The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1778-10-30 00:00:00, page 2

peace,: and prorhote and esiabhsh the prosperity of their countrymen and the general
well of the mpire.
And rfuantjg his questy's commiffion we hereby require nll officer; civil
and _ " . andsilll others hie Majefly'lloving subjects whatsoever, to be biding
and an 'ng unto in the execution of this our mlnifcsto and proclamation, and
of [" the matter: ein contained.
si GIVBN dsiNBW Yokxsisitbictrssibinl du] Os Oct'nbet, 1778.
_._. ss, .- . , CARLlSLE, (x.. s.)'
_ si '- 'si _ n. CLINTON, ("L. s.)
Ifshelrmellenciea command. " ss' " " -Wu- EDBN, (L. 5.)
Alilqu Fncmou, _$ecremry. ct
To the Ear! of CAKLISLE, Sir HENRY CLtN'sON, am! WlLLlAM EDEN,
si si Efqz bit Britarmic I/bjcsty': Comngfflonen. '
GENTLEMEN, _ _
HOUGH it is an individual Whl now addressc; you, be assured that it is
the language of every Virgintan. He cannot perhaps do justice to the sub
ject, but he is not unacquasiinted with tle sentnnents of the representatives of this
flute now assembled. Their voice, witnever heard. will be that of a people sore
with the aceumulated injuries of your tation, and de'termincd_to rnaintain, what
is now become the only object of Contlst, independence. Their voice wrll be that
."f 4 ple determined to be free, equally uuinfluenced by those professio'ns of
frien ship, which they dispife, and those hostilc menacee of future havock, which
", now nohnger dread. . . si _ '_ si- -' _
-
'Your manifeflo it the .last dying effort of a despairmg sanguinary factionsi. "lt
unfokis the pitiful situation to which you are reduced, and betrays the masiguity
of your hearts. Baffled in your hoPes of conPuefl, you now attempt the more
dangerous weapon: of diflimulation, and proie I the warmest zmchmemg to me
huppinese of Ametica. But such hollow precautions are not suitcd to a country
where liberty has taken deep root. They may suit the hypocrite of St. James's,
but, trust me, such artifices here excite only their deserved contempt. The con
duct of your matter, of your faction, has been one continued course of insisult.
When Aumica petitioned, when she threw kerselfupon the generosity, the justice
of your nation, nothing was heard ot but unconditional submissi'sim. She was
threatened with a torrent, which has vainly spent its fury. After three years of
cruelty and bloodshed, after the loss of zo,ooo of your hell troops, and the pro
suslon of millions. after the most generous alliance With the greatest power in
Europe. when fatal experience has evinced the folly of: your attempts, We'are
now presented with a manisesio, which, like the first serpent, carries with itno
thing [int deceit, hypocrisy, and fraud. But permit me to examine it more pan,
ticular . -
YouZe]! us, in the first paragraph, that you have made the most benevolent
ovezsses to Congrest and to all North America. You have been reduced to the
tree ty of acknowlcd ing that the claims which gave rise to these overtuns were
founded injustiu, an therefore you made them. But can ycu, without feeling
the guil blunt bearing witness to your shame, call these ovelsitutsies henevci'ent,
which, :hough justice claimed, were nttended at the same time with the butchcisiy
ofthose you d' de with the name of fellow citizens? You have offered nothing
sits! what ou ave admitted we had a right to demand. But when were 'they
* ' _ , ? t what time? And upon what principle? Was it the princiylt of
ss si ende} What! is it benevolcnt then to ransack Gcnnany, to tshuh the
i! osfritain, to let loose the rebellious Ssscot, our faithless domestics, anc sa—
ysi (ride. of Indiunt, to spread ruin and desolation through the whole continenc
[: Meat Your ofen were not made, though justice demanded them, until
you fl- your, ddufive hopet sruflrated, our idol, which you have served With
unwittin- M'Foarato and fillen. en indeed r overtures were nade,
but they sure ouiy to add fuel to that indignation w 'ch already glowed in the
lct * bull!" every Amerinu. Congrests in in turn. simd them with justsscpn
Your hour of concesion 'a: gone. _ A higlflpyd wan at-Rkkcto; and
- T usi'siffiesimsin m contendfl
Yet you once masses to concur with Con ress in the re-esiabflflzment of
. peace. lad mind them that they put be respon ibie to their consiitoentt, to the
svorlll, odd to;},od, for the continuance ofthisct war, and all it: consequen- casilami
fiel- _ 'r obnlhtueute are too wise not to know that it is in your powo-si'io put
an end hothewar, whenever ou please. The know that you may withdnw "our
Been and amid, and lawe t m in the ofeace ul enjoment of that liberty siou ave
;?o eruelly codeevoured'to deprive them . They leave it to the world, md that
si God to whom you so impioufly a ], to determine who are to be rehonsible
for the confinuince of the war, an ttt consequent caiamitiet. Your offen'nclude
" _ " but what frsieemen hold their unalienable righu, and which it issiitsolesince
- 39 offer. so it the privile of Britain to conser those right, those gift: of staves]?
me we rooeiv - as the avoctun of an infamoue tyrannie Court, what Sir! and
own! gave! issreotupo'n the wide bafit of equality, and then peace, with an
' of t'q'irilj, ma take place. You do well to temiud Congess, thai they
' must be nsponsihle to eir confiituenu for the continuance of this war, sor,'be
' they have" too much wisdom not to know that an acceptance ofyourolfen
would brin down upon their m head: the vengeance of an miured people As
to God a the world, the opposition they have made molt be well pleasin ,o the
'one, lad matterof lflonishment to the other. A new world hat arisen from echz'ou
, of tynitny and usurration, the spirit of God has moved upon the face of this westsiern
hemisphere, has on] ed forth liberty from amidfl confusion and disor'der. si
" But you assert, that Congrest was not authorised to rg'ffl your offen wi-hout
._ the consent of their conflituents. They might then, it it presumed, have leapted
theuIsor you would not have desired to treat with them. But this it one ofyot'ir
old stale Machiavelian ices, livid: U ' it. The people ofAmerica hugh
At your folly, whilothey ispise your weakne :. -'Have you not seen that pallasiuisin
'American union; that Gorgon to Britlin, have you not read the tonfederagioh I
.]
_ ere you will God that Cougrest alone is to determine all,:oatten of treaty with
Mign nations. Readit, but beware, left, like the hand upon the wall, it should
Pr/
,_ctlrike you alewith horrour. ' _ '
You cal u the General Assembliee of the different states to consider your
_ ovyemn'u. ou cannot be ignorant of the answers which would be given, were
; _ _ to msidcr them. Virgmia had not even eondescended to receive your ro
!
, po tion, Well knowing they could contain nothiisig different from what you ss ave
_. Ml 'd beset; Cossressss The other (tate: wi probably treat them in a similar
M.:thyou r eft, to the same paragraph, that it is not your design to
_ popular div' : and partial cabals. it would be derogatssory to the gene
_ tum of your offen, and unbecoming the digni of your magnaninwus
Men (range contradiftjon! it is both your wiz and dut , you say, to
sin; ss ct god s nally men, or bodtet of men, in return os oyllty to your
sovereign, anssd : ion to yoursellow subyects. Howdifflcolt is it for the guilty
to escape their own oondemnatton! You des se your tmnifesioes, you attempt
_. to break tbechaut of fedenl omen; you thin it your duty to encourage the apos
ate hunt the cause of liberty,;— You lttempt to kindle : flame in the heart of each
, state, undyet you would not Fomentpopular division: and cabals. lt is upon these
__ ,ppular Gyisiom and eabals that yourlasi sorlom hope is now placed. But, trust
ye. no began in mour anddelusion. thus your politics must end. You have
nlufl _ oonsifieat. But thit small degree of merit serves only to precipime
your nun- '
Your next paragraph (can you but the reputitlon osit) tells the free inhabitants
of the American empil'e, that the grievances have been for ever removed which led -
them into this rebellion. Is this the language of conctliation) Is it not onou [p 4
to insuit us with the :tbsurdtty of telling us that all our grievances are remov
at a time when the horrours of the cruelest war are practised with the moli perse
vet'ing obstinacy, without adding the opprobrium of rebelliom guilt;_ Why, in
your former ovettures to Congreisis, did you admit the cioimoof America to besijush
and now brand her sons with the name- of rebelsi? Can an opposition, founded
in justice, be rebeilion? A Scotch casuiit might find rebeilion in any opposition,
unless it originated in his own country; but surely this was not a time, siorctwa
it consistent with the office you have undertaken, to adopt such language. But, if
it be rebellion, there is t'catce an American but glories in the nfime of rebel. You
invite those who prefer a military list: to seek for honour under your liandards.
They are too much tarnished, too much fallen irom their formes high pinnacle of".
glory, to reflect honour upon their unfortunate suitowci'e. Btium may well .
remember the time when the sons of Ametita robiy fought and died under her
ltandards, but the time is now for ever gone. si
To those who exercise the functions of religion on this continent, your address
is no less unmanly. it is in Amertca alone that religion has at length gained a'
free and universal tolemtion. Eursipc, nay Great Britain with'its bodies} freedom,
shil groans under religious bondage. Amen'ca presents you an example worthy
of imitation. She knows no difference, but such as merit alone points out. The
good citizen is her object, and not the scctsitriit. Fsiear not therefore for her reli
gious liberty. The aihance with France concern: the cinusin, and not the divine..
' Those who molt dtimate the blessing; of peace, of :tgticuiture, art:, and comsi
simerce, those who can feel" a due aoxktytior the education of theirctehilctdren, are
those whom you have molt to dread. ese 'are confiderl-p'one which mon imi.
mateiy concern the interests of men. Tht peace which render: obr'eonm'emsigzn "
unbounded as the ocean itself can alone ittroduce agriculture, arts. and science,
can alone enable us to give our son: thact virtuous liberal education, which wsiisslsi
render them the sinn supporters of what their fathers have atchieved, can ale?
present to their infant/ minde a pleasin ecollection of theirpnve aneeit '. . 4
But if America will not acceft o )oqr ove'rtures. and 'flifl persfl sn ,
.
*l
resolution: of independence, &: ] conide in the siea-rflnno ALLaNcectct , - ,
1
France, the benevolence of Great Brita'n must be cheekedsif fild _war, which you _- si].
say has been hitherto carried on with mdemest and compassion, "must .he seIt-iu- ,— "1
ail its horrours. Thus, after three yaan of constant hostilities, of a war,,prosc- ."..3:
coted in a manner which hill asionishd all Europe,_ censured, condemned, andsi '. :.
reprobated b your abliei} Senatora, my by your yery'Genet-ais', we are n'owf told '-_'
that Great gritain will no longer exend her'tender merciq towards ua. _. ;"
horrouu of war are now already felt 'n eva- cosittctage alms} in_ Ameriea. " _ six,
do you [till add insult to insult. Wht cr ties have you ootalready comntitt'edsi 'fss
what numbers have you not brought v_lin5ering death; by faminsse,__or by dpseasef !" ,
what jails but have dil'gorged hundred: o our miserlbie fellow ctttzens! sswpatsis .
means have been lest untried to spred ruin and desolatipn tothe utmost eaten: us.;
Menacea are still left you; but, imp-tentand weak, you havetsso longer Stengthss;
to discharge the venom which rankis in your hearts. -_ __._ __ _ __; ct
I
But we]! you able to satiate yourreveagesui appetite}, byrsstopng tnssflaughtetjss ,
and desolation along ourlsea coasts, it would butmorssesiwietely riget our ussn'm - si
with France. America would thenbe rendered mond; deatssoh her, ande :
European powers, for a thousand nicks, whichjhe psi totherwnse be willmsigg 'si_ - . si
import from Britain. Thi's flep alone seem: wanting to egmpiete the ruin ofxqug "" ...ct
country. You declare, that you have neither the power nor the mchuatloysi to ,_ 3
acknowledge our independence. All treaties wig on anoj' curse at .: . _
s'
The power- of Europe, nature itself. will soon e it o'uctsiasi ppdaholctt _ '_ '
cannot be maken. . *
Your next paragraph it (till a repeated ntockesityof sithe cctonissndn , Wings sifss
the whole eontinent. It is true we first toolsit up unde only, to "In ! lsiedresl
grievancee, and it ia no less true that you have 7 Mucedtn (he _ , ss
offering more than we at first desired; but the foll o your own council: lus M
the favourable moment of re-union. Wounds, w ieh time can never effuce, have
for ever separated un. What considence could werwse itji a peopp who llch
thursted after our blood, and sought our utter ruiut _ hat madgpfg, what post],
lanimity, could dictate a re- union with a pie St whom i'uchunpessardof call
mities have been derived ? What treac ery _ ahaqdoti angshactnee which .
ensum independence, security, and peace. - * . , -
But you are-gracioufly pleased to offer your pardon; once more to the unfortu- ,
nate rebel. Can you then suppose Amica, qreven a fingiesictmencao, but rnust
deride and contemn, such vain insulting proffers? Jtsi would __be happy for Brltun
indeed if America ovld extend her rdom to her ; it mi in he happy for one of .
her commiissiionm ' the world woul pardon him., But (grsih ica, she gloris
in the cause she is eng in, and future generation: will eo ell- that the sum];
of mankind cannot ent an epocha more illustrious for true patrumsm, for these
virtues which dign' y and ennoble man. _ ss _ _ __ sssi
Your pmclamation will soon expire, and leave you the momsigatton to find that
America i: not only able to withstand your anm, butyous prvficen, You in:;
return and find some eonsolation in the smilel of departedimajesty. The E _
ladies may engage you another lucrative commiflion. _Yo,u my turn your
with regret from the rising randeur of Amertca to the mtserabje catasirophe whtsieh
await: your own nation. ' ou may behold your present master at the fatal giegauvo I
instruction to his successour: for ever. ct _
' A M E R ! 0 A N U S.
N E W L O N D O.N,"Septmber 24.\
N Pride : Bag arrived here from New Yosk, with only four prisonere. The
sing sai ed the :oth insiant from New York, by which we learn, that Lord "
Howe and Govemor ]ohnfione, were to sail for Great Britainin three dsia s, the ?
latter bein dismifl'ed by Congress; and that the other commisfionerr. had _ not .. ,.
to Congre : a ratiflcation of General Burgoyne's connexion. . ,, 4 ' si ' p
i
]
. - . - - . :
T R' E N T o N, octctbctss, ,
Y : letter from isiGentleman at camp at Frederickshurg we are informed, ther
our army are greatly exaspered at the cruelty of the Bn'tish soidiery in the
.affair of Colonel Baylor, and cry out for revenge. :
We hear that :: packet has arrived at New York with the August mail, which
contuint such dispatchu for the Commander in Chief, es have given the toriel and
resugect great uneasiness. [! it said New York it shortly to be evacuated, and
-that those gentry are petitioning for :: ganison to be left. these; promising to do
duty as soldien, and to give the garrison every affistance in this power. The day
of their distress seems to be hastening fast upon them. - - - _
We have just received information that ten regimel ts of the enemy have received
"order: to embdrk at New York from the West lndies. '
, General Count Pulaflu, with his legion ofhonse and food, arrived hete on Sun
day list from Pennsylvania. Monday evening the Gcneralreceived inlsi-Higcnce .
that the enemy were about to make a descent upon Egg Hnrbour, md yrsierday. 4' '
morning he marched for th: place with aii hit troops, in high spirits and with
great alacrity. ' .ss