New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-03
SIR HENRF OLTNTON'S NOTES.
MARGINAL REFERENCES In ONE Or HIS
BOOKS.

MARGINAL REF ERENCES IN ONE Or AIS
BOOKS.
HIS VIEWS on rHE STAMP ACT-CoMNENTs on TIE
OPENING BATTLES or THE REVOLUTION AND
suINGTON's POLICY.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
STR am encouraged to send you few more pro-
auctions of the pen Of so distinguished an English
officer Sir Henry Clinton, you have published
his version of the Arnold affair Tie extracts will
b. made FRONT the marginal notes found in Ste lnan
History to which rcforred in ny last connuuniea-
ton. 1t certainly is not unworthy curiosity to
wish to know what views our British foes tOOk with
reference to transactions which brought afresh
TO our notice in these Centennial tunes through
which passing.
NJ last letter showed how N intelligent, and
think we may say high minded officer Ia the English
army regarded the execution Of his Adiutnt, Major
Andre taken az spy within the American lines
One wOudlike to know. in indication OF the far FAM
of Washington, whether the statement of Clinton Is
trustworthy one that he had uniformly spared the
lives of American spies who had fallen into his
hands, and whether he had urged this his course of
procedure, ms a reason why the American General
should spare the life Of his young friend. Even sup
posing the statement TO have been true one, how
far might the exceeding gravity Of the exgency and
the LARGE interest which would have been pnt in
jeopardy had The treachery # Arnold proved success
full. have justified Washington IN making On exam
pie of an Ell gish officer taken Andre WAC, and 50
plainly an abett0r in the plan which the traitor had
uroec-cd Not to dwell further On this, haste.
To let Sir Henry speak for himself respecting other
matters Referring 70 the Stamp Act and lis repeal,
he soans to be addressing those in authority i'll the
following language:
About this time tl7GG you put stop TO the contra
band trade with lc spanish Main ~ which every prov
nce was concerned aud bcuef ed You lay a tax, and
AID give them year 10 C1nSi.er Oi -, Sh In 10
sniions AZ to the ccrtS II ~ likely TO have The whole
continent meets by deputies in Congress they there 1eei
for the first time their own strength. ia short, your
humility, 10y your giving them much time, aud bey r.
solve to resist; Won repeal then vote arsnnIi'n Una,
won have the right and even aIer that prove H. by
tTilng tax on tea You had 10 do with FRANKLIN aho
ali Adams.
1t would not he easy from even an American point
Of view, to make a clearer and more compact state
ment of the hlunders of which the EuVlish Para-
ment was guilty in their dealings with the Colonies
than is made by this candid writer. The criticism
which Sir Henry makes upon the Lexington and
Concord affair is as follows and shows, think. that
he considered the movement as unwi;o and impOl-
tic " The first attempt ~ sucn war should have
been OF Importance, and sure OF SUCCESS one against
any seaport would have proved where your strength
and their weakness lay" Stedman gives an account
Of the first steps taken, which lei to the attack
Concord. which do not remember to have read il
any American history:
In there IL nothing that 40 mueh avas as secrecy
of dt sign and CELEBRITY execution; the contrary
hurf ccssary Opemness and poc as M ION
Gen Gage, the evening OF Tie 9Th OF April told Lord
Percy ii ulanled send t"uuieut 10 SO re me
stores at Concord ard "a give the cOmGndt TO Col Smith.
Win sney thai he was Ia 90 but not where" He meant
:, w. e secf exoe,lition aud beg ed OF Lord Percy
keep il "a profound secret A. ihis nobennn was passing
from tie Generals quarters 10 his own percelvng elgi
or ten men c,pversing together on the common h. made
up 10 them when the said Tue BRUSH have
aid Lord Petcy Why" the man replied, The cannon
nc Concord" Lord Percy Immediately returned On his
stems. and quanted Gen GaS, NOT wlihont MARKS O
surprise and disapprobaon, Ol what he had Just hear
The General sad that ms confidence had been BETRAYED
for that he had communicated LIS design " one person
only besides his l0rtshp.
In the account which the English historian gives
of the battle Of Bunker H might be expected.
he praises the bravery of the British troops. Gen.
Clinton is very modest in the reference which he
makes to tie important part he took IL that early
exhibit in our Revolutionary struggle. Abiding To
what occurred Immediately on the repulse OF the
English forces he remarks: "Gen. Clinton saw
moment in which he thought be might be OF use !;
his volunteer services were acknowledged by Cen
Howe; the appearance of reSnfOrcements enconr-
aged the one possibly and discouraged the other"
Stcdman remarks
Ifaaytlng had been wanting to show the bravery and
discipline % the British troops the ACTON al bunhele
I'm furnished ample proof OF both: Twice they wSTe
suured ane twice they returned To the chnIge IN inc
mGGlc % 4 hot Summer day, ihc'iDeft1 WIN thIce
trOyik klEphacks on tneT Dackr
t1cher with cartOuche bOX, ammunition, ana nre!OcA
nav be esinato1 ~ TO pound weight with steep h
ia ecud 90 cred win reaching Ia lh.Af NIiss anu
infcs ccd with the walls and fences 81 Nhflnus hcps
tres ma m The face bot and wedirecied nrc they
gciued complete victory over three uncH tleif own
prov ncals strongly posted behind brcs'wosS ana de-
tended by rcdoGDt
In less than year after these events came the
necessary evacuation Of Boston As early ~ June,
1775 not far from the time Of the Battle Of Bunker
Hill Gen Clinton says that he " had given an
opnion 10 Gems Gage and Howe that If We were ever
forced 10 evaenate Boston II would be owing TO the
reieis getting possession of Dorchester flights and
Foster H!u" His predictions were fulfilled TO the
letter. Ii is amusing To notice the ctrtnoss with
Which Sir Henry treats the statement of Jefferson
embodied In the Declaration Of Independence That
all men ere born equally free" Such democratic
doctrine strs the ire of The high-bOm EngliShIHan
and he cries ont Nonsense all men arc not born
in similar situations, and the contrary idea would
destroy All Older and stabty-"-a statement which,
IL il TO be presumed not even the most radical dem
ocr,t would deny Sir Henry severely criticised the
course The English army pIrsued IN the Jerseys IN
pundering the people, 70 many OF whom, MS is well
known. were disposed TO be loyal 10 the Crown.
Unless We could refrain from plunderng we hal no
business 70 take up winter quarters IN district We
visDed 10 prcaerye loyal Tho liessians introduced
rnh ebllrss me 10 assert, and have proos in the adj
drcsses ami tho letter that Lord Percy and enrctu
allv stopped IL Rhode iand could produce very
curious proof
The Fabian policy of Gen. Washington seems TO