The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1783-06-24 00:00:00, page 1

Messieurs PRINTERS,
Please to insert the following and you will oblige
a constant cußomer.
TN your paper, No, 957, I observed two pieces,
I the one figged foftice, the other Impartial
Farmer. The latter was written with some can
dor, the other with too much fpirir and acrimo
hy to be worthy of notice. As soon as Judice
will write with less vengeance, and cool down
hispaffions so as to become a proper fubje& to
be reasoned with, I will treat him with ail due
Attention , meanwhile I (hall leave him to the
full enjoyment of his own productions without
making any animadversions upon them.
The arguments made use of by the Impartial
Farmer, in favor of the Commutation, may be
reduced, to these two : viz. Firlt the justice of
ft, and secondly the engagements of Congress.
As to the justice of it, it is urged, that the pay
ment of the army has not been made good, then
letit be made good ; will this fatisfy ? It is fur
ther urged, that many have ruined their consti
tutions by the fatigues and hardships they have
undergone during the war; let these have half
pay, or whole pay, as fall be thought reasona
ble, till their constitutions are mended, and are
under circumstances to provide for rhem^lves; —
there are but few I presume will object' to this :
I am willing that ample fatisfa&ion Ihould be
raade to those brave men.
Another argument in favor of the Commutation
is, that the officers of the army were moltly
young men, that they engaged in the service of
their country at a time when they had a chance
to make their fortunes, had they continued with
their fellow citizens ; and many quitted lucra
tive employments which are now gore into o
tier channels, and never likely to return to then:
again. But who are they among their fellow
citizens, that have made their fortunes by the
war ? The three learned profeffions, in general,
have procured but a bare fubfiftance : The mer
chant, the farmer or tradesman (with some few
exceptions) have done no more : The frequent
calls ofthe militia, the heavy taxes, the exorbi
tant price of salt, and other necessary articles of
living, have prevented the citizens from taking
any advantage by the times.
As to Speculators, according to the best in
formation, there have been two in the army to
one in the country ; many of the officers in the
army have bought the notes of theif soldiers, at
a very moderate price,and made considerable tor
tunes by the means; whereas there have been
but a very few in the country that have been
under circumstances to purchase thole notes be
lowpar, and these they were obliged to part with
to pay taxes. Within the circle of my acquain
tance, there is not an officer of the army but
what has doubled his interest by the war; and
in general are under much better circumstances
than their fellow citizens of the fame ciafs :
Where then the justice of the Commutation ?
The citizens of America, in general, have a
very great abhorrence of pensions : Why would
the gentlemen of the army then, with to fee a
method adopted so contrary to that line of con
duft, which has heretofore distinguished them
for heroes andpatriots ? Why would they with
to mingle with their fellow citizens with that
badge of diftinaion, which would tarnilh all
the glory of their former exploits ? There does
not appear, upon the whole, the lead shadow of
an argument, upon the principles of itri&juliice,
in favor of the Commutation.
WFJ^Y LNTE^GENCER.
// a RrFO RD: Printed by H UDSO N amp GOOD W TN," tot the Gm-at BRi P ce;
TUESDAY, JUN e 24, 1783.
WHITEHALL, April 12.
Extracts of letters from Lieutenant-General Sir
Eyre Coote, K. B. dated Madras, the 31st of
August and 25th of September, I^2, receiv
ed at the officeof his Majesty's principal Secre
tary of state for the home department, on the
7th of April, 1783.
WHILST I was straining every nerve in ad
; vancing the army tb the neighbourhood
of Chinglepur, to counteract the views of Hy
der and the French, I anxibufly looked to the re,
fult of my reference to the Governor General,
rind to the arrival of their orders in consequence,
aS a period which would undoubtedly restore to
me that authority over the southern troops which
would enable me to (tired them to such a co
operation as might tend equally to facilitate my
own movements, and diftra& th^ designs of our
enemies: But molt Unfortunately on the 18th pf
February, long before any answer could come
come from Bengal, Col. Brathwaite was attack
ed by Hyder Ally's son Tippo Saib, and Mons.
Lally, near the banks of the Calleroon, and to
tally defeated. His whole detachment, confid
ing of about 200 b infantry, 250 cavalry, 18 of
ficers, and a field train of 13 pieces, were either
captured or destroyed.
'The French being free from any apprehen
sions of a check from our southern forces, and
covered by the army of Hyder Ally to the north
ward, which secured them from all sudden at
tack by my army, proceeded in perfeft security
againi[ Cuddalore, which being incapable of
holding out for any length of time, was on the
6th of April surrendered to the French forces,
under Mons. Duchemin, on terms of capitula
tion, which I have the honor to inclofe.
To his Excellency Sir Eyre Coote, K. B. Lieu
tenant General and commander in chief in
India.
SIR,
It gives me much concern to inform you, that
this garrison surrendered to the French arms on
the 4th inftaht in the morning. A copy ofthe
capitulation I have now the honor of forward-
ing-
1 flatter myfelf your Excellency will excuse
me for not fendingit sooner, as I have been pre
vented by a multiplicity of business, owing to
As to the engagments of Congrefs,it never has,
as yet been determined whether they ever had
a right to make those engagements---! am very
sure it never was the design ofthe States, to in
vest Congress with a power of granting pensions.
—lt is fully declared in the confederation, that
Congress shall assume no power to themselves,
in arid over the States, but what is expressly de
legated to them by the confederation. And if
the Congress were not expressly delegated with
any such power, then their resolves in this case
can be considered no other than recommendato
ry ; in which case it is left to the election of each
State, whether they will comply with them or
not.
Should the Impartial Farmer then, go to tbe
door of every citizen in this State, and make a
true representation of the matter, lam confi
dent, that nineteen out of twenty would vote a
gainst the pension, as a dangerous precedent,
which they would never wish to fee established
in this land of light and liberty.
CIVES.
Further Advices by the Swallow Packet;
constant Applications from tire gentlemen in
charge of the French officers, relative to the de
livering over the stores, &c. of this garrison.
I have the honor to be, &c.'
(Signed) JAMES HUGHES;
Cuddalore, April 6, 1782.
.SIR,,
„The French General, being defirohs of hat.
l"g a s little bloodshed as possible, has sent me to
inform you, that the Nabob's troops havingjoin.
ed his army, if you do not immediately furrth
der, it will be out of his power, to prevent the
plundering of the fort, being promised to the Eu
ropean and black troops if they attack it.
In consequence of which he proposes artfefes
of capitulation; such as, from your situation.
J L ° U ^.^ afl ? n to ex P e ^; wishing to convince
the English, that it is only in war we look on
y° u ^ s en e,es ; and being sent for this purpose
by Mons. Ducheman, General of the French ar
™y> I hg n these his firft propofols, according to
the power he has in invested me with % °
^^l L Le Vte. de Houdetot.
The above is a translation of a cony
from the original.
[Here follows .the articles of capitulations]'
On the 12th, I received intelligence of the
enemy having commenced the siege of Parma
coli, and I find that garrison capitulated on the
17th.
I had no doubt of the enemy's forming de
signs upon Vandiwafh ; indeed my intelligence
gave me reason to believe, that the French and
Hyder would march imediately to attack it. I
therefore moved the army towards it with all
possible dispatch, in full persuasion that our ene
mies would have met me there, and tried a de
cisive a^ior : But! arrived there without receiv
ing the smallest oppfition ; apprehending, how
ever, left the enemy might be in doubt about
my desire of bringing them to a&ion, and con
vinced that they would not feck for me in the
neighbourhood of Vandiwafh, where I could re
ceive them to so great advantage, I determined
to advance towards them. I accordingly made
two marclies in the direct road to the ground
on which we had observed them, from the hill
of Vandiwafh, to be incamped! But on my ap
proach they fell back, and both by my intelli
gence, and by u hat I could difcoVer from the
heights in the neighbourhood of our camp thev
took -up their Ration on the Red Hills.
This was a position in itfelf so strong and
could, by an army of such magnitude as Hyder's,
supported by a European force farexceeding the
numbers in my army, be occupied to so great
advantage, that Ijudged it expedient to lay my
intelligence and sentiments before the two next
officers in command, Major-General Stuart and
Col. Lang, that I might have the benefit of their
opinions on a matter of such momentous impor
tance, and on the issue of which depended the
whole of the British interests in India.
Upon a reference to the council of war, which
was held on this occasion, the idea I suggested of
drawing the enemy from their strong post, by
moving in a direction, which would effedually
check Hyder s supplies, and alarm him for the
fafefy of his grand magazine of Arnee, was una
nimously approved.
In conformity to that plan, we accordingly
marched on the 30th, and on the Ift of June, en
camped at the distance of about five miles from
Arnee. That day I receved intelligence that
Hyder, on hearing of the route we had taken.
[No. 961.