The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-06-26 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHIA, foe 14.
In CONGRESS, May 26, 1775.
To the oppressed Inhabitants of CANADA.
Friends and Countrymen,
ALARMED by the designs of an arbitraryMi
niftry, to extirpate the Rights and Liberties of
all America, a sense of common danger, conspired
with the dictates of humanity, in urging us to call
your Attention by our late Address to this very im
portant object.
Since the conclusion of the late war, we have been
happy in considering you as fellow fufferers with
us. As we were both intitled, by the bounty of an
indulgent Creator, to Freedom, and being both de,
voted by tie cruel edicts of a despotic Administration
to common ruin, we perceived the fate of the Pro
tenant and Catholic Colonies to be ibongly linked
together, and therefore invitedyou to join with us in
revolving to be free, and in rejecting with diidain
the fetters of llavery,however artfully poliffied.
We moll lincerely condole with you on the arrival
of that day) in the course of which the Sun could
not Arne on a single Freeman in all your extensive
dominion. Be assured that your unmerited degra-
dation has engaged the most unfeigned pity of your
Sifter Colonies : And we flatter ourselves you will
not, by tamely bearing the yoke, fuller that pity to
be luppianted by contempt.
When hardy attempts are made to deprive men
of rights bellowed by the Almighty, when avenues
are cut through the most solemn Compacts, for the
admission of depotifm ; when the plighted faith of
government ceases to give security to loyal and du
tiful Subjects; and when the infidions stratagems
and manoeuvres of peace become more terrible than
the most f.inguine operations of war, it is high time
for them to assert those rights, and with honest in
dignation oppole the torrent of oppression rushing in
upon them.
By the introdudion of your present form of go
vernment, or rather form of tyranny, you and your
wives and children are made Haves. You have no
thing that you can call your own, and all the fruits
of your labour and industry may be taken from you,
whenever an avaricious Governor and a rapacious
Council may incline to demand them. You are
liable by their edicts, to be transported into foreign
countries to fight battles in which you have no in
terest, and to spill your blood in conflicts, from which
neither honour or emolument can be derived : Nay
the enjoyment of your very Religion, on the present
system depends on a legislature, in Which you have
no Share, and over which you have no controul,
and your Priests are expoled to expulfiod, banish
ment, and ruin, whenever their weal h and posses
sions furnifh Sufficient temptation. They cannot be
sure that a virtuous Prince willalways fill the throne,
and should a wicked or a carclefs King concur with
a wicked Ministry, in extracting the ti eafure and
ilrength of your country, it is impossible to conceive
to what variety and to what extremes of wretched
ness you may, under the prelent eftabtilhment, be
reduced.—We are informed you have already been
called upon to waste your lives in a contett with us.
Should you, by a compliance in this inHance, assent
to your new establishment, and a war break out
with France, your wealth and your sons may be sent
to perilhin expeditions against their Elands in the
Weft-lndies.
It cannot be presumed, that these considerations
will have no weight with you, or that you are so loft
to all sense of honor.---We can never believe, that
the present race of Canadians are so degenerated as
to possess neither the spirit, the gallantry, or the
courage of their ancestors. You certainly will not
permit the infamy and disgrace of such pufillani-
Hiity to red on your own heads, and the conlequen
ces of it bn your children for ever.
We, for our parts, are determined to live free or
not at all, and are resolved that pollerity Ihall never
reoioach us with having brought Haves into the
^world.
Permit us again to repeat, that we are your friends,
not your enemies,and be not imposed upon by those
who may endeavour to create animosities. The
taking the fort and military stores at Ticonderoga
and Covn-Point, and the armed vessels on the
Lake, was dictated by the great law of felf-prefer
vation. They were intended to annoy us, and to
Cut erf that friendly intercoufe and communication
which has hitherto subsisted between you and us.
We hope it has given you no uneaHnefs, and you
may rely on our assurances, that these Colonies will
pursue no measures whatever, but such as friendship
and a regard for our mutual fafety and intcreft may
fugged.
As our concern for your welfare entitles us to
your friendfhip, we presume you will not, by doing
us injury, reduce us to the disagreeable necessity of
treating you as enemies.
We yet entertain hopes of your uniting with us
'n the defence of our common Liberty, and there is
yet reafoa to believe, that should we join in im
AS the greaxGovernor of the world,by his supreme
and universal Providence, Rot only conducts the
course of nature with unerring wisdom and rectitude,
but frequently influences the minds of men to serve
the wife and gracious purpoles of his providential
government ; and it being, at all times, our indif
penfible duty, devoutly to acknowledge his superin
tending Providence, especially in times of impend
ing danger, and public calamity, to revernce and
adore his immutable Justice, as well as to implore
his merciful Interposition for our deliverance.
ThisCoNGßEss, therefore, considering the present
critical,alarming and calamitous state of these Colo
nies, do earnestly recommend, that Thursday the
Twentieth day of 'July next, be observed by the In
habitants of all the English Colonies on this Conti
nent, as a day of public HUMILIATION, FAST
ING, and PRAYER, that we may with united
hearts and, voices, unfeignedly confefs and deplore
our many fins, and offer up our joint fuplications to
the all-wife, omnipotent and merciful disposer of all
events, humbly beseeching Him, to forgive our ini
quities, to remove our present ealamites, to avert
those desolating judgments with which we are
threatned, and to blels our rightful lovereign King
GEORGE, the Illd. and inspire him with wisdom
to difeern and pursue the true intereilof all his fub
jeds,---thlt a speedy end may be put to the civil
difeord between Great-Britain and the American
Colonies, without further effufion of blood, and
that the British nation may be influenced to regard
the things that belong to her peace, before they are hid from
her ges---that these colonies may be ever under the
care and protedion of a kind Providence, and be
prospered in all their in terefts---that the divine Bles
sing may descend and rest upon all oar civil Rulers,
and upon the Reprefen tati ves of the People in their
several Assemblies and Conventions-- that they may
be direded to wif- and effectual measures for pre
serving the union and securing the jult rights and
privilegesof the Colonies,---that virtue and true re
ligion may revive and flourish throughout our land,
---and that America may soon behold a gracious ia
terpofition of Heaven for the redrels of her many
grievances, the restoration of her invaded rights, a
reconciliation with the parent date, on terma consti
tutional and honourable to both, —and that her ci
vil and religious privileges may be secured to the
latelt posterity. And it is recommended to Christi
ans of ail Denominations to affable for public wor
ship, and to abstain from servile labour and recrea
tions on said day. By Order of the Congress,
JOHN H INCOCK, President.
A true copy, Charles Thomson, Secretary.
N EWYOR K, june zz.
ploring the attention of our Sovereign to the unme
rited and unparalleled oppressions of his American
Subjects, he will at length be undeceived, and for
bid a licentious Ministry any longer to riot in the
ruins of the Rights of Mankind.
A true Cop, from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Extras of a letter from a Gentleman in Carolina, to his
friend in New- York.
“ A vessel from Exeter brings advice, that the
Algerines had declared war against Great-Britain,
and deprived the Englilh Consul of his head. The
express puffed thro' Exeter jult as the vessel was
coming away."
ExtraA of a letter prom St. fohn's, Newfoundland, Ma,
30th, 1775, to his friend in this city.
'' Here we are Harving for bread and Hour, and
no hopes of redress, —and the ports in America be
ing shut up, we are at a loss what to do."
Yesterday, we hear General Haldiman, who, it is
reported, is re-called to England, arrived here from
Boston, and is on board the Asia man of war lying
in this harbour.
Wednesday last General Gage issued a Proclama
tion,requiring all persons in the town ofßofton who
were possessed of fpiritous liquors, or molasses de
signed to be made into rum, to make a return of the
quantity they were possessed of on or before Satur
day last, on penalty ofits being taken (Jeized) for
his Majesty's service. [Another jetch for plunder this.]
We hear that one Porter, an attorney of Salem,
was lately detected at Cohofs, in conveying a letter
from T. Gage to governor Charlton of Quebec, re
quiring his very good friends the Catholicks, may
be forthwith sent to assist him in cutting the throats
of all Heretics. The letter was found between the
soles of his (hoe. Porter in attempting to escape,
was (hot through ths back, and expired instantly.
The following resolutions are reported to have
passed in the Continental Congress at Philadelphia,
viz. immediately to strike a continental currency of
two millions of dollars. To raise 15,000 more men,
5000 of whom to be Rationed at New-York—That
Col. Washington was appointed commander in chief
of the American forces, and was going to Bolton
with 1000 rifle men.
WATERTOWN, June 19.
In CONGRESS, June iz, 1775.
CAMBRIDGE, June 22.
Last Friday Night a Detachment from our Army
began an Intrenchment on an Eminence below
Bunker-Hill, about a Mile to the Northward of the
Center of the Town of Charleftown. The enemy
appeared to be much alarmed on Saturday Morn
ing,when they discovered our Operations, and im
mediately begun a heavy Cannonading from a Bat
tery on Corps Hill, Boston, and from the Ships in
the Harbour. Our People, with little Loss, con
tinued to carry on their works till 10 o'Clock, P. M.
on Saturday, when they discovered a large Body of
the Enemy crossing Charles-River from Bolton.
They landed on a Point of Land about a Mile East
ward of our Intrenchment, and immediately dis
posed their Army for an Attack, previous to which
they set Fire tp the Town of Charleftown. It is
supposed the Enemy intended to attack us under
Cover of the Smoke from the buring Hcufes, the
Wind favoured them in such a Design ; while, on
the other Side, their Army was extending North
ward towards Miftick-River, with an apparent De
sign of surrounding our Men within the Works, &
of cutting off any Assistance intended for their Re
lief. They were however, in some Measure, coun
tera&ed in this Design, and drew their Army into
closer Order. As the Enemy approached, our Men
were not only exposed to the Attack ofa very nu
merous Musketry, but to the heavy Fire of the Bat
tery cn Corps-Hill, 4or 5 Men of War, several
aimed Boats or floating Batteries in Millick River,
and a Number of Field Pieces : Notwithflanding
which, our Troops within the Intrenchment, and at
a Breast Work without, fuflained the Enemy's At
tacks with real Bravery and Resolution, killed and
wounded great Numbers, and repulsed them several
Times ; and after bearing, for about 2 Hours, as
severe and heavy a Fire as perhaps ever was known,
and many having fired away all their Ammunition,
they were over- powered by Numbers, and obliged
to leave the Intrenchment, retreating about Sunset,
to a (mall Dillance over Char'ellowfo Neck.
Our Loss, from the best Information we can ob
tain, does not exceed 50 killed, and about 20 or 30
taken Prisoners.
The Town of Charleftown, supposed to contain
about 300 Dwelling-Houies, a great Number of
which were large and elegant, besides 150 or 200
other Buildings, are almoH all laid in Allies by the
Barbarity and wanton Cruelty of that infernal Vil
lian, Thomas Gage.
The Enemy yet remain in Possession of Charlef
town, and have erected Works for their Defence on
Bunker-Hill. It is said they have broughpover from.
Boden Part of their Light-Horse.
Our Troops continue in high Spirits. They are
fortifying a very high Hill, about a Mile and a half
from this Town, and within cannon Shot of the E
nemv on Bunker-Hill.
The jAlowing is a Copy of a Letter from a Person of
Credit, and is thought by many judicious PerJons to con
tain Accounts not far from the Truth.
Hingham, June 19.
" Yesterday I came out of Boston at 2 o'Clock
P. M I heard the Officers and Soldiers fay that they
were sure that they had a Thousand or more killed
and wounded ; that they were carrying the wound
ed Men from 4 o'Clock on Saturday until I came
away. General Howe commanded the Troops.
'1 hey buried their Dead at Charleftown. Among
the Dead was Major Pitcairn. A great many other
Officers are dead. There were 5000 Soldiers went
from Boston. The Soldiers and Officers exult very
much upon taking our Lines."
The Account of the Number of Troops which
came from Boston, as mentioned in the above Let
ter, is coroberated by the Observation of a Gentle
man at Chelsea, who saw them in the Boats, and
judged the Number to be near 5000.
It is reported that one of the Enemy's General
Officers is among the Slain, said to be either Howe
or Burgoyne.
In the night of Saturday the 3d inHani some young
men got into the public magazine in this city, in
tending to furnifh themselves with arms, but were
presently after surprised by the report of agun,which
was so artfully placed (said to be contrived by L--d
D e) that upon touching a firing which was in
their way, it went off, and wounded three persons,
but not mortally ; one of them is terribly hurt by
several small balls thatentered his arm and fhbulder;
another, by the loss of two fingers of his right hand,
rendered incapable of following his profeffion for
fubfiHence ; the other wounded very slightly. There
were two guns prepared for this horrid purpose, one
of which was brought cut next morning, and found
to be double charged. On Monday a Committee
was appointed of the Hon. House of Burgesses to ex
amine the date of the magazine, who have placed a
guard over it, till measures shall be concerted ferity
better security. »
WILLIAMSBURG, June 10.