The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-12
BUReoYNE's ORDER
Aneinet Document On Exhibition al
Burlington Agency.

An ancient document of interest to
antiquarians and those who follow
historical research may be seen in
the Office of Hickoks Insurance
Agncy, 10 College street. 1t is the
original proclamation by General Bur
goyne on entering Lake Champlain,
June 80 1777. The proclamation
which is couched in quaint terms is
as follows:
BY John Burgoyne Esqr. Lieut..
Gen. of his Majestys Army in Ameri-
ca Co. of We Queens Regiment of
| light dragons, Gov. of Fort William
in ~ Britain, one of we Repy. of ye
Commons of G. b. in PART. & COM
handing an army & feet employed
on an expedition from Canada, &c
&c.
The forces entrusted to my COM
mand are designed to act in concert,
& upon a genl. principle, with the
numerous armies & fleets, which al
ready display in every 4th of Ameri-
ca the power the justice, & when
properly sought the mercy of the
king. The cause in which We british
army are then eXerted applies to ye
most affecting interest of the hum.
heart. And We military servts. of We
crown, at first called forth for we sole
purpose of restoring We rights of We
consn. now combine with love of your
country & duty to their severn. We
other extensive indictments, which
| spring from due sense of We genl.
| 80 ~.
to we ears of We teme. part of we
public, & to We breasts of suffrg.
! 1000 in We prove, be the mercy. APP
peal, whether We prest. unnatural re-
| bellion has not been made a founda-
ton for We completest system of tyr
amy, that ever God in his displeasure
suifer'd for a time to exercise over
| froward & stubborn generation. Ar
bitrary imprisonments, confiscn. of
property, persecution & torture, I'M
precedented in the inquis:, of we
Romn. CHI. are among We palpaple
enormitles vt verify We affirmative.
| These are inflicted by assemblies &
committees. who dare to profess ym-
selves friends to Liberty, upon we
| most quiet subjects without distinc-
ton of age or sex, for We sole sus-
| picions of having adher'd to ye prin-
| ciples of we Govt. under with We were
born, & to with, by every tie divine
& human, w owe allegiance. To
consummate yre shockg. proceedings
the proclamation of Religion is added
to We most profiigate prostitution of
common reason. The consciences of
men are set at nougnt & multitudes
are compelld not only to bear arms
but ALSO to swear subsection to an
usurpation Wy abhor. Animated by
these considerations, at ye head of
an army in we full power OF health,
discipline, & valor, determined to
strike where necessary, & anxious 10
spare where possible, | by these pres
ents invite e. exhort all persons in all
places. where We progress of this
army may point (& by We blessing of
God | will extend it far to maintain
such conduct as may justify me in
protecting their lands, habitations &
families The intention of this ad-
dress is to nold for the security, not
depreciation, to the country. To
those. whom spirit & principel may
Induce to partake We glorious task of
lredeeming their countrymen from
dungeons, & re-establishing We bless
lings of legal Govt, | offer encourage
ment & employment; & upon we LIST
Intelligence OF their associations, /
will find means to approve their under
taking The domestic, we industri-
Gus, We infirm. & even We timid inhab-
itants am DESTROYS to protect: Pro
yided Wy remain quietly at their
houses, that they do not suffer their
cattle to be removed, or their corn
or forage to be secreted or destroyed
| that they do not break up their bridg-
es or roads; nor by any other acts
directly or indirectly endeavour to
obstuct We operations of We kings
troops, supply or assist We enemy.
| And every species of provisions bro't
to my camp will be paid for at an
equitable rate in solid coin.
| In Consciousness of Xtianity, my
Royal Masters clemency, & We honor
Of soldiership ! have dwelt upon this
invitation, & wished for more per
suasive terms to give it impression;
& let not people be led to disregard
| 1t by considering the immediate stu
alton of my camp. | have but to
give stretch to We Indian forces under
my direction, 4 Wy amount to 1000s.
to overtake we hardend enemies of
G.. b. & America | consider them
the same wherever they may Turk.
If, Notwithstanding the endeavors &
sincere inclinations to assist you, vt
| phrenzy of hostility shd. remain, |
trust l shall stand acquitted in the
eyes of God & man, in denouncing
& executing We vengeance of We
States agt ye wilful outcasts. The
messengers of justice & of wrath
await you in the field. Devastation,
| famine, & every concomitant horror,
that a reluctant but indispensable
prosecution of military duty must
occasion, will bar the way to their
return.
John Burgoyne
Camp at we River Bengret, June
Esd. 1777.
BY order of his Excellency lie Lieu
tenant General, Robert Kingstone
Sec'ry.
The above is an exact copy of the
original proclamation, which is on
view in this office, and the agency
has been enabled to place this inter
esting and undoubtedly genuine doc
ument on exhibition during tercenten-
airy week through the kindness of
Mrs j, w. De Wolf of Providence
r. l.. special agent of the Providence
Washington Insurance company, rep
resented by the Hickok agency.
Mr.. De Wolf states that this docu-
ment came into ais family's possess |