The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-03-13 00:00:00, page 1

LONDO N, November 24.
Further Account of the Examination and Commit
ment of John Trumbull, Efa; for High Trea
son, at ^Public Office, in Bow-Street,
Nov.
JOHN Trumbull Esq; son of the Rebel Gover
nor Trumbull, of the province of Connecticut,
in America, was brought up from New-Prison,
for re-examination before Sampson Wright, Esq;
and Mr. Addington, when three letters, amongst
others found in his possession, were produced,
and read in evidence against him; of which the
following are authentic copies, viz.
* (COPT. No. I.)
London, Sept. 8, 1780.
" Hon. Sir,
" In two letters which I have written you late
ly from this place, I have said as much as was
fitting on political news. I write this at the re
oueft of Mr. Temple, who means to follow soon
to America, who wishes to be received as a de
ferring friend to his country. While he experts
that weak and wicked men may attempt to in
jure his reputation, I feel myfelf happy in hav
ing it in my power, from my situation, to obvi
ate every insinuation which may be made to you ;
and to far that his residence in this country, since
he last left Boston, has been essentially fervicca
ble to the cause of America, by giving such ideas
of her temper and resources, as have preferred
steady to her interests, the few noble friends Ihe
has in both Houses of Parliament, and staggered
her numerous enemies. The Duke of Rich
mond, Mr. Hartley, Dr. Price, and names of
fimiiar dignity and principles are Mr. Temple's
Acquaintances here ; and among such names, his
own principles or integrity cannot be doubted.
His desire is to return to Europe in some public
character, as he formerly talked to you ; I can
not but most heartily wish him success in his pur
suit, and the particular favour and attention of
my friends to his interests. With sincere affec
tion to all my friends,
I fubferibe mvfelf, honoured Sir,
Your most dutiful Son,
JOHN TRUMBULL."
Gov. Trumbull.
(COPT. No. IL)
1780.
” Dear Sir,
" Your favour by Mr. Hartley I duly received.
It is true we have had some late arrivals from
America, but no letters have come here for you.
If anv do, I (hall forward them as you direct.
" My grandfather directs me to make you hit
best compliments, and iikewife to Mr. Tyler, to
whom I beg you to present mine, and believe
me, very sincerely, Dear Sir,
Your friend and humble servant,
7. Trumbull, Esq. W.T. FRANKLIN.
London.
(C OPY. No. III.)
" Dear Sir,
" I have this moment received your very
friendly and polite letter, and sincerely thank
you for its contents. Your observations are ve
ry just, and I (hall, in every particular, follow
your advice.
," Since I wrote to you, I had some conversa
tion with my father, on'the fubje& of my intend
ed expedition ; and as he strongly opoofes my
thoughts of going by the way of tne Weft-Indies,
and at the fame time warmly recommended our
old route by Oftend and France, l am a little du
bious how to a&, but shall, [believe, relinquish
„ original plan, and adopt the last. In that
g^ ^Qo«SMlßWaitg
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HARTFO RD: Printed by HUDSON and GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
T U E S D A Y, March 13, 1781.
case the providing myfelf with camp equipage
here, would be unnecessary, from the impossibi
lity of conveying it with me ; at the fame time
that I shall, in the kingdom of our dear and great
Ally, be able to procure myfelf every thing that
is necessary, and as good in quality as in London.
From these considerations, request our mutual
friend Waters not to execute my late orders, un
til he hears further from me ; and if he has al
ready given his directions, to flop them, as in the
course of a few days I shall be finally resolved.
'' I shall rejoice to join you in any plan that
you and Waters may adopt, and hope in God,
that your expectations may not be disappointed.
A direct conveyance, is certainly, of all others,
to be preferred ; but should your present hopes
not be realized, what other schemes have you,
and when do you expeC to leave England ? It
you will not look upon one as an intruder, I will
accompany you in any way that promises to lead
to the desired port. I shall arid will at any time
leave this in twenty-four hours. As I shall anx
iously await the issue of your deliberations, be so
obliging as to drop me a line upon the receipt of
this, and at the fametime fend me your difeCion.
“ The papers mention, that Mr. Laurens is
permitted to walk about the Tower : Is the re
port founded in fact ?—Remember me kindly to
Waters and Tyler, and believe me sincerely yours.
Lyme in Dorfet, the Wm. WHITE."
Nov. 1780.
John Trumbull, Esq. to the
care of Mr. Waters,
No. 23, Valliars-ftreet,
Strana, London.
Mr. Bond being sworn, deposed, that the let
ter No. I. he found upon the person of Mr. Tru
mbull, and those marked No. 11. and 111. in his
bureau, at his residence in George-street, York
Buildings, ata Mr. Bufhnel's ; that the prifoner
behaved much like a gentleman, making no at
tempt to escape, only desiring to go to the neces
sary ; which Mr. Bond said lie could not consent
to, till he had firft delivered up the papers that
were about him ; under an apprehennon, that
he wanted by this pretext to make away with
them.
Justice Wright, now addressing Mr. Trumbull,
said, it was necessary he should interrogate him a
little further, relative to the above extraordinary
correspondence ; but humanely intimated, at the
fame time, if it appeared to him, that any ques
tion came from the bench, that might materially
affect him. he was under no necefnty of answer
ing it. Mr. Trumbull's replies to the several
interrogatories, amounted to the following nar
rative, viz.—“ That he was the son of Jonathan
Trumbull, Efg; now Governor of Connecticut,
an office his father had enjoyed previous to the
breaking out of the American war ; which, un
like the other colonies, was elective in the pro
vince only, and that even without his Majesty's
approbation ; that he still possessed the govern
ment under the American Congress; that he
himfelf, soon after the commencement of the
war, was made Deputy Adjutant-General of the
American forces, with the titular rank of Colo
nel ; but that he ceased to be a military man,
when he threw up his Adjutant-Generalship,
22d February, 1777, and embarked for Europe,
on board the Nerefs, Capt. Landoff, with Mr.
Tyler, a Major in the American service ; and that
they were landed at Nantz in May, after a few
weeks voyage. From thence he and Mr. Tyler
went to cans; where soon after he confeffed to
have been well received by Dr, Franklin, and to
have been upon very intimate terms with Mr
W. T. Franklin, the Dolor's grandson; that
last summer he and Mr. Tyler took a passage on
board an Oftend packet (neither the name nor
Captain of which he could recollect) and arrived
in England in the beginning of July : That the
profeilion he had in view on his arrival, was
painting, which Mr. B. Weft, the historical
painter, could inform the bench fully of, as well
as the manner how he ufuall, spent his time :
That he and Tyler lodged together in George
ftreet, York-buildings ; and that the man's name
to whom his letters were addressed, was not Wa
ters, as appeared upon the sup erfcription, but
Digges ; that he had very little connexion with
Tyler, since their arrival in England,their dispositi
ons being widely different, Mr. Tyler being a
man of pleasure, and he of a quite different turn.
He owned to have had several interviews with
Mr. Temple since his arrival in England. As to
Mr. White, (fee No. III.) he knew nothing
further of him than a common place ac
quaintance, whom he accidentally met at Vaux-
Hall, not ev^n having learned nis profeihon or
connexions. All things therefore being duly
weighed, he conceived he was entitled to his li
berty, being fully entitled, in his" own opinion,
to the benefit of hisMajefty's proclamation,which
preceded the resignation of his American em
ployment. But being asked here, whether he
had any proof of having made the necessary sur
render ? He replied, he had not."
The bench having heard every thing he had to
offer in his defence, and entertaining no doubt
but the strongest circumstantial evidence appear
ed against him, that could be adduced on such an
occasion, signed his warrant of commitment for
New Prison, Clerkenwell, on account of the pre
sent unimpaired state of Newgate.
Mr. Trumbull now aiked Mr. Wright, whe
ther he might write a note to Mr. Weft, inform
ing him of his situation ? Which was immedi
ately granted him. He further hoped, that he
should meet with all the indulgence that could be
allowed him, viz. to fee his friends; to which
Mr. Wright very humanely answered, by all
means; as to his friends visiting him, he could
have no objection ; for though in commitments
to the Tower, for high treason, warrants of the
Secretary of State generally expressed, that they
should be committed close prisoners, justices of
the peace, were only empowered to commit to
the fafe custody of the several goalers. Mr.
Trumbull returned the bench thanks for the can
dour of their proceedings, and retiring, was con
duced under a proper guard to the place of his
confinement.
He is a genteel looking man, about thirty-five
years of age, and rather of a fallow complexion ;
appears to possess a clear and manly understand
ing, and conducted himfelf through the whole of
this trying feene with a collected fortitude, high
ly becoming his situation.
Tyler, the associate of Mr. Trumbull, has ab
sconded. Information, upon oatb, has been
made of his treasonable practices. Mr. Bond
waited at his lodgings till th ree o'clock yesterday
morning, in expectation of his return ; but it is
supposed he had received previous notice of the
fate of his colleague.
We hear, that amongst the papers of Mr.
Trumbull, several proofs are found fußcient to
criminate five perlons of diftinCion of corres
ponding with the enemy: Ail which perfoni
nave abfeonded on hearing that gentleman was
in custody.
(No. 842.)