The New York Herald Newspaper, April 19, 1875, Page 13

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CONTINUED FROM FOURTH PAGE. the first intelligence in the form of an oxtractfrom the Essex Gazette, printed at Salem, Maas, This ‘contained the following :— { “At Lexington, six miles below Concord, a com- Pany of militia, of about 100 meno, mustered the meeting house; the troops came tn sight Kus just before sunsise, and, running within a ! rods of them, the commanding ofictr accosted ‘the militia in words to this effect:—‘Disperse, you febels, damn you; throw down your arms and disperse!’. Upon which the troops huzzaed and tmmedtately one or two officers discharged their pistols, which were instantaneously followed by ‘he fring of four or five soldiers, and then ‘here seemed to be a general discharge from the whole body. Eight of our men were Killed and nine wounded. In a few minutes after this action the enemy renewed their march for Concord, at which place they destroyed Reveral carriages, carriage wheels and about twouty barrols of flour, ail belonging to the prov- imce. Here about 150 men golig toward a bridge, of which the enemy were in possession. The latter freq, and killed two of our men, who (hen re- turned the fire and obliged the enemy to retreat ‘back to Lexington, where they met Lord Percy, ‘witn a large reinforcement and two pieces of can- Bon.” ‘The article continues, giving the same account of the Lexington skirmish found elsewhere, and conciudes :— “The pubiic most sincerely sympatnize with the friends and relations of our deceased brethren, Who gloriously sacrificed their lives in fighting for the liberties of their country. By their noble, Antrepid conduct they have endeared their Memories to the present generation, who will transmit their names to posterity with the high- est honors, “We suppose a circumstantial account will be Preparea 9nd published by authority. The above 4s the best we have been able to ovtain. We can Dnly add that the town of Boston is now invested by & vast army of our brave countrymen, who ave flown to our assistance from ali quarters.” ‘Tne London Chronicle turtner announces :— ly terday stock jell 134 per cent, on sccount of the above news.” GRNERAL GAGE’S OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE. The London Gazette of June 10, 1775 (Number 14,568), Was the first journal in London to an- mounce the ofticial news of the Battle of Lexing- ton. The Gazette being then, as now, the oificial Organ of the British government, was favored ‘With the earliest official despatches, The issue of the London Gazette ior that day consisted of two leaves, or four pages, of about seven by twelve imch paper. At the head of the first column, in its largest type, appeared the following:— “WHITEMALL, Jane 10, 1775, “Lieutenant Nunn, of the Navy, arrived this Morning at Lord Dartmouth’s office, and has Drought letters from General Gage, Lord Percy and Lieutenant Colonel Smitn, containing the fol- lowing particulars of what passed on 19th April last, between a detachment of the King’s troops, in the province o! Massachusetts Bay, and several parties of rebel provinctais, viz:— « General Gage, having received intelligence of ®large quantity of military stores veing collected at Concord, jor the avowed purpose of supplying a body of troops to act in opposition to His Majesty’s government, detached On the 18th of April, at night, the Brenadiers of his army and the light infantry: under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, of the Tenth regiment, and Major Pitcairne, of the marines, with orders to destroy the said stores; andthe next morning eight compames of the Fourth, the same number of the Twenty-third and Forty-ninth, and some marines marched under the command of Lord Percy to sapport the other detachment. Lieutenant Colonel Smitn finding, after he had advanced some miles on his march, that the coun- Wy had been alarmed by the firing of guns and dinging of bells, despatched six companies ot light tmiantry, in order to secure two bridges on differ, ent roads beyond Concord, who, upon their arrival at Lexington, iound a body of the country people @rawn ap under arms on a green close to the road, and upon the King’s troops marching up to them, §@ Order to inquire the reason of their being so Assembled, they went of in great confusion, and Several guos were fired upon the King’s troops {rom bebind a stone wall, and also from the meet- og house and other houses, by which ons man as Wounded and Major Pitcairne’s norse snot in two places, In consequence of this attack by the febela the troops returned the fire and Gilied several of trem, after which the detachment marched on to Concord witnout any- thing further hoppening, where they effected the for Which they were sent, naving knocked bf the trunnions o! turee pieces of iron ordpance, Durnt some new gun carriages aud a great nym- ber of carriage wheels, and thrown into toe river ® considerable quanuty of flour, gunpowder, musket bails and other articies, Watie this ser- Vice was periorming great numbers of the rebels &ssembied in many parts, and a considerable vody of them attacked the lignt infan:ry posted at one @f toe bridges, on whicb an action ensued, and some few were killed and wounded. “On the returo of the troops from Concord tney Were very much annoyed, and bad several men Killed and wounded by the rebels Sring benind Walls, ditches, trees and ot ner amoushes, but the brigade under the command of Lord Percy having Joined them at Lexington witn two pieces o! can- Ron, the rebels were, for awhile, dispersea; but, Aa soon as the troops resumed their march, they began again to fre apon them from beuind stone ‘Walls and houses, and kept op in that & scatteri pg fre during the whole of their {Of Giteen miles, by which means several were Killed and wounded, und such was tne cruelty ena barovarity of the rebels that they scalped and cut of the Of some of t. ounted mon who fail into their hands. “lt is Dot knowao what number of the rebels were Billed and wounded, but it is supposed that the loss was very considerable.’ al Gage says that too much pr annot beg to Lord Percy jor bis remarkable activity Goring the ‘whole way, and that Lieutenant Vol. @oel Smith and Major Piteniroe did everything ‘that men could do, as did also the oficers in gen+ Oral, and that the men beliaved with their usual fatrepidity.” Thisis followed by ® return of the rank and file Killed and wo unded, prisouers and missing on the 29th Of April, 1775, summing up 62 rank and fie Killed, 167 Wounded, 24 missing, ed “rho, Gage.” t DRITISM PRIVATE SOLDIERS ON THE BATTLE. Many contemporary letters of Britwh soidiers ‘were intercepted and iouad their way into privt in the mouths of April and May, 1775. One oj these, dated Boston, April 8, 1775, has tue ioliowing, ‘Which, a6 Will be seen, is tolerabiy full o! romanc. tag — “The \aying of the tax on tne New England peo ple caused us to be ordered for Boston, where we fPewained in peace With the iahabitante till om the Right of the 18t" Of April. Twenty-one companios Of grenadiers and lieht infantry w ordered into tne country about eighteea miles, whore, be- tween four and 0 ‘clock im the morning, we Met an incredible number of people of the coun. try in arms against us. Volonel Stoitn, of the Tenth regiment, ordered us to rust on them with Our bayonets fixed, at which time some of the peasants fred on us, aod, our men returning the fire, the engayement oegun. “Tey aid not fight us li regular army, oniy Mike savages—vebind trees and stone wails aud @ut of the Woods and houses, Where, in the lat. ter, We ciiled numbers of them, a8 weilas in the ‘Woods and fields, These people are very numer. 008 and fuil as bad of the Indians for scalping and * cutting the dead men’s cars aod noses of and those they get alive that ate Wounded and can round.” Mot pet off to Boston, April 28, 1775, The Grenadiers and Light intautry marched for Concord, whe @anoon mounted on carriage: but before we ould destroy them ali we were fired ou by the coun. who, not being brougut up in our mills ourseives. © Were surrouaded a. NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY APRIL 19, 1875.-QUADRUPLE SHEET. THURSDAY Mar 25.1775; PRINTED at his OPEN and UN A flize of Breav,—Flour at 16s. per cwt, Hicn Water at New Yorx, this Week. : Wheat, per Bushel, 6s. 44. | Mufcovado Sugar, wheaten Loaf of the fineft Flour, to weigh 1 1b. | Thursday 57 min, after 6 | Monday = 50 min, aiter 9 | Flour, 16s, od. | Single refined do., 13 02. for 4 coppers, acy 45 min, after 7 | Tuefday 27 min, after 10 | Brown Bread, 148, od. | Molaffes, aturday 33 min, after 8 | Wednefda min, after 10 | Weft India Rum 38. 4d. | Beef, per Barrel, Publifhed the 3d of April, 1775. Sunday 10 min. after 9 | aug New-England do, 2 Gi. ene: - PHILADELPHIA, May 33. AFFIDAVITS and depofitions relative to the commencement of the late hoftilities in the prov- ince of Maffachufetts-Bay; lafts h continued from our Lexington, April 25, 1775. JOHN PARKER, of lawfal age, and commander of the militia in Lexington, do teftify and declare, that on the lgth inftant, in the morning, about one of the clock, being in- a formed that there was a nume ber of regular officers riding (up and down the road, ftop~ ‘ping and infulting people as they paffed the road; and alfo was informed that a number of regular troops were on their march from Bofton, in order to take the province ftores at Concord; ordered our militia to meet on the common in faid Lexington, to confult what to do, and concluded not to be difcovered, nor meddle or make with faid regular troops (if they fhould approach) unless they fhould infult or moleft us, and upon their fudden ap. proach I immediately ordered our militia to difperfe and not to fire; immediately faid troops made their appear= ance and rufhed furioufly, fired upon and killed eight of our party, without receiving any provocation therefor from us. OuN PARKER, We, Nathaniel Clarkhurft, Jonas Parker, John Mun- roe, junr., John Winship, Solomon Pierce, foe Mur- ray, Abnez Meads, John Bridge, junr., Ebenezer Bow- man, William Munroe, 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel Sanderfon, Samuel Haftings, and John Brown, of Lex- ington, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of Maffachufetts-Bay, in New England; and all of lawful age, do teftify and fay, that on the morning of the nine- teenth of April inft, about one or two o'clock, being informed that a number of regular officers had been riding up and down the road the evening and night preceding, and that fome of the inhabitants as they were paffing had been infulted by the officers, and ftopped by them; and being alfo informed that the regular troops were on their march from Bofton, in order (as it was faid) to tale the colony ftores there depofited at Con- cord! We met on the parade of our company in this town; after the company had collected, we were ordered by Copan eee Parker (who commanded us) to difperfe for the prefent, and be ready to attend the beat of the dram ; and accordingly the company went into houfes near the place of parade. We further teftify and fay, that about five o'clock in the morning we attended the beat of our drum and were formed on the parade—we were faced towards the regulars then marching up to us, and fome of our company were coming to the parade with their backs towards the troops; and others on the parade began to difperfe when the regulars fired on the company, before a gun was fired by any of our company on them; they killed eight of our company, and wounded feveral, and continued the fire until we had all made our efcaps. Signed by each of the above Depofers, Lexington, April 25, 1775. I Timothy Smith, of Lexington, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of Maffachufetts-Bay, in New England, being of lawful age, do teftify and declare that on the morning of the nineteenth April init., being at Lexington-common as a Spectator, I faw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington com- pany then difperfing, and likewife faw the regular troops fire on the Lexington company, before the latter fired again; I immediately ran, and a volley was difcharged at me, which put ms in imminent dange: of lofing my life; I foon returned to the common and faw eight of the Lexington men who were killed, and lay bleeding at a tonfiderable diftance from each other ; and feveral were wounded, and further faith not. Timoray Sira, Lexington, April a5, 1775. We, Levy Mead and Levy Harrington, both of Lex- {ngton, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of the Maffichufetts-Bay, in New Evgland, and of lawful age, do teftify and declare, that on the morning of the nine- teenth of April, being on Lexington common as f{pecta- tors, we faw a large body of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company, and fome of the regulars on horfes, whom we tvol to be officers, fired a piftol or two on the Lexington company, which was then difperfing. Thefe were the fir guns that were fired, and they were immediately followed by feveral vollies from the regulars, by which eight men belonging to the faid company were killed, and feveral wounded. Levy Haraincton, Levy Meas. Lexington, April 25, 1775. 1, William Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain, in the county of Hampthire, and colony of Maffachufetts-Bay, in New England, do teltify and declare, that being on the parade of faid Lexington April 19th initant about half an hour before funrife the King's regular troops appeared at the meeting houfe of Lexing- ton. Captain Parker's company who were drawn up back of faid meeting houfe on the parade, turned from faid troops, making their efcape by difperfing, in the mean time, the regular troops made an huzea and ran towards Captain Parker's company, who were difperfing ; and immediately after che huzza was made the com- manding officer of faid troops (as I took him) the command to the faid troops “fire! fire! damn you, fire?’ And immediately they fired before any of Ses tain Parker's men fired, I then being within three or fourrods of faid regular troops ; and further fay not, Witiam Daarea, Lexington, April 23, t77' I, Thomas Feffenden, of pee po Sai :* declare, that being in a paflure near the meeting houfe at faid Lexington, on Wednefday laft, at about half an hour before funrife, I faw a number of regular troops pass fpeedily by faid meeting houfe, on their way towards « company of militia of faid Lexington, who were ailem- bled to the number of about one hundred in a company, at the diftance of eighteen or twenty rods from faid meeting houfe; and after they had paffed by ‘aid meeting houle, | fw three officers on horfe back, advance to the front of faid regulars, when one of them being within fix rods of the (aid mititia, cried out RIV INGTOWN’'s NEW YORK x, [Ne no. | GAZETTEER New-Jerfey and Ouenec ADVERTISER INFLUENCED PRESS fronting Hanover Square PRICE CURRENT, in New York, 50 to 603. | Fine Salt 3s. 6d. _ Coarse do, 2s. od. 1s, 2d. | Indian Corn, per Bufhel, 3s. to 38. 6d. 2s. od. | Bills of Exchange, £165 45s. od. | Do, at Philadelphia, 1S5 60 to 658. | Do. at Bofton, * difperfe you rebels immediately” on which he bran- dithed his fword over his head three times: meanwhile the fecond officer who was about two rods behind him, fired a piftol pointed at said militia, and the regulars kept huzzaing till he had finithed brandithing his fword, and when he had thus finifhea brandifhing his {word, he pointed it down towards {aid militia, and immediately on which the faid regulars fired a volley at the militia, and then I ran off as fait as I could, while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I further teftify, that as foon as ever the officer cried ‘¢ difperfe you rebels” the faid company of militia difperfed every way as fatt as they could; and while they were difperfing, the regulars kept firing at them inceffantly, and further faith not. ‘Tuomas Fassenpen. Lincoln, April 23, 775. I, John Bateman, belonging to the fifty-(econd regi- ment, commanded by Colonel Jones, on Wednefday morning, on the nineteenth day of April inftant, was in the party marching to Concord, being at Lexington, in the county of Middlefex, being nigh the meeting houfe in faid Lexington, there was a fmall party of men gathered together in that place, when our faid troops marched by ; and I teftify and declare, that I heard the word of command given to the troop¥ to fire, and fome of faid troops did fire; and I faw one of faid party lie dead on the ground nigh faid meeting houfe; and I teftify that I never heard any of the inhabitants fire one gun on faid troops. Joun Bateman, Lexington, April 23, 1775. We, John Hoar, John Whitehead, Abraham Gar- field, Benjamin Munroe, Ifaac Parks, William Hofmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln in the county of Middlefex, Maffachufetts-Bay, all “of lawful age, do teftify and fay, that on Wednefday laft we were affembled at Concord, in the morning of faid day, in eonfequence of information received, that a brigade of regular troops were on their march to the faid town of Concord, who had killed fix men at the town of Lexing- ton ; about an hour afterwards we faw them approaching to the number, as we apprehended, of about twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the faid troops then took poffeffion of the hill where we were firft pofted; prefently after this we faw other troops moving towards the North-bridge, about one mile from the faid Concord meeting-houfe ; we then immediately went before them, and paffed the bridge juft before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred arrived ; they there left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the reft towards Colonel Barrett’s, about two miles above the faid bridge; we then feeing feveral fires in the town, thought the houfes of Concord were in danger, and marched down towards the faid bridge; the troops that were ftationed there, obferving our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up fome of the planks; we then haftened our march towards the bridge; and when we had got near the bridge they fired on our men, firftthree guns one after another, and then a confiderable more; and then, and not before, having orders from our commanding officers not to ire till we were fired upon) we fired upon the regulars and they ‘retreated, On their retreat through the town of Lexington to Charleftown, they ravaged and deftroyed property, and burnt three houfes, one barn and one thop, Signed by each of the above Depofers. We, Benjamin Tidd of Lexington, and Jofeph Abbot of Lincoln, in the county of Middlefex, and colony of Maffachufetts-Bay, in New England, of lawful age, do teftify and declare, that on the morning of the nineteenth of April inftant, about five o'clock being on Lexington Common and mounted on horfe we faw a body of regular troops marching up to the Lexington company, which was then difperfing, foon after the regulars fired firft a few guns, which we took to be piftols from fome of the regu- lars who were mounted on horfes, and then the faid reg- ulars fired a volley or two, before any guns were fired by the Lexington company, our horfes immediately ftarted and we rode off, and further fay not. Benjamin Tidd, Fofeph Abbot, Lexington, April 25, 1775. Simon Winthip of Lexington, in the county of Mid~ diefex, and province of Maffachufetts-Bay, New-Eng- land, being of lawful age, teftifieth and faith, that on the nineteenth of April inftant, about four o'clock in the morning, as he was paffing the public road in faid Lex- ington, peaceably and unarmed, about two miles and a half diftant from the meeting-houfe in faid Lexing- ton, he was met by ‘a body of the King’s regular troops, and being ftopt by fome officers of faid regular troops was commanded to difmount; upon asking why he muft difmount, he was obliged by force to quit his horfe, and ordered to march in the midft of the body, and being examined whether he had been warning the minute men, he an{wered no, but had been out and was then returning to his father’s Said Winthip further teftifies that he marched with faid troops until he came within about half a quarter of a mile of faid meeting-houfe, where an officer commanted the troops to halt, and then to prime and load; this being done the faid troo marched on till they came within a few rods of Captain Parker's company, who were partly collected on the place of parade; when faid Winthip obferved an officer at the head of {aid troops flourifhing his fword, and with aloud voice giving the word fire, fire, which was in- ftantly followed by a difcharge of arms from {aid regular troops; and said Winthip is posfitive, and in the mot folernn manner declares, that there was no difcharge of arms of either fide till the word fire was given by faid officer as above, Simon Winenir, ——_—_———- Concord, April 23, 1775. I, James Marr, of lawful age, teftity and fay that in the evening of the eighteenth inftant, I received orders from George Hutchinfon, adjutant of the fourth regi- ment of the regular troups, ftationed at Boston, to pre- pare and march, to which order I attended, and marched to Concord, where I was ordered by an officer with about one hundred men to guard a certain bridge theres While attending that fervice, a number of peow ple came along as I suppose to cross said nee of at which time a number of the regular troops firft fired upon them. James Maan, {To be concluded in our next.) NEW-J ERSEY, May 16.— SPEECH of his Excellency WILLIAM FRANKLIN, E(q., Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over the Province of NEW-JERSEY, ang Territories thereon depending in America, Chan- cellor and Vice Admiral of the fame, &c, To the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the faid Province, Convened at Burlington. Gentlemen of the Council, and Gentlemen of the General Affembly, HE fole occafion of my calling you together at this time is to lay before you a refolution of the Houfe of Commons wifely and humanely calculated to open a door to the reftoration of that harmony between Great-Britain and her American colonies on which their mutual welfare and happiness fo greatly depend. ‘This refolution, having already appeared in the public papers, and a great variety of interpretations put upon it, moftly according to the different views and difpofitions by which men are aGtuated and {carcely any having feen it in its proper light, I think I cannot at this juncture better anfwer the gracious purpofes of his Majeity, nor do my country more effential fervice than to lay before you as fullan explanation of the occafion, purport and intent of it as is in my power. By this means you, and the good people you reprefent, will be enabled to judge for yourfelves how far you ought or ought not to acquiefce withthe plan it cOntains, and what fteps it will be prudent for you to take on this very important occafion, You will fee in the King’s anfwer to the joint address of both Houfes of Parliament on the 7th of February, how much attention his Majefty was gracioufly pleased to give to the affurance held out in that address, of the readiness of Parliament to afford every juft and reafon- able indulgence to the colonies whenever they fhould make a proper application on the ground of any real gticvance they might have to complain of, This address was accordingly foon followed by the refolution of the Houfe of Commons now laid before you. A circum- ftance which afforded his Majetty great {atisfaction, as it gave room to hope for a happy effect, and would, at all events, ever remain an evidence of their juftice and moderation and manifeft the temper which has accom- panied their deliberations upon that queftion which has been the fource of fo much difquiet to the King’s fubjeéts in America, His Majefty, ardently withing to fee a reconciliation of the unhappy differences by every means through which it may be obtained without prejudice to the juft authority of Parliament, which his Majefty will never fuffer to be violateé, has approved the refolution of his faithful Commons, and has commanded it to be tranf- mitted to the governors of his colonies, not doubting that this happy difpofition to comply with every juit and reafonable with of the King's fubjects in America will meet with fuch a return of duty and affection on their part as will lead to a happy iffue of the prefent dispute, and to are-eftablishment of the public tranquility on thofe grounds of equity, juftice and moderation which this refolution holds forth, What has given the King the greater fatiffaction in this refolution, and the greater confidence in the good effects of it, is his having feen that, amidit all the in- temperance into which a people, jealous of their liber- ties, have been unfortunately mifled, they have never- theless avowed the juttice, the equity, and the propriety of fubjects of the fame State contributing, according to their abilities and fituation, to the public burdens, and this refolution, it is thought, holds no propofition beyond that, It would probably be deemed unjuft to fuppofe, that any of the King’s fubjects in the colonies can have fo far forgot the benefits they have received from the parent State as not to acknowledge that it is to her fupport, held forth at the expence of her blood and treafure, that they principally owe that fecurity which has raifed them to their prefent ftate of opulence and importance. In this fituation, therefore, juitice requires that they thould, in return, contribute according to their refpective abilities, in common defence ; and their own welfare and intereft demands that their eftablish- ment fhould be fupported with a becoming dignity. It has been the care, and it is the firm determination of Parliament, to fee that both thefe ends are anfwered, and their wifdom and moderation have fuggefted the propriety of leaving to each colony to judge of the ways and means of making due provifion for thefe purpofes, referving to themfelves a difcretionary power of approv- ing what thall be offered. The refolution neither points out what the civil eftab- lifhment fhould be nor demands any fpecifie fum in aid of the public burdens. In both thefe refpects it leaves full {cope to that juftice and liberality, which may be expected from colonies, that, under all these prejudices, have never been wanting in expreffions of affectionate attachment to the mother country, and a zealous regard for the general welfare of the Britith empire, and there- fore the King trutts that the provifion they will engage to make for the fupport of civil government will be adequate to the rank and ftation of every neceffary officer, and that the fum to be given in contribution to the common defence will be offered on fuch terms, and propofed in fuch a way, as to increafe or diminish, ac- cording as the public burdens of Great-Britain are from time to time augmented or reduced, in fo far as thofe burdens confift of taxes and duties which are not « fecurity for the national debt. By fuch a mode of contribution the colonies will have foll fecurity that they can never be required to tax themfelves without Parliaments taxing the fubjects of Great-Britain in a far greater proportion, and it may be relied upon that any propofition of this nature made by any of the colonies, and accompanied by fuch a ftate of their faculties and ability as may evince the equity of the propofal, will be received with every poffible indulgence 5 provided it be accompanied with any declarations, and unmixed with any claims which will ma impoffible for the King, confitently with his own dignity, or for Parliament, confiftently with their conttitutional rights, to receive it. But it is not fupposed that any of the Colonies will, after this example of the temper and moderation of Parliament, adopt fuch a conduct; on the contrary, the pleafing hope is cherithed that the public ¢ will be reftored and that the colonies will enter into the confideration of the refolution of the Houfe of Commons with that calmness and deliberation which the importance of it demands, and with that goodwill and inclination to a reconcilation which are due to the candour and juttice with which Parliament has taken up this bufiness and at once declared to the colonies what will be ultimately expected from them, It has been already obferved that the King entirel) approves the refolution of the Houfe of Commons, and have his Majefty’s commands to fay, that a compliance therewith by the General Affembly of New-Jerfey, will be moft gracioufly confidered by his Majefty, not only as a teftimony of their reverence for Parliament, but alfo as a mark of their duty and attachment to their Sovereign, who has no object nearer to his heart than the peace and profperity of his fubjects in every part of his dominions At the fame time, 1 mutt tell you, his Majefty confiders himfelf as bound by every tie to exert thofe means the conftitution has placed in his hands, for preferving that conttitution entire, and to refift with firmness every at- tempt to violate the rights of Parliament, to diftress and obftruct the lawful commerce of his fubjects, or to en- courage in his colonies ideas of independence inconfiftent with their connections with Great-Britain, Here, Gentlemen, you have a full and candid ftate of the difpofition and expectations of his Majefty and the Parliament. They require nothing of America but what the colonies have repeatedly proteffed themfelves ready and willing to perform, A late Affembly of this prov- ince, in their petition to the King in 1766, express themfelves thus : “As no danger can approach Britain, without giving us the moft fenfible alarm ; fo your Ma- jefty may be affured that with filial duty we fhall ever be ready to afford all the affiftance in our power, and ftand or fall with that kingdom, from which our de- {eent, and to which we are attached by the ftrongett ties of duty, gratitude and affection.” And in a fubfequent petition, they fay, “Very far is it from our intentions to deny our fubordination to that auguft body (the Parlia- liament) or our dependence on the kingdom of Great Britain: In thefe connections and in the fettlement of our liberties, under the aufpicies influence of your Royal Houfe, we know our happiness confifts; and therefore to confirm thefe connexions, and to ftrengthen’ this fettle- ment, is at once our intereft, duty, and delight,” Similar declarations have been repeatedly made in other colonies, The following vote was paffed in th, Affembly of Pennfylvania many years ago, to wit, “The Houfe taking into confideration the many taxes their fellow fubjects in Great-Britain are obliged to pay to- wards fupporting the dignity of the Crown, and defraying the neceffary and contingent charges of government, and willing to demonftrate the fidelity, loyalty and affection of the inhabitants of this province to our gracious Sove- reign, by bearing a thare of the burden of our fellow fubjects, propurtionable to our circumftances, do, there- fore, cheerfully and unanimoufly resolve, That three thoufand pounds be paid for the ufe of the King, his heirs and fucceffors, to be applied to fuch ufes as he, in his royal wifdom, fhall think fit to direct and appoint.” And the faid three thoufand pounds were afterwards paid into his Majefty’s Exchequer, by the Agent of the province accordingly. Nor can I avoid mentioning what was done in the convention of committees from every county in Pennfyl- vania, who met in July lait for the express pi giving inftructions to their Reprefentatives in “J on this very fubject. Several of thefe inftructions fet fuch a candour and liberality of fentiment, fuch juft ideas of the importance of our connexion with Great- Britain, and point out fo rational a method to be purfued for obtaining redress for the fuppofed grievances (pre= vious to any attempt to diftress the tride of that king- dom) that it is greatly to be regretted that the conduct of America, in a matter of fuch vaft importance to its future welfare, had not been regulated by the principles and advice they suggefted, In thefe inftructions, fpeak- ing of the pewers Parliament had claimed and lately ex- ercifed, the Convention fay, “We are thoroughly con- vinced they will prove unfailing and plentiful fources of diffentions to our Mother country and to thefe colonies, unless fome expedientscan be adopted to render her fecure of receiving from us every emolument that can in juftice and reason be expected, and fecure us in our lives, properties and an equitable fhare of commerce. Mourn- fully revolving in our minds the calamities, that, arifing from thefe diffenfions, will most probably fall on us and our children, we will now lay before you the particular points we requeft of you to procure, if possible to be finally decided: and the meafures that appear to us moft likely to produce fuch a defirable period of our diftreffes and dangers.” Then, after enumerating the particular acts of Parliament which they confider as grievances, and defire to have repealed, they add, “In cafe of obtain- ing thefe terms, it is our opinion, that it will be reafonable for the colonies to engage their obe- dience to the acts of Parliament, commonly called the acts of navigation, and to any other acts of Parliament declared to have force, at this time, in thefe colonies, other than thofe above mentioned, and to confirm fuch ftatutes by acts of the feveral Assemblies, It is alfo our opinion, that taking example trom our mother country in abolithing the courts of ward and liveries, tenures in capite, and by Knight's fervice and purveyance, it will be reafonable for the colunies, in cafe of obtaining the terms before mentioned, to (ettle a certain annual reve nue on his Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, fubject tw the controul of Parlament, and to fatisfy all damages done to the Eaft India Company. This.our idea of fet. tling a revenue, arifes from a fenfe of duty to our Sov- ereign, and of efteem for our mother country, We know, and have feit the benefits of a subordinate cone nexion with her. We neither are fo ftupid as to be ignorant of them, nor fo unjuft as to deny them. We have alfo experienced the pleafures of gratitude and love, as well advantages from that connexion, The im- preffions are not yet erased. We confider her circum- ftances with tender concern, We have not been want- ing, when conttitutionally called upon, to affist her to the utmoft of our abilities; infomuch that the has judged it reafonable to make us recompenfe for our overftrained exertions ; And we now think we ought to contributemore than we do to the alleviation of her burthens. Whatever may be faid of thefe propofals on either fide of the Atlantic, this is not a time either for timidity or rafhness, We perfectly know that the great caufe now agitated is to be conducted to a happy conclu- fion, only by that well tempered compofition of counfel, which firmness, prudence, loyalty to our Sovereign, re~ {pect to our parent State, and affection to our native country, united muft form.” “In cafe of war, or any emergency of diftress, we thall alfo be ready and willing to contribute all aids within our power. | Whatever may be we event, it is certain that we | they wil reureu uu the kitenen, in the ways in woos, hath siuem ALOU ta im the Aftarnaan © ond brigade came un, which were ‘our regiments and part of the artillery, which were of no use to us, as the enemy were In the woods; and when we found they fired irom the house et them om fire, and they ran to the woous like devils. The following is the letter of anothor of these soldiers :— Boston, April 20, 1775 DEAR PARENTS—Before (his rewches you, you may that our regiment has beea engaged with provincials. As soon G8 We came up we firea the cannon, Which brought them irom benind the trees, for we did not fight as you did in Germany, As We could not see above ten in a body, for they were oehina trees and Walls, ana fired at us ana lomued om their beilies, Tho shot flow 1 got & Wounded man’s gun, sod ‘ool. We have been busy in fortifying the town ever since we wore on- gaged, and in & (ew days We expeot a gooa many more troops from Engiand, and then we shail don't it, Whieh I don’t imagine they wil do, for thay ate ab Ob#tinate Reto! vonole, ‘Vat! Mitt | wnat be comes to Boston he may bave 6 wie in every | Tused to be presented to our readers, who like pre- house he comes to, for the ire leit at home while the men go to fight the soldiers, We vex the Americans very much by cutting down their liverty poles and alarm posts. {London continged to print drib- out the Lexington skirmish The aMdavits of Joba Hoar, Jono for weeks. Adams and owbers, of Middlesex county, setting jorth the wanton and unprovoged conduct of tho King's troops at Concord, were printed at ull length in the London press, and created much excitement. Intelligence of the first bloodshed in America in the Revolutionary War reached France and Hol- jand @t adout the some timo—namely, the firat Week in Juae, 1775, The Gasetie ae Leyde, or Now velle Bxtraordinaires du Mardi, ¢ Jain, 1775, con+ tained the jollowing, whion we give im transla ton “Wo learn from London that hostilities have at Jant Commenced in Now Bogiand, where there has been biooaa! ‘The clroamatances haan mada pablia ova (on mHOK ome. cision. Moreover, the government, which does Rot itself appear to be exactly advised of what passed on (bat occasion, has desired that the pud- le be requested in our periodical papers to sus pend its judgment upon this event uatil authentic particulars can be known.” The Leyden Gazewe proceeds to fil hali a colama with the Hirst London account of the action under General Gage. It also quotes another account declaring that the retreat of the Britian troops was made in great precipitation because the Pro vingials pursted and fired upon them inces- santly untl they reacned Boston, where they came under the protection of the ship-ol-war Somerset, carrying sixty-four gana, ‘The Leyden Gazette of June 13, 1774, prints 4 lee ter tom Boston of April 90, in which tho followlog decisive language GoCUrai— “The lot of Boglih-Amerion is cast, and in the extremity at Which affaires have at last arrived | More appears to be no Alternative remaining to it but to perish or to piace itsolf in @ position mm | Loncord BiMOt autiVA INdACoATCOCE Us Lue Mol her country tual destraction,” o'clock on Wednesda: 6 being we are on the eve of seeing rivers of blood flow and citizens deriving their origin from the same coun- try, subjects of the same king, bent on their ma- The next issue of the Leyden Gazette, June 16, 11%, announced that the whole Continent of America was Salmated with an inoredivie ardor, cost, and were abundaatiy provided with arms ammunition, provisions and ail nosessaries gen erally. Wonorsrenr, April 26, 1775. Hannah Bradish, of that part of Cambridge, called Menotomy, and daughter of Timothy Paine, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, Mequire, of Jawfal age, testifies, and asya that abour Ave afternoon, being in her chamber with her infant child, Old, 8h0 was surprised by the Gring o1 the ter, King's troops and oaf poopie, on their return irom + 14 ABUTS Wereml and turmtle back part of te house; she soon found the house surrounded with the King’s troops; that upon ovservation made, least sev. enty bullets were shot into the front part of the house; several bullets lodged in the kitchen where she Was, aud ouo pr ssed through an easy chan the had just gone from; the door of the front part Of \he house was broken open why Solaieré im the nouse, vut sup they Were in the iront; atter of she witsea the following Sue Vorily believes were taken out o1 toe King's troops, Vik. One rich brocade go’ called a Deghigée; one jatestring gown, one White quilt, One pair o} brocade shoes, three ete White aprons, hres OAps, case of ivory aud forks, 60d several other ama artic! i HANNAH BRAVISE. PROVINCE OF THX MASSACHUSEITS Bat, WORCESTER, 9%, April s6, 1776, Mrs, Hannah Brudiwh, the above de Makoth oath velore us, tae subscribers, two of Majesty's Justices oF the Poage for Wo id of the quoram, that toe above i ‘ding ro her best recoil a posinan, ac: jection, troto, Whiek deposiuon i taken in a bout exht Ubaole to go oUt Of | » ¢ nemoriam

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