The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-18

terest and affection. Flattered by pleasing expectation, tn the justice and humanity which had so long characterized the English nation, would, on proper application, afford us relief, they represented their griev- ances in an affectionate address to their brethren in Great Britain, and interested their aid and interpretation in behalf of these colonies.
 :. The more fully to eyince their respect for their sovereign, the un- happy people of Boston were request ed by the Congress to submit with pa tionce 10 their fate; and all America united in a resolution to abstain from every species of violence. During this period. that devoted town suffered unspea kably. Its inhabitants were in- suited and their property violated. Still relying on the clemenCy ana Jus tice of his majesty and the nation. they permitted a few regiments to take possession of their town, to sur round it with Qualifications and to cut off all intercourse between them and their friends in the country.
 s. With anxious expectation did all America wait the event of their pc tition. All America laments it's fate. Their prince was deaf to their com
 
 10 impress him with a sense of the sufferings of his American subjects, of the cruelty of their task masters. and of the many plaques which inn pended over his dominions. Instead of directions for a candid inquiry into our grievances, insult was added to oppression; and our long fOrcbear- auce rewarded with q e imputatfOn of COWardice. Our trade with foreign States prohibited: and an ECt of Par liament passed to prevent our even fishing on our own coast. Our peace able assemblies. for the purpose of consulting the Commen safety, were declared seditious; and our asserting the very rights which placed the Crown of Great Britain on the heads of the three successive princes of the House of Hanover, stifled rebellion. Orders were given to reinforce the troops in America. The wild and barbarous savagcs of the wilderness have been solicited by gifts. tD take up the hatchet against Us; and insti- gated to deluge our settlements wiJh the blood of innocent and defencoless women and children The whole country was. moreover, alarmed with the expected horrors of domestic in surreCtiUus. Refinements in parental cruelty, at which the genius of Bri- tain must blush! Refinements which admit not of being even recited with out horror, or practiced without in fanny, We should be happy were these dark machinations the mere suggestion of suspicion. We are sorry to declare that We are possessed of the most authentic and indubitable evidence of the reality.
 9. The Ministry, bent on pulling down the pillars of the constitution, endeavored 10 erect the standard of despotism in America; and if success fuI, Britain and Irelasd may shudder at the consequences!
 10. Three of their most experienced Generals are sent to wage war with their fellow subjects; and America is amazed to find the name of Howe in the catalogue of her enemies. She loved his brother.
 II. Despairing of driving the Col oni5ts to resistance by any other means than actual hostility, a detachment of the army at Boston marched into the country in all the array of war; and, uuprovoEed, fired upon, and killed several of the inhabitants. The neigh boring farmers suddenly assembled. and repelled the attack. From this, all communication between the town and the country was intercepted. The citizens petitioned the General for permission to leave thet own, and he promised. on surreEdering their arms. to permit them to depart with their other effects. They accordingly sur rendered their arms. and the General violated his faith. Under various pre- ] tenses. passports were delayed and de- . 4T, 41,s habitants are, at this day, confined in the town. in the utmost wretched- ness and want. The lame, the blind, and the sick. having been turned out ] into the ne!ghboring fields; and some ! eluding the vigilance of the sentries. i have escaped from the town. by swim ming 10 the ad jacent shores.
 12. The war having thus begun on | the part of General Cages troops, | the country armed and embodied The 1 endorsements from Ireland soon af- ! ter arrived; a vigorous attack was 1 then made upon the provincials. In ! their march the troops surrounded 1 the town Charlestown, consisting of 1 about 400 houses. then recently aban- 1 doned 10 escape the fury of a re- ] leutIess soldiery. Having plundered { the houses, they set fire to the town and reduced It 10 asneS. TO InlS wan . ton waste of property, unknown tc . civilized nations. they were prompted
 10 better conceal their approach under { cover of the smoke. 4 shocking mix ture of cowardice and cruelty. which 1 then first tarnished the lustre of the 1 British arms, when aimed at 0 broth. CTS breast! But, blessed be God. they . were restrained from committing fur 1 ther ravages by the loss of a very 1 considerable part of their army, in cIuding many of their most experienc. i ed officers. The loss of the inhabi i tants was inconsfderable.
 13. Compelled, therefore, to behold ] the thousands of our countrymen i'm ! prfsoned, and men, women and chiI 1 dren involved in prOmiscuOus and un
 merited misery! When we find al
 faith at an end, and sacred treatIei i turned into tricks of state; when ", perceive our friends and kinsmeT
 massacred, our habitations plunGercd
 our houses in flames, and their onct
 happy inhabitants fed only by tht
 hand of charity; who can blame us fO
 endeaVoring to restrain the progress
 of desolation? Who can Censure ou
 repelling the attacks of such a bar
 barous band? Who, in such circum