The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-08-14 00:00:00, page 2

^ a vtfel arrived at Philadelphia fromEngland,there
is intelligence to the 6thof fune, bat we have only room
for the following fe v particulars, viz.
L OND O N.
June 3. Dever were debates in the cabinet council so
high as at pres ent ; Lord North isfor conciliation at all
events with the colonies ; Mr. Rigby inffls upon coercive
measures.
By the new arrangement, fettled at the las extraordina
ry council, Gen. Gage is to be re inforced with 7,500
men, with positive orders to quit Boston : a camp is to be
formed near Cork, and another upon Blackheath ; this
does net look as if the m.nijh, put mud, trufl in Spanifo,
assurances.
June 5. Cj. Dalrymplekifid hands on Friday. He
is going to America with difpatebes.
June 6. A correspondent observes, that if the account
expelled from Gen. Gage Jhould differ from that already
received, as to circumflanccs, and even as to feme of the
fads, it will not be very wonderful, for there never was
perhaps aperfca agreement of accounts in every particu
lar, after such an engagement, both armies femetimes even
claiming the viAory ; but that in all the main parts, there
will be too great ar. agreement, is,wefear, beyond all doubt.
The intentions of Lord Effingham to resign his
commission, should the regiment in which he served,
be ordered for America, were some time since an
nounced in this paper. The regiment having recei
ved orders to embark for America, hath occasioned an
event to take place which every friend to virtue and
to merit must cordially deplore. Lord Effingham
has resigned his commission in;o the hands of his
Majesty, because lie could not retain it confident
with those principles of honour and of integrity
which alone give dignity to coronets, and emblazon
nobility. That Lord Effingham was a good soldier,
there can be no fort of doubt, for he is--- a virtuous
citizen. That he lives in times when the duties of
his profeffion are incompatible whith the dictates of
patriotism, is a misfjttunehis country mod sincerely
lament. But, this in return' ffiould be considered,
that if Lord Effingham facrifices all those pleating
profpeds, to indulge in which he had so fair a claim,
he makes the facrifice at the altar of public Liberty,
and receives Heaven's signet of approbation---the
internal testimony of confeientious rectitude.
HOUSE of LORDS.
His Grace the Duke of Manchester moved to have
the“ MEMORIAL" fromNew-York, which tended
to a reconciliation with the Colonies, read.
An amendment was proposed with a design to have
the Memorial rejected.
" The turn which this debate has taken, makes it
unnecessary for me to remark on any thing which in
the course of it has fallen from any noble Lord ; but
as I with to call your Lordlhips attention rather to
the fubjeft, than to the form and manner of the pa
per offered to you, I hope I shall stand excused, if I
treat the latter as trifling, when put in competition
with the salutary or dreadful effects of admitting or
rejecting the means now in your hands, of restoring
harmony to this diffracted empire. What may be the
fate of the amendment proposed, I know not ; but I
fear it is too easily to be guessed, from the complexion
of the House, what will be that of the Memorial.
In the course of the debate Lord Effingham thus
delivered his sentiments.
Lord EFFINGHAM's SPEECH.
My Lords,
" If any thing, my Lords can add to the reludance
with which I at any time trouble your Lordships, it
is a confeioufnefs of my own inability to treat this
fabjeft as it ought to be treated. Indeed the impor
tance of it is such, as would deter me from entering
into it at all, did I not think that in the precarious
situation in which this country stands at present, it is
the duty of every man to avow his principles and sen
timents with firmnefs and integrity. The indulgence
which I have before experienced, encourages me to
exped again from your candour, that attention,
which I have not, like many among your Lordffiips,
the abilities to command.
" I confefs I with to avoid the difeuffion of our
right to such a power as we are contending for ; that
is to fay, a power of taxing a set of fubjefts who are
not represented among us, and who have full power
10 tax themselves in the ordinary and constitutional
manner. Was any particular province, among the
Americans, to refufe grants of money in proportion
to others, or to commitany aft in abuse of their char
ters, I think that supreme controuling power, which
the province in question allows in its full extent,
would give us the charge,ze quid detrimenti, Refpublica
capiat. And in that case, my Lords, almost the
whole empire would he united against the wrong
headed 'ew, who would be loon brought to reason.
But lam fzisfied, that without such necessity, we
have no more right to exercise the power of taxation
in fn country, than a Roman Dilator had to begin
his office with a declaration, that his power should
be perpetual, and was necessary in the ordinary bu
siness of government. Therefore, my Lords, what
ever has been done by the Americans, I must deem
it the mere confluence of our unjust demands.
" When the duties of a soldier and a citizen be
come inconsistent, I fhajl always think myfelf oblig
ged to fink the character of the soldier in that of the
citizen, till such time as those duties shall again, by
the malice of our real enemies, become united.
" It is no small facrifice which a man makes who
gives up his profeffion ; but it is a much greater,
when a predilection, strengthened by habit, has given
him so strong an attachment to his profeffion asl feel.
I have, however, this one consolation, that by mak
ing that facrifice, I at least give to my country an
unequivocal proof of the sincerity of my principles."
PHILADELPHIA, August 2 .
Extra& of a letter from London, dated June 1.
" it is my indifpenfible duty to inform my coun
trymen on your fide the water, ofwhatever resoluti
ons are formed on this fide, injurious to your sacred
rights, that you may be timely on your guard to de
feat the pernicious attempts of that implacable and
tyrannical Administration.- My intelligence is
founded on the best information, and therefore full
•=•'' nee ought to be paid to it.
h. arrival of the news of the defeat and
^at 0 .ne detachment under Lord Percy and Col.
Smith, this great city was agitated to its centre.
The friendf to America rejoiced at the noble victo
ry of the Bostonians, and its enemies were abashed at
their courage,- E -grinning horribly a ghastly smile,
as Milton's Devil did in Paradise.---The news flew
rapidly, and soon caught the ear of an unwise and
deluded King.---Administration was alarmed at the
unexpected success of the Provincials, and were at a
loss what lies to fabricate which would destroy the
force of the qualifications which accompanied the
intelligence. Runners were sent to every part of the
city, who were authorifed to deny the authenticity
of the faCts, and so distressed was government that
they officially requested a suspension of belief, until
dispatches were received from Gen. Gage. No ad
vice is received yet from that quarter. In the mean
time frequent ministerial councils were held, with
out any conclusive determinations until yesterday,
when his majesty presided at one of them. The king
after having heard the news read, alked what mode
should be pursued to support the dignity of the na
tion, retrieve the honor of the British arms, and an
nihilate the American opposition ? Lord North re
plied, that there were 30,000 troops in Quebec and
Canada ready to march to Boston for Gen. Gage's
relief: that more men of war should be sent out,lnd
They have come to you with fair aigu^tt,, ^ have
refused to hear them ; they make the mod refpc&ful
remonstrances, you answer them with pains and pe
nalties; they know they ought to be free, you tell
them they mail be Haves. Is it then a wonder if they
fay in difpair, '' for the Jhort remainder of our lives WE
will be free !"--ls there any among your Lordships,
who in a situation similar to that which I have s
cribed, would not resolve the fame ?if there j
be such a one, I am sure he ought not to be hd..
" 10 bring the history down to the present scene.
Here are two armies in presence of each other ; ar
mies of brothers and countrymen; each dreading
the event, yet each feeling, that it is in the power of
the molt triffling accident, a private dispute, a drunk
en fray in any public lioufe in Boston; in short, a
nothing, to cause the sword to be drawn, and to plunge
the whole country into all the horrors of blood,flames
and parricide.
" In this dreadful moment, a set of men mo-e
wife and moderate than the rest, exert themselves to
bring us all to reason. They state their claims and
their grievances; nay, if any thing can be proved by
law and hiltory, they prove them. Tlrey propose
oblivion, they make the firft concessions ;-- we treat
them with contempt, we prefer poverty, blood, and
servitude, to wealth, happiness and liberty.
" My Lori s, 1 fhoulo think myfelf guilty of of
fering an infultto your Lordihips, if I presumed to
suppose there was any among you who could think
of what was expedient,when once it appeared what
was just.
'' I might otherwise have adverted to the very
formidable armament preparing by Spain ; but as
that argument ought to have no consideration with
your Lordships, 1 shall not suppose it would have a
ny, and for that reason will entirely reject it.
" What weight these few observations may have,
I don't know ; but„the candour,our Lordihips have
indulged me with, requires a confeffion on my part,
which may still lesson that weight. I must own I
am not pcrfonally disinterested..
" Ever since I was of an age to have any ambition
at al), my highest has been to serve my country in a
military capacity. If there was on earth an event I
dreaded, it was to fee this country so fitaatcdas to
make that profeffion incompatible with my duty as
a citizen.
" That period is, in my opinion, arrived; and I
have thought rayfelf bound to relinquish the hopes I
formed, by a re fignation, which appeared to me the
only method of avoiding the guilt, of enslaving my
country, and embruing my hands in the blood of
her sons.
In C ONGRE S S, July Is, 1775.
Resolved,
'HAT " be recommended to the inhabitants of all
I the united Englf Colonies in North- America, that ;
all the able bodied efraive men, between sixteen and fifty
years of age in each colony, immediately form themselves in
to regular companies of militia, to confft of one Captain,
two Lieutenants, one Erfgn, four Serjeants, four Corpo
rals, one Clerk, one Drummer, one Fifer, and about six
ty-eight Privates.
That the officers cf each company be chofa by the ref
peaive companies.
That each soldier befurnifoed with a good mufet, that
will carry an ounce ball, with a bayonet, feel ramrod,
worm, priming wire, and brufe fitted thereto, a cutting
sword or tomhawk, a cartridge box, that will contain
twenty-three rounds of cartridges, twelve flints and a
knapsack.
bhat the companies be formed into regiments or batta
lions officered with a Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, two Ma
jors, an Adjutant or Quarter Mader.
That all officers above the rank of a Captain be ap
pointed by their refteftive provincial Afrmblies or Con
ventions, or in their recejs, by the Committees' of Safety
appointed by said Affiemblies or Conventions.
d bat all officers be commifaned by the provincial as
semblies or conventions, or in their recess, by the committees
°ff a f et y appointed by said afemblies or conventions.
That aa the militia take proper care to acquire military
fill, and be well prepared for defence, by being each man
provided with one pound of good gun powder and four
pounds of ball fitted to his gun.
That one fourth part of the militia in every colony be
felefledfor minute men, of such perfas as are veiling to
enter into this necefdr, frvice,formed into companies and
battalions, and their officers chosen and commiffoned as
aforefaid, to ke ready on the foortef notice to march to any
place where their afifance may be required for the de
fence of their own or a neibbourirg colon,; and as these
minute men may eventually be called to action bfore the
whole body of the militia are ftfcientl, trained, it is „-
commended that a more particular and diligent attention be
paid to their inftru&ion in military discipline.
That such of the minute men, as desire it, be relieved by
new draughts, a; aforefaid, from the whole body ofthe
militia, once in four months.
As there are feme people, who from religious principles,
cannot bear arms in any case, this congrejs intend no vio
lence to their confidence, but earnefly recommend it to them
so contribute Lberall,, in this time f universal calamity,
a* t.i v ..uyuwy.ould nave pefitive orders to ftrze
provilion vcßHs fir the due supply of the navy and
lleobHrved that from the natural formati
°"i°' ','"" into Boston, with the precautions
taxen by tue general, there was no apprehensions of
any attach, for in fidit could not be Formed. Up
on this futile opinion, inltrudions were immediate
y ifpatched to Gage, to order the regulars from
Quebec and to march the militia of Canada,as well
as to obtain the necefiary supply of provisions by
Seizing tne American vessels at sea, or in the har
bours. To facilitate this accurfcd plan,the General
is to allure the officers of the King's determination
to promote them, and to Simulate the soldiers to ads
or butchery, their pay is to be encreafed-.-to which
purpose 5 o,c)ool. was sent off last night to Boston.
, The General has positive orders to destroy
tile magazines, to spike up the cannon, to order
the Riot aft to be read, and to set up the King's
standard immediately. What infatuation possesses
this nation ! iou and I, who know the strength of
America and the con folidated union ofits inhabi
tants, mull laugh at their.thieats and despise their
fallow schemes. But whilst they are fuming this
impracticable plan of extracting 30,000 troops from
Canada, they dread the arrival of the packet, be
cause, however they would dupe the credulous inha
bitants of England with fallacious contradidions of
the facts announced, they cannot help believing that
Gen. Gage fnd his army me even now either cut off
or ignommioufly constrained to retreat into the
cahle, or on board of the men of war.
" Such also is the terror of Administration, that
they have dispatched some of theNobility and Gen
try throughout England to contradict the Bolton
news, in order to quiet the landed Gentlemen, cajole
the manufacturing cities, and prevent the dreaded
effedion of the flocks. But alafs ! these are tempo
rary, ineffectual expedients--- for the next American
intelligence will arouse the supine landed and mann
faduring interest, and a vital stab will be given to
tlie funds. This nation has passed her meridian
splendor.---America, by her virtue and her numbers,
will permanently efablifh her rights, will be the
blessed means of extirpation of this most flagitious
Minidry, and of eftabaflied the Britilh Throne in
wisdom and clemency.
I his evening some of the principal Common
Council-men meet, revive and effectually equip the
Militia of London, which confix of 8000 men, in or
der to co-operate with the Americans, in forcing a
relinquiffiment of theprefent infernal politicks, and
in fullporting constitutional liberty throughout the
British dominions."