bill. tice peace, came one day for meat; but came too | lamb. He sent an overdue and unpaid taxlate. He was disappointed, and asked to whom such and such pieces were to go? One of them was to go to a tradesman—(it was not a common thing in those days for tradesmen to eat fresh meat)—the justice went out, saying, he would send the tradesman a salad for his Soon after, the tradesman met the jusnear this place, and told him he would return his kindness; which he did, by hanging the justice up by the waistband of his breeches to the butcher's hook, and leaving him to get down as he could. RHODE ISLAND. OATH EXACTED BY GENERAL LEE OF THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND, command here during the revolution, as being connected with a case somewhat analogous to one which occurred in the Seminole war. We have omitted names for obvious reasons. “HEADQUARTERS, PROVIDENCE, July 24, 1778. "The sentence of the court martial whereof and D. C. the general totally disapproves, as Colonel Ewas president, against M. A. illegal and absurd. The clearest evidence having appeared to the court, that the said A. was employed by the enemy, repeatedly, to come on the main as a spy, and that he enticed men to go on to Rhode Island, to enlist in the enemy's service, and his confessions from day to day being so different as to prove him not only a spy, but to be a person in whom the least confidence cannot be placed; the court having found him guilty of all this, nothing could be more absurd than to sentence him to be whipped one hundred lashes, and after "I-here in the presence of Almighty God, as I hope for ease, honor and comfort in this world, and happiness in the world to come, most earnestly, devoutly and religiously swear; that I will neither directly nor indirectly assist the wicked instruments of ministerial tyranny and villainy, commonly called the king's troops and navy, by furnishing them with provisions and refreshments of any kind, unless authorized by the continental congress or legislature at present established in this particular colony of Rhode Island: I do also swear by the Tremendous and Almighty God, that I will neither directly or indirectly convey any intelligence, nor give any advice to the aforesaid enemies • described; and that I pledge myself, if I should by any accident get knowledge of such treasons, to inform immediately the committee of safety and as it is justly allowed that when the rights and sacred liberties of a nation or community are invaded, neutrality is not less been long endeavoring in the most malicious base and criminal than open and avowed hos-and secret manner to injure! The man who tility: I do further swear and pledge myself, as I hope for eternal salvation, that I will whenever called upon by the voice of the continental congress, or by that of the legislature of this particular colony under their authority, to take arms and subject myself to military discipline in defence of the common rights and liberties of America. So help me God." wards to be taken into a service which he has is found guilty of acting as a spy, can have but one judgment by all the laws of war, which is to suffer death; and the sentence of a man to be whipped when found guilty of this crime, is as absurd as for the common law courts to order a man to be set in the stocks for wilful murder. The same absurdity appearing in the judgment against D. C. for the same reasons, [the general] disapproves them both, dissolves the court, and orders another court to sit for the trial of those persons, to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock. The adjutant general to lodge a crime against A. for acting as a spy, and for AT PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, enticing men to enlist into the enemy's service, JULY 24, 1778. and against C. for acting as a spy." HELD COURT MARTIAL From the Providence (R. I.) Patriot.-A friend has handed us the following extract from the orderly book of general Sullivan, in At the subsequent court, A. was found guilty as before, and sentenced to be hung, which sentence the general approved and executed. WILLIAM ELLERY, RHODE ISLAND, ONE OF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, raise his eyelids to look at him, took his hand, and found that his pulse was gone. After drinking a little wine and water, Dr. W. told him his pulse beat stronger. "O yes, doctor, I have a charming pulse. But," he continued, Extract of a Letter, dated Newport, R. I." it is idle to talk to me in this way. I am going March 14, 1820. "Old Mr. Ellery died like a philosopher. In truth, death, in its common form, never came near him. His strength wasted gradually for the last year, until he had not enough left to draw in his breath, and so he ceased to breathe. The day on which he died he got up as usual and dressed himself, took his old flag-bottomed chair, without arms, in which he had sat for more than half a century, and was reading Tully's Offices, in the Latin, without glasses, though the print was as fine as that of the smallest pocket Bible. Dr. W. stopped in on his way to the hospital as he usually did; and on perceiving the old gentleman could scarcely off the stage of life, and it is a great blessing that I go free from sickness, pain and sorrow." Some time after, his daughter, finding him become extremely weak, wished him to be put to bed, which he at first objected to, saying he felt no pain, and there was no occasion for his going to bed. Presently after, however, fearing he might possibly fall out of his chair, he told them they might get him upright in the bed, so that he could continue to read. They did so, and he continued reading Cicero very quietly for some time: presently they looked at him and found him dead, sitting in the same posture, with the book under his chin, as a man who becomes drowsy and goes to sleep." CONNECTICUT. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES to the several inhabitants and house holders of the town, whereby they may mutually agree RECOMMENDED BY THE INHABITANTS OF and engage, that they will encourage the use NEW HAVEN, FEBRUARY 22, 1768. "At a Town Meeting holden in New Haven by adjournment, upon the 22d day of Feb. 1768, "The committee appointed in consequence of a letter from the selectmen of the town of Boston to the select men of this town, to consider of some measures to be agreed upon for promoting economy, manufactures, etc. report, That it is their opinion, that it is expedient for the town to take all prudent and legal measures to encourage the produce and manufactures of this colony, and to lessen the use of superfluities, and more especially the following articles imported from abroad, viz : "Carriages of all sorts, house furniture, men's and women's hats, men's and women's apparel, ready made household furniture, men's and women's shoes, sole leather, gold, silver, and thread lace, gold and silver buttons, wrought plate, diamond, stone, and paste ware, clocks, silver-smith's and jeweller's ware, broad cloths that cost above ten shillings sterling per yard, muffs, furs, and tippets, starch, women's and children's toys, silk and cotton velvets, gauze, linseed oil, malt liquors, and cheese. "And that a subscription be recommended and consumption of articles manufactured in the British American colonies, and more especially in this colony, and that they will not, after the 31st day of March next, purchase any of the above enumerated articles, imported from abroad, after the said 31st of March, and that they will be careful to promote the saving of linen rags, and other materials, proper for making paper in this colony. "The foregoing report being considered by the town, was by a full vote approved of and accepted. A true copy of record, Test, SAMUEL BISHOP, jr. town clerk. LETTER FROM HON. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Gov. OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT, TO GENR'L GAGE. HARTFORD, April 28, 1775. SIR-The alarming situation of public affairs in this country, and the late unfortunate transactions in the province of Massachusetts Bay, have induced the general assembly of this colony, now sitting in this place, to appoint a | leges to the last extremity; nor will they be committee of their body to wait upon your ex- restrained from giving aid to their brethren, if cellency, and to desire me, in their name, to any unjustifiable attack is made upon them. write to you relative to these very interesting | Be so good, therefore, as to explain yourself matters. upon this most important subject, as far as is consistent with your duty to our common sovereign. Is there no way to prevent this unhappy dispute from coming to extremities? Is there no alternative but absolute submission, or the desolations of war? By that humanity which constitutes so amiable a part of your character; for the honor of our sovereign, and by the glory of the British empire, we entreat you to prevent it, if it be possible; surely, it is to be hoped that the temperate wisdom of the empire might, even yet, find expedients to restore peace, that so all parts of the empire may enjoy their particular rights, honors, and immunities: Certainly, this is an event most devoutly to be wished for; and will it not be consistent with your duty to suspend the operation of war on your part, and enable us on ours, to quiet the minds of the people, at least, till the result of some further deliberations may be known? The importance of the occasion will, we doubt not, sufficiently apologize for the earnestness with which we address you, and any seeming impropriety, which may attend it, as well as induce you to give us the most explicit and favorable answer in your power. The inhabitants of this colony are intimately connected with the people of your province, and esteem themselves bound, by the strongest ties of friendship, as well as of common interest, to regard with attention, whatever concerns them. You will not, therefore, be surprised, that your first arrival at Boston, with a body of his Majesty's troops, for the declared purpose of carrying into execution certain acts of parliament, which, in their apprehension, were unconstitutional and oppressive, should have given the good people of this colony a very just and general alarm; your subsequent proceedings in fortifying the town of Boston, and other military preparations, greatly increased their apprehensions for the safety of their friends and brethren; they could not be unconcerned spectators of their sufferings, in that which they esteemed the common cause of this country; but the late hostile and secret inroads of some of the troops under your command, into the heart of the country, and the violences they have committed, have driven them almost into a state of desperation. They feel now not only for their friends, but for themselves, and their dearest interests and connec- I am, with great esteem and respect, in tions. We wish not to exaggerate; we are not behalf of the general assembly, sir, &c. sure of every part of our information; but, by (Signed) JONATHAN TRumbull. the best intelligence that we have yet been able His Excellency, THOMAS GAGE, esq. to obtain, the late transaction was a most unprovoked attack upon the lives and property of his majesty's subjects; and it is represented to us, that such outrages have been committed, as would disgrace even barbarians, and much more Britons, so highly famed for humanity, as well as bravery. It is feared, therefore, that we are devoted to destruction, and that you have it in command and intention, to ravage and desolate the country. If this is not the case, permit us to ask, why have these outrages been committed? Why is the town of Boston now shut up? And to what end are all the hostile preparations that are daily making, and why do we continually hear of fresh destination of troops for this country? The people of this colony, you may rely upon it, abhor the idea of taking arms against the troops of their sovereign, and dread nothing so much as the horrors of civil war; but, at the same time, we beg leave to assure your excellency, that as they apprehend themselves justified by the principles of self defence, so they are most firmly resolved to defend their rights and privi REDUCTION IN VALUE OF STAPLE ARTICLES NEW LONDON, (Con.) Aug. 23, 1776. ried into the different ports of this continent, By means of the great number of prizes carJamaica rum is sold at 4s. 4d. per gallon, by hundred weight, in Boston. the hogshead; and sugar at five dollars per LETTER FROM WILLIAM TRYON TO Governor NEW YORK, April 17, 1778. SIR-Having been honored with the king's commands, to circulate the enclosures to the people at large, I take the liberty to offer them to you for your candid consideration, and to recommend that, through your means, the LEBANON, April 23, 1778. SIR-Your letter of the 17th inst., from New York, is received, with its enclosures, and the several similar packets, of various addresses, with which it was accompanied. MASSACRE OF TROOPS AT FORT Griswold or Groton, ConnECTICUT, BY BRITISH TROOPS, SEPTEMBER 6, 1781. LETTER TO THE EDITOR. Mr. Niles.-The following scrap of history is recorded on a head stone at the grave of Colonel LEDYARD, half a mile S. E. of Fort Gris Proposals of peace are usually made from the supreme authority of one contending power, to the similar authority of the other; and the present is the first instance, within my recollec-wold, or Groton, Con., as a public monument tion, when a vague, half blank, and very indefinite draught of a bill, once only read before one of the three bodies of the legislature of the nation, has ever been addressed to the people at large of the opposite power, as an overture of reconciliation. There was a day, when even this step, from our then acknowledged parent state, might have been accepted with joy and gratitude, but that day, sir, is past irrecoverably. The repeated insolent rejection of our sincere and sufficiently humble petitions, the unprovoked commencement of hostilities; the barbarous inhumanity which has marked the provocations of the war on your part, in its several stages; the insolence which displays itself on every petty advantage; the cruelties which have been exercised on those unhappy men whom the fortune of war has thrown into your hands -all these are insuperable bars to the very idea of concluding a peace with Great Britain, on any other conditions than the most absolute and perfect independence. To the congress of the United States of America, therefore, all proposals of this kind are to be addressed; and you will give me leave, sir, to say that the present mode bears too much the marks of an insidious design to disunite the people, and to lull us into a state of quietude, and negligence of the necessary preparations for the approaching campaign. If this be the real design, it is fruitless. If peace be really the object, let your proposals be properly addressed to the proper power, and your negotiations be honorably conducted, we shall then have some prospect of (what is the most ardent wish of every honest American,) a lasting and honorable peace. The British nation may then, perhaps, find us as affectionate and valuable friends, as of the character of the cause, the actors and the act. Colonel Ledyard was run through with his own sword, by a British captain to whom he had surrendered it, and most of the garrison were murdered after they had grounded their arms. Those who survived saved themselves by embracing the British soldiers in such a manner that they could not bayonet them. The wounded were put into a wagon and precipitated down the steep hill which elevates the fort above the river. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM LEDYARD, esq. "Colonel commandant of the garrisoned posts of New London and Groton, who, after a gallant defence, was, with a large part of the brave garrison, inhumanly massacred by British troops in Fort Griswold, September, 6th, 1781, Ætat, suæ, 43. By a judicious and faithful discharge of the various duties of his station, he rendered most essential services to his country, and stood confessed the unshaken patriot, and intrepid hero. He lived the pattern of magnanimity, courtesy and humanity. He fell the victim of ungenerous rage and cruelty." "There is a white stone inscribed-SACRED TO THE MEMORY of captain JNO. WILLIAMS, who fell gloriously fighting for the liberty of his country in fort Griswold, September 6th, 1781, in the 43d year of his age." "On another stone is the inscriptionSACRED TO THE MEMORY of lieut. EBENEZER AVERY, who fell gloriously fighting in the defence of fort Griswold and American freedom, September 6th, 1781, in the 42d year of his age." BENEDICT ARNOLD'S CONNECTION WITH THE MASSACRE AT FORT GRISWOLD OR GROTON, CONNECTICUT. 66 ONE RENAGADO IS WORSE THAN TEN TURKS." To complete the history of this horrible transaction, and further to disseminate a knowledge of the infamy of Arnold and give up the butchering traitor to the execration of posterity-we extract the following account of the massacre from Gordon's History, New York edit. vol. III. page 249.* "The return of Gen. Arnold to New York from Virginia, did not fix him in a state of inactivity. He was sent on an enterprise against New London, with a sufficient land and marine force.-The embarkation having passed over from Long Island shore in the night, the troops were landed in two detachments on each side of the harbor, at ten o'clock in the morning of the 6th of September; that on the Groton side being commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Eyre, and that on the New London side by the general, who met no great trouble. Fort Trumbull and the redoubt, which were intended to cover the harbor and town, not being tenable, were evacuated as he approached, and the few men in them crossed the river to Fort Griswold, on Groton-Hill. Arnold proceeded to the town without being otherwise opposed than by the scattered fire of small parties that had hastily collected. Orders were sent by the general to Eyre for attacking Fort Griswold, that so the possession of it might prevent the * In speaking of Arnold, it may be useful to observe that Washington offered to exchange Andre for him, escape of the American shipping. The militia, to the amount of 157, collected for its defence, but so hastily as not to be fully furnished with fire arms and other weapons. As the assailants approached, a firing commenced, and the flag-staff was soon shot down, from whence the neighboring spectators inferred, that the place had surrendered, till the continuance of the firing convinced them to the contrary. The garrison defended themselves with the greatest resolution and bravery; Eyre was wounded near the works, and Major Montgomery was killed immediately after, so that the command devolved on Major Broomfield. The British at one time staggered, but the fort being out of repair, could not be maintained by a handful of men against so superior a number as that which assaulted it. After an action of about 40 minutes, the resolution of the royal troops carried the place by the point of the bayonet. The Americans had not more than half a dozen killed before the enemy entered the fort, when a severe execution took place, though resistance ceased. The British officer enquired, on his entering the fort, who commanded? Colonel Ledyard answered"I did, sir, but you do now;" and presented him his sword. The colonel was immediately run through and killed. The slain were 73; the wounded between 30 and 40, and about 40 were carried off prisoners. Soon after reducing the fort, the soldiers loaded a wagon with the wounded, as said, by order of their officers and set the wagon off from the top of the hill, which is long and very steep; the wagon went a considerable distance with great force, till it was suddenly stopt by an apple tree, which which Sir Henry Clinton declined. Never were the sym-gave the faint and bleeding men so terrible a pathies of the American people so much misled as in the shock that part of them died instantly. About fifteen vessels, with effects of the inhabitants, retreated up the river, notwithstanding the reduction of the fort, and four others remained in the harbor unhurt; a number were burnt by the fire's communicating from the stores when in flames. Sixty dwelling case of the unfortunate Andre. He was engaged in a most vile business-the meanest that can be imagined for an honorable man, the perfection of an act of corruption and treason, and justly merited his fate; if he had had ten thousand lives, they were all justly forfeited by the laws of honor as well as to those of war, and every principle of self-preservation. Had he not been put to death, the great WASHINGTON, himself, would at least have merited a dismissal from the command of the revolutionary army. But it is well known that the private feelings of the illus-houses and 84 stores were burned, including trious father of his country were greatly excited in favor of that unlucky young man-I say unlucky, because if he had succeeded he would have been praised and rewarded for his gallantry, dexterity, etc. He failed-and instead of being a hero became a culprit, in the estimation of every reflecting man. No personal accomplishments or private character can palliate a public act of shame they rather aggravate the offence; and an agency in an act of villainy entitles the agent to the villain's fare. Yet he was treated with all possible courtesy and kindness, and had all the intercourse with his friends which the nature of his condition admitted of. How different the conduct of the British to Captain Nathan Hale-an American, whose character, in any and every light, was comparable with that of Andre, a sketch of whose case may be found in the Weekly Register, vol. II. page 129. EDITOR. those on both sides of the harbor and in New London. The burning of the town was intentional and not accidental. The loss that the Americans sustained in this destruction was very great; for there were large quantities of naval stores, of European goods, of East and West India commodities, and of provisions in the several stores. The British had two commissioned officers and 46 privates killed; eight officers (some of whom are since dead) with 135 non-commissioned and privates wounded." |