The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-12-17

From The PAiladelnhia Democratic Press.

FEW HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS,
.dddressed 10 those who are fer rs, aDa those
gvho are cgaias: as.
When DR.. Franklin was examined BY the
British Commons Of House in l7S5,he stated,
among other thing, that " the Americans had
been grossly n,isrcpresenlcd as void OF graf
itudc and affection TO the parent state that
in the war Of 1855, they had, at their own
expense, raised an army of TwEsTY.FIvE
THOUSAND MEN and in that OF 1899, had
assisted the British expeditions against South
America with several thousand men, and had
made many brave and some important expe-
ditons against the French in North America"
He Likewise reminded the House, that the
war Of l75s, had not originated in d.frnce Of
tie Colonies, bu, from contest England had
with France about the limits between Canada
and Nova Scotia, and other matters IN Which
the Colonies were not interested.
During the battle of Bunker's hill the
British, by order of General Gage, burns
Charles,own in the ncishbourhood Of Boston,
Four hundred houses were reduced to ashes.
Npon the lst of January, l776, Norfolk, in
Virginia, was burnt by the express order Of
the British Governor Lord Dunmose. The
destruction Of property was computed al about
fifteen hundred thousand dollars
Falmouth, in tho province Of Maine, shar-
cd the same fate.
In April, i777, Governor T,yon, the Brit
ish Governor Of Couneclicun landed with
party OF the British troops between Fairfield
and Norwich, in ConnectcGt, and, besides,
doing other damage, burnt great part OF the
town OF DAnbury.
In May, fTT9, Sir George Col!yer and the
British General Mathews made a descent on
Virginia and burnt the scattered remains OF
Norfolk. In the ncighbouriDg country they
committed grcnt ravagcs. At Portsmouth
they seized upon three thousand hogsheads Of
tobacco, the property of individuals, and at
Suffolk they burnt almost every house.
Shortly after second expedition was car
ried on against the coast oi Connecticut, with
u body Of land forces of upwards OF two thou
sand, under the direction OF the same Cover
nor T,you, and the British General, Garth.
They landed at East-Haven. The command
crs published an address 10 the Americans, in
which they stated 'Ihat the existence OF
single ho0se on their coast ought 10 DC a con-
stan, reproof Of their ingrafi,ude, and afford
ed Il striking monument OF British mercy"
One of these addresses was sent by flag
Of truce to Col. Whi,ing, of ,he militia, near
the town of Fairfield He was allowed an
hour to answer it, but had scarce ended the
perusal when Fairfield was in hames.
Ncw-I Haven, too, in this expedition, was
p!undcred, with circumstances Of great cruz
city. Even its harbor and wate: side were
covered with feathers which the military had
discharged from beds they had ripped open.
East. Haven was also burnt, and the town Of
Noswalk, in this excursion OF British officers
and British troops. A, Norwa!k they burnt
two houses OF public worship,eigh,y dwelling
houses, eighty barns, twenty-five s,oses, scv.
cn,ccn shops, and two mills.
Governor Tryon published vindca,ion Of
all these acts. So did General Brock lately
OF the employmen, Of the savsges.
After the surrender OF Charleston, s. Co.
to the British forces under General Clinton,
in May, 1880, large body OF their troops
was detached towards North Carolina. Col.
Tarleton surprized party cf three hundred
Americans at Wachaws. Five on, OF six OF
them were either killed or badly woun-
dcd, and when the vanluished Americans had
laid down their arms and asked for quarters,
the Br;,isl, troops continued for some time TO
msssasrc ;hsm.
In Janua,y, ISL, Asno'', with 1000 Brit
ish troops, Lndcd ahon, Is miles below Rich
mond, in NIrsiniu, anl corr ni,ied great de-
vas,ation. 10 March foiioning. hc was Join
ed by the D. idsh General, pa;'ias, who srri-
red IN ,h; Chesapeake with swo thousand