The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-07-03 00:00:00, page 2

No. 27. Boston, 12 Junei772.
My Lord,
, LTHO' Admiral Montague transmits to the
I'l lords of the admiralty, a particular acceuntof
the furprizing and burning his majelly's armed
schooner G Jpee, by a great number of people from
tire town of P.evidence, yet I imagine so extraordi
nary an affair requires to have mention made of it by
me to your lordship.
From fomr former account of the schooner's having
been dogged from place to place I haze apprehended
tisre would something tragical follow from a let of
people, to whom every servant of the crown who does
his duj, will always be obnoxious. I have known
the present Governor of the colony many years and
used toetteem him as the most fit perlon among them
for the post, but the constitution is such, that he is
not capable of acting his own judgment, and mull be
subservient to the deligns of the illicit traders and
there is no doubt that nothing more will be done by
authority there, than issuing a proclamation, and
perhaps not even that. If some measures are not
taken in England in consequence of so flagrant an
inlukupon the King's authority, I fear it will en
courage the neighbouring colonies to persevere in
their opposition to the laws of trade, and to be guilty
of the like and greater acts of violence. As the town
cf Providence joins to this province, and is less than
50 miles from this town, and the flame may spread
here, I hope your Lordship will not think that I go
out of my line in this information. Matters which
relate to my own province mo e immediately, I beg
leave to refer until the next opportunity.
I have the honour to be molt relpedfully,
My Lord, Your's, &c.
Boffon, 22 June, 1772.
To Governor Pownall,
YGE u lion # ftft colonies is pretty well broke,
1 I hope shall never fee it renewed. Indeed
our fems of Liberty are bated and despised by their
former brethren in N-w-York and Fennfylvania,
and it uid >e something very extraordinary ever to
reconcile them.
Boston; 30th June 1772.
Dar Sir, [Cupt. Gambier.)
A LLO / me now and then to enquire after you,
" and Mrs. Gambier and the little folks. You
a 2in the midll 4 u # great and important affairs of
Britain and consequently of all the known parts of
the globe, with wnhh in a greater or less degree it
is now connected. We are in an infignificant Pro
vince where there is little or nothing that is inter
elting to <7 but ourfclves; You can expect nothing
from me therefore of any moment, except we should
get into away of pulling down the houses of the
King's servants again, attacking his troops, burning
his Chips or luch like exploits. The Province Houle
they deugn 111,11 fall down. Some of our heroes
talk of felling it, but finding my cor.fent was ntcef
fary to every valid aiff, they laid aide theii delign.
Our last ships carried you the news of the burning
the Gafpee schooner at Providence. I hope if there
should be ail < her like attempt some concerned in
it, may be taken prif ncs ff d carried directly to
E„ dand. A few punilhed at execution dock would
be • le only effectual preventive of any further at
teipts. In every colony they are jure of escaping with
impaii, -- D bymple is preparing for an expediti
on, it is thought to trie southern part of the conti
nent, I pity inn. He seems dist effed in fpight of
ah his endeavours to put on another face. One of
thew, m nts at H difax or some other is to accom
pany b^n, th; othci the 64th to take his place here.
l<u by agrees brought the assembly to fucha llate
tn.it altho.fl theic are a small majority fcurenough,
yet when taey seek matter for protests, remonstran
ces &c. they are puzzle . here to chargetheir griev
ances,which they look for int the firft place, & then
confider whether the tilings they complain of are
grievances or not. Under such circumstances, and
the advantage of having them in the town ofßofton,
where I can fee a company of them every day,
which by the way you would think to be dearly
earning your salary, I hope to pal's through a fef
fi m without much trouble. Some foolilh thing or
other from such people is always of course. I fee
ou old friends Burch Paxton,&c. every day or two,
not every night, they frequently desire when I write
to make their compliments. lam moll sincerely
dear fir,
your faithful and most obedient servant,
Dear Sir. Boston, 21st July 1772,
[fl he letter has internal appearances of Jeeretary Pownall's
. being the gentleman intended.)
GOVERNMENT is in a languid date. The
„' laws against offenders in some capital
points cannot be executed. The ads of trade are
very little regarded. The custom-house Officers
when they know of breaches, don't care to hazard q
their li es by seizures and prosecutions. The case
you know is the fame in every other colony. When
there is a general difppfition to oppose the execution
of laws from an opinion that they are unconstituti
onal, it fems necessary that the legislative power
Should afford every further aid to the executive. In
The belt of INK POWDER to be fold at the Printing-Office in Hartford.
this fubordiaate slate the legislative declines and ra
ther countenances the people in their opposition.
The next resort is to the supreme legislative. The
interposition of this authority is become necessary to
effed due submission to the laws Meerly from that
purpoie,any interposition will always bethought ex
pedient by that party inEngland which wishes to clog
all public measures. It will in time become necel
fary to retain the colonies in any.degree of subordi
nation. Then the nation will be roused and unite
in measures for that purpose. As loon as the colonies
are convinced of this, it will immedately appear,
that all this new doftrine of independence will be
disavowed, and the firft inventors or broachers of it
will be facrificed to the rage of the people who have
been deluded by them. Until then or as long as I
continue in present Ration, Imuft make the use I can
of that check which they will allow to be mutual,
and prevent their farther advance by all means in
my power. If I am able to do any thing farther,
it must be by convincing the majority of the people
of the absurd principles of their present leaders and
persuading them to receive more just notions of go
vernment in general, and of their own constitution
in particular. In this way I have certainly lessened
the numbers of the opposition and moderated the
tempers of the whole.- -
I BEG the favour of your Lodlhip to lay before
his Majesty the peculiar embarrassment of my
present situation.
Your Lordship is no stranger to the conduct which
I have observed in the unhappy disputes with our
American Colonies.
The King is toojuft and too generous not to be
lieve, that the voice I have given in Parliment has
been given accordingthe to dictates of myconfcience.
Whether I have erred or not, the course of future
events must determine. In the mean time, isl were
capable of such dupiicity as to be any way concern
ned in enforcing those measures of which 1 have so
publicly and solemnly expressed my disapprobation,
I should ill deserve what I am molt ambitious of ob
taining, the esteem and favourable opinion of my So-
vereign.
My request therefore to your Lordship is this,
that after having laid these circumstances be
fore the King, you will assure his Majesty, that he
has not a fubjeCt who is more ready than I am, with
the utmost cheerfulnefs, to facrifice his life and for
tune, in support of He i: 'ety, honour, and dignity of
his Majelly's crown and perlon. But the very fame
principles which have inspired me with these unal
terable sentiments of duty and affeCtion to his Majes
ty, will not fuffer me to be instrumental in deprive g
any part of his people of those liberties, which foirn
the bed security fin their fidelity and obedience to
his government. As I cannot, without reproach
from my own conference, content to bear arms a
gaind my fellow fubjeCts in America, in what to my
weak difeernment' is not a clear cause ; and as it
seems now to be finally resolved, that the 22d regi
ment is to go upon the American service, I desire
your Lordship to lay me in the mod dutiful manner
at his Majesty's feel, and numbly beg, that I may be
permitted to retire.
Your Lordship will also be so obliging to entreat,
that as I wave what the custom of the service would
entitle me to, the right of felling what 1 bought, I
may be allowed to retain my rank in the army, that
whenever the envy or ambition of foreign powers
should require it, I may be enabled to serve his Ma
jesty and my country in that way ; in which alone, I
can expeCt to serve them with any degree of effed.
Your Lordship will easily conceive the regret and
mortification I feel at being neceftitated to quit the
military profeffion, which has been that of my an
cefters for many generations, to which I have been
bred almost from my infancy, to which I have devot
ed the Rudy of my life,,and to perfect myfelf in
which, I have fought instruction and service in what
ever part of the world they were to be found.
I have delayed this to the last moment, left any
wrong conftruCtion should be given to a conduct
which is influenced only by the purest motives: I
complain of nothing,!love my profeffion, and should
think it highly blameable to quit any course of life,
in which 1 might be ufeful to the public, so long as
my constitutional principles, and my notions of ho
nour permitted me to continue in it. I have the ho
nour to be, with great refped,
Your Lordfllip's most obedient,
And most humble servant,
Adelphi Buildings, EFFINGHAM.
Apriliz, 1775.
Lord BARRINGTON, Secretary at War.
Philadelphia, June 22, 1775.
My Lord,
A LTHO' lean by no means fubferibe to the opinion
A of divers people in the world, that an officer in
half pay is to be corifidered in the service ; yet l think
it a point of delicacy to pay a deference to this opi
nion, erronious and absurd as it is. I therefore ap-
PHILADELPHIA, June 26.
We are requeued to publift) the following.
My Lord,
prifeycur Lordship in the most public and solemn
manner, that! do renounce my half pay, from the
date hereof. At the fame time I beg leave to assure
your Lordship, that whenever it shall please his Ma
jeh) to call me forth to any ho. curable service a
gaiall the natural hereditary enemies cf our coun
try, or in defence of his jult rights and dignity, no
man will obey the righteous lummons with more
zeal and alacrity than myfelf; but the present mea
sures seem to me so absolutely lubverfivc of therights
and liberties of every individual fubjed, so destruc
tive to the whole, empire at large, and ultimately so
ruinous to his Majelly's own person, dignity and
family, that 1 think myfelf obliged in confeience as
a citizen, Englishman, and soldier cf a free date, to
exert my utmost to defeat them. I most devoutly
pray to Almighty God to direct his Majesty into
measures more con fonant to his interest and honour,
and more conducive to the happiness and glory of his
people. lam, my Lord,
Your most obedient humble servant,
CHARLES LEE.
To the Right Honourable Lord Viscount BAR
RINGS ON, his Majelly's Secretary at War.
Extract of a Letter from b ahimore, dated Jone 13.
" ^ gentleman who last night came to me from Wil
liamdurgh, which he left on Fri-ay, brings account of
LoretD encore's having the day before gone on board a man
of war at 1 01k, with his Lady and family. Ihe 40em
bly font him a deputation to invite him to return, and offered
him protection, but he rfujedand pretends to be afraid of
being afafinated. He had dfmifea the IndianHofages,
and dfied them to make the bes oftheir way to their own
country ; two of whom have Jurrendered again, but one of
them is not yet pound.
NEW-rOR K, June 29.
On Tuesday General Woofer, with the advanced body
of the Connecticut forces, arrived in the neighbourhood of
this city. When the whole, confining of about 2GO® men
jball have arrived, they will encamp on ground behind
Mr. Haring 's houje in the Bowrey Lane.
The ship futianna, Capt. Montgomery, arrived at
Sandy-Hoo^ last Saturday night from London, in which
vef/'el his Excellency Governor Tryon came passenger. Lie
landed at 8 o'clock on Sunday evening, ana was conduced
to the heufe of the Hun. Hugh Wallace, Esq;
Since our last eight tranjports with troops, of thefecond
embarkation from Cork, leave arrived at Sandy-Hook,
and agreeable to orders there received, willfail this day
for Boston, under convey of bis Mgefy's jhip Mercury,
Capt. McCartney.
To his Excellency, George Washington, Ge
neraliffimo of all the Forces raised and to be raif-
^Z,/' a time when the most loyal oj his MajeftfsJubjeßs
from a regard to the laws and conjhtution by which
he fits on the . krone,feelibemfelves reduced to the unhappy
net fit, of taking up aims to defend their dearef rights &
privileges. While we deplore the calamities of this di
vided empire, we rejoice in the appointment of a gentleman,
from whose abilities and virtue we are taught to expert
both jecunty unit peace.
Confiding in you, Sir, and in the worthy Generals, im
mediately unde, your Command,we have the most flattering
hopes of fuc,ejs, in the glorious fruggle for American Li
berty, and the fullejt assurances that when this important
conifl shall be decided, by that fondeft wish of each Ame
rican foul, an accommodation with our Mot her Country, you
will cheerfully resign the imports. 1) pofii, committed in
to your hands, and re-assume the Loaradier of our worthi
est Citizen. By Order,
P. T. B. LIVINGSTON, Prefdent.
June 26th, 1775.
His EXCELLENCY'S Answer.
Gentlemen, .
^qTthe fame time that withyou, I deplore the unhappy
neceffit, of such an appointment, as that with which
lam now honoured, I cannot but feel fentimtnts of the
highef gratitude, for this affedLng infance of difinAion
and reg ard.
May your warmest wishes be realized in the success of
America, at this important and interning period ; and be
offered, that every exertion of my worthy colleagues and
myfelf, will be equally extended to the re-ejiablijkmeni of
peace and harmony, between the Mother Country and these
Colonies :—As to the fatal but necefary operations of
War when we afurned the Soldier, we did not lay
aside the Citizen, and we shall most fineerely rejoice with
you, in that happy hour, when the eftabtijhment of Ame
rican Liberty, on the mos firm and solid foundations, shall
enable us to return to our private flations, in the bojom cf a
free, peaceful, and happy Country.
G. WASHINGTON.
June, 26th 1775.
ed in the confederated Colonies of America.
Tlte Address of the Provincial Congress of the Co
lony of New-Yoik.
May it please YOUR Excellency.
Chamber of Supplies, Watertown, June 30, 1775.
rrHE inhabitants of die Colony of Connecticut,
who have fupplicd the Massachusetts Colony
with provisions for the army, are hereby desired to
exhibit their accounts, and draw on the committee
of Supplies for the fame as soon as may be.
David Cheever, per order.