sider its continuance, or its ending in any way but that of an honorable and liberal accommodation, as the greatest evils that can befall us. For that reason I entreat you again and again, neither to be persuaded, shamed, or frighted, out of the principles that have hitherto led so many of you to abhor the war, its cause, and its consequences. Let us not be amongst the first who renounce the maxims of our forefathers.

Ex. LVIII.-PROCLAMATION,*

By John Burgoyne, esquire, Lieutenant General of His Majesty's armies in North America, Colonel of the Queen's regiment of light dragoons, Governor of Fort William in North Britain, one of the representatives of the Commons of Great Britain, and commanding an army and fleet employed on an expedition from Canada, &c., &c., &c. Given at the Camp at Ticonderoga, July 2, 1777.

THE forces intrusted to my command are designed to act in concert, and upon a common principle, with the numerous armies and fleets which already display in every quarter of America the power, the justice, and when properly sought, the mercy of the king.

The cause in which the British arms are thus exerted appeals to the most affecting interests of the human heart; and the military servants of the crown, at first called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the constitution, now combine with the love of their country and duty to their sovereign, the other extensive incitements which form a due sense of the general privileges of mankind. To the eyes and ears of the temperate part of the public, and the breasts of suffering thousands in the provinces, be the melancholy appeal whether the present unnatural rebellion has not been made a foundation for the completest system of tyranny that ever God, in his displeasure, suffered to be exercised over a froward and stubborn generation.

Arbitrary imprisonment, confiscation of property, persecution and torture, unprecedented in the Inquisition of the

*The arrogant style of this proclamation is in ludicrous contrast with the fact that in little more than three months from the time it was issued, Burgoyne and his whole army surrendered to the American forces. It is not perhaps generally known that this unlucky general had better success in the field of literature than in that of arms, having ended his life as a popular dramatic author.

Romish church, are among the palpable enormities that verify the affirmation. These are inflicted by assemblies and committees, who dare to profess themselves friends to liberty, upon the most quiet subjects, without distinction of age or sex, for the sole crime, often for the sole suspicion, of having adhered in principle to the government under which they were born, and to which, by every tie, divine and human, they owe allegiance. To consummate these shocking proceedings, the profanation of religion is added to the most profligate prostitution of common reason; the consciences of men are set at nought, and multitudes are compelled not only to bear arms, but also to swear subjection to an usurpation they abhor.

Animated by these considerations-at the head of troops in the full powers of health, discipline and valor-determined to strike where necessary, and anxious to spare where possible-I, by these presents, invite and exhort all persons, in all places where the progress of this army may point--and by the blessing of God I will extend it far-to maintain such a conduct as may justify me in protecting their lands, habitations and families. The intention of this address is to hold forth security, not depredation, to the country. To those whom spirit and principle may induce to partake the glorious task of redeeming their countrymen from dungeons, and reëstablishing the blessings of legal government, I offer encouragement and employment; and upon the first intelligence of their associations, I will find means to assist their undertakings. The domestic, the industrious, the infirm, and even the timid, I am desirous to protect, provided they remain quietly at their houses; that they do not suffer their cattle to be removed, nor their corn or forage to be secreted or destroyed; that they do not break up their bridges or roads; nor by any other act, directly or indirectly, endeavor to obstruct the operations of the king's troops, or supply or assist those of the enemy.

Every species of provision brought to my camp will be paid for at an equitable rate, and in solid coin.

In consciousness of Christianity, my royal master's clemency, and the honor of soldiership, I have dwelt upon this invitation, and wished for more persuasive terms to give it impression. And let not people be led to disregard it, by considering their distance from the immediate situation of my camp. I have but to give stretch to the Indian forces under my direction—and they amount to thousands-to

ANSWER TO BURGOYNE'S PROCLAMATION.

99

overtake the hardened enemies of Great Britain and America. I consider them the same, wherever they may lurk.

If, notwithstanding these endeavors and sincere inclination to effect them, the phrenzy of hostility should remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of God and men in denouncing and executing the vengeance of the state against these wilful outcasts. The messengers of justice and of wrath await them in the field; and devastation, famine and every concomitant horror, that a reluctant, but indispensable prosecution of military duty must occasion, will bar the way to their return.

Ex. LIX.-ANSWER TO BURGOYNE'S PROCLAMATION.

Saratoga, July 10, 1777.

MOST HIGH, MOST MIGHTY, MOST PUISSANT AND SUBLIME GENERAL:

When the forces under your command arrived at Quebec in order to act in concert and upon a common principle with the numerous fleets and armies which already display in every quarter of America the justice and mercy of your king, we, the reptiles of America, were struck with unusual trepidation and astonishment. But what words can express the plenitude of our horror, when the colonel of the queen's regiment of light dragoons advanced towards Ticonderoga? The mountains shook before thee, and the trees of the forest bowed their lofty heads-the vast lakes of the north were chilled at thy presence, and the mighty cataracts stopped their tremendous career, and were suspended in awe at thy approach. Judge, then, O ineffable governor of Fort William in North Britain! what must have been the terror, dismay and despair that overspread this paltry continent of North America, and us, its wretched inhabitants. Dark and dreary indeed was the prospect before us, till, like the sun in the horizon, your most gracious, sublime and irresistible proclamation opened the doors of mercy and snatched us, as it were, from the jaws of annihilation.

We foolishly thought, blind as we were, that your gracious master's fleets and armies were come to destroy us and our liberties, but we are happy in hearing from you (and

who can doubt what you assert ?) that they were called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the constitution to a froward and stubborn generation.

And is it for this, O sublime lieutenant-general! that you have given yourself the trouble to cross the wide Atlantic, and with incredible fatigue traverse uncultivated wilds? And we ungratefully refuse the proffered blessing? To restore the rights of the constitution, you have called together an amiable host of savages, and turned them loose to scalp our women and children and lay our country waste-this they have performed with their usual skill and clemency, and yet we remain insensible to the benefit, and unthankfuĺ for so much goodness.

Our Congress have declared independence, and our assemblies, as your highness justly observes, have most wickedly imprisoned the avowed friends of that power with which they are at war, and most profanely compelled those whose consciences will not allow them to fight, to pay some small part of the expenses their country is at, in supporting what is called a necessary defensive war. If we go on thus in our obstinacy and ingratitude, what can we expect but that you should, in your anger, give a stretch to the Indian forces under your direction amounting to thousands, to overtake and destroy us? Or, which is ten times worse, that you should withdraw your fleets and armies, and leave us to our own misery, without completing the benevolent task you have begun of restoring to us the rights of the constitution.

We submit, we submit, most puissant colonel of the queen's regiment of light dragoons, and governor of Fort William in North Britain! We offer our heads to the scalping-knife, and our bodies to the bayonet. Who can resist the force of your eloquence? Who can withstand the terror of your arms? The invitation you have made, in the consciousness of Christianity, your royal master's clemency, and the honor of soldiership, we thankfully accept. The blood of the slain, the cries of injured virgins and innocent children, and the never-ceasing sighs and groans of starving wretches, now languishing in the jails and prison-ships of New York, call on us in vain, while your sublime proclamation is sounded in our ears. Forgive us, O our country! Forgive us, dear posterity! Forgive us, all ye foreign powers, who are anxiously watching our conduct in this important struggle, if we yield implicitly to the persuasive tongue

of the most elegant colonel of her majesty's regiment of light dragoons.

Forbear then, thou magnanimous lieutenant-general! Forbear to denounce vengeance against us-forbear to give a stretch to those restorers of constitutional rights, the Indian forces under your direction; let not the messengers of justice and wrath await us in the field; and devastation, and every concomitant horror, bar our return to the allegiance of a prince who, by his royal will, would deprive us of every blessing of life, with all possible clemency.

We are domestic, we are industrious, we are infirm and timid, we shall remain quietly at home, and not remove our cattle, our corn, or forage, in hopes that you will come, at the head of troops in the full powers of health, discipline

d valor, and take charge of them for yourselves. Behold ir wives and daughters, our flocks and herds, our goods and chattels, are they not at the mercy of our lord the king, and of his lieutenant-general, member of the House of Comons, and governor of Fort William in North Britain ?

MAKE room, oh ye kingdoms ! in history renowned,
Whose arms have in battle with glory been crowned;
Make room,-for America, another great nation,
Arises to claim in your council a station.

Her sons fought for freedom, and by their own bravery
Have rescued themselves from the shackles of slavery.
America's free, and though Britain abhorred it,
Yet Fame a new volume prepares to record it.

Fair Freedom in Britain her home had erected,
But her sons growing venal, and she not respected,

* Judge Hopkinson was a member of the Continental Congress, and signed the Declaration of Independence. He did great service to this country by his pen during the War for Freedom, and left, besides political essays, satires, &c., many songs, very popular in their day, some of them set to music by himself.