The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1778-01-27 00:00:00, page 2

Tuthe rr.terfk of the N..:/ fcasEydAttfrii.
A FRE NOH Gentleman has lately favoured me
with a fight of.a collects 1 of hittorical and politi
cal Letters to his friends in France. I have obtained
his confer to tranfr.te and publiffi a few of them. If
the following translation or one of them, which is of a
modern date, Should prove acceptable «byoor readers, I
Shall fend you feme tnore. Tie author of them has been'
near two years in America, and has been introduced to
the firft characters on the Continent. His rtal name
mud be a secret- The name by which he h^s chosen
to Fekauwii to the publ.c will be seen in the conciufion
'of the ^nclofed loner. From yours,
°H. P %
from the original Litters of Monsieur DE LISLE,
trudiated into English,
MoYriftown, New-Jersey, Jure 9, 1777°
Mv dear Count,
THE British court I find, still persevere in their
mad attempt to cannier -his country., A rein
forcemcnt of fifteen undred troops have lately arrived
in New York ; and General Howe, at the 1 ead of ten
thoufin&men at Eruniwick in Mew jersey. is preparing
to epen a campaign which is to end we are told, in
the total reduction of all America to the crown of
Britain.,
It is unnecessary to faya word of the fyirit and num
bers of the people of America of the r attachment
to their liberty —of the extent and nature of their
Country —of their resources—and of the interest all
the powers in Europe have in maintaining the indepen
dence of the American States-- to ihew toe absolute im
pia&icabfityofGreat Britain's ever fubdumg this doui)-
try. I Ihould not difp hr of the final fuceefs of the
Americans in the pretent war, if they were atthis time
expending neir lad pound of powder dnd their last
ounce of itail.---Defection would supply the wmt of
every thing. No force can fabdife the hearts of these
people'; and nine tenths of rhefe lam sure are deter
mined in their opposition to the goverment of Britain,
ft is inconceivable to fed the exertions of these young
fgoublican States. They have done wonders. All the
force of the mo4a:r.h rr of Britain in de last war with
Induce did not pre dice from the whole continent of
America half the tfcruons which we sometimes fee
herein single State , and yet thele republics have as
yes put fort i but a small part of their ffrength. I ex
ped to tee ther. before t hecloie ofthe war upona foot
ing with t.e olded monarchies in Eur pe---a^d if I was
wt foe that a love A conquest was incompa ible with
a loveof liberty, 1 should think the r wou.d make Lome
of them trjnfle from their foundations.
I hurry on "om +• to inform ou. that every
part 0 fhc ''o 1 Brita^ and of her pene
,:.!;'and arn " r er of this country, and
upthe abfohtre imp^. ^muy of con meting it -Why has
tiiecourt of Brita.n meanly folic Ad all the courts of
Europe to withhold rd of all kind; from the Ameri
cans? Way has ihe bought up twenty thousand
foreigners to a. ft mh e reduction of Araer ca ?
Why did she lend an rmy of forty thousand men across
the ;cean for that purpose last year ? -Why did the
f .' of Britain proclaim a fad and call upon the
A..111,g0t, to enter into an :lliance wth him, to arift
in conquering :is reblljous sub efts ?--- Surel\ r all this
has been done because they dreaded the power and re
sources of America.
I believe in no war with the powerful monarchy of
France did Britain ever negociate with mo / pence
fto&p more for fore gn alliances—-lie more tor internal
flipport---or faft and pray with more seeming devotion
than in the prefect war with America. An uninform
ed fpedator, from a view of.thefe things would sup
pose that the only ob eel of Britain in the prosecution
of the war, was not to suppress a rebellion in Ameri
ca, but to defend herfelf from being subjugated by her
American Colonies.
But the condua ofher Generals in America is all &f
atfrce with the condu& of the court. Read their let
ters to the British ministry. Obfcrve with what cauti
on they land---how slowly they advance-arid bow
circumrpectly they march thro' this country. Their
modes or attack and defence in all the'r battles and
ftjrmifhes with the Americans from theirownaccennts
of them, fcwthat they are aware of the fkili and fear
thecodrage of their gcneralsand armies. Their strata
gem; (of which they boait) conieis that they are contend
ing w;.th a regular'army and not with an undife pined
mob. Even tncif&buft of victory '4.id the high enco
miums they publilh of the gallant behaviour pftheir offi
cers and foldi^s declare ti„it they tight a formidable
enemy. Tjpinhumanityofthe'rgenohb-- the intoleuce
pf their officers—and the rancour of their foMiets to
wyds the Americans are dltelimonies of the hrehgth
ofthisconarf. They indicate hatred which can only
be ewcifed towards equals or fitperi^rs. The exchange
of let;eri and prfoners between the Hruifh and Ameri
can generals are further acknowledgments on the behalf
of the for ner. of the liability of the power from whence
the I rod derive the r authority. In fpiteof all the pains
she British rr ?ueril;h:ve Taken to destroy the credit of
the p;pyr m >ney emiuel by the Congress they have,
given a fm^ion to it's Validity by tending it out from
New York to lupport their prifond amohgthe Arrcri
cins. -Tie indiicriminate ravages to which the pro
fe'@ royaliUs or tories are exposed incommon with tle
rcpi he ins or whigs fh_w thy the ortdharmy believe
wat a greatmi ority of the people of American orpofed
9 them, gudtlAall pro eniom of attachment to them
SRthypfpVcal v^ inAzLLrfy *0 rive ,rc&d*,
Lut tir- ^ruiiri get.urals have gu„emiLyroier id dec r..>g
Iv their cuiductthat the Americans art inviicd.k.
They have in fribe muafure urenn down then arms as
uteieis in the prefers cohirover;y and h.Ve aturcpi^d to
fuLdue their cicn its by the perfidious arts of a court.
They hdveatien pled to furprile tie Conprcis into a
r,egociation unl, set the purpose of deceiving rl cro.
They have pill lifted proebmathw^ for the e:,ccrr, pe
rcent of deiertion in the army and de eciion afaorg the
citizens of An.er±a ; Tiey hawhired printers to tra
duce the Congrets and army ; and to cun plete all they
have trade and dueirpted to circulate largeytun,titles of
counterfeit Continental money ^mong the Americans ;
aiming thereby at ode Now to cut their sinews of war.
Ti eir folly in this maii^tTvre exceeded t heir villainy ;
for they weekly advertised their money for dniritution,
in a New York paper.
Jam not id fangume as some pfmy friends, as to the
iliuc of the preient campaign. , tit I rest Lti^hed at all
times, that the loi< of .Ifaille, or a town will detrad.
nothing he iby from tle An ericans; and that the ac
quihtiun di victories and territory will serve only is
weal en General Howe'safmy and accil rate the period
When Anierica shall eftal 1 sh her freedom and indepen
dance upon the permanent foundation oipullic virtue
and military knowledge.-
l have the I ohour to Le, my dear Courit with the
mod perfect theem;
Your most affeeioqate friend and
Molt humble servant
De LISLE.
__„fy<¥^^«Fl ^^ ff,ft':Wmi - .
For the CONNECTICUT COURANT.
OL R enemies ate upon the exertion, 'attempting
with open force to f bdne out armies and by
secret artifice and intrigue to undermine the balls of
our Independence thereby to sub ugare us 10 the molt
licentious power and arl itrary tyrant ; mid it be
hoves us to call at out and wifely em u.re n hat the de
fers are in our political and military Iyitems; and
what will be the proper remedies ?
Our cOniinentaj army is not tilled --Our militia not
well arranged or equipped-- An ideal Icarcity of the
neceifaries of life pr< pagated, when far from being
real, whild a vail plenty of money is circulating in ail
the dates.--T,,e id confe juences which naturally flow
from Inch a hate of things is obvious to every one:
Prom t-tie hrft arifes.tue necehity of often calling out
the militia-- from the fecend, it comes to pah, tha the
calling out of tie militia in alarms is lets effectual nr
the lipid more extensively pre udiciil to agricul
ture at home, than otherwise it might le. From the
tW,o aft viz. the ideal Icirchy. of necedhries, Ic. and
the p tentioufnefs of c.reflating csih the avaricious are
furnished with arguments lor extorting exurl itant pri
ces toctheir commodities-- -and the secret emiffari^ of
§ tyranny emp.o md amongst is with the means of im
percepidbly undermining a^d fatally dabbing the pub
lic credi of the continent.
It it -s necehary to our fafety that we have an army
in the field ? it it is neceT-ry in order to our having
an army in toefie d, that the n^it e railed equipped
paid vi lulled, covered and clad ? And if these things
cannot le effe< edand procured without money, and if
money isefiedhial forthelepurpofes only in proportion to
its value or credit the courted on is Striking,y ciofe
between our iatety ar.d the cic-ft of cur money the
failure 0. the latter can't long proceed the overthrown
of the former.
Having in short pointed out the great source of the
public evils, from whence almost every oh.er mfrhief
proceeds, I will spend a few thoughts on the remedy
And here it will be little conioiation to a patient
whole d f rdur thro' long ncgletf of proper means, had
become inveterate to tail him what would have reel
proper and how easily he might have seen cured in
Inch and Inch Rages of the difierrper when his case
calls for an efte ual remedy in the } resent crisis. Man
kind in general are induced to tal.e the fieldfrom no
tires of in&eft or fear, thoughfoonor has a ^it ^ in
fluence on the soldier in,the field. When a folder is
called upon to inlift he views himfelf as an individual
contrasting with the public, and his £rft enquire is.
What ihali 1 gain by it ? When dangers &e eminent
and the enemy approaching our feT add wings 10 cur
feet we fly to armsand rush imo battle as the ncce Ti
ry means of defenceand fafety ; but when danger 0 re
moved at a distance our fears abate and recent inoppe
rative to move to arms. Wren the firm proposed for
the encouragement of thefoldier to infid is inadequate.'
-either through 2 deficiency in quantity or value, co tte
duties and perils of the feroeej i.e will rceA it,-----
Again men are often influenced aimed ^ much by
oeir comparative advantages as by the 4 ; red ones. A
Soldier will be discouraged about entering imo rl e de
vice, altho' lie may make as mrch there as 1e couldcf.
home, if he fees others getting-more at home, tin he
does in the4ervice.,
I come now to the guehron. writ fh.{| be done in
respect to filling the continental army ? Tne answer is
e*fy and before its given afcipiteFm f:e r g; r d 6 f
every one. The encuuraremcat mud be a^emate
the Service all circumbancos confid^cd and r, on u.'il
be found to le the fame now th t e'er they v
There is a n' tproportion beiween a fuhbers p.y and
ether things <- The i^&Chant t es rmortnd'nx me
chanic are all cemented to receive rite 0, ft, f fob
dred per cent, profit upon Ue produce of the r mo
tive occupations for no other r# u.m, as they lay a
to pre\e. ttheir I eing devoured hr me rnqih r; v et
against railing the pay of ri c army ri ev have inf ?e A
•^w^ectioito. FQhfo it Will tend tu dLUreCic.ee th^
°t,'- ~<.f<-nd;: i" ;,,;. co;.e lor-of do fg A-J
1 nice., io' long,} . in.tm I^ort ('l. L i. wh!
1 < as muchoUlct p r p .,rti nu ,1 present. I 1 J il^
bre dtkeo erii.ro mu t,) c m.fons iicy mmabri
Lit why trey c\„l npp), n other c<te asoscll as 4
e urgfesti lie rm? i tin unable to con pre! end i
1 c Fldieris imitiedio tittle h«s his warns* arid fr<
Rclir.gs3; will a;< tl er non. In ihert. Fflouf hoi*.
'y"'H' tee country muff enter tuny ixto tie ipri of
t;eirJciu contained in L^<,u &' ions and rc&.ce eve
ry ringi pna par with the pay of ti e army idr auk
yante vhepvofrie army p ft us gradii tis m ^uJ
heps wila the rife of Other things. R.
In CONGRESS, November 17, 1777..
C'ONGRIiSS having agreed up n a plan
A of confederacy for lecuring the live-,
dom, lovereignty and independence of the
united States ; authentic copies are nov,
transmitted for the consideration of the rc
fpr<%ve legi(l,iture.
The butixefs equally intricate and iru
ponant, has in its progefs been attended
with uncommon embartalfmenn and dela; -
wh ch the mt ft anxious lebcitude and per
il ventg diligence er old nor prevent. Tc
form a permdirait t^ton, accommodated iu
the opinion and wishes of the delates of Io
many flares, differing ;m habits, prod%e,
chrome ,€e and intend police, was found
to be a work, whii h nothing but time arid
refledior, conipiring with a difpofitron to
conciliate, touid mature and accomplish,
Ila diy is it to be expected, that any
plan, in the variety of provisions efifent ial to
our uniun, should exactly corn fpond with
the maxims and political views of every
particular Rate. Let it be remarked, that
after the most careful inquiry, and the ful
'elf information, this is proposed as the belt
winch could be adapted to the circumflances
of all; and as that alone, which affords a
ny tolerable profped of a general ratifi
cation.
Permit us then tqrneftlv to recommend
these articles to the immediate and dilpaf-'
fionate attenton of die legislatures of the re-
Ipeclive Rates Let them be candidly re
viewed under a teble of rhe difficulty of
combining in one general fyflem/thc vari
ous fentitnents ad mteieft of a continent,
divided into so many lovereigh ard inde
pendent communities --under a conviction
of the ablolute necessity of uniting all our
councils and all out strength to mamiainand
defend onr common liberties. Let them be
exan.ined with a liberality becoming Me
thren and lellow-citizens, surrounded by
the fame imminent dangers conrerding for
toe lame illuttiious prize, and deeply in
terfiled in being forever bound and connec
ted together by ties the most inrmatc and
indissoluble. And finally let them be ad-,
justed with the temper and magnanimity of
wife and patriotic legislators, n ho while t he y
'are concerned fur tie pro Iperity of their
own immediate cuTfe, are capable pf riling
superior to local attachments, when they
may be incompatible with the fatty, hap
pintfs and glory of the general co^ederaev.
We have reason to regret the time, which
tas clapfcd in preparing this plan for cor.-
hde t ation. With additional Solicitude, we
look forward to that, which mull be necef
larily form before it can be ratified, Every
•motive loudly c^lis upon us to 4aUcn its
tonclufo^--More than any other c.unh'd< r/<
troll - it will coiHuund our Torergu eremic--
d^'E '' lC flagitious practices of rhe difaf
feckd ilren^thcn and confirm pur frit^.-
fop!>>G onr public credit--- reftoit; the values
ot our m me^.-cnable us to mriinuin our
fleets and armies, and ado weght and r< heft
to @r cooecds at hope, and to our treaur#
amend. ,in Ih^rt, &s fal^tary rmc^furr ran
no forger be deferred. Itkerns<fE ntial ti
our very cxid^e as 2 free people; ard
with rot it, we ohv fiion bid adieu to jrrv
poGuroe, to h%-4y and ladty---|>hrn2 A.
w 4 riir+<n the pitlrce <4 o^i (cole, anti the
fu^rov of our Almighty Crea or, vifibiy
iu tp tc r ^hn o 1 r protecbon. we have ;eatoia
ic ?<„e.<% d- ^ a ^romAc de^ caJmee on Lis