The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1778-03-17 00:00:00, page 1

DEBATES in the HOUSE ofCOMMONS,
continued from No. 684.
W ORD NORTH here getting up, said he did
L not think of troubling the House Dearly in the
debate but he thought it neceifary to clear up (the
point Stated by the learned Ser eamt refpehting the in
formation he hinted at ; for that in the co rfe of
twenty years attendance in that House, h^never re
membered it to be the business of the Minister to give
a comment on the King's ipeech ; and in answer to
a charge of another honorame member (Mr. Wilkes)
it was the firft time he heard of General Burgoyne
like Samuel putting man, w®man, and ass to the
sword as h:d thus-been wantonly imputed t@ him.
That the Indian savages in the King's service were
headed by proper officers who had it in charge to
prevent the inhumanities complained of ; that left
it be deemed improper to have Secured the Indians,
it was neceifary to inform the Houle that the Ame
ricans had made overtures to gain them to their ser
vice, and therefore it was thought prudent to engage
them as a means among many others, of fuppretang
the rebellion. With refpe& to the invidious and
odious aspersion thrown on the character of that mi
litary Senator now in this country's service, he
trusted he Should fee him take his feat again in that
House when he had no doubt but he would be!
able to derend himfelf fully against any man, who
would rife up and accuse him. As to the unhappy
war itfelf, his Lordihip ahired the House, he wish
ed as heartily a^ any member there for the happy mo
ment to arrive when Something might be chalked
out to effect the wished for accommodation ; but
that happy moment, must be the moment of victory :
He had great reason to hope for a fuccefsful end of
the campaign but confuted they were in the dark
with reipect to the late operations having received
no intelligence from Sir William Howe hnce a day
or two after his landing at the head of Elk river ; he
proved the abfiirdity of ordering a cessation of arms
on the part of the King's troops as such a step would
naturaly imply that their original claim would be
admitted; but said the commanding officers had a
power of acelfation whenever they deemed it expe
dient. With reipect to foreign powers he assured
the House that from every thing he had been able
to colled; he could not find it was the interest, nor
did he believe it was the intention of France and
Spain to go to war with us; but as they thought
proper to keep on foot great armaments in their save,
ral ports he deemed it prudent to put this Country
in an, equal hate of defence, to guard against the
pofilbility of an attack ; that the language, of the
court of France was by no means that of war; when
ever it had been deemed Unintelligible, Strong re
monstrances had been made, and redress had been
received ; that they had published the strongest de
clarations forbidding any countenance being ffieWn
the Americans ; that two prizes carried into Nantz,
under pretence of coming from St. Euftatia, were
restored to the British owners by order of the Court ;
and, in confeqpence of this conduct of the French
Ministry, that no depredations had been commit
ten on ourcoafts Since that period. It was not the
interest of France and Spain now to quarrel with us.
It was a new case and America grown a separate
empire would of cpurfe cause such a revolution in
the political system of the world, as must stagger the
resolution of our mod enterprizing enemies.
Mx Burke ipoke near two hours in support of
the amendment.. He apoftrophifed with a degree of
opthtifafm upon tfe noble spirit of Men, whom if
they had not been Rebels, he could have been lavish
in praising; of Women, who reduced by the ruin of
civil difeord to the mod horrid situation of distress
a^d poverty had constancy, generosity and public
spirit to strip the blankets in a freezing season from
thtmfelves and their infants, to fend to the camp,
and preserve that army which they had lent out to
fight for their liberty. And'fhall 'Britons, said he,
overlook such virtue ? and will they perfifi in. op
pressing it? Shall we give them no alternative but
unconditional submission ? A three years war
has ^ot terrified thefn,- difreflcd as they are, from
[TUESDAY, March if, i,7& THE [Numb. 686.
CONNECTICUT COURANT,
AND THE
WEEKLY INTEL L I G E N C E R.
HARTFORD: Printed by WATSON and G O'O DW IN, near the Great Bridge.
their gteat purpose. Let us try the pow*r of lenity
over those generous bosoms.•
Mr. Charles Fox was the only violent Weak
er. He was remarkably Severe on Lord George
Germain and attributed to his administration the
mod capital mistakes of Go ernment for the last two
years.
Lord Georc& Germain defended himfelf with
temper and ingenuity said he had ben INVITED
into office and hinted to Mr. Fox that his fortune
was such, that the profits of a place could not be any
great object to him.
Col; Barre Shewed the heceffity offending out
full powers to the Commissioners, of presenting the
olive branch to the Americans before they became
utterly irreconcileable to Great-Britain; he com
plained that his letters were opened by the orders of
the Ministers and that no officer from America dared
to speak to him, as he was looked on as a proferibed
perlon.
Lord North made a Short reply to Col. Barre,
and then the question being put, there appeared,
For the Addiefs 243
Against it 86
Majority iff
The House broke up at half past twelve.
B'" U T'o' N,
To the inhabitants of New-Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia.
Friends countrymen, and fellow citizens!
AFTER three campaigns during which the brave
fubje&s of these States have contended not unfuc
cefsfuily, with one of the molt powerful kingdoms
on earth, we now find ourselves at least upon a level
with our opponents; and there is the best reason to
believe that efforts adequate to the abilities of this
country would enable us Speedily to conclude the
War and to secure the invaluabe blessings of peace,
liberty and fafety. With this view, it is in con
templation at the opening of the next campaign, to
assemble a force fufficient not barely to cover the
country from a repetition of the depredations, which
it hath already Suffered, but also to operate offensive
ly and to Strike some decisive blow.
In the prosecution of this cb eA, it is to be feared
that so large an army may Suffer for the want of
provifiorts. The distance between this and the east
ern States, whence considerable Supplies of £efh
have been hitherto drawn, will neceifarily render
those Supplies extremely precarious. .And unless
the virtuous yeomanry of the States of New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania Maryland and Virginia will exert
themfehzes to prepare cattle for the use of the array
during the months ofMay, June and July next, great
difficulties may arise in the coUrfe of the campaign :
It is therefore recommended to the inhabitants of
those States to put up and feed immediately, as ma
ny of their Stock cattle as they can spare, so as that
they may be driven to this army within that period.
A bountiful price will be given, and the proprietors
may assure themselves that they will render a most
essential service to the illuffrious cause of their coun
try, and contribute in a great degree to fhorteri
this bloody contest. But Should there be any so in
sensible to the common interest, as not to exert them
selves upon these generous prnciples, the private in
terest of those whole situation makes them liable to
become immediate Subjects to the enemy's incursi
ons should prompt them at least to a measure which
is calculated to save their property from plunder,
their families from insult and their own persons
from abuse, hopeless confinement or perhaps a vio
lent death. G, WASHINGTON.
Head Quarters Valley Forge February 18, 1778
Saturday last a considerable body of the British
light infantry accompanied by a party of light horse,
made an excursion into the country as high as a place
Called the Spring-house tavern ahopt 16 miles from
Philadelphia where they made prifon^r one Major
Wright of the Pennsylvania militia, and a number
of persons in thecivil department such as magistrates,
affeffers constables &c. who were pointed out.-by.
the toxics inhabiting that neighbourhood. The ene-
my went out in three divifons part ofthem through
Germantown where they broke many winccw„
seized ail the leather, flockings &c. ajid returned to
Piiiladelprra in the evening of the fame day alter
having committed many other affs of licentroufnefs
and cruelty on the persons and property of tnole they
term rebels.
We hear that an exchange of prisoners is soon to
take place between General Washington and Gene
ral Howe the latter having confeided to give up
the point so long in dispute about r e prriorer fe<
out last winter on parole : Most of them were tr
so hardly that they died soon after tue.r ?. 0 x
among us or were rendered for-ever unfit for :
vice ; and confe^uently Were not proper objects of all
exchange.
Extract of a letter from Lahcafter dated Feb. 12.
• Lalt week a court martial was held here to try
a fe'low which General Howehad sent out to buy
horses from the tcries and to take such as belonged
to the whigs. He Was taken upon his return near
the enemy's lines with a number of horses procured
as aforefaid, Two others also were made prisoners
who accompanied a flag from General Howe, but
broke off from the fame some miles in the country,
and were taken up as fries, and tried With the for
mer. It is said that, they are all condemned to be
hanged, but the judgment is not yet made public."
It is reported that on Sunday fe'nnight upwards
of 100 of theenemy's fopt and a number of cavalry,
were made prisoners near Derby, by a detachment
of our army under the command of Gen. Scott.
Several defert'ers have come to this city from Phi
ladelphia since our last.
From Philadelphia we learn, that great part of
Charles-Town the capital of South Carolina hai
lately been by accident reduced to ashes.,
FI'S HKILL March 5.
By a gentleman from the Eastward, we are infor
med, that the week before last, Colruol Symes of
New Jersey with four men, in a whale boat cros
sed over from Guilford to Long Island: When un
derstanding a number of vefLls were cast a-way on
the Inland, they formed a design to feive some of
the goods belonging to. one of them, accordingly
they five, with fixed bayonets, in the dead of the
night surprised the house where the freight of one of
the veflels were stored, made the matter mate, three
sailors, and two tories prisoners and loaded their
whale boat wi:h part of the Vessels cargo ; they took
9 gold and 9 Silver bound hatts, 60 pair of English
Ihoes. acheft of medicine a box of glass and earthen
ware 24 Reel plate cross cut laws a barrel of cofee,
another of rum, 1 doz silk handkerchiefs 1 doz.
buckikin gloves and many other valuable articles,
and returned fafe to Guilford with their prize.
Extras of a letter dated March 3.
Last Wednesday night a party of thirty volun
•teers from Col. Meigs's regiment, in four whale
boats, under the. command of Maior Humphrys,
Lieutenants Lay and Burret made a deferent upon
Long-Island in the neighbourhood of Smith Town
for the purpose ®f destroying federal of the enemy's;
Shipping particularly a large Ship of 20 ghns a
ground near that place: Th.e lhip w^ unfotunatelv
got off the preceding day but they set fire to and
destroyed a brig of about 200 tuns burthen, a large
schooner and an armed floep. All were employed
in the enemy's service: They brought off two Cap
tains and Several seamen, togetl er with as many
fails, rigging ahd, furniture as the boats cciud con
tain ; ail was effected Without loss and the party re
turned to tie main next morning. The enterprize
Was well planned and conducted ; and such an one,
as in Gaine's and Rivington's paper would have
filled a column with immences, andinfinites, and ex
hausted Johnfbh's dictionary of all those terms which
express, enterprize coiiduA and resolution.
Thp Warren, of 36 guns, commanded by young
Captain Hopkins a few days ago got out cfProvi
deuce river fafe, notwithstanding the vigilance of the
enetnye's Ships totyrevent her. She got oft tis said,
in a Row derm; ran paftthe guard Ship almoftunob
ferved, without damage, took her course through the