The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1778-07-07 00:00:00, page 2

Tn CONGRESS, fanen,l77^
ALETTEU^f the 9th from General Walking
torn inclosing a letter or the 9 th tb him from
General Sir Henry Clinton informing that the Earl
cl Carbfe, William Eden a^.d Governor Jthn^one,
three of the Cornmilfloners for redoringpeace between
Great Britain and America, are arrived in Philadel
phia, and requeuing a pail port for Doctor Ferguson
their Secre ary with a letter from them to Cqngrefs,
and a copy 0! General Washington saniwer, declin
ing to grant a patTport till the p-eafuro of Congress is
known, was read.
Ordered. That the fame be referred to a Com
mittee of three.
June 12.
The Committee to whom was referred the letter of.
th^'^th -front General W-afhingtoA, with the papers
incited, brought in a report which was taken into
c^nftderation arid after debate,
• Rr olved, Tnat the farther consideration thereof
le postponed.
Saturday June 13.
Congress r^fumed the confidetalion of the report of
the Committee on the letter of the 9th from General
Washington with the papers enclosed.
During the debate an express arrived with a letter
of tire lith from General Washington. which Was
read and a pac et in which was enclosed together
w.th other papers, a letter signed 'Carlifle William
BLn George Johndone " dated " Philadelphia
fone 9 1778" and directed '' Tohis Excellency
Henry Laurens, the President and other the Mem
fees of Congress." Which letter was. read to the
lords " infid bus interposition of a power which
has from the firft feitlement of tl&b Colonies feed
a&uated with enmity to its both, And notwithfiand
ing the pretended date or present form of the French
offers " inckihve; whereupon the read ng was in
terruped, and a motion was made not to proceed fir
tber, bee use of the offenfive language against his
Mod Christian Maj^fty.
Debates arrfing thereupon,
Ordered. That the confi fetation of the motion
be postponed. And Congress adjourned to 10 o'-
clock on Monday. June 15 P. M.
Congress resumed the consideration of the motion
refpe&ing the letter from the C^mmiffioners of the
King of Great Britain : After debate, adjouri ed to
10 o'clock tomorrow June 16.
Congress resumed the consideration of the motion
refpe&ing the letter from the Commissioners of the
Kingof Greatßritain which being pofponed.
A motion was made 'That the tetter fiom the
Cummilhoners of the King of Great Britain lie On
the table." Faffed in the negative.
_On motion, Resolved That the letter, and the
papers accompanying it, be read. Whereupon the
letter of the 9th andone dated June 1778 both sign
ed " Carlisle, Wlliam Eden. Geoge Johndone "
and a paper endorsed " copy of the commission for
refloring peace, &c. Tothe Earl of Carlifle, Lord
Viscount Howe, Sir William Howe, or, in his ab
fehce Sir Henry Clinton, William Eden and George
johndone," were read and also three aAsol the Bri
t^fh Parliament one entitled " an acT for repealing
an a& palled in the fourteenth year of his present
Majesty's reign, entituled an a& for the better regu
lating the government of the province of the Malla -
chhfers-Bay in New England". The other two the
fame as the bills already publifhed,-. The letters are
asfollow:
To his Excellency HENRY LAUR ENS, the Presi
dent, and the Members of Congress.
.GENTL EM KN,
WITH an earnest desire to flop the further effu
fi in of blood and the calamities of war. we
communicate to you. with the lead possible delay as
terour arrival in this city a copy of the commission
•vith which his Majelly is pleased to honour us, as
alfd the a&s of Parliament co which it is sou ded.
And, at the fame time that we assure you of our
most earned define to re establish, on the basis of
equal freedom and'mtttual fafety the tranquillity of
this once happy empire, you will observe that we are
veiled with powers equal tothe purpose, and fach as
are even unprecedented in the annals of our Ijllory.
1 In the present date of our affairs though fraught
with sub e&sof mutual regret all parties may draw
some degree of consolation, even aufpic'ous hope
from the recollection that cordial reconciliation and
adhaion have in our own and other empires, suc
ceeded to contentions and temporary divisions not
lefswioleut than tbofe we now experience.
" We with not to recal fubfects which are now
no longer in controversy and will reserve toa pro
pertime of difcufiion both the hopes of mutual bene
fit, and the confidetation of evils that may naturally
contribute to determine your resolutions, as well as
our own, orrth-is important occasion.
" The a&s of parliament which we fraufm/t id
you°hav ng palled With lingular ueai.iuTy, will fuf
ficiestly evince the (hfpofiUon efG.eat Britain, and
shew that the terms of agreement in contemplation
wjthh^s Ma ; euy and wuh Parliament are Inch as
come up to every wish that North America, either
in the hour of temperate deliberation ' or of thebtmod
appr- henfion of danger ;o liberty, has expressed,
More effectually to demounrate our ecod inventi
ons we think proper to declare, even in this our firft
communication, that we are disposed to concur in
every fatismeFory andjuft arrangement towards the
following amen : other purposes.
' To consent to a ceffat:on of hostilities, both by
sea and land.
" To reflore free intercourse, and revive mutual
affection and renew the common benefit of natura
lization through thefeveral par s of this empire.
Io extend every freedom to trade that our re
fpe&ive interels can require.
" To agree tha< no military forces fhril be kept
up in the different dates of North-America, withe ut
the consent of the General Congress or particular
Assemblies.
' To concur in measures calculated to discharge
the debts of America, and 10 raise the credit and
Value of the paper circulation.
' Toperp.tuate our union by a reciprocal depu
tationofan Agen t,or Agents from thedifferent Stages,
who fliall have i+e privilege of a feat and vo ce in the
Pirliamen o r Great Britain ; or if sent from Britain.
Britain in that case to have a feat and voice in the
AdembJies of the different Sia.es to which they may
be deputed respectively in order to attend to t^e fe
veral in erefts of those by whom.they are deputed.
' In fhert toe abldh tl.eppwer of the refpe& ve
legislatures in each particular State, to fettle its reve
nue its civil and mjhatarye'lablifhment and to ex
erciie a perfect freedom of legislation and internal go
vernment, so that the British States throughout
North America ading With us in peace and war un
der one common fovere'gn may have the irrevoca
ble en;oyment of every privilege, that is fho:t of a
total feparauon cf intereds or confident with that
union of force, on which the fafety of our common
religion and liberty d< pends.
'ln outanxiety for prefervingthofe sacred and
eflential intereffs, we cannot help taking notice of
the infidions interposition of a power, which has
from the firff lettlement of these colon es, been actua
ted. with enmity to us both. And notwitiiftading
the pretended date or present form of t! e French of
fers to North America, yet it is notorious that these
were made in consequence of the plans of accorumo
dation previously Concerted in Great Britain, and
with a v ew to prevent our reconciliation, and to
prolong this dellrufhve war.
•' But we trust that the inhabitants of North-Amea
rica, connected with us by the named ties of con
fanguinity, ipeaking the fame language, intereftedin
the preservation of similar institutions remembering
the former happy interccurfe of good offices, and
forgetting recent an'mefities, will shrink from the
thought of becoming an accession offeree to our late
mutualenemy, and will prefer a firm, a free and per
pe'ual coaliton wuh the paren fate, to aninfincere
and unnatural foreign alliance.
" This dispatch will be delivered to you by Doc
tor Ferguson, the Secretary to his Majesty's Gommi
flion. And forfurther explanation and difeuffion of
every sub est of difference we desire to meet with
you, either collectively or by deputation at New-
York, Philadelphia. York Town, or such other pla
c^is you may piopofe, We think it right, however,
to apprive-you. that his Majesty's inftruAions, as
well as our own desire to remove from the immediate
feat of war. in the a&ive operations of which we
cannot take any part may induce us speedily to re
move to- New York : Bat the Commander in Chief
of his Majely's land forces whois ored with 113
in this commiiTion..will, if it ffiould become eligible,
either concur with us in a fu 'penfion of hostilities,
or will furniffi all ne&effary palfports and fafe con
dud to facil fate our meeting, and we shall of course
expect the fame of you.
“ If, after the time that may be necessary to con
sider this communication and transmit your answer,
the horrors and devaluations of war Ihould continue,
we call God and the world to witness, that the evils
which muff follow are not to be imputed to Great-
Britain : And we cannot, without the most real for
row anticipate the profpe& of calamities whichwe
feel the moll ardent desire to prevent. We are, with
perfed refpe&,
Gentlemen
Your most obedient andmoft humble servants,
CARLISLE.
Philadelphia. Wm. EDEN, ,
gtb June, 1775. Geo. JOHNSTONE",
°"° ; ^ " at ^ re.l.red tca Committee
of five.
Eodem Die, .P. M.
The Committees whom was referred the letters
and papers from the Earl of Cari lie & c . Commif
honers from the King of Great Britain, reported the
draught of Hotter, which was read.
Resolved, I nat tke consideration thereof be
po.lpor.ed till to morrow.
June 17, 1778.
Congrefi resumed the confidcration as the draught
of tbe letter in aniwer to the letter and papers re
ceived from the Earl of Carlile &c, Commifiioners
from the King ri Great Britain, which was unani
mously agreed to, and is as follows !
To tl eir Excellencies the Right Hon. the Earl of
CARLISLE WILLIAM EDEN Eiq;
GEORGE jOHNSIONE, Esq; Cemmri
'°nersTrora his Britannic Majesty, Philadelphia,
IH/Vvs received the letter of your Excellencies
ofthe gtl^mflant, with tl e enclosures arid laid
them icore Congiefs. Nothing but an earned de
sire to fpve the farther effufon of human blood could
have induced them to read a paper, containing ex
pidhons so difrefpeAful to his Mod Cariflian Majes
ty tue good and great ally of these States; or to
cumider proportions so derogatory to the honour of
an independent Nation.
lie afls of tie ^rtiffi Parliament, the edm
miffion from year Sovereign and yonrletter, funpofe
the people of theff States to be fubjeAs of the Crown
0! Great Britain, and are founded on the idea of de
pendence which is utterly in ^dm'iffble.
lam Ju rd er dirt&td to inform your Excellen
ces, that Congress are inchned to place, notwith
fianoing the unjust claims from which this war ori
ginated and the fft manner in whth it hath
oecn condi^ed. I hey w ill thertfore be ready to
enter upon tl e confederation of atr eaty of peace and
commerce not incor fident with treaties already
Abutting when the King of Great Britain shall de
monftraie a sincere d-fpoftion for that parpofc.
Ike only food proof of this difpofiton will be an
c,''^ ackneM edgement cf the independence of
these states or the withdrawing his fleets and armies.
I have the honour to hi,
Y°'^ r excellencies most obedient ^id humble servant.
Signed by order ofrhe hnan'meus vo ; ce of Congress.
; HENRY LAWRENS, President.
Yorl, town June 17, 17,8.
Relolved Unaninioufly That Congress approve
the cenduA of General ML ffiingte in refuting a pass
port to De&or Ferguson
Published by order cf Congress
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
1 o the! Printers cf thetPennfylvania Gazette.
Gentlemen, '
WHILE I regret that Goverper Johnflene hrs
^thought it proper to write private letters in
to thcie Sta es upon the sub eel of tflis public com
mission and highly rcfpc& the determination of
Congress to prevent a private correfponaence with
the enemy 1 think I render a fatisfa&cry service to
the public in laying the following before them.
The aniwer was written im mediately alter tle receipt
0! Governor Johnftene's letter but was not lent as
Was intended. However, th-nking it too valuable
to he loft I prevailed ppon my friend the P efident
to allow it to lepublifhed with the letter which
gave occasion to it. I now fend them for publicati
on and am, Gentlemen. Yourmoft himblefervant,
York Town June 17 1778. W.H.Dbavton.
[Private]
Dear Sir, Philadelphia June 10, 17,8.
I PEG to transfer to my friend Dr. Ferguson the
private civilities which my friends Mr. Man
ning and Mr. Oiwald request in my behalf. He it
a man of the utmofi probity, and ofthehigheft efleera
in the Repul lie of Letters.
If you ihould fellow theexample of Britain tai
the hour offer mfolence, and fend us back without
a hearing, I shall hepe, from private friendship that
I may be permitted 10 fee the country and the wor
thy characters she has exhibited to the world upcra
making the lequeft in my way you may point out.
I am, with gicat regard, Dear Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
His Excel.Heniy Laurens. Geo. Johnstone.*
Dear Sir York-Tawn, June 14, 1778.
YESTERDAY I was honoured with your favour
£ of the lothand thank you fcr the tranfmiffi
cn cf those from my dear and worthy friends Mr.
Ofwaldand Mr. Manning.- Had Dc&cr Ferguson
been the I earer of these papers, I Should have ffiewn
that Gentlemen every degree of refpe& and attention^
that times and circumftarces admit of.
" It is, Sir for Great-Britain to determine whe
ther her Corr/miffioners dial! return unheard by th:„