The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-04-02 00:00:00, page 2

Mtffm PRINTERS,
HUMAN wisdom has never yet been able to form a con
stitution or system of government perfedly free of
imperfection. Alinoft every form ever pradifed upon by
civilized nations, has advantages peculiar to itfelf. Many
and great are the privileges of the democratical, or repub
lican form of government that we of this State are blessed
with. Ithas frequently been an objection to this form, that
true independency dftpirit, and real merit, are more gene
rally fuffered to pass unnoticed, while men of bad hearts,
and of wicked, and ambitious principles, by artfully prac
rifing on the paffions,the credulity and ignorance of the peo
ple, possess the honors, the confidence, and riches of the
State. This observation will prove, that virtue, and know
ledge in the people, are the best, and indeed the only sup
port of republicanism. When these fail, the form of go
vernment will necessarily become more arbitrary. It has
been further observed, that the people under a democracy
are generally too languid, flow, and undecifive in their
measures, especially in time of war, and thatthey are at such
a time more peculiarly in danger, on account of the advan
tages their enemy have of sowing the feeds of distrust and
disunion among them. The old adage Divide et Impera i. e.
Divide and Tyrannize has for ages made a part of the politi
cal creed of monarchs, against republicans.
The attempt made by our enemies to traduce the character
of the chief magistrate in this State, by insinuations that he
has been concerned in the illicit trade, prove the truth of
this observation. Indeed so much has been whispered a
bout this fubjed, and with such a degree of confidence, that
too many have believed it to be truth, and our enemies have
beheld the consequences in triumph. It was with peculiar
fatisfaftion that I perused in your last paper the Address of
his Excellency our Governor to the Affemblv,and their con
fequenttranfa&ions. I confefs it has fully fatisfied my mind,
and trust it will be the means of changing the sentiments of
many honest and zealous whigs, who have been misled by
the artifices of our open and secret enemies. There are'a
set of people, whose mouths would not be flopped, should
Gabriel himfelf defeend to administer the government a
mong us.—Our cruel British enemies cannot away with the
idea of our Independency; and yet they have long since
despaired of subjugating us by the manly exertions of valour
in the field. Their attempt to carry their wished purposes
into execution against us by force failing them, they have
had recourse to, and for a long time have been pra^ifing
every species ofvilliany and artifice, which can be dilated
by meanness, revenge, despair, and all the infernal passions
which the granddeceiver of mankind is possessed of. These
practices have been carrying on by the secret emiffariesthey
fend among us, and by inimical tories and apostates,
The, all know the Governor to be a faft friend to the Liber
ties and Independence of these States —They confider him
as one of the Pillars of ournew Constitution—-they are well
acquainted with the peculiar enmity he bears the Illicit
Trade —with his Spirited and unremitted exertions to pre
vent it. Their plan has evidently been to ruin the character
of so formidable an enemy, in order to promote the interest
oftheir unjust cause—To effedthisthey have been attempt
ing to convince bis countrymen, that he himfelf is con
cerned, and benefits by the fame Illicit Trade ; and with this
view they have exposed large trunks, and packages of goods,
in New-York, addressed to him in fair and legible charac
ters ; and they have been frequently seen to fend them pub
licly on board vessels bound eastward, in so much that our
officers in captivity among them have been induced to be
lieve his Excellency was actually concerned, and many were
not undeceived, till they were exchanged and came out and
enquired into the truth of the matter.
The fad is, the enemy had not the least design that those
trunks and packages should ever reach the person to whom
they were directed. But they have in some measure an
swered their diabolical purposes, by sowing distrust in the
minds of many with regard to the integrity of their rulers.
To this cause it is principally owing that the freemen have
not made choice of Governor for two years past. I fay
principally, because every man has his enemies, and beyond
doubt other motives may aduate the minds of some. Cer
tain it is that for many years before, the people ofthis State
made choice of a Governor very unanimously. It has been
a rare thing to fee a counting of votes, the majority has been
so exceedingly apparent.
I begin to feel a national pride, which makes my indig
nation rife atthe thoughts of Suffering ourselves to be thus
imposed on by these emissaries, whom all true whigs des
pise, as the filth and offscouring of all things. Besides it
ever did, and ever will wound the feelings of the humane
and sensible part of mankind, to fee the innocent thus abul
ed, and the truly meritorious neglected through the artifice
of these betrayers, these Judas's. To fee those whose pa
triotism and distinguished services will immortalife their
memory, traduced, and slandered by thole incendiaries,
whose names will perish with their carcases in the dust of
forgetfulnefs. But I Forget mySelf; it was not my design
to turn panegerift. The faithful page of impartial history
will hereafter relate, what decency at present forbids me to
mention. The writer profeffes not to be actuated by little
party views. He feels himfelf a whig, and glories in the
chara&er, hates tories and all rheir cursed pradices, andcon
fi lets this affair not altogether as aimed against an individu
al. but as an intended injury to this State, and indeed to all
the United States through one of their confidential servants.
If fads are as they insinuate, why has there never a single
instance been foundout. Could these people prove what
they affirm, instead of Sneaking privately about incog, and
telling it in final! circles, they would publish it on the house
top, amd thunder it through the State in exultation. Only
tellthem that Burgoyne and Cornwallis are made prisoners
and they will hang down their heads like the bulrush.
This infamous tale has aclaft been told in such manner
that it has reached the Arfemb'y. the grand inquest of the
State. A proper enquiry has been had---A report of a Com
mittee of staunch whigs has been made— This report has
been approved of in both Houses of Assembly—The whole
is published. Let malice, envy, despair and tories, retire
confounded. Let honest men whohave been milled and
misinformed be convinced. Let all true whigs be Length
ened and unite ?, and show to the world, that as they are
able to distinguish, so they are determined faitably to notice
r , t , m^it, and that they never will Suffer themlelves to be
came the tools or dopes of fools or of knaves.
Connclient, March 1782. ^Republican Whig.
From the MARTINICO GAZETTE of the
28th February, 1782.
CAPITULATION of the islands ofSt.CHRIS
TOPHER's and NEVIS, between Count de
Grasse, commander of the naval forces of
his Most Christian Majefty,and the Marquis de
Bouille, commander of the French Wind
ward Illands in America ; and Thomas Shi
rley, Major General, Governor of the islands
of St. Chriftophers and Nevis, and Thomas
Fraser, Brigadier General, commander of
the troops ofhis Britannic Majesty.
I. Article. The Governor, the Comman
der of the troops, the officers and soldiers, the
officers and inhabitants belonging to the militia
who form the garrison of Brimstone-Hill, shall
go out thro' the breach with one mortar, 2 brass
field pieces, 10 rounds each, their arms, baggage,
and all the honors of war, and shall afterwards
lay down their arms, officers excepted.
11. The regular troops shall be prisoners of
war, and transported to England in good vessels,
with good provisions for the voyage, but they
shall not serve against the King of France nor his
Allies till exchanged. The officers may remain
in the islands on their parole, the militia and
armed negroes shall return to their habitations.
lIL The inhabitants or their attornies shall
be obliged to take an oath to the King of France
in the space of one month, and those who cannot
take it in that time, through sickness or other
wise, shall have a further time granted.
IV. They shall observe an exact neutrality,
and shall not be obliged to take arms against his
Britannic Majesty, nor any ether power. They
shall be allowed some arms in thei r houses for
preserving order among their negroes ; but they
shall be obliged to give an account of them to
the justices of the peace, who fhaJl be responsi
ble for any ill use that may be made of them a
gainst the tenor of the present capitulation.
V. They shall be allowed till a peace takes
place, their laws and customs : justice shall be
dispensed by the fame persons now in office ;
and the charge for the support of justice shall be
at the expence of the colony.
VI. The court of Chancery shall be kept by
the.officers now in place, and in the fame form,
and the appeals of said court shall be made to
the council ofhis Most Christian Majesty.
VII. The inhabitants, as also the clergy, shall
be maintained in the pdffeffion of their goods,
of what nature soever, and in their privileges,
rights honors and exemptions; in the profeflion
of their religion, and the ministers in the enjoy
ment of their cures. Those who are absent, or
in the service of his Britannic Majesty shall be
equally maintained in the possession and enjoy
ment of their property, which they may dispose
of by powers ofattorney. The inhabitants may
fell their goods and poffeflions to whom they
please ; they may fend their children to England
for an education, and receive them back from
thence.
VIII. The inhabitants shall pay into the hands
of the Treasurer of the troops every month, for
all duties, only the value of two thirds of the du
ties which the islands of St. Chriftophers and
Nevis pay to the King of England, according to
a calculation of the revenue of the colonies made
in 1781, which shall be considered as a basis.
IX. The slaves that may have been taken
during the siege, shall be religiously delivered up;
and they may be recovered in all the French
islands, windward or leeward.
X. . The inhabitants shall not be obliged to
furnifh quarters for the soldiery except, in extra
ordinary cases ; but the troops shall be always
lodged at the expence of the King, or in houses
belonging to him.
XI. In case the King should have occasion
for negroes to work, they shall be furnifhed by
the inhabitants of the beforementioned islands,
and to the number of SOO, but they shall be paid
at the rate of two bitts a day each, and visual
led at the expence of the King.
XII. The vessels and coasters, belonging to the
inhabitants at the time of the capitulation, shall
remain with them. The vessels which the inha
bitants expefl from the ports of England, or 2-
ny ports belonging to his Britannic Majesty,
shall be received in to the aforefaid colonies,
during the space of fix months, and may be a
gain fitted out for thence under neutral co
lours, and even from the ports of England, by a
special permission of the Governor ; and if the
said vessels should flop at any of the English is
lands, the Governor shall be authorifed to give
permiHion for their coming to said islands.
XIII. The inhabitants, merchants and tra
ders, shall enjoy all the privileges of commerce
granted to the fubje&s of his Most Christian
Majesty, through the whole extent of his domi
nions.
XIV. Whatever has been furnifhed to the ar
my during the siege to the present day by the
said colonies, the losses that the inhabitants have
fuitained by the burning their habitations or in
any other way, as also all debts contrasted, shall
be estimated by an assembly of the inhabitants,
and the amount shall be proportioned upon the
two colonies under the title of a contribution or
indemnification of the expence of the war, in
such manner that those fubje&s cannot be impu
ted to the stipulated duties which will take place
from the date of the present capitulation. But
the assembly of the inhabitants are allowed to
employ the arrearages of the duties in general,
which remain to be received to this purpose.
XV. The sailors of merchant vessels, crui
zers, or other persons who have no property in
the laid islands, shall leave them in the space of
fix months if they are not imployed in drugging,
or claimed by proprietors, who shall be relponfi
ble for them; and they shall be furnifhed with
the means of passing to the neutral inlands.
XVI. There shall be delivered up to the Ge
neral of the French troops all the artillery, and
effects in the said islands appertaining to his
Britannic Majesty, all the powder, arms, am
munition and vessels of the King, a Rate of
which shall be rendered to the Governor.
XVII. From regard to the brave and generous
conduct of Mess. Shirley and Fraser, we consent
they should not be considered as prisoners of
war; that the firft return to his government of
Antigua, and that the second continue his ser
vice, being much pleased in giving to these
brave officers some mark of our particular es
teem.
At St. CHRISTOPHERS's Feb. 12, 1782.
(Signed) Le Count de GR ASSE.
Le Marquis de BOUILLE.
THOMAS SHIRLEY.
THOMAS FRASER.
State of Artillery found at St. Chrifopher's at
the Capitulation.
T 42 Pieces of cannon, and 14 mortars, with
their proper appendages. In Fort St. Charles,
32 pieces of cannon. The different batteries
with their cannon to windward and leeward of
the fort, not herein comprised.
State of the Loss in the French Army, on Brim
flone-Hill.
Regiments, Armagnac, 3 killed and 12 wound
ed---Campagne, 3 do. 2 do.---Auxerrois, 6 wo.'
Agenois, 21 kil. 38 wo.—Tourraine, 12 do.
2 3 do.—-Viennois, 5 wo.—Royal Comptois, 2
kil.---Dillon, 3 kil. 5 wo.—Guadaloupe, 2 kil.
2 wo.—Martinique, 1. wo.—Lauzun, 2 kil.—
Voluntaires de Bouille, 2 kil.—Corps Royal de
Artillerie, cannonniers, bombadiers, 10 kil. 36
wo.—TOTAL, 66 killed, 130 wounded.---In
the number of which are reckoned 5 officers kil
ed and wounded.
The English loft in the defence 38 killed I2§
wounded. In the number of the firft were five
officers. Without counting the number of mi
litia, who according to report, amounted to 60
killed and 8 wounded.
Of the troops that Sir Samuel Hood landed
the 26th, 2 officers, and 157 privates killed
and wounded.
WE the Subscribers being appointed Commissioners.
by the Hon. Court of Probate, for the diftria of
Hartford, to receive and examine the claims of the fcveral
creditors to the estate of widow ESTHER BURNHAM, late
of Eaft-Hartford, deceased (represented insolvent) hereby
give Notice, that we shall attend the said business at the
dwell ing-houfe of Mr. RICHARD GILMAN, in said East-
Hartford, on the firft Monday of June next, at Two o'Clock,
Afternoon. TIMOTHY COWLES,)
ASHBEL PITKIN, )
Eaft-Hartfprd, March 27, 1782.
WE the Subferibers being appointed Commissioners,
by the Hon. Court or Probate, for the diftrid of
Hartford, to receive and examine the claims of the several
creditors to the estate of JOSEPH BERNARD, late of said
Hartford, deceased (represented insolvent) do hereby give.
Notice, that we shall attend on said business at the dwelling
houfe of Mr. THOMAS SANFORD, in said Hartford, on the
Two last Tuesdays in May, and the Second Tuesday in June
next, from Two to Six o'Clock, Afternoon, on each offaid
days. --No accounts will be allowed, unless properly aueft
ed, nor received after the Lift mentioned day.
CHARLES KELI OG, )
ELIHU EGLESTONE,)
Hartford, March 27, 1782.
fo'r
MUSTARD SEE D,
BY
MERCHANT CL A,R K.