The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-05-22 00:00:00, page 2

A CAMBRIDGE, [New-England] Maj 12.
Copy c f a letter to his Excellency General Gage, from
the honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Efe Go
vernor of bis Majefy's colony of Connecticut, in be
half of Jaid colony. Dated Hartford, April 28,
W7S
SIR,
q-'-HE alarming situation of public affairs in this
country, and the late unfortunate tranfaftions
in the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, have in- -
duced the General Assembly of this colony, now fit
ting in this place, to appoint a committee of their
>ody to wait upon your Excellency, and to desire
me, in their name, to write to you relative to these
very interesting matters.
The inhabitants of this colony are intimately con
nected with the people of your province, and elteem
themselves bound by the ffrongell ties of friendihip,
a^ well as common interelt, to regard with attention
whatever concerns them. You will not therefore be
furprized that your firft arrival at Boston, with a
§ body of his Majelty's troops,, for the declared pur
' pole of carrying into execution certain a&s of par
liament, which, in their apprehension, were un
conllitutional and oppressive, should give the good
Ipeople of this colony a very just and general alarm;
your subsequent proceedings in fortifying the town
of Bollon, and other military preparations, greatly
* increased their apprehensions for the fafety of their
' friends and brethren; they could not be uncon
cerned fpedators of their fufferings in that which
they eftcemed the common cause of this country ;
bat the late hostile and ferret inroads of some of the
troops under your command into the heart of the
'country, and the violences they have committed,
have driven them aimed into a state of desperation.
They feel now not only for their friends, but for
themselves, and their dearell interests and connec
tions. We wish not to exaggerate, we are not sure
of very part of our information; but by the bed in
telligence that we have yet been able to obtain, the
late tranfadions was a molt unprovoked attack upon
the lives and property of his Mjelly's fubjeds ; and
it is represented to us, that such outrages have been
co nmitted as would disgrace even bai barians, and
much more Britons, so highly famed for humanity
as well as bravery: It is feared therefore that we are
devoted to deftru&ion, and that you have it in com
mand and intention to ravage and desolate the
Country. If this is not the case, permit us to ask,
why have these outrages been committed? Why is
the town of Bolton now shut up? And to what end
are all the hostile preparations that are dailymaking,
and why io we continually hear of frefh declinations
of troops for this country ? The people of this colo
ny, you may rely upon it, abhor the idea of taking
arms against the troops of their sovereign, and dread
nothing so much as the horrors of civil war ; but at
the fame time we beg leave to assure your Excellen
cy, that as they apprehend themselves jultified by
the principle of felf-defence, so they are mod firmly
rcfolved to defend their rights and privileges to the
last extremity; nor will they be retrained from
giving aid to their brethren, if any unjultiiable at
tack is made upon them. Be so good, therefore, as
to explain yourfelf upon this 'moft important fubjedl,
as far as is confident with your duty to our common
,sovereign.---Is there no way to prevent this unhap
py dispute from coming to extremity ? Is there no
alternative but absolute submission, or tie desolati
ons of war ? By that humanity which constitutes so
amiably a part of your character, tor the honour of
our sovereign, and by the glory of the British em
pire, we entreat you to prevent it, if it is possible;
Purely iris to be hoped that the temperate wisdom of
the empire might, even yet, find expedients to res
tore peace, that so all parts of the empire may enjoy
their particular rights, honours and immunities:
C rtainly this is an event mod devoutly to be wished
for ; and will it not be confident with your duty, to
suspend the operations of war on your part, and en
able us on ours to quiet the minds of the people, at
least, till the result of some further deliberations
be known ? The importance of the octafion will, we
doubt not, ftiffici vlv spplogize for the earnestness
with which we audrefs you, and any seeming im
propri ty which my attend it, as well as induce
, jd to give us the most explicit and favourable an
swer in your power.
I am, with great efleem and refect, in behalf of the
General Aflemb'y, Sir, ^c.
(fyd) J.TRUMBULL.
% His Excellency Thomas Gage, Ejq;
His Excellency General Gage's Answer.
SI R, D led Boston, May 3d, 1777.
T An: to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the z^th
' of April last, in behalf of the General Affimbly, rela
tive to the alarming situation of public affairs in this coun
try, and the late transactions in this province: 7 bat this
fouation is trul, ale rming, and that these tranfaaions are
tr^ly unfortunate, are truths to be regretted so every friend
to America, and by every well wfar for the peace, prof-
Mrity and happiaefs cf this province. The intimate ce«-
nefiion andftreng ties of friendship betvsten tie inhabitants
of your colony, and the deluded people of this province,
cannotfail of inducing the former to interfere their good
offices, to convince the latter of the impropriety of their past
conducts and to persuade them to return to their allegiance,
and to Jeek redress of any supposed grievances, in these de
cent and confnational methods in which alone they can hope
to be faccejful.
That troops should be employed for the purpose of pro
testing the magistrates in the execution of their duty, when
opp o jed with violence, is not a new thing in the Englijh or
any other government : That any ads of the British parlia
ment are unconstitutional or oppressive, lam not to Juppofe ;
if any such there are, in the apprehension op the people of
this province, it had been happy Jor them if they had jought
relief only in the way which the conflitution, their reaJon
and their intereJi; pointed out.
You cannot wonder at my fortifying the town of Boflon,
or making other military preparations, when you are afur
ed, that previous to my taking these fleps, such was chea
pen threats, and juch the warlike preparations throughout
this province, as rendered it my indifpenfble duty to take
every precaution in my power, for the protection of his Ma
jply's troops under my command, aga nft all hostile at
tempts. The intelligence you Jeem to have received, rela
tive to the late excursion of a body of troops into the country,
is altogether injurious, and contrary to the true fate of
faffs ; the troops dijclaim, with indignation, the barbar
ous outrages with which they are accujed, so contrary to
their known humanity. I have taken the greateJi pains to
dijeover J any were committed, and have found examples
of their tenderness both to the young and to the old, but no
vestige of cruelty or barbarity : It is very possible that in
firing into houjes, from whence they were fired upon, that
old people, women or children, may have Juffired, but if
any juch thing has happened, it was in their defence, and
undefined. I have no command to ravage and deflate
the country, and were it my intention, I have had pretence
to begin it, upon tbe jea ports, who are at the mercy of the
feet. For your better information I enclofeyou a narrative
of that affair, taken from gentlemen of indisputable hon
our and veracity, who were eye witnesses oj all the tranf
aßions of that day. Ihe leaders here have taken pains to
prevent any account of this affair getting abroad, but such
asthey have thought proper to publijb tbemjelves ; and to
that end the pof has been flopped, the mails broke open,
and letters taken out ; and by theje means the most injurious
and inflammatory accounts have been J,read throughout the
continent, which has Jer ved to deceive and inflame the
minds of tbepeople.
When the resolves of the provincial congress breathed
nothing but war, when those two great and essential pre
rogatives of the King, the levying of troops, and diJpoJing
of the public monies, were wrejied from him; and when
magazines were forming by an assembly of men, unknown
to the constitution, for the declared purpoje of levying war
against the King, you must acknowledge it was my duty,
as it was the deflate of humanity, to prevent, if possible,
the calamities of civil war, by defraying Juch magazines.
This, and this alone, I attempted. lon ajk why is the
town of Boston now Jbut up? I can only refer you for an
answer, to thoje bodies of armed men, who now surround
the town, and prevent all access to it. The hostile prepa
rations you mention, are Juch as the conduct oj the people of
this province has rendered it prudent to make, for the de
fence of thoje under my command.
You assure me the people of your colony abhor the idea es
taking arms against the troops of their Jovereign. I wijb
the people of this province, for their own fakes, could make
the Jame declaration. You enquire, is there no way to pre
vent this unhappy diJpute from coming to extremities '<ls
there no alternative, but absolute submission, or the dejola
tions of war ? I answer, I hope there is ; the King and
parliament Jeem to hold out terms op reconciliation, conjif
ent with the honour and interest of Great - Britain, and the
tights and privileges of the colonies ; they have mwually
declared their readineJs to attend to an, real grievances of
the colonies, and to afford them every just and reasonable in
dulgence, which fiall, in a dutiful and confitutional
manner, be laid before them; and his Majtfy adds, it is
his ardent wijh, that this aifpoftion may have a happy ef
fed on the temper and conaud of bis jubjeas in Amtiica :
I mus add likewise the resolution of the 27th of February,
on the grand dispute of taxation and revenue, leaving it
to the colonies to tax thimjelves, under certain conditions ;
here isjurely a foundation for an accommodation, to people
who wijb a reconciliation rather than a dejiructive war,
between countries Jo nearly connected, by the ties of blood
and intereJi; but I fear the leaders of tnis pcovince have
been, and fill are, intent only on jbedding blood.
I am much obliged by your favourable sentiments of my
personal character, and assure you, as it has been my con
•fartt wife and endeavour hitherto, so I Jhall continue to
exert my utmost efforts, to protea all his Majeffs liege
fubje& under my care, in their persons and properties.
You qjk whether it will not be confident with my duty to
fofpendthe operations of war on my part f I have com
menced no operations of war but dejettfive ; such you can
not wife me to fujpend, while lam Jurrounded by an arm
ed country, wvo have already begun, and threaten further
to prosecute an offinfive war, and are now violently de
priving me, the King's troops, and many others of the
King's fubjefts, under m, immediate protection, of all the
conveniences and necefories of life, with which the coun
try abounds ; but it muff quiet the minds of all redfonable
people, when I afureyou, that I have no difpoftion to in
jure or mslef quiet and peaceable fubjedts; but on the con
trary, Jhall esteem it my greatest happinfs to defend and
pratea them against every Jpecies of violence and oppref
fan. l am, tie.
(Signed) T. GAGE.
Hen. Governor Trumbull.
FHIr^D EL^TT—May 12.
Yesterday the Continental Congress elect
ed the Honorable Peyton Randolph, Esq; Pre
sident, and Charles Thomson, Esq; Secretary.
In Congress, Monday May 15, 1775.
THE City and County of New-York, having
through Delegates applied to the Congress for
their advice how to condu& themselves with regard
to the Troops expelled there, the Congress took the
matter into their most serious deliberation, and came
to the following Resolution.
" That it be r commenced for the present to the
inhabitants of New-York, that if the Troops which
are expected should arrive, the said Colony aft on
the defenfive, so long as may be confident with their
fafety and security, : That the Troops be permitted
to rema n in barracks, so long as they behave peace
ably and quietly, but that they be Rot faft'ered to e
red fortifications, er t ke any Heps for cutting off
the communication between the town and country ;
and that if they commit hostilities or invade private
property, t e inhabitants should defend themselves,
and their p operty, and repel force by force :- -That
the warlike itores be removed from the Town : --
That places of retreat, in cale of necessity, be pro
vided for the Women & Children of N w-York, and
a fuffi lent number of Men be embodied, and Kept
in conftint readiness sos protesting the inhabitants'
from insult and injury."
A true Copy from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry,
Gentlemen,
Inclofed, we fend you the advice of the Congress,
on the fubjed on which,on requeued it, and left the
advice to remove the military stores might be con
strued to extend to those belonging to the crown,
we think it p-udent to suggest to you, that the con
trary conduction is the true one.
You would have received this advice before, had
not sundry circumftanccs not material, or prehaps
proper to explain, concurred in deferring it till now.
We are gentlemen.
Your humble servants
James Duane, Francis Lewis, John Jay, Lewis
Morris, Philip Livingston, J >hn Alsop.
Philadelphia, 16th May 1775.
AFFIDAVITS and depositions relative to the com-
N mencement of the late hoftirities in the province
of Massachusetts-Bay, together with an addrefy
from the Provincial Convention of the said pro
vince, to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, trans
mitted to the Congress in this city, and published
by their order. Charles Thomson, Sec.
WE, Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and,
Elijah Sanderson : all oflawful age, and of
Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony
of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, do tef
tify and declare, that on the evening of the eigh
teenth of April inst. being on the road between Con
cord and Lexington, and all of us on horses : we
were about ten of the clock, suddenly furprized by
nine feijeants, whom we took to be regular officers;
who rode up to us mounted and armed, each hav
ing a pistol in his hand ; and after putting piflols to
our breads, and seizing the bridles of our horses,
they swore, that if we Itirred another step, we should
be all dead men ; upon which we surrendered our
selves. They detain dus until twoo'clock the next
morning, in which time they searched and greatly
abused us, having firft enquired about the magazine
at Concord, whether any guards were polled there,
and whether the bridges were up, and said four or
five regiments of regulars would be in poffeffiou cf
the ftoies soon ; they then brought us back to Lex
ington, cut the horses bridles and girts, and turned
them loose, and then left us.
Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, Elijah Sanderson.
Lexington, April 25, 1775.
I Elijah Sanderson, above named, do farther tef
tify and declare, that I was in Lexington common,
the morning of the nineteenth April aforef&id, hav
ing been dismissed by the officers above-mentioned,
and saw a large body of regular troops advancing
towards Lexington company, many of whom were
then dispersing.---I heard one of theregulars, whom
I took to be an officer, fay, damn them ue will have
them, and immediately the regulars shouted aloud,,
run and fired on the Lexington company, which di4
not fire agun before the regulars discharged on them.
Eight of the Lexington company were killed while
they were dilperftng, and at a confidcruble distance
from each other, and many wounded ; and altho' a
fpeflator, I narrowly escaped with my life.' /
Lexington, April 25, 177;., ' Elijah Sanjerforn