The Newport gazette (Newport [R.I.]), 1778-09-10 00:00:00

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1778.
Letters and other papers, relating to the proceedings of his Majesty's Commissioners, &c. &c. &c.
(C O P Y.)
New-York, August 7, 1778.
SIR,
I have the honour to transmit to you by order of their Excellencies his Majesty's Commissioners, the inclosed paper containing a remonstrance addressed to the Congress, on the subject of the detention of the troops lately serving under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, with a requisition for their immediate release. To which I make no doubt that you will pay the attention due to matters of such high concern, and have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir,
Your most obedient, and most humble servant, ADAM FERGUSON.
To his Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq; President of the Congress.
Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton, William Eden, Esq; and George Johnstone, Esq; his Majesty's Commissioners appointed with sufficient powers to treat, consult, and agree upon the means of quieting disorders now subsisting in certain of the colonies, plantations and provinces of North America.
UPON a representation from the commander in chief of his Majesty's forces, that the troops lately serving under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, notwithstanding the solemn convention entered into at Saratoga, in which it is stipulated, that the said troops should have a free passage to Great-Britain; are nevertheless under various pretences still detained in New England: The following remonstrance against the unjust detention of those troops, and requisition for their immediate release, on the condition annexed to the article by which their passage to England is stipulated, are now solemnly made to the American Congress.
Whereas the means that have been devised by mankind to mitigate the horrors of war, and to facilitate the re-establishment of peace, depend on the faith of articles, military capitulations, conventions and treaties entered into even during the continuance of hostilities. From whence all nations have agreed to observe such conventions, as they reverse the sacred obligations of humanity and justice, and as they would avoid the horrid practices of retaliations, which, however justly due to the guilty, in such cases, but too frequently fall on the innocent.
And whereas upon these considerations, all breach of faith even with an enemy, and all attempts to elude the force of military conventions, or to defeat their salutary purposes by evasion or chicane, are justly held in detestation, and deemed unworthy of any description of persons assum-
ing the character of, or stating themselves as the representatives of nations:
And whereas it was stipulated in the second article of the convention entered into at Saratoga between Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, and Major General Gates, That a free passage be granted to the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to Great-Britain, upon condition of not serving again in North-America, during the present contest; and the port of Boston is assigned for the entry of transports whenever General Howe shall so order."
His Majesty's Commissioners now founding their claim on this article, join with the Commander in Chief of his Majesty's forces, in a peremptory requisition, That free entrance into the harbour of Boston be given to transports for the immediate embarkation of the said troops, and that they be allowed to depart for Great-Britain in terms of the said convention. And the said Commissioners, in order to remove every supposed difficulty or pretence for delay in the execution of this treaty, arising from any past, real, apparent, or supposed infraction of it by word or writing, on the side of either party, hereby offer to renew, on the part of Great-Britain, all the stipulations of the said convention, and particularly to ratify the condition annexed to the second article thereof above recited, by which those troops are not to serve again in North-America, during the present contest.
And this requisition, dated at New York, on the 7th of August, 1778, is now sent to the American Congress, for their direct and explicit answer.
CARLISLE, H. CLINTON, WM. EDEN, GEORGE JOHNSTONE.
To his Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq; the President, and others the members of the Congress, met at Philadelphia.
While his Majesty's Commissioners expected an answer to the above requisition, they received, on the 18th instant the following papers transmitted by order of the Congress, and have thought proper to send the answers subjoined.
In CONGRESS, August 12th 1778. RESOLVED,
That a copy of the declaration passed yesterday be signed by Mr. President, and sent by a flag to the Commissioners of the King of Great-Britain, at New-York.
Extract from the Minutes,
(Certified)
HENRY LAURENS, President.
DECLARATION.
Whereas George Johnstone, Esq; one of the British Commissioners, for restoring peace in America, on the 11th of April last,
did write and send a letter to Joseph Reed Esq; a Member of Congress, containing this paragraph, viz. "The man who can be instrumental in bringing us all to act once more in harmony, and to unite together the various powers which this contest has drawn forth, will deserve more from the King and the people, from patriotism, humanity, and all the tender ties that are affected by the quarrel and reconciliation, than ever yet was bestowed on human kind."—And whereas George Johnstone Esq; on the 14th day of August last, wrote and sent a letter to Robert Morris, Esq; another Member of Congress, containing this paragraph, viz. "We believe the men who have conducted the affairs of America incapable of being influenced by improper motives: But in all such transactions there is risk, and I think, that whoever ventures should be secured, at the same time that honour and emolument should naturally follow the fortune of those who have steered the vessel in the storm, and brought her safely into port. I think Washington and the President have a right to every favour that grateful nations can bestow, if they could once more unite our interests, and spare the miseries and devastations of war." Which letters were laid before Congress.—And whereas the said Joseph Reed, Esq; hath in his place in Congress declared, that "on Sunday the 21st of June last, a few days after the evacuation of the city of Philadelphia by the British troops, he received a written message from a married lady of character, having connexions with the British army, expressing a desire to see him on business which could not be committed to writing. That, attending the lady agreeable to her appointment in the evening, after some previous conversation respecting her connexions, the business and character of the British Commissioners, and particularly of Governor Johnstone (meaning the said George Johnstone, Esq;) were the subject of general conversation, which being more confined, the lady enlarged upon the great talents and amiable qualities of that gentleman, and added, that in several conversations with her, he (Governor Johnstone) had expressed the most favourable sentiments of him (Mr. Reed) and that it was particularly wished to engage him (Mr. Reed's) interest to promote the object of their commission, viz. a re-union between the two countries, it consist with his principles and judgment; and that in such case, it could not be deemed unbecoming or improper in government, (meaning the British) to take a favourable notice of such conduct, and that in this instance he (Mr. Reed) might have ten thousand pounds sterling, and any office in the colonies (meaning these United States) in his Majesty's gift (meaning to the gift of his Brit-

James M c Gregor, who, after finding an ad- vocate was exonerated, (see Mr. Reed) replied, "he was not a man of the highest order, but such as he was, the "Kingdom of Great Britain" was not rich enough to buy him."—And whereas the said papers were written and sent as aforesaid by George Johnson, Esq; and the said destruction made by Joseph Reed, Esq; call loudly on Congress to express their sense upon them; therefore,
Resolved, That the contents of the said paragraphs, the preamble in the said declaration, in the opinion of Congress, cannot but be considered as direct attempts to corrupt and bribe the people of the united States of America.
Resolved, That as the President, so they ought to demonstrate the high and most pointed indignation against such daring and atrocious attempts to corrupt their integrity.
Resolved, That it is compatible with the honor of Congress to hold any manner of correspondence, or intercourse with the said George Johnstone, Esq; especially to negotiate with him upon affairs, in which the cause of liberty and virtue is interested; and, for the propriety of such conduct, we make and publish to the world this our declaration.
Done in Congress at Philadelphia, this 11th of August, in the year of our Lord 1778, and in the third year of the Independence of America.
By Order of Congress,
HENRY LAURENS, President.
New-York, August 26, 1778.
His Majesty's Commissioners direct Dr. Ferguson to transmit to the President of the American Congress, for the information of the Congress, the Declaration of this day by Sir John Johnson, Esq. and other Commissioners of the King's authority, for the States of N. York, S. Carolina, and Virginia, and the King's Proclamation of the 23d of August last, for the re-establishment of peace in North America, and the Proclamation of the Earl of Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton, and William Eden, Esq. re.
ADAM FERGUSON.
Secretary to his Majesty's Commission.
New-York, August 26, 1778.
G EORGE JOHNSTONE, one of the Commissioners appointed by his Ma-jesty to carry into execution the gracious purposes of his Majesty and his Parliament for quieting the disorders now subsisting in North-America, and for maintaining the people of these provinces in the clear and perfect enjoyment of their liberties and rights, having seen a declaration of the American Congress, signed by Henry Lau-zers, their President, dated the 11th of August, to which for certain alleged reasons the ein specified, is subjoined the following resolution.
“ That it is incompatible with the honour of Congress to hold any manner of correspondence or intercourse with the said George J. Hostett, Esq; especially to negotiate with him upon affairs, in which the cause of liberty and virtue is interested. ”
The said George Johnson, for himself says, That he is so far from considering the said resolution of the Congress as offensive to him, that he rather receives it as a mark of distinction to which he is by no means entitled, either by his exertions in the cause in which he is employed, or by his abilities for improving any future circumstances that may occur towards fulfilling the purposes of the commission under which he is appointed.
That he shall be happy to find, when this exception as to him shall be removed, that the Congress are inclined to retract their former declaration, and to negotiate with others upon terms equally conducive
to the happiness of both countries, at the same time he is inclined to believe, that the said resolution of Congress has been issued upon similar motives with those resolutions respecting the encroachments of General Burgoyne's army, and calculated as an excuse to a deluded people for not finding an explicit answer to a plain requisition, that was made to the Congress from his Majesty's Commissioners, with regard to the unfortunate Soldiers who are detained at Boston, under every indignity, contrary to the public faith of a solemn convention signed at Saratoga, and also to serve as a pretext to the unhappy constituents of the Congress, who are suffering under the various calamities of war, for disappointing the good effects of the commission which the real friends of America had so long requested by the most solemn petitions, resolutions, and public declarations, and which so many of the inhabitants of this continent now desire to see carried into full effect.
As the great purpose Mr. Johnstone had in view in coming to North America, was to promote a reconciliation between Great-Britain and her colonies, with a full determination to do nothing that could have a tendency to prevent it, in order therefore to defeat the purposes intended by this resolution of Congress, the subscriber George Johnstone, thinks proper to declare acting as a Commissioner, or otherwise intertering in any message, answer, agreement, negotiation, matter, or thing, that may regard the said Congress, which he does with so much the more pleasure, as he is perfectly satisfied the business will be left in more able and sufficient hands, reserving to himself the liberty, if he should find proper of publishing such resolutions as he may think fit, relative to his conduct, against the resolutions shown on the
When the Colonies were contending for essential privileges necessary to the preservation of their liberty, under solemn declarations, that their resistance was calculated merely to obtain redress upon these points; Mr. Johnstone should have been sorry to have incurred their censure, though unheard in his defence, and upon a chain of evidence so totally inconclusive as to him.
At present when the Congress can remain seated to the crisis of so many of their fellow-subjects, who are suffering by the miseries of war, and from motives of private ambition can so far sell the principles upon which their first resistance was made, as to bow to a French Ambassader, and league with the ancient enemy of both our countries, from whose hostile designs Great-Britain has so often rescued the inhabitants of North-America, and this for the avowed purpose of reducing the power of the parent state, after all their just claims are gratified, and thereby injuring their nearest and dearest friends and relations, forgetting all the principles of virtue and liberty that ought to regulate the conduct of men in society : Mr. Johnstone is not anxious about the good opinion of such a body, notwithstanding the regard he shall always bear to many of the individuals who compose it, from a just allowance to be made for men acting under the heats incident to civil commotions, and from a certain knowledge they did entertain, and a persuasion that they do now entertain different sentiments,
With respect to the people of America at large, the subscriber sincerely wishes to avoid every subject of offence which designing men may possibly intend to create, by exciting angry passions in return to personal provocations, and thereby defeat any effects of good will towards Mr. Johnstone,
which the remembrance of former good offices he has rendered them might occasion. (Signed)
GEORGE JOHNSTONE. (C O P Y.)
(For further Proceedings of the Commissioners, see last Page.)
L O N D O N. July 6. Extract of a letter from Gosport, July 1. "Yesterday came into the harbour two French ships, one of 30 guns, the other commanded by Admiral Kepple's fleet; the principal part of the prisoners, to the number of 50, were guarded by the mi- litary. Patten prison; and this morning more were brought on shore; they are all so strong, in the number of 100, that no proper place can be found for them in the prison."
reinforced concrete and steel beams. This was the first time that this type of construction had been used in the United States. The building was a great success and was a model for many other buildings of its time.
Exhibit C is a letter from the Mayor, dated 25. of March, 1863, in which he says that he is in force here, and that, compared with the practice of other cities, he is in force on your side the water. He further says, that all those who have a certain capacity of seamen are required to be on board, to be called upon on any occasion, and that they may have a certain sum of money in another way of life. Many of the citizens of this town, who have followed different pro- fessions for many late years, are this day or- dered to march for Brattleboro' among the num- ber is Mr. Noble, who has kept the Bucksport, with much credit and success. He has acquired a great deal of money by his business, but cannot evade the necessity of obeying this summons.
"We think more of our own war now than we have hitherto done. The French put on long faces, and relate an affair that happened at Brest five or six weeks ago. I suppose you may have heard it from a different channel; it is, that Admiral Kepple lying before Brest, sent an English eight-and-twenty gun frigate to peep into the harbour, and see what they were about; a French frigate of forty guns came out, and demanded her business, when the English frigate answered with a broadside. This naturally brought on an engagement; it lasted some hours, and at last the French frigate returned into the harbour, with the loss of eighty men killed, and the Captain. What the English lost we have not yet learned. 'Tis reasonable to think that this account is true; because, as it reflects dishonour upon the arms of their country, the French would not otherwise be so willing to report it. The same express which brought the news, brought an order for a camp to be prepared in the B. & F. Ville here, for the reception of 15,000 men."
The Duke of 90 guns, with the Kent, Dublin, Intrepide, Cambridge and Defence, of 74 guns, are ordered immediately to join Admiral Keppel's fleet, who will then be a match for the Brest fleet, and in all probability will give a good account of them. Admiral Keppel takes several fire ships with him, and also the 50th regiment to act as marines.
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, dated June 29.
 "This morning was sent in here, and went into harbour, the two undermentioned French brigs, taken by his Majesty's frigate Fox, Capt. Windsor, about 15 leagues from Plymouth, v.z. L'Amieble, Victoire, Vincent, from Martinico, for 

Havre-de-Grace, with rum, sugar, cotton, and coffee; and the St. Martha, Guillaume de Faule, with flour for the French fleet at Brest.
The Fox was left by the above brig in chase of a French brig of 16 guns."
We are informed that the true reason for Admiral Keppel's returning to Portsmouth was, that he had discovered by letters and papers taken on board the Lutine, that the French fleet at Brest consisted of twenty-five ships of the line ready for sea; and as his fleet consisted of no more than twenty ships, he thought it advisable to return, in order to put him on an equality with the enemy. In this Admiral Keppel has shown as much conduct as he has ability in every other instance.
NEWPORT, Aug. 29. The late Sir William Johnson, who has been so long in the Indian department, died lately at Albany, and was afterwards one of his successors, being one of the Indian department since the death of Sir William Johnson, which happened in 1774; he was again appointed Sir William's successor in office, Col. John Johnson, whom he attended to Canada in 1775, in consequence of Col. Johnson's death, was then commander in chief of the corps to co-operate with Gen. Carlton; after which Mr. Butler, Col. Johnson, appointed to act as his agent or deputy at Niagara, which post he was ordered in October of last year. The last commander, Col. Claus, an old officer of much experience in the department, being by his Majesty's orders appointed to the command of the Indians in Brigadier-General St. Leger's expedition, Mr. Butler brought a body of Indians to join them, with other troops, assembled for that purpose, attended only by a small detachment under Sir John Johnson's command, totally routed the rebels, a reinforcement sent to Fort Stanwix killing the General and near 500 of his men.
Mr. Butler's son, a young gentleman of much merit, appointed an officer in the department of Indian affairs by Col. Johnson, and now in the 8th regiment, having been sent on duty to the German Flats, was there made prisoner, and suffered very cruel treatment, but has now happily got out of the hands of his oppressors.
The Indians, whose attachment to government, and the treaties they entered into in 1775, before the Superintendent, deserves much praise, began early this season to advance into the settlement. Joseph, the Indian chief, sent by Col. Johnson through the back country, took into its power to assemble them; and, after drawing the Mohawks from their settlement, part of which has been destroyed by the rebels, and placing their families in security in Canada, he is now advancing against the troops, &c. placed at the river settlement of Schoharie and Cobleskill, in this province, where, with only 100 Indians, he; by a stratagem, drew out above 300 men to follow him, whom he ambuscaded and cut off, taking 294 scalps, and destroying about 150 horses and barns, from whence the rebels derived great resources, which Lieut. Col. Butler, one of Col. Johnson's deputies, was likewise advancing to those settlements, against which his judgment and success have been particularly announced in our print.
His Excellency the Commander in Chief, has been pleased to make the following promotions:
XXXVII Regiment. Lieutenant Eyre
Coote, to be Captain by purchase, vice Smith, who retires. Lieutenant Logosier Chapman, to be Adjutant, vice Coote, promoted.
XL. Lieutenant Alexander Mair, from the 43d regiment, to be Captain, vice Wemyss, promoted.
XLII. Ensign Allan M'Lean, to be Lieutenant, vice Lord William Murray, promoted.
XLV. Lieutenant William Lyon, to be Captain by purchase, vice Wight, who retires. Lieutenant Charles Townshend, from the 43d regiment, to be Captain by purchase, vice Graham, who retires. Lieutenant Patrick Campbell, from the 71st regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Edwards, promoted. Ensign John Collins Overend, to be Lieutenant by purchase, vice Lyon, promoted.
XLIX. Lieutenant Thomas Gibson, from the 63d regiment, to be Captain by purchase, vice Walkinshaw, who retires.
LII. Serjeant Barton, to be Quarter-Master by purchase, vice M'Kay.
LXII. Captain James Wemyss, from the 40th regiment, to be Major by purchase, vice Niblett, who retires.
LXIV. Lieutenant John Kennedy Strong, to be Captain by purchase, vice Belcher, who retires.
August 25. His Excellency the Commander in Chief has been pleased to make the following promotions:
XVIth regiment. William Ranken, from the 45th regiment, to be lieutenant by purchase, vice M'Pherson, who retires.
LXIV. Ensign Emanuel Hutchinson, from the 46th regiment, to be Lieutenant by purchase, vice Strong, preferred.
Yesterday a number of deserters from Gen. Washington's Army, amongst whom were six artillery men, came to this city.
Sept. 1. Last Friday arrived at Sandy-Hook from England, Rear Admiral Parker, in the Royal Oak, with the Conqueror, Capt. Colby; Sultan, Capt. Wasslock; Grafton, Capt. Wilkinson; Bedford, Capt. Affleck; and Fame, Capt. Graves, of 74 guns each.
By a person who lately escaped from the settlement of Schoharie we are informed, that in the beginning of last month a respectable body of loyalists assembled from various parts of the counties of Albany and Tryon, and marched from that place to join the intrepid Capt. Joseph Brant, who acts in concert with the gallant Col. Butler.
Few or none of the American privateers have made their appearance in the West-Indies since the Randolph has been taken; but on the contrary, many prizes from the continent have lately been carried into the islands; the last was a large Schooner from Virginia for St. Eustatia, loaded with tobacco, sent into St. Kitts, valued at 10,000l. She sailed in company with another Schooner that got safe into port.
On the 20th inst. Capt. Sibley, in the Tryon letter of marque, took a small rebel privateer belonging to Egg Harbour, called the Glory of America; William Williams master; the crew were taken out, and yesterday brought in here by his Majesty's ship Maidstone; Captain Gardner, who was good enough to receive them on board the Tryon. The Captain of the privateer and one of his hands were put on board the Daphne.
Sunday last arrived here the Sloop Friendship, Conway Master, from Alexandria, in Virginia, mounting six four pounders, laden with tobacco for Maryland: She was taken on Tuesday last, in lat. 34. long. 72, by the Letter of Marque Sloop George and Elizabeth, belonging to Messrs. Moses and Neal of this city.
The ship Glasgow, Capt. Harrison, of 18 guns, and the ship Neptune, Captain Smith of 14, arrived here last Friday night, in 13 weeks from Glasgow; The 20th of July, they fell in with an American frigate of 26 guns, and sail of men, with whom they engaged three glasses, and in close, that she thought proper to make the best of her way. Capt. Smith had one man killed and another wounded; and Capt. Harrison had two men killed, and one wounded. The frigate sailed very fast, and the other ships being deep loaded, could not pursue.
NEWPORT, September 10.
Last Saturday the fleet of Transports, with the Troops which sailed from here last Week, passed by this Harbour in their Way to Bedford, where they arrived that Evening, and we hear they have destroyed upwards of 60 Sails of Vessels, among which were a Number of Privateers; likewise Sorely distressed with different Kinds of Merchandise.
At the same Time Lord Howe with the Fleet appeared off coming from the Eastward, having been in Pursuit of the French Fleet, which has got into Nantasket Road, The St. Alban's, Peacock, and Centurion, came into this Harbour.
The Rebels now find that instead of attacking, they have a Sufficiency to do to protect their own Coasts, from those very Britons they have affected to despise. And they must e'er this be convinced that it is in their Power, (notwithstanding the Assistance of the perfidious Allies) to lay waste their most flourishing Sea-Ports, and reduce them to the most abject Misery and Wretchedness.
Sunday arrived from New York, His Majesty's Ship Nantikus.
This Morning, failed the St. Alban's, Peacock, and Centurion, also a Number of small Vessels.
TO BE SOLD, AN exceeding fine HORSE and ITALIAN CHAIRS, complete and in good Order; a Horse Cart and a good Cart Horse, Three Milch Cows, a very fine Eight Day Clock, and some Kitchen Furniture. Whoever wants to purchase any of the above Articles may apply to PETER EWING, opposite to Scoll's Meeting in Newport.
LOST. LAST Sunday Night, a SILVER WATCH, Capt. and Jewell'd. Maker's Name John Crouch, Knightbridge. No. 24. (engraved both on the Cap and Ladder of the Watch, instead of Figures for the Signs of the Dial plate, are the letters JOHN CROUCH.) Whoever has found the same and will bring it to the Printer, or to the King's Arms, shall receive SIX DOLLARS REWARD.
TO BE SOLD A NEAT Silver mounted FUSEE. Engraved of the Printer!

DECLARATION.
WHEREAS the Earl of Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath, and William Eden, Esq; three of his Majesty's Commissioners, appointed with sufficient powers to treat, consult and agree, upon the means of quieting disorders now subsisting in certain of the Colonies, Plantations and Provinces of North-America, have received a declaration of the American Congress, dated the 11th instant, which relates to a Gentleman with whom they have the honour to be joined in Commission, and is meant to affect him as a Commissioner; they hereby think proper, on their part, solemnly to declare, that they had not any knowledge, either directly or indirectly, of the letter and conversation alluded to in the said declaration, until they saw them made public in the newspapers. At the same time they do not mean either to imply any assent to the construction put on private correspondence, which the Congress have thought proper to publish, or to intimate a belief that any person could have been authorized to hold the conversation to which the said declaration of the Congress alludes — nor do they on the other hand mean to enter into an explanation of the conduct of a Gentleman whose abilities and integrity require no vindication from them. But they think proper, in justice to that Gentleman, as well as to themselves and to the Commission with which they are charged, to say, that in the many conversations which he has had with them upon the measures adopted to restore the peace of these Colonies, the principle of all his reasonings seemed to be, that the offers of Great Britain were obviously adapted to promote and establish the liberties, peace, opulence, increase security and permanent happiness of the inhabitants of this continent, and that those blessings in an equal degree were not to be expected from any other connexion or mode of government whatever. When therefore the King's Commissioners transmitted to the Congress the Acts of Parliament, to exempt the colonies for ever from British taxation, and to secure their charters and established governments: and when they added that they were authorized and desirous to restore peace, to revive free intercourse and mutual affection, to preserve the value and promote the credit of the paper circulation, to give satisfaction and security for ever on the subject of the military establishments, and to extend every freedom to trade; they felt that they were enabled to stipulate and had offered not only every thing that is or can be proposed by the French alliance, but also many advantages to this continent which can never by any possibility be derived from that unnatural connexion.
And they remain astonished at the calamities in which the unhappy people of these colonies continue to be involved from the blind deference which their leaders profess towards a power that has ever shown itself an enemy to all civil and religious liberty, and whose efforts his Majesty's Commissioners must repeat, whatever may be the pretended date and present form of them, were made only in consequence of the plan of accommodation previously concerted in Great Britain, and with a view to prevent the reconciliation proposed, and to prolong this destructive war.
This assertion is made upon the credit of the following facts. It is well known to this whole conti-
ment, that public intimation of the conciliatory propositions on the part of Great Britain was given to the British Parliament, and consequently to the whole world in the month of November last; and the reasons for delaying those propositions till after the recess for the holidays were at the same time given to the House of Commons.
It is equally well known, that the preliminaries of a French treaty, with which Mr. Simeon Deane first went to sea in the frigate called la Belle Poule, did not bare date earlier than the 15th of December.
It cannot be a secret to the Congress, that those preliminaries led to a treaty of commerce only, and where transmitted to America, in that inconclusive form, because the concessions made by France on the one hand were so unsatisfactory, and the conditions required of America on the other so exceptionable, that the Commissioners of the Congress did not think proper to proceed until they should be specially authorized.
Mr. Simeon Deane, after having been some weeks at sea, was obliged to put back into one of the French ports and returned to Paris: In the mean time the Parliament had met again on the 20th of January, and the propositions to be made, though not formally stated till the 17th of February, were occasionally during the whole interval a subject of discussion in all the preparatory debates upon the state of the nation. It was, during this interval, and not before, that France being informed of the liberal and extensive nature of the intended offers, thought it expedient, for the purpose of prolonging the war, and of making these colonies the instruments of her ambition, to new model and enlarge her proposals.
Still however the full powers are not pretended to have been given to M ons Gerard before the 30th of January. And whatever time the treaties thus notoriously flowing from the generous measures of Great Britain, may have been dated by the French ministers, either in fact or by collusion, for the purpose of giving an un candid interpretation to the proceedings of the British Parliament; whatever, too may have been the dates of the dispatches which accompanied those treaties, it is well known that neither treaties nor letters notifying treaties, were sent from France before the 8th of March.
When these particulars together with all the other circumstances attending the conduct of the French Court towards these colonies during the years 1775, 1776, and 1777, most of which must be well known to the American Congress, are duly considered, the designs of France, two ungenerous motives of her policy, and the degree of faith due to her professions, will become too obvious to need any illustration.
And his Majesty's Commissioners thought and still think themselves intitled to expect, that the general Congress should not on the ground of such treaties, even if the constitution under which they act, had authorized them, assume the decisive part, which they have taken, without previously consulting the assemblies of their different provinces, and making their constituents acquainted with all the facts upon which a true judgment might be formed.
New-York, CARLISLE. Aug. 26, 1778. H. CLINTON. WM. EDEN.
Published by order of their Excellencies his Majesty's Commissioners. ADAM FERGUSON, Sec'y.
For the Conveniency of the ARMY and OTHERS, TO BE Sold by Jacob Isaacks At his House in Broad-Street, For Cash only, the following GOODS, viz.
  PARKER & Rice & the best of   Son's best London Ale & Porter Barley, in small kegs, for family use   Red Port Wine Pimento   White Lisbon ditto Paper   Madeira ditto Pine & coarse Men's   Malaga ditto Shoes & Pumps   Jamaica Rum, by the gallon or barrel Boys ditto   Common ditto, ditto Writing Paper   Brown Sugar Sperm Candles, of the best   Leaf ditto The best   Coffee Butter, in the   Teas kin or smaller   Molasses quantity   A neat Assortment of knives, plated knee, shoe, and other buckles, and other Articles of Hardware. N. B. Hard Soap and Candles.
Just imported from New-York AND TO BE SOLD By JOHN HOWE, At the Printing Office, Corner of the Parade
  A n elegant Assortment of Shaving Powder,   Silver mounted Teeth Powder,   Swords, Hair Powder,   Steel Hilted ditto, Pomatum,   Gilt Hangers, Chocolate, best   Silvered ditto, Kind,   An Assortment of Cake Blacking,   large fashionable Black Balls,   Beaver Hats, Salt Spoons,   Excellent Mahogany A Variety of Mo   Telescopes, convenient for Gentlemen of the Army, rocco Pocket Books   Sword Belts, Ladies Etwes,   Men's shoes, very neat, Ditto, Needle Books,   Mahogany Boxes, Ditto for Misses,   Horn Tumblers, Very neat Morocco   Tooth Brushes, Cases of Shaving   Gilt Pocket Brushes, Instruments,   Ivory Handle Knives and Forks, Askin Memorandum Books,   Brass Bag Locks, Court Plaster,   An Assortment of Jappan'd Sugar   Penknives, Chests,   Cork Screws, Tin Tea Kettles,   Fifes, Coffee Pots,   Metal Spoons large and small, Tea Pots,   Canes, an elegant Variety, Jappan'd Tumblers,   Rattans, Rapp and Scotch   Ladies and Gentlemen's neat riding Whips, Spoons,   Chaise Whips, Tin Kettles,   Wedgwood and Bentley's Seals, Dripping Pans,   Cypher, ditto; Tin Funnels,   Looking Glasses, Basters with Handles,   Boxes of Toys for Children, Jappan'd Canteens,   Fish Counters for Quadrille, Pocket Lanthorns,   Large Polished Camp   dishes,   Soop and common,   ditto plates,   Salvatory's for Medicines,   Tin Pudding Pans,   Jappan'd Spitting   Basins,   Quart and Pint Jacks,   Purser's Measures,