The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-03-20 00:00:00, page 1

N E W-Y O R K, December 30.
By their Excellencies^ Sir H^nry Clinton,
Knight ofthe mtf Honourable Order ofthe Bath,
General and Commander in Chief of all His M.a
jefty's Forces, within the Colonies lying on the
Atlantic Ocean, from Nona Scotia to if" est Flo
rida, inclufoe, &c. &c. &c.— And Mariot
Arbuthnot, Enquire, Vice Admiral of the
White, and Commander in Chief of His Ma
jefy's Shiprand Fegels employed in North Ame
rica, ^c. &c.—His Majefy's Commission-
RRsfor refloring Peace to the Colonies and Plan
tations in North America, and for Granting Par
don to such of His Majefy's Subjeßs now in Re
bellion, as foall deserve the Royal Mercy, ^fc.
A DECLARATION.
TO the Inhabitants of the British Colonies
oh the Continent of North America, now
in Rebellion, of every Rank, Order and Deno
mination ; excepting always such Persons, who
under the usurped Forms of Trial have Tyranni
cally and Inhumanly been instrumental in Exe
cuting and putting to Death any ofhis Majesty's
loyal Subjects.
Great Britain having manifefted the Sincerity
of her affectionate and conciliatory Intentions,
in removing sos ever your pretended Grounds of
Difconteni, by repealing among other Statutes,
those relating to the duty on Tea, and the Alter
ations in the Government of Massachusetts-Bay ;
and by excepting for ever not only the Continen
tal, but the Insular Colonies, from Parliamen
tary Taxations ; it is with much Pleasure we
make known to you, that we have received a
Commission, under the Great Seal of Great Bri
tain, which has for its ObjCfs the removal of
Distrusts by the Remiflion of Offences—the
Restoration of the Benefits of an extenuve Com
merce—the enabling the Constitutional Officers
of Government to reaffume their Functions (that
you may again enjoy your former local Legisla
tures) and the Confirmation of your Rights, Li
berties, and Privileges.
The Door is thus again thrown open (if hap
pily you are disposed to avail yourselves of the
opportunity it attbrds) for Commencing Negoci
ations, which may instantly terminate the Mise
ries of your Country.
We do therefore by the Authority in us ves
ted, hereby invite all the Colonies in Rebellion,
Separately as such, or any affiliations of Men
therein, to depute proper Persons (for whom on
Application fife Conducts shall be given) to make
to us, jointly or feperately, or in our Absence
to our Council, (composed ofthe following Mem
bers, viz. The Right Honourable Lieutenant-
General Charles Earl Cornwallis ; his Excellency
James Robertson, Esquire, Captain General and
Governor in Chiefof the Province of New-York ;
Josiah Martin, Esquire, Captain General and
Governor in Chiefof the Province of North-
Carolina ; William Franklin, Esquire, Captain
General and Governor in Chief of the Province
of New-Jersey; the Honourable Andrew Elliot,
Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the said Pro
vince of New-York ; William Smith, Esquire,
Chief Justice of the said Province of New-York ;
Frederick Smith, Esquire, Chief Justice of the
said Province of New-Jersey ; and John Tabor
Kempe, Esquire, His Maiefty's Attorney Gene
ral of the said Province of New-York'; or to the
General Officer commanding the King's Troops
in anyof theProvinccs,)alltuch Proportions re
fpeding the State ofthe said Provinces, Modes,
or Forms of Government ; or touching the Laws
by which they are affected ; and refpe&ing such
f'^^^>^ 4^o<^^ kkMQfeT'b
^s^vow^ ffl£@otyiitg
^^^^^EX^^e^a^^^
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HARTFORD :
TUESDA
Printed by HUDSON and GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
If any Shall be so hardy and defperatc as to con
temn the proffered Clemency of their Sovereign,
the Liberality of the Nation, and the Means and
Mediation we now tender for effecting the mu
tual Reconciliation of Countrymen/with each 0-
ther ; and the equitable Adjustment and Conipo
fure of their Differences and Ferments ; they are
hereby warned ofthe Aggravation of such Guilt;
and most earnestly implored to Shun the Punish
ment ordained by the Laws oftheir Country, and,
which, when restored to their free course, will be
inflicted for their treasonable Offences.
And that these Intimations, which so highly
concern the People in the revolted Diftri&s, may
not be concealed from them, to the Danger and
Ruin of any Person in the future Opperations,
And while the Loyal are exhorted to persevere
in their Integrity for the Preservation of their
Country, its Religion and Liberties ; we avow to
others of every Order, who having so long listen
ed to the Counfe Is that preferred War to Peace,
are enabled by their past Experience to decide on
the Folly ofthat deftruaive Choice, our anxious
Desire for their immediate Acceptance of this
Invitation As Great-Britain in this Contest of
Arms, ever mindful of your Descent and Con
ne&ion{ has spared what it was, and still is in her
Power to deß'roy, and now only wishes as an af
fectionate Parent, to refeue you from the cruel
and tyrannical Usurpations which your Leaders
are struggling to support for felfifh and corrupt
Ends, and at your Riik of being delivered over to
Popifh and arbitrary Nations.
Having thus announced the benevolent Pur
poses of our Commission, We do hereby further
declare, to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, the
three Lower Countieson Delaware, New-Jersey,
that part ofNew-Ybrk full in Revolt, Conneai
cut and Rhode-Inland, separate as Provinces, or
to any Associations of Men therein, who Shall on
or before the First Day of July next ensuing,
declare their Abhorrence ofthe Rebellion, Sepa
rate from its Councils, and afterwards demean
themfelvcs. as dutiful and peaceable Subjeas of
bis Majesty's Government, that we Shall be ready
to grant them Pardon for all past Treasons, and
the full Benefits of the King's Clemency as be
fore recited—We do also make the fame Offers
ofPardon and Benefits to the Inhabitants of the
other more Southern and Eastern Colonies in
Rebellion, or to any Associations of Men there
in, who Aral! on or before the First Day of Au
gust next ensuing, declare, and a& in the Man
ner aforementioned, and afterwards persevere in
the like dutiful and loyal Behaviour.
Arrangements and Regulations, as may tend to
the Advantage and Stability of the feveial Colo
nies and Provinces ; and to a lasting Union witli
each of them refpe&ively with Great Britain, up
on the Principles ofthe Constitution, which His
Majesty's Subjects flrail be desirous to confer up
on, or lay, through us, before the King for his
Royal consideration, and that ofHis Parliament.
And for the Consolation of the Friends of
Peace, and the Re-union ofthe Empire, as well
as for the Encouragement of all who, in future,
may adopt the fame Sentiments, and by their
immediate Exertions and Example, assist in ac^
Complifhing so desirable an Event ; we declare it
to be the Intention of Great Britain, by the Bles
sing ofGod, to contend for the Interests of the
Colonists as hafeparably connected with her own,
so that they will neither be left a Prey to the ra
pacious Avarice of their domestic Persecutors,
nor to the deep and insidious Designs of their
pretended Friends and Allies.
Y, March 20, 1781.
Prompted by the founding appellations of
^%'’' °' '' e Bath, and Admiral of the White,
as if power ednfifted in pompous titles, you have
offered pardon to those who need none, and upon
whom you are not able to inflict your threatned
punishment in case of resistance. It is an obser
vation founded on truth, that the tenor of a man's
conduct is the genuine index of his intentions ;
A person may alt falfhood as well as speak it ;
the fame will ripply with regard to nations, so
that when we fee.how many elegant towns have
been desolated by the British arms, and that too
when it was policy on your part to have Spared
them ; together with a recollection of those un
happy numbers who by listening to your promi
ses have been murdered in their dwellings, even
whilst they availed themselves of arguments de
duced from former connexions, in favour of their
lives, we are too well convinced in what manner
Great-Britain is mir rlfid of our descent and connec
tion. Through the medium of your declaration,
they have infiltsd the feelings of humanity,
and injured the memory of those they have mur
dered.
Self-prefyrvation, Sirs, is a principle implanted
in human nature ; as no one wishes to have his
property aeftroyed, and his life wantonly taken
from him; we fliall esteem it as a favour for Great
Britain to. forget our descent and connection, and
for the future to treat us agreeable to found po
licy and the rules of war.
We fliall hardly admit of the idea of Great-
Britain's defending us from Popifh and arbitrary
nations, unless we are fond of a remedy worse
than the disease. Notwithstanding your strong
est efforts to proted us, we have learned the ufe
ful lesson of protecting ourselves. Great-Britain
in this, as in every thing else, has miffed the
mark. America will not come under any power
on earth ; She is at peace with all the world,
Great-Britain excepted, and should any nation
prove otherwise, your own experience has taught
you we are able to fight them. They may cease
to exercise pious affections for the protestant re
ligion, since they alone fight against it, and are
the sole cause of fheding chriftian blood. It is
they, like a faciiligious infidel, issuing from his
Mt. ARBUTHNO T, Esq. %.
SIR S,,
IT is the weakness of human grandeur never to
be made sensible of it's own follies^ It is al
ready more than five years Since you and your
predecessors in command, have by fallacy endea
voured to accomplish that, which they and you
despaired of effeAing by force, and to no better
purpose, than to convince the world of your own
arrogance andyour master's inability. To threat
en unjust punishment is malicious and cruel, but
to threaten without abilities to perform, is sordid
and ridiculous.
or at the final conclusion of the War; We re.
quire all Officers Civil and Military, to be aiding
and assisting with us in the Publication thereof
and in the Execution of our Commission, and of
all the Powers and Matters therein contained.
Given under oar Hands and Seals, at the City
of Neav-rorh, this Twenty Ninth Day of De
cember, in the Twenty Firs Tear of his Ma
jejk's Reign.
h. Clinton, (L. s.)
Mt. ARBUTHNOT, (L. S.)
By their Excellencies Command,
Daniel Coxe, p. Secretary.
To Sir HENRY CLINTON, K. B.
(No. 843.)