The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-11-27 00:00:00, page 4

NARRATIV E of Co'ond Ethan Allan's
treatme £ during bis Captivity.
(Concluded.)
Til'S was a bitter Broke to the enemy, but their
pride would not permit them to befit te but that they
could vanquish the country, and as a fp^cimen of their
arrogancy, I shall insert Gen. Burgoyne's
PROCLAMATION.
" By John Burgoyne, Esq; Lieutenant General of his
Maj r (ty's armies in America, Colonel of thefyeen's
tegiment of l ; ght dragoons, Governor of fort Wil-
Pam in North-Britain, one of the Representatives of
the Commons of Great-Britain in Parliament, and
commanding an army and fleet employed On an ex
pedition from Canada, &C. &c. &c.
" THE forces entrusted to my command are design
ed to ad in concert, and upon a common principle,
with the numerous armies and fleets which already dif
phy in every quarter of America, the power, the juf
tire, and when properly fought, the mercy of the
K^^
" The cause in which the British arms are thus ex
erted, applies to the most affeding imerefts of the hu
man heart ; and the military servants of the crown, at
firft called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the
rights of the confiitution, now combine with love of
their country, and duty to their Ibvereign, the other
extensive incitements which spring from a due sense of
tiie general privileges of mankind. To the eyes and
ears of the temperate part of the public, and to the
breasts of (offering thousands in the provinces, be the
melancholy appeal, whether the present unnatural rebel
lion has not been made a foundation for the compleateß
system of tyranny that ever God in his displeasure,
fuffered for a time to be exetcifed over a froward and
hubborn generation.
" Arbitrary imprisonment, confifeation of property,
perfection and torture, unprecedented in the inquisi
tions of the Romifh church, are among the palpable
enormities that verify the affirmative. These are in
fliAed by Afßmblies and Committees, who dare to
profefs themselves friends to liberty, upon the most
quiet fubjeds, without diftindion of age or sex, for
the sole crime, often for the foie suspicion, of having
adhered in principle to the government under which
they were born, and to which by every tie, divine
and human, they owe allegiance. To consummate these
Locking proceedings, the profanation of religion is ad
ded to the most profligate profiitution of common rea
son; the consciences of men are set at nought; and
multitudes are compelled not only to bear arms, but al
Io to swear fubfedion to an usurpation they abhor.
" Animated by these considerations; at the head of
troops in the full powers of health, discipline, and va
lour; determined to Strike where net effary, and anxious
to spare where pofhble, 1 by these presents invite and
exhort all perlons, in all places where the progress of
this army may point,—and by the blessing of God I
will extend it far, —to maintain fach a conduct as may
juftify me in protecting their lands, habitations, and fa
milies. The intention of this address is to hold forth
security, not depredation to the country.
" To those whom spirit and principle my induce to
partake the glorous talk of redeeming their countrymen
from dungeons, and re-establishing the blessings of le
gal government, 1 offer encouragement and employment;
and upon the firft intelligence of their associations 1
will find means to assist their undertakings. Theda
meftic, the industrious, the infirm, and even the timid
inhabitants, 1 am desirous to prote&, provided they
remain quietly at their hcules ; that they do not fuffer
their cattle to be removed, nor their corn or forage to
be ferreted or destroyed; that they do not break up their
bridges or roads ; nor by any other act, directly or in
direaiy, endeavour to obfiru& the operations of the
Kng's troops, or fpp'y or assist those of the enemy.
" Every species of provjfion brought to my camp,
will be paid for at an equitable rate, and in solid coin.
" In confcioufneis of chriliianity, my royal maker's
clemency, and the honour of foldierfhip, I have dwelt
upon this invitation, and wilhed for more persuasive
terms to give it impression: And let not people be led
to disregard it, by considering their diflance from the
immediate filiation of my camp. I have but to
give flietch to the Indian forces under my direction, and
they amount to thousands, to overtake the hardened
enemies of Great Britain and America ; I confider them
the fame wherever they may lurk.
" If notwithstanding these endeavours, and sincere
inclinations to effect them, the phrenfy of hostility
should remain, I trull 1 shall hand acquitted in the eyes
of God and men, in denouncing and executing the
vengeance of the Bate against the wilful outcasts.
The messengers of justice and of wrath await them in
the field ; and deveflation, famine, and every conco
mitant horror that a reluflant but indispensable prose
cution of military duty must occasion, will bar the
way to their return.
" Camp near. Ticonderoga, qth July, 1777.
J. BURGOYNE.
" By order of his Excellency the Lieut. General,
Robert Kingfion, Secretary.
General Burgoyne was still the toast, and the leverities
towards the prisoners were in great measure increased
er diminished, in proportion to the expedition of con-
PHILADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by JOHN DUNLAP, in Market-street,
No sooner had the knowledge of this interefling and
mighty event reached his Most Christian Majesty, who
in Europe mines with a superior luflre in goodness, poli
cy and arms, but the illuftriou^ potentate, auspiciously
influenced by Heaven to promote the reciprocal interest
and happiness of the ancient kind^ m of France, and the
new and rising Bates of America, puffed the great and
decisive decree, that the United States of America,
should be free and independent.
Vaunt no more, Old England ! confider you are but
an Bland ! and that your power has been continued
longer then the exercise of your humanity. Order
your broken and vanquished battalions to retire from
America, the feene of your cruelties. Go home and
repent in dust and lackcloth for your aggravated crimes.
The cries of bereaved parents, widows, and orphan^
reach the heavens, and you are abominated by every
friend to America. Take your friends the tories with
you, and be gone, and drink deep of the cup of hnmiliat
tion. Make peace with the princes of the house of Bour
bon, for you are in no condition to wage war with them.
Your veteran soldiers are fallen in America, and your
glory is departed. Be quiet and pay your debts, espe
cially for the hire of the Hessians. There is no other
way for you to get into credit again but by reformation
and plain honesty, which you have despised, for your
power is by no means fufficient to support your vanity.
I have had opportunity to fee a great deal of it, and
felt its severe effe&s, and learned lessons of wisdom and
policy, when I wore your heavy irons, and bore your
bitter revihngs and reproaches. I have something of a
(mattering of philosophy, and understand human nature
in all its stages tolerable well ; am thoroughly acquainted
with your national crimes, and assure you that they
not only cry aloud for Heaven's vengeance, but excite
mankind ro rife up against you. Virtue, wisdom and
policy, are in a national sense always connected with
power, or in other words, power is their offspring,
and such power as is not directed by virtue, wisdom
and policy, never fails finally to destroy itfelf as
yours has done.—lt is so in the nature of things, and
unfit that it mould be otherwise ; for if it was not so
vanity, injustice, and oppression, might reign triumph^
ant for ever. I know you have individuals, who still
regain their virtue, and consequently their honour and
humanity. Ibofe I really pity, as they mult more or
lets fuffer in the calamity, in which the nation is plung
ed headlong; but as a nation I hate and despise you.
My affections are Frenchified.—l glory in Louis the
sixteenth, the generous and powerful ally of these
States; am fond of a conneaion with so enterprizing
learned, polite, courteous, and commercial a nation'
and am fare that I express the Entiments and feelings of
all the friends to the present Revolution. I begin to
learn the breach tongue, and recommend it to my coun
trymen before Hebrew, Greek or Latin, (provided but
one of them only are to be attended to) for the trade and
commerce of these States in future must inevitably fhift
its channel from England to France, Spain, and Portu
gal ; and therefore the flatefman, politician and merch
ant, need be acquainted with their several languages
particularly the French, which is much in vogue in
most parts of Europe. Nothing could have served so
effectually to illuminate, pol,ffi, and enrich these States
as the present Revolution, as well as preserve their li
berty.—Mankind are naturally too national, even to the
degree of bigotry ; and commercial intercourse with
foreign nations has a great and necessary tendency to
improve mankind, and erase the fuperftitien of the &nd
by acquainting them that human nature, policy and in
terest, are the fame in all nations, and at the fame time
they are bartering commodities for the conveniences and
happiness of each nation, they may reciprocally ex
change such part of their custo ms and manners as may
bebeneficial, and learn to extend charity and good,
will to the whole world of mankind.
1 was confined in the Provott gaol 'at New-York the
twenty-fixtb day of August, and continued there to the
third day of May, 1778, when 1 was taken out under
guard, and conduced to a sloop in the harbour at New-
York, in which 1 was guarded to Staten-Island, to Gen.
Campbells quarters, where I was admitted to eat and
drink with the General, and several other of the Bri
tish field officers, and treated for two days in a polite
manner. As I was drinking wine with them one even
ing, I made an observation on my transition from the
Provost-criminals to the company of gentlemen, ad-
quest. His very oflentatious proclamation was in the
hand and mouth of most of the soldiery, especially the
tones, and from it, their faith was raised to assurance.
I with my countrymen in general could but have an
idea of the assuming tyranny, and haughty, malevolent
and insolent behaviour of the enemy at that time; and
from thence difeern the intolerable calamities which this
country have extricated themselves from by their public
fpirtednefs and bravery.
The downfall of general Burgoyne, and surrender of
his army, dallied the aspiring hopes and expeditions
of the enemy, and brought low the imperious spirit of
an opulent, puissant and haughty nation, and made the
tories bite the ground with anguiffi, exalted the valour
of the free-born sons of America, and raised their fame
and that of their brave commanders to the clouds, and
immortalized general Gates with laurels of eternal du
ration.
I soon fell into company with Col. Shelden, (of the
light horse) who in a polite and obliging manner, ac
companied me to head-quarters, Valley Forge where
I was courteously received by Gen. Washington, with
peculiar marks of his approbation and erieem and was
introduced to most of the Generals and many of th^
principal officers of the army, who treated me with
refpe&, and after having offered General Wafhinaton
my further service, in behalf of nay country, as soon
as my health (which was very much impared) would
admit, and obtained his licence to return home, I took
my leave of his Excellency, and let out from' Valley
Forge with Gen. Gates and his suite for Fish-Kill where
we arrived the latter end of May. l n this tour the
General was pleated to treat me with the familiarity of a
companion, and the generefity of a lord, and r o him I
made known some linking circumflances which occur
red in the course of my captivity.
I then bid farewel to my noble General and the gen
tlemen of his retinue, and let out for Benning on, the
capital of the Green Mountain Boys, where I arrived
the evening of the last day of May to their great fur
prize; for I was to them as one rose from the d^ad, and
now both their joy and mine was complete. Three
cannon were fired that evening, and ae X t morning Col.
Hetrick gave orders, and fourteen more were ditcharg
ed, welcoming me to Bennington, my u fa,l place of
abode; thirteen for the Unfed States, and one for v o u n^
Vermont.
After this ceremony was ended we moved the flowing
bowl, and rural felicity, sweetened with friendship,
glowed in each countenance, and with loyal healths to
the rising States of America, concluded that evening,
and with the fame loyal spirit, I now conclude my Nar
rative.
10 BE EXCHANGED,
For a Plantation with improvements within twelve
mhes of Philadelphia, or for a good House in said
city,
A d A SUABLE Plantation, situate near the Crof#
h Koans, Ne^London township, Chester county,
containing about two hundred and twenty acres, about
one half cleared, the remainder well timbered wood
land, the whole under good fence. There are about
forty-ftve acres of excellent bottom and watered meadow
already made, and fifteen acres more may be made at a
very Imall expynce ; White-clay Creek runs through
the bottom meadow, and the bank is watered by other
nevr•-taping thm ims.There are on the premises a good
two story dselh&g.houfe with four rooms on a floor, a
k "°"'"' * w °" ° f excellent water at the door,
barn, good fabling, two large frame hay barrack;
^T: Y ^ ? n > the m ^° w> a thrivin g orchard
^,rd/nut tree;, a Kitchen garden, cyder
n htiute eleven miles from the Head of
Uven from Newark, twelve from Christiana Bridge,
seventeen from Wilmington, where there is a rea^
fate for every article of produce. It i s only half a mile
from a grrtt and fi w mill, handy to several others,
two m: es distant from New. London Meeting-house.
Ihe premifa may be entered on the z s tb of March
w"i'^‘' 1 "'" of the '" scriber in Frent-ftreet, near
Walnut-rtf eet, Philadelphia.'
. WILLIAM MILLER.
N. B. There is a small Plantation, containing about
orty five acres, adjoining the foregoing, which may
go along with it if wanted'
Two Hundred Dollars Reward."
gTOLEN on Friday night toe ^h of October last
l '"' J" A RE, between fourteen and fifteen hands
high, aid between four and five years old, neither
brand nor mark, but spotted with the saddle; carries
her head low when rode, a natural pacer, and is cut in
the near fide of her mane. Whoever rakes up fa d mare
, d , cures the thief shall receive the above reward
o'r H ° n red Dollars for the mare only, paid by ' the
lubfcr:ber, living in Abington townihip, Philadelohia
county. JAMES STEWARD.
dingthat I was the 'fame man flill, and should give the
British credit by [him, (speaking to the General) for two
days good usage.
The next day Col. Archibald Cambell (who was
exchanged for me) came to this place, conduced by
Mr. Boudinot, the then American Commissary of pri
soners) and saluted me in a handsome manner, faying
that he never was more glad to fee any gentleman in
his life, and 1 gave him to understand that I was equal
ly glad to fee him, and was apprehensive that it was from
the lame motive. The gentlemen present laughed at
the fancy; and conjectured that sweet liberty was the
foundation of ourgladnefs ; so we took a glass of wine
together, and then I was accompanied by General Camp
bell, Colonel Campbell, Mr. Boudinot, and a number
of British officers, to the boat, which was ready to fail
to Elizabethtown point. Mean while I entertained
them with a rehearsal of the cruelties exercised towards
our prisoners; and assured them that I should use my
influence, that their prisoners should be treated in future
in the fame manner, as they should in future treat ours -
that I thought it was right in such extreme cases, that
their example should be applied to their own prisoners•
then exchanged the decent ceiemoni e s of compliment'
and parted : I failed to the point aforefaid, and in a'
transport of joy, landed on liberty ground, and as I
advanced into the country, received the acclamations
of a grateful people.