The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-04-24 00:00:00, page 3

HARTFORD, April 24.
she following Extraordinary Intelligence
was received last Evening, inclofed in a Lettter from
a Gentleman in New-York, addressed to the Committe
of this Town, requeuing that the fame might be for
warded to the Provincial Congress at Concord, with
al! feed.
New-York, April 19th, 1775.
Gentlemen,
The following very interefling accounts were this day
receiv'd by the Snow Gen,fohnfon,Capt.Dean jn 31 days
from England. The writer is a person of undoubted we
,racity, and bes intelligence, who may be depended on ;
•having, for this twelve month pas, always furnished the,
'mof certain advice of the Minifry's designs, ^c. In
confderation of which, and the present posture of affairs iri
America, in general; but more particularly on account of
thefouation of your province, andthe conferences to which
it is more immediately liable ; it is thought an indifpehfble
du, to , give,oil this late advice.---It is unfeignedl, wijh'd
that you may improve it to your own fafety, as well as to
the advantage of the qhbole continent.
EXTRACTS of LETTERS, &c.
London, February 24th, 1775.
^ nROVl^ENCEfeems to have placed me here,
f in order to give you (he earliest intelligence
oftne moftintereftin g affairs relative to the colonies.
" To my great alioniihment, I have now before
me, an aft for blocking up the other colonies, and
another, called the Black A&, to prevent the fishe
ries The whole nation feemsto be deeply affed
ed at such an enormous crime, which is fupp®fed to
be done at the request of the K--- and his creatures.
God forbid that you^hould be intimidated at this
iniquitous law, which is calculated to ruin what was'
a mutual benefit to you and us.---This muff con
vince you, what you are to expeft, if you submit to
the most flocking set of men that England can pro
dnee— You fee their humanity.Roufe up then with
a just indignation,and exercise your militia---watch
your Governor and Council. The new assembly
is to be composed of such creatures as will give up
the people's rights, and join in the most horrid plot
against them. What a melancholy reflection, that
the riches and trade of a great nation should be abu
sed and turned to the deftrudion of themselves and
the colonies !---In ffiort the K--- is determined to
be as absolute as the French King, and with the most
obstinate head and bad heart, has set himfelf against
the people, whom he will not fee, keeping himfelf
retired from his fubjeds, in pride and ignorance.
He has difeerded men of veracityTrom all places of
. profit and honour, and filled their offices with a set
of the most abandoned villains on earth---These are
they who advifedhim to break his oath with the
people, for which they are difpifed by the nation.
Ifyeu hold out a few months, England will rife and
do you justice; as well as relieve themselves from
those accurfcd tyrants, who want to corrupt you and
deprive you of both liberty and property.
“ There are 285 members of Parliament, who
are all paid with the people's money to vote what
ever Lord North propefes, and he has his lesson from
8 more, who compose a club, that meets in the most
private manner in the night at Mr. Keen's, near
the palace, where they have a box, which contains
the papers that pass between his Majesty and them
---The K— overlooks their schemes and correfts
them; as well as gives orders how to proceed in su
ture---Hutchinson is consulted, and to the Ihame of
Governor Colden, Penn and Martin, who have writ
ten each letters to Lord Dartmouth, that the K---
has appointed them to meet at New-York, in order
to join with your other lying spirits in betraying the
cclonies—To conipleat which villany, Lord North
has made a motion in Parliament, as if he intended
to promote peace with the colonies ; but it is to de
ceive them, and the people of England too. It is
intended to defeat the salutary advice of the Con
gress. which does credit to British America. Set
the press immediately to work, and publilh to the
world the wicked designs of the K--- and his coun
cilors; that you deffife their ilavifh schemes and
re determined to preserve your laws and religion.
Encourage the brave people of Massachusetts Bay,
to aft worthy of their noble ancestors. I have the
pleasure to assure you, that the noble Lords with
whom 1 have convers'd, all join you, in contempt
of the junto here.---You are desired to let the colo
nies know that there is a deep plot formed to divide
theal, and receive the people into a compliance ;.
but tell .them that you want not their trade nor'
protection at the expence of your Liberty.
" Yen'll lee by the papers, the treatment Lord
Chatham s pun met with —those Lords who advised
the King to declare you rebels, and appointed
Meffrrs. Hancock, Adams, &c. have gone so far as
to fay that Chatham (hall fall a facrifice to their
designs, ^c. f know there is public virtue- among
yo»---l knowjenr foninefs for England will not
let you believe the wicked designs that are meditat
ing against you; but I do now, in the presence of
God, warn you tnat the K— has no good intenti
ons towards you, but what you oblige him, by your
own wisdom nnd virtue to have. ' Take care of your
^l^ and aco as the wife and brave have done in
all ages when oppressed by tyrants-- -refill unto blood
all who attempt to betray you. The Parliament
have registered Colden's and Penn's letters: look
to them, and fee for yourfelvet--- believe the court
your word enemies, be much on your guard.
" Yesterday Dr. Fothergill and Mr. Barclay
were so preft in spirit, that they went to Lord North
and told him that the bill for prohibiting the fifhe
ry was so horrid and inhuman an ad, that the na
tion would rife and opfofe it, and that if it did pass
into a law, it would be a scandal to humanity, Ind
perhaps occasion a revolt—-They plead two hours,
with him, but to no purpose. The bill is to be
read a third time on tuefday ; as that in five days
this horrid bill passes into a law without any further
consideration---Oh America ! Oh England !
" The Ministry in order to quiet the mob order
ed an inflamatory pamphlet to be burnt at Guild-
Hall, which drew off the people, whilst the bill
pafs'd in Parliament, &c.
" A report is sent into the city, that the trans
ports are ftopt. This is to quiet the merchant's :
but the officers are gone down in private coaches of
other people, and America is to be divided and
driven into compliance before England is apprized
of it. Lord North hasjuft given out that he'll re
sign, and at the fame time fays that he fears nothing
from the people, unless it be the breaking of his
coach doors or some such trifle—No refinance of
importance from the city, only a clamour which he
has often experienced---He, expels that this ma
noeuvre will quiet the people on both sides of the
water. Goods are fhip'd in the transports with the
officers ; baggage mark'd Rex, and under the pro
tedion of the King's troops, who are to land them,
and protest the trade, &c. North-Carolina is to be
a store-house, it is said---Support the Committee,
and watch the officers of the customs, &c. Your
friends are afraid that you will be furprized into a
compliance---The offers of peace were only to raise
the docks which had fallen, they are now four per
cent higher on account of the report. The coun
cil fat up all night, in order to find out ways and
means to conquer Virginia, and procure tobacco
great offers will be made to those who will raise
it, &:c. Men of large fortunes are afraid to oppose
government least the bank Ihould fail, which is said
to be in danger. The interest on the year 1774 is
not paid. Many of the people are your most hearty
friends, but the K— is your greatest enemy ; be not
deceived by his low cunning, aft wifely, and the
wicked and curfcdffltwill break on the heads of
those who want to destroy you. The K— is his
own secretary, he gets up at 6 o'clock every morn
ing, fends off his box with remarks, on a bit of pa
per tied round each order. Four of the ablest law
yers are constantly with him, whose business it is to
advise and search for precedents, to fcrcen his head,
and throw the blame on the parliament. Two mil
lions have been squandered in bribery and corrupti
on---The crown has nothing to fear but the hunger
of the poor. A steady adherence to the proceedings
of the congress, will save England and America.
Beware of Governor Penn, who has had offers made
him to comply with the designs of the eourt. Send
this to Boston immediately. Mr. Hancock's lands
are already divided among the officers, &c. Lord
Dartmouth is your bitter enemy, and determined to
destroy the liberties of America. Lord C m,
Lord C n, Duke of R- d and all the wifa
wilh that you may attend to the advice of the con
gress."
The following is an extraft from a different perfa, dated
2d March.
" Part of the troops new ordered for embarkati
on here and Ireland, are to rendezvous at New-York,
to make it a place of arms, securing the defection of
that province, from the general alliance in the cause
of freedom, and every thing that is dear to man :
and to prevent the communication between Virgi
nia, Maryland, and the other southern colonies with
New-England, where Gen. Gage with such assis
tance as he may get from New-York, is to subdue
those colonies foft, and then all America ; in which
if he succeeds, New-York is to be a garrison town,
and place of arms, with the assistance of Quebec to
rule with a rod of iron all the Slaves of America.
Without the concurrence of New-York,this scheme
can never be carried into execution, of which every
gentleman and man ofknowlca'ge in this kingdom
is fully convinced ; therefore on your virtue, in a
great measure it depends, whether America shall be
free, or be reduced to the molt abje& and oppressive
servitude ; worse than that ofEgyptian bondage, in
which you must inevitably be involved, if you lend
your aid to en slave your brethren in the other colonies.
I have to inform you, that the bill for preventing
the four colonies and provinces of New-England
from filhing, getting provisions from any other co
lonies, or carrying on any commerce whatever to
any part of the,world, except to Great-^ritain, Ire
land or the British Weft-Indies, will finally pass the
House of Commons to r mcrrow, and is to take place
the firft of next July. You may also depend that in
a few days another bill will be brought in, to pro
hibit any of the otlier colonics from carrying on any
trade whatever with each other, or to any other part
° : „ .V orld , except to Great-Britain, Ireland er
Lie bntifh Weft-Indies, which will probably take
place in July also ; therefore you will govern your
ielves accordingly, and let this be publickly known.
Extras f another letter from London, dated March iff.
Ihe measures of the ministry will, I hope, do
more toward uniting the colonies, than any effefts
Or America itfelf,you will easily perceive their wick
e intentions to divide, as well as their designs after
, ' ,°P e ^ '° r dirifion. They have high hopes of
success from the last decounts from New-York. I
trult the people of that province will soon displace
thole rajcall, and treacherous tories in your assembly
who dare thus negatively to encourage the fyftein of
'f'Potifm now adopted for your government.
The wiidom of the Congress, and the firmnefs of the
people, give me the strongest assurance of future
conduft. Several names are made use of here as
authorities to warrant the defection of America. I
can give you such as I have heard ; their own con
duct will belt determine weather the idea is well
founded; the D----ys, J----n W----s, .... Smith,
j h G'---.f, J R..-,&c. They most a(Tured
ly correspond with some minifleral tools here,, and
tho gieat care is taken to conceal, yet the men are
too, evidently marked to be totally unknown. Pray
print this short hint for the observation of the honest
men among you.---I need not endeavour to expose
tie baseness or folly of the present men in offices,
tor they take care to do it themselves.
The foregoing were at firft intended only to be
communicated to the inhabitants of the Massachu
setts-bay, &c.but on more mature configuration it
was judged belt to inform those of Connecticut also,
leaving them to forward the account to Concord
with the utinoft dispatch.
By the latest accounts from Boston we learn, that
last Tuesday night the Grenadiers and Light Com
panies belonging to the several regiments in the
Town of Boston were ferryed in long-boats from the
bottom of the common over to Phip's farm,in Cam
bridge, from whence they proceeded on their ex
pedition to Concord ; they arrived at Lexinton ear
ly the next morning, when they a gave a fpecimcn
of their savage designs, by firing several times on a
number of innocent men who were collected at that
place, and among whom were the Selectmen of the
town.---Six men were killed on the spot &a number
wounded. From tlience, being about 12 hundred
'" number, they marched with speed to Concord,
killing some on the road, firing some houses, and
making considerable deftrudion till they arrived at
Concord, where they designed to have destroyed their
ammunition, & provisions, and carried offfome field
pieces ; but as about 300 ofour men had collected
under arms at that place, their intentions were fruf
trated in that refpeft ; however, they immediately
fired on the militia,and the fire was as briskly return
ed by our men, who attacked and perfued them on
their retreat to Charleftown where they had a large
reinforcement under the command of Lord Piercy,
with two pieces of artillery, and from whence under
covert of their (hipping they retired to Boston.
Large numbers were continually flocking in from
all parts of the country, and by Friday morning be*
tween 30 and 40 Thousand were assembled under
arms. Our men took some of their waggons and
stores, 20 prisoners, and killed upwards of zoo Re
gulars, among whom are General Haldiman, Major
Hodgfon, and some other Officers, and one Murray,
ion to Col. Murray, a mandamus counfellor, who
piloted the troops out of Boston. Lord Piercy it is
supposed was among the (lain. The loss on our fide
was not so coniideiable, not more than 32 or 33 are
killed, &but very few wounded. This engagement
occasions a universal muster of the troops inConnedti
cut ; great numbers of whom, compleatly equipped
with arms, ammunition and provision, are gone
to the relief of their distressed brethren. Them/,
jor part of the members of the Provincial Congress
had convened at Concord last Friday and the red of
the members were expected soon to be there
As to the loss on ffie fide of the regulars, the pub
lic may rely on it, from the most authentic advices,
is not short of the number above mentioned, besides
many that were wounded.
The II th of May next is recommended by the
Provincial Congress, to be observed as a general
Fast throughout the Provovince of theMaff. Bay.
The general Assembly of this colony are ordered
by his hon. the Governor to meet at Hartford next
Wednesday.
BOSTO N, (Monday) April 17.
Capt. Collins brings Advice, That the Aft for
retraining the Trade and blocking up all the Ports
of New-England, had pasted the House of Com
mons : That Lord Chatham, with a Number of his
patriotic Friends, finding their Efforts for saving
the Nation from Tyranny and theHorrors of a Civil
War ineffectual,arofe from their Seats & abruptly left
the House of Lords,giving as a reason for their Con
dud, that they would have no further Concerns in
a Legislature who were involving the Nation in
Blood and Slaughter.
* # * For new atherti/em 0 ^ ^/^ '