To His Excellency :-SIR HENRY CLINTON, K. B., Commanderin-Chief of His Brittanic Majesty's forces in North America. The memorial of sundry officers of the American Army, Prisoners of War on Long Island, on behalf of themselves and others. Most Respectfully sheweth, That a memorial has been drawn up and signed by all the officers, Prisoners on Long Island, addressed to the Hon'l the Con. tinental Congress, purporting an earnest desire that a general Exchange might speedily be concluded on, for the mutual advantage of the unfortunate captives of both armies. For the more speedy effecting so desirable a purpose, we, your memorialists, most earnestly request that your Excellency would be pleased to permit Col. Sam'l B. Webb to accompany Col. Baylor to Phila., there to remain on Parole so long as it may be necessary to present and enforce the above-mentioned memorial. And your memorialists as in Duty bound, &c. THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES. We the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Wethersfield, having taken into our serious consideration the precarious state of the liberties of North America, and more especially the present distressed condition of this insulted province, embarrassed as it is by several acts of the British Parliament, tending to the entire subversion of our natural and charter rights,-among which is the act for blocking up the harbour of Boston; and being fully sensible of our indispensable duty to lay hold on every means in our power to preserve and recover the much injured constitution of our country; and conscious at the same time of no alternative between the horrors of slavery, or the carnage and desolation of civil war, but a suspension of all commercial intercourse with the island of Great Britain,Do, in the presence of God solemnly and in good faith, covenant and engage with each other. 1st, That from henceforth we will suspend all commercial intercourse with said island of Great Britain, until the said act for blocking up the said harbour, be repealed, and a full restoration of our charter rights be obtained. And, 2ly, That there may be the less temptation to others to continue in the said now dangerous commerce, we do in like manner solemnly covenant, that we will not buy, purchase or consume, or suffer any person, by, for or under us to purchase or consume, in any manner whatever, any goods, wares or merchandize which shall arrive in America from Great Britain aforesaid, from and after the last day of August next ensuing. And in order as much as in us lies, to prevent our being interrupted and defeated in this only peaceable measure, entered into for the recovery and preservation of our rights, we agree to break off all trade, commerce and dealings whatever with all persons, who, preferring their own private interest to the salvation of their perishing country, shall still continue to import goods from Great Britain, or shall purchase of those who do import, and never to renew any commerce or trade with them. And, Whereas the promoting of industry, economy, arts and manufactures among ourselves, is of the last importance to the civil and religious welfare of a community; we engage, 3dly, That from and after the first day of October next ensuing, we will, not by ourselves, or any for, by, or under us, purchase or use any goods, wares, manufactures or merchandize, whensoever or howsoever imported from Great Britain, until the harbour of Boston shall be opened, and our charter rights restored. And, Lastly, As a refusal to come into any agreement which promises the deliverance of our country from the calamities it now feels, and which, like a torrent are rushing upon it with increasing violence, must evidence a disposition inimical to, or criminally negligent of the common safety, we agree, that when this covenant has been offered to any person, and they refuse to sign it, we will consider them in the same light as contumacious importers, and withdraw all commercial connections with them forever, and publish their names to the world. Witness our hand, June, 15th, 1774. MEM'M. At a meeting of a number of Gentlemen met at Stern Ross, whereof Capt. Buckley was Prest., Maj. Giles, Vice. do. The following toasts were drank : By the Pres't: General Washington & the American Army. A song by Mr. Randolph-"In City Quarters," &c. By the Vice-Prest. The United States of America. A song by Mr. Fitzhugh-"Come on thy heart," &c. By Mr. Randolph: The Hon'ble The Continental Congress. A song by Mr. Holsden-"Fill your glasses." By Mr. Hopkins: Our great and good ally, His most Christian. Majesty the King of France. A song by Mr. Tanner-"Rouse each true American." By Capt. Goodale: The Queen of France. A song by Mr. Hunter-"Farewell dear charmer." By Mr. Dover: His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain. A song by Mr. Ryley-"There, Boys, there," &c. By Mr. Fitzhugh: The Friends of America in every quarter of the Globe. A song by the Vice-Pres.-"How stands the glass?" By Mr. Tanner: General Lincoln & the Southern Army. A song was requested by the Pres.-who called on Mr. Fitzhugh; who gave-"Strephon with his," &c. By Mr. Ryley: General Gates and the Army in the Eastern Department. A song by Mr. Bluver-"Yankee Doodle." By Mr. Shirelief: General Schuyler and the Army in the Northern Department. A song by Mr. Bradford-" Come Soldiers all in chorus fair." By Mr. Hunter: The American Ambassadors at foreign. Courts. A song by Mr. Shirelief by proxy Mr. Bluver-"Let's be Jovial." A song by Capt. Goodale-"Kill an old woman." By Mr. Bluver: May the establishment of American Independence & Liberty be an example worthy to be followed by the world and their posterity. A song by the Vicc-P't-"Although the Taste of Battle." By Capt. Buckley: Miss Sally Chester. A song by Mr. Hopkins-"Free from the Bustle," &c. By Major Giles: Miss Betsy Shipton. A song Mr. Fitzhugh-"Fair Hebe I left," &c. By Capt. Goodale Lady Gates. A song by Mr. Hunter-Granueaile. By Mr. Hopkins: Miss Cornelia Van Horn. A song by Mr. Tanner-Young man, step in. By Mr. Bradford: Miss Jean Hegeman. Memorial in behalf of Officers, Prisoners of War. SIR-It is with pain and reluctance I now trouble your Excellency on a subject, interesting to the unfortunate servants of the Public in general, who are in captivity, and to the Supreme Council of the United States, as the Guardian of their officers, and to myself as an individual. To the Wisdom and Justice of Congress I must now appeal, & beg their attention to the following particulars : In May last, two Brigadiers, five Colonels and a Major, Prisoners of War to the British Army, were permitted by Sir Henry Clinton to retire to their friends in the County on Parole, on condition that Gen'l Phillips and Reidesel should be allowed to go into New York on the same terms. Brigadier General Thompson and myself, by Letter bearing date May 20th, requested Congress that the above-named Gentlemen might have permission to go into New York, and a Committee was appointed and made their Report. Congress thereupon passed a Resolution on the 3d of June, empowering His Excellency General Washington, to make such Parole Exchanges as he tho't proper; in consequence of which, orders were immediately given for Generals Phillips, Reidesel and Families to. proceed to New York. They some time since, arrived at Elizabeth Town on their way, and there received a Resolution of Congress ordering them back to Pennsylvania. It is now six months since we left New York, and have been in constant expectation that those gentlemen would be permitted to return thither; but unhappily find that in consequence of their being detained, Sir Henry Clinton has issued a positive order that all American Officers now in the country on Parole, return immediately to their captivity in New York. Enclosed you have a copy of Col. Beatty's orders for that purpose. This not only affects the two Brigadiers and five Colonels, who came out on that condition, but many others who have been indulged in the same way. In behalf of the whole and by advice of several general officers of the army & others, I have without loss of time, repaired to this City to request that The Hon'ble The Congress would be pleased to permit General Phillips and Reidesell to go into New York agreeable to the Resolution of Congress and the order of General Washington-not doubting, but that the Reasons which induced Congress to detain them for a time, are now at an end. I trust it is needless to enumerate the many inconveniences and difficulties, which will attend the American officers in captivity, in case these gentlemen should not be permitted to go in. Should it be tho't necessary to mention the particular difficulties to which they will be subjected, I shall be happy to have an opportunity of laying them before your Excellency or a committee of Congress. Should Congress have no objection to those gentlemen going into New York, I beg that an order may be given as early as may be consistent with other important affairs before them. Your attention to this matter will greatly oblige the unfortunate officers in |