The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1774-08-02 00:00:00, page 1

TUESDAY, August 2, 17%^ • /" THE [NUMBER 501.]
Connecticut §|h^ c ° U R A N ^
A N D HARTFORD
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
• Containing the Frelheft ADVIC ES,both FOREIGN and DOMESTIC.
The following Price was published tn -New-York, and
commabated to the Public in Hand- Bills,few of which
have ^enfent into this Colony.---The Printer of the
Connecticut Courant is therefore' desired to insert
it in his next, which will doubtless oblige many of
his Readers, and among the ref his very Humble Ser
vant, A. Z.
.To the CITIZENS of NEW-YORK,
:i On the present critical Situation of Affairs.
AA7ERE I neither a Philadelphian,a New-York
er, a Bostonian, nor even a native of this
continent, as a friend to the rights of mankind, I
should interest myfelf in the fate of America. Ame->
, ma must at present be considered as the principal,
drindeed the only remaining feat of liberty. Im
Corsica, Sweden, Poland, ihe has been borne down
by the direct hand of, violence ; and in our parent
country, Die is . fapp'd by corruption, todo aan
gerous a degree, that Ihe totters from the foundation,
and pniefs propp'd by the yirtu&and spirit of her
Colonies, Ihe muff inevitably fall to the ground. A
regular plan has been formed by the present court,
for the introduction of arbitrary power ;---this is no
declamation, and did the size of this paper admit of
it, I could prove the truth of the assertion by num
berless instances : The privileges, and indeed na
tural rights of the fubjeft, have been invaded in ^
ry part of the empire, one while by open force,ano
ther by cabal and the arts of corruption—-Even the
islands of Minorca, Jerley,Guerniey, have not been
protected by their infignificance, from the Icourge.
of tyranny.---Great Britain and Ireland have been
drained almost to the last farthing, not for any nati
onal putpofes, but to increase the influence of the
crown, in creating new placemen, penfioners,and of
course enemies to the public welfare, and liberty.
General warrants, violation of the rights of elec
tion, the disfranchifement of the proprietors of the
East India flock, murders committeed, murderers
pardoned, encouraged, rewarded, & the other overt
ads (of treason, I may fay) which the minifayhave
been guilty of against law, magna charta, and the
Englilh constitution, are so notorious, that it is al
most impertinent to mention them ; but there are
Other indications, or rather evidences of the temper
and views of the court, which ought not to be passed
over in silence and which must convince the fubjeAs
that they are to exped nothing but from their own
virtue and firmnefs.--- 4
Every writer in support of boundless prerogative,
every jacohite hillorian (the Humes, Guthries and
Smollet's) has been caressed, placed or pensioned:
Attacks have been made under the auspices of the
court, not only qn the revolution, and the principal
promoters of the revolution,- but a scheme has oeen
laid, and to the utmost of their power carried into
execution, to proscribe virtue herfelf, by subverting
the reputation of her brigheft models. I he, argue
thus ; if we can spread the perfuafon, that public virtue
never did exif in a human breaf that patri&tifm has been
in, all ages only a. mas for designing men ; wejball gain
the following point,we fall render mankind totally indif
fwent who are in office, who are not ; whether a Pitt or
aßute what maxims we rule by,what maxims we repu
diate, whether we, profefi those of an Alfred, or a Stuart,
will be amatter-of indifference to the public,if we can once
convince them, that their interefs ever have been, and
ew will be equally out of the qwfon.—^hen we have
thus defrayed all political confidence, we have reason to
fatter ourflves that the people will not be such fools as to
think of op,ftion, or refinance, but without giving
themfives any unnecessary trouble, submit to the yoke-cue
are, rearing for then,. To occomplifh th e se pious
purpo es, some fit instrument was to be fought and
found, some man of a fuihciently corrupt heart, to
qualify him for the talk. This inftruinent was
found in ascertain Sir John Dalrymple, (who in the
administration of Lord Rockingham had been turn
ed out of an important office which he held in Scot
land, for manifeft corru pt practices—-He was de
tached into France, and recommended by Lord
Mansfield, and another very great personage, to the
famous Duke D'Aiguillon; he, who had tram-
Open to all PARTIES—-not under the influence of. ANY.
pled on the few remaining laws of France, and ex
terminated their virtuous Parliaments,-,--The Duke
D'Aiguillon, with the candour (as this Dalrymple
tells us) inseparable from every minister of a great
King, catches the idea of our court, (and as might
be expected from so natural an ally) patronizes the
project and coigns to their agent, the key of the
depot des affaires etrangeres,* —Here.he sets himfelf to
work, to rummage, to garble,to defalcate, to forge,
---for without draining inferences, it is almost cer
tain that he did forge---at length he triumphantly
sallies forth, with the teftimon^sy a$ he hopes to
persuade us, of the non-exiftance of human virtue,
with proofs that her brighter patterns were.knaves
and hypocrites. It would be easy (tho' here might
be thought tedious) to overturn the whole founda
tion, or at lead defeat the intended cifeas of this
abominable production ;-—but I cannot help re
marking, that were the proofs of Sydney & Russel's
being traytoys irrefragable, he who should produce
them, would be held in abhorrence by every friend
to humanity; t
It is necessary that some models of human virtue
Ihould be held up to our imitation : He-who would
remove from our. fight these few models which histo
ry has left to us, would check every noble ardour of
the foul,as it would then appear madness to attempt
attaining wharis incompatible with bur nature. It
may now perhaps be alked, what can be : the intenti
on (in an address to the citizens cf New-York,)of so
long a preamble on the conduce * the spirit of the
court, in matters which do not particularly relate to
America. I will explain to you my intention ; it
is to convince you, that when a spirit so hoffite to
general liberty prevails, in those who have the pow
er at home, you have only to hope for redress of
grievances from the united virtue & firmnefs of the
colonies; that the idea of proceeding by petition
and remonstrance, is the molt ridiculous idea that e
ver entered into weak heads. Can you seriously
think your.petitions would have any effect at this
instant, when the confidence and temerity of the
ministry are mounted to so much higher a pitch than,
we have hitherto seen them? Can you seriously think
that yourpetitions would operate more strongly on
so firmly a fixed minister, back'd by a vast majority in
parliament, than the petition's of the city of London,
and the principal counties of England, with the firft
men of property and character, and a considerable
number of the members at their head did on a mi
nister, less firmly seated ; a minister, riot only less
firmly seated, but perhaps a much less bold and de
termined foe to liberty, than the present.---It is no
calumny, it is no exaggeration to fay, that Lord
North is a determined foe to liberty.---He is so by
inheritance ; defeended from one of the most for
ward & active instruments of tyranny under Charles
the second; every speech, every action of his life,
demonitrates him to be the genuine offspring-On
the brave Corsicans he never bellowed a gentler
Epithet than rebels and traitors.—l he mention or
American liberties, the supposition that they had
any liberties, always threw him into a frenzy of
rage.---foaming at the mouth, and with eyes dart
ing from their lockets, He has denounced, or ra
ther vomited forth eternal war against you and your
posterity. Hehas had t'>e arrogance, the madness
to declare in the open senate, that he never would
receive, never hear any petitions from America, un
til he had her at his feet.
When it is considered that this avowed foe, and
persecutor of America; this fur,ious fanatick in des
potism, is now become the omnipotent miniller, I
must repeat, that the idea of redressing grievances
by petition and remonstrance,is the moll contempti
ble idea, that ever entered into weak heads. It is
indeed so very contemptible, that we cannot
suppose those who adopt it are in earned ; it is
impossible not to fufpefl them of sinister designs.
---They must mean, under the cloak of coolness
and mo'der^ioQo^eckj^i^^
• Office of records offoreign affairs.
requisite at this jundlure, and to prevent the only
possible means of redress ; they must mean to re
commend themselves to the future favour of your
oppreffbrL---They perhaps already devour in their
minds, contrails, salaries, und penfions,,for which,
(if the ministry fueceed) funds will be immediately
established out of the fruits of your horieft labour
= and industry.—They mutt be confeious that all the
force and troops they can employ, will not effect
their purposes, unless the corruption of your own
members powerfully co-operatesr-Upon the whole,
considering the critical fituatioh of affairs, the im
pending ruin over Our heads, I cannot help being a
good deal surprised and somewhat shocked, at the
conduct of this city--^fs this a time to amuse your
selves with narrow.local politicks and disputes ? Is
this a time, when the dearest interests of yourselves,
of posterity, and of mankind are at flake, (for -the
cause of liberty is the cause of mankihd) ? Is this a
time I fay, to indulge your little prej udices;jealouf
ies, and personal piques ? For fame citizens, dis
card all such difgraceful fentinrents ; aflame a more
rioble character; save yourselves from th^rinfamy
which threatens you ; let not#the common ruin be
laid to your charge. For m, own part, I nei
ther pretend to approve nor condemn the mea
sure which the tominittee hath lately thought pro
per to censure.^-But this I will pretend to fay, that
the publishing the censure, may have most pernici
ous consequences ; it may,, by propagating the opi
nion of divisions. Harting up in this leading capital,
repress the ardonP of your own counties, of the other
colonies, difeourage your friends at home, and give
frefh vigour to your enemies ; ,and (the haste with
which the publishing this censure was pressed, with
the profeffed intention of- transmitting it by the
packet) gives, I must confefs, a very suspicious air
to its authors--the design could not be good. It
has already furnifhed matter of triumph to the ene
mies of liberty. One man in particular (he is in
deed an official man, not a native of this country,
and remarkable for .his alacrity in political wicked
ness) sings te deum, lam told, in all companies on
this occasion, considering the victory as infired to
his idol difpotifm.—There are now some further
consequences, to be apprehended from the present
conduct of this city, which perhaps have not occured
to you, and which therefore I Ihall beg leave to offer
to your consideration—ls it not to be apprehended
that the Bostonians, when they turn their eyes and
address their prayers to you, as a leading people of
America, for fuccour in their diilrefs ; and when in
fteadof the vigour & noble spirit they have reason to
expert from your former exertions, they fee nothing
but backwardness,- frivolous delays, and (as to them
it will appear) total dearth of spirit ; is it not to be
apprehended, that having no profpe& of relief, they
may grow desperate ? And that their despair, in.
conjunction with the corruption of individuals among
themselves, (for you may be assured that General
Gage has unlimited credit on the treasury for pur
poses of corruption) may drive them into the wiffi'd
for fatal concession ; the general of American bondage Seal
—The admission of the right of taxing you without your
own consent ? Is it not to be expected, that the in
stant they have divested themselves of the character
of freemen and taken up that of Haves, they will
become the favourite colony of the court ? That it
will then be difeovered that they have been misre
presented ? That they had indeed for some time de
luded by a few factious demagogues,but thatin faQ,
they were a loyal dutiful and affectionate people ?
--.-This will be the language affected by the Gene
ral, and this will the ministry oftentatieufly affect to
believe.---When they have thus commuted the cha
racter of freemen for that of Haves, will they not
act the part natural to Haves? Be the*ready instru
ments for reducing others to the fame situation with
themselves ? And when a people so potent in num
bers and other refpe&s as New-England, is thrown
into the scale of the military,! am at alofs to know
what means on this continent can be devised for re.
finance. (See last Page.)