon, in a print of view just and ntceffary,
their interest in the digni ies, aad prerogatives of the
crown, and ihe royal government cf the kingdom,
exclafive cf a pious regard to the true church of
Christ, might possibly excite their deliberations,, and
lead them to do that effectual good f^rvice, their fupe
rior diferetion may deem practicable, to a cause that
supplicates every charitable aid and affift^nce: and
which is impregnated with such principles, as is meft
likely, in its faits, richly to reward the exertions cf
those, in the security of thrir digni y aad peace, who
labour to promote it. B, such an attempt, executed
by you, a- shall appear judicious and suitable, it i> ira
agiaed may be difcov&'d, how they are difpos'd, or
by that means may be ftir'd up to a disposition previ
ously languid and wasting ; and also what notice aad
help we in these parts may expe& or receive from that
quarter. Upon try al, if anygood encouragements are
offered, that will give licence for an importunate ard
refpe&ful address, I dare venture to fay, it will be
most eagerly embraced ; and yon yourfelf be waited
upon in a manner more refpeaable--.ffiould you think
it proper to da this, it is meft earnestly to be wilh'd,
you would alfj use your endeavours to influence the
rest of his m&jfy's chaplains, to bsftir themselves
among the circle of their refoaive acquaintance, to
render the cause diffufive, and f/irit as miny as may
be,feriqufly and confeientioufly to weigh the sacred fuf
feriag canfe of the church of Ged, whicheven a curso
ry K&aioß will openly &w how it SMift needs do
h&a ; tyhiUW; art in a firn OTp©fc£; cr4&£;§;.*
i* >g'*at „ealure efihat office aid au^in.lL&ihn,,
which our Lordhss appointed in fais (Lurch. L l^uft
beluppos'd they, agreeable to ttecivisre ccfr rr^ica
they have received in cur mefl «xceiknt ch^ch, u^a
led to do hoiy service at the altar, frim the d;da.c6
and peifuafions of a well directed conicunce r ; qc?,
then, with deference I observe, can they, in the filth
of Cnriti's authority, adminifler in her spponuu&nts
as faithful Mewar^s, unlefi they extend thiir ^utuaca
and service to her general inte^ft, ^.ct she i, r,opa
g„«d under the proteaion cf his n^j^iy' sg^Ma,
went? As the faith is founded on the chilli* cona
dilution, and the cause is core mon, not cerfi/d to this
or that particular place or congregates, the miniitoe
of our common Lord, owen general fsf,s& to ^cem
date cll, in- the orders that fapjort it, nhi,h they
thirk expedient them fishes to embrace.
rhe carneftaefs of my desire, maker me the less re
faiv d in beistchingyou, uodo&ll in jour pew&r in thia
case. And there is no fmail cause tor such a ochre,
as it is apprehended, that net only the church, but e
ven the well being cf the civil polity in Anuria, de
pends in a great measure, open the fettrimot cf Epis
copacy here ; for republican principles iu rdi[k%,ra.
',,'y engender the fame in civil goveinrcen ; which
of lau have been avowedly very rife in ch< fc pxrs,and
have appear'd in open and alarming light; in many
melancholic iuftagcvs. Indeed fir if forae methods are
not tiken more efte&ualiy to fix, and cerf m, the
church here, Which nothing but lending a bifhe, will
de, .tongs wear a face that will ben a&ovd cerjec
ture, th^t oppefition and inference will grew so ft cidy,
as, by the help of the diLffidsd with you, which at
they always have been, so they ever will he, usd, to
afford, under the aid of their brethren cf Scotia: d ; to
bring even the church and bfthops ia England into
caugsr. This, however extravagant it me, at firft
appear, the more defcerming have fear'd, fem the
Ipirit on work. In Lefi circurMlUnces let me beg you
to cogfider also, how many thouf^xd feu^reahy la^
guiffi for lack of vition, or tyirituai food, in this low
eboef the church ; awd then you will affur^dly, be
f fhcienly lenlible, with how much propriety, we m.
plure, Mid how much chrifiian chanty p^ffa yeu, and
every ore, afliduotofly to uf# the best fervice# in behalf
cf cu; exig^cy, which fa clearly recommends hfeJf
by every pflibic urgency. lam Reverend Sir. you?
humble f^vant and brother
,ABRAHAM JARVIS
^M^dhiowi :iR Conneaicut March 24th 1767:
1 he R.% Alexander Jacobs.
7 " B- 4 t'ls letrwas actual, coni',td to England, as
dne&.d and brcugrt beck from thence by the genlcmav
whonow bus it in bis,ofan.
, PHILADELPHIA, Mafb
',," a '' Morris w »;°lToft, 26.
G^a. HoncfiSccutinters to threaten ,o%r city; —-a
reinforcement is anima at Amby, coiffingej He leib,
37 tb > 3^tb,and fy regiments, one baaalim fgfrgder,,
ana one , bight inj a^r, the otoh amounting to about
2000 men ; ib, were cut on Sunday left ap^n 4 fg, cigiig
part, witbtbrec fold puces, whin He, wire aucck« 1,
about 600 fourpeople at eleven in the morning near Spurn&
town. 7bcfa:^ continued from that time wiibfcrae fat
inter^fo until night, by the bes accounts we cat get tie
enemy's lfs amounted to upwaids of an hundred men killed
and wounded, They caws with about fifteen or fciuw,
waggons, a corjidtrable part of which were cm,toyed 13
carrying ty their dead andwounded; feme of the waggons
were Jo piled, that the dead fell es and were left in the
road. Afew such offers will snake thins fek offoragirg
at fe expefce a rate The eurm, killed two of the inba
bitahts; one with bis proteaion in hit band bad hi, Daixs
Howie out while be was cftri*g it to ax tfder ; the other
teas run through the bid, with a bayonet ; both were killed
jor not getting their waggons ready defteedil, as th, wire
wanted to remove the dead cut of th wa).
Exr&a cf a letter ficin Morris Icwn, March 1.
" Last week I informed you of ex a&i v n which kafr
peued the 23d, face which fewral ae, triers have come btre,
vhoJays, and one of them efforts that he beara !&j&?
Fiench tell General Paugbau, that their lojs in killed and
wounded amtutea to 509 ; that it was irap'JfbeJor tb^s
with I 900 or 2000 mix and 6 fold pieces to do an, thing
ugainji an innumerable number of rebels, who attacked
them in front, rear, and flank at toe fame time; itis true
they were attacked in that manner, but not by mere than
Coo.- The enemy were extremely cruel in their retreat,
the, feeing a poor countryman fladding at hi, deer laid bold
of biwe, be flowed a protedhon fgned by Gen H.wc’sfc
cretary, th, damned him and b:sprottAion, anafaid ths
who bad taken prote&ions, were as damned rebels as /£./#
who bad not, fe n& immeaiatel,fort a ball threugb bis bog,
which not proving infant death the, fabbed him with
bayonets. After Jack am infants, it is not to be Wendend
at tbeir heatirg the brains cut if rurwcusded, one op whom
tbs, firmed in that manner las hunda, "
Gen. Howe arrived at Brurfwick on Frida, night the
2 if ult. being Jenifer to fettle a dijpxfe between ibe Britfy
and H Jian troops, which had nearly terminated in blows.
In CONGRESS, February 26.
Refolded, I hat an Interest rs Six frrCentum per Anoum
be avowed on all sum cf Mesty already borrowed,
and directed to be borrow d on Loan Office Certifi
cates, although such car' fichus nunion only an to
teref of Four per Centum per Annum.
Refolded, That the Interest on the Prizes drawn fra
the Continental Letter, shall remain at four per Cental.
By Order of Congress,
John Hancjck, P.cfide&i