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Gifted with a high order of intellect, he was a scholar from choice -and parental assistance encouraged his youthful efforts. He graduated at Yale College in the year 1773, with the highest reputation as a scholar, a man of truth, and a lover of humanity. Before reaching the early age of twenty-one, the battle of Lexington prompted him to obey the watch-word of liberty which

NOTE.-1776. Maj. John Bigelow, with a fine company of matross, started from Hartford for Quebec, on the 2d of April, 1776.

There were in New York over 10,000 continental troops, besides those of the New York province, April 8th, 1776.

Congress resolved that all ships and other vessels, and all goods, wares, and merchandise, owned by any inhabitants of Great Britain, taken on the high seas, or between high or low water mark, should be judged a lawful prize.

On the 27th day of March, 1776, the committee of inspection of fifteen towns in Hartford county, duly warned, met at the state house, in Hartford, to take into consideration the alarming prices of West India goods, and to regulate prices in the country-which they did on West India rum, New England rum, molasses, sugars, coffee, and salt. And as indirect means had in some cases been used, upon committees of inspection, to obtain India tea, under a pretence for the sick, by applying to committees of other towns for permission to purchase it. The board resolved that no license to purchase tea except for the sick, should be granted, and then only when the person applying, and the sick person needing it, resided in the town where such application should be madewith the name of the person applying, the exact quantity wanted, and the name of the sick person entered in the permit, and the permit left with the seller to whom directed-and the tea to be sold at the rate of 4s. and 6d. per pound.[Connecticut Courant.]

April 15, 1776. So violent were the whigs against the tories in this State during the war, that the tories were published in capitals, in the Connecticut Courant, on the first page of the paper, in the following manner: Persons held up to Public View as Enemies to the Country-Jonathan Hill, Alford, Massachusetts Bay; Stephen Sears, Sharon, Ct.; Lieut. Ebenezer Orvis, Farmington, Ct.; David Vaughn, Jericho, Massachusetts Bay.-Note. Stephen Sears made his confession before the committee of inspection of Sharon, which was accepted 30th of April, '76.

May 20th 1776. Capt. David Hawley sailed from Stratford on the 17th of March, 1776: on the 21st day of March he was taken by the Bellona of 6 guns and 8 swivels; the British crews sprang on board eager for plunder, damned Capt. Hawley, his crew, and country; he with his men were taken and put on board the Bellona-about 10 at night they joined the Rose, Glasgow, and Swan, men-of-war; he with his crew were put on board the Rose, and the next day sailed into Newport. Liberty was given him to get his clothes from his own sloop, he found his chest broken, and all his clothes stolen. They offered Capt. Hawley 5s. sterling per day, a good cabin for his use, and to pay for his vessel after the war closed, his choice of a plantation in any part of the

called him to the hardships of war, and he accepted the commission of a captain, under Col. Knowlton, of Ashford. He was soon called to encounter the dangers of war, and was actively engaged in the disastrous campaign for the defence of New York. Here he conceived the bold project of capturing a sloop of the enemy, containing supplies; success crowned his efforts,

continent, if he would act as their pilot, which he refused; in consequence of which, he was parted from his men on board the Glasgow, without even the privilege of writing to his mate. The Glasgow on the 5th of April, sailed from Newport, and after a severe action at sea, arrived in Halifax in eleven days, where Capt. Hawley remained two weeks; but on the 7th of May, he with eight others, escaped in a small boat and went to Old York. [Conn. Courant.]

Extract of a letter published in the Connecticut Courant, May 20th, 1776. "A gang of tories have been discovered in the neighborhood of Fairfield, taken, and imprisoned. These and others undoubtedly corresponded with the enemies of America; and a line of intelligence from hence to Quebec has been kept up, whereby every movement of ours has been made known to our enemies. And by these miscreants, the British prisoners are assisted to escape. If these internal enemies are suffered to proceed in their hellish schemes, our ruin is certain; but if they are destroyed, the power of Hell and Britain will never prevail against us. Rouse then, my countrymen, search out the nest of these vultures, and bring them to the punishment they merit."

On the 30th of May, 1776, Capt. Niles, in the Spy, privateer, on a cruise between Montauk Point and Block Island, was chased into New London, by the Cerberus frigate: she followed the Spy in as far as the race and left her; the Spy lost her top-mast. Capt. Jones in a privateer, Capt. Brooks in a New Haven privateer, who sailed from New London with Capt. Niles, put into Newport.

News arrived at New London, June 7th, 1776, that the French Court had taken off the prohibition on the exportation of gun powder from France, and that large quantities of it arrived daily in the West Indies-which caused great joy in the States.

By a letter dated Boston, June 13th, 1776, the writer states that on Friday last, the frigate Milford, of 28 guns, came up with the Yankee Hero, privateer, Capt. Tracy, of Newburyport, off Cape Ann, and had an engagement of near two hours; when the Yankee Hero, struck to the frigate, being vastly superior in force. Capt. Tracy was wounded in his leg; Lieut. Main badly wounded; Rowe, of Cape Ann, lost an arm; four were killed; and fourteen wounded.

June 24th. Thirty-three and a quarter tons of salt petre manufactured in Connecticut previous to the 4th of June, had been received in store for the colony, to supply the powder mills, two of which mills were in full operation, and the third nearly completed.

By a letter dated Boston, June 19th, 1776, from Capt. Seth Harding, of the brig Defence, in the Connecticut service, to Gov. Trumbull, it is stated that he

and the heroic character which he gained in the army, for this daring enterprise, probably cost him his life.

After the fatal action of the 27th of August, and the subsequent retreat of the Americans from New York, Gen. Washington, desirous of obtaining information with regard to the strength, position, and probable movements of the enemy, determined, with

sailed last Sunday from Plymouth, that he soon heard firing at the northward; and in the evening he fell in with four armed schooners, near the entrance of Boston harbor; he there learned, that the schooners had been engaged with an English ship and brig, and were obliged to quit the action-that the Defence soon after went into Nantucket road, where he found a ship and brig at anchor; and the Defence fell in between them and cast anchor, about 11 o'clock, P. M. He then hailed the ship, and received the answer-from Great Britain. Capt. Harding ordered her to strike her colors, to America. They answered, by asking, what brig is that? he told him the brig Defence. Then Capt. Harding again hailed him, and informed him he disliked to kill his men, but that he would have the ship at all events, and again ordered her to strike her colors. When the Mayor replied yes, I'll strike, and then fired a broad side at the Defence, which was immediately returned, and the engagement lasted three hours, when the ship and brig both struck to the Defence. The Defence lost no men, and had but nine wounded; the enemy had eighteen killed, and several wounded.

Capt. Harding took from the two vessels, 210 prisoners, among whom was Col. Campbell, of Gen. Frazer's regiment of Highlanders. The Mayor was killed in the battle.

Capt. Harding also stated, that on the 18th of June, a ship was seen in Boston Bay, and came towards the entrance of the harbor-that Capt. Harding hoisted sails, with four schooners in company, and took the ship without an engagement, with 112 Highlanders on board. He stated his brig was much damaged in her sails and rigging.

In June, 1776, there was a meeting of the inn keepers, on the East side of Connecticut river, in Hartford county, when they unanimously resolved to purchase no rum by the hogshead or barrel at the exorbitant price it was then selling, for four months. And further agreed to sell all liquors at their houses, at their usual prices, for the time. Said meeting was then adjourned until October, and all inn holders and retailers of liquors, were requested to take such measures as would prevent monopolies for the good of the country.

June 29, 1776. The committee to superintend prisoners stationed in this colony, resolved that no prisoner under the committee should be absent from their lodgings after dark, on pain of imprisonment. And that all prisoners of war in the colony (except officers) should be permitted to work at their trades for wages, who were able, and such as would not work as aforesaid, should be confined, and subsist upon the billeting allowed by Congress.

New York, July 4th, 1776. Last Wednesday, passed through New York, Gov. Franklin, of New Jersey, on his way to Gov. Trumbull, at Lebanon; Gov. Franklin is a noted tory and ministerial tool, and exceedingly busy in perplexing

the consent of a council of war, to send an officer of adequate talents and courage into the British camp, to examine their force, and discover their designs. This proposition was submitted by Gen. Washington to the young officers of the army, but not a single individual was found willing to undertake the hazardous enterprise, except Hale. Washington gave the parting blessing

the cause of liberty. His principles, connexions, abilities, and address, have rendered him a dangerous enemy in New Jersey; he therefore is removed under a strong guard to Connecticut. He is the son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the genius of the day, and the great patron of American liberty.

On Friday last, forty-nine dirty tory prisoners, taken at Johnstown, N. Y., were brought under guard from Albany to Hartford, and others were on their way.

The several regiments of foot which were ordered to be raised in this colony, with three regiments of the troop of light horse marched for New York, to defend the invaded province.

It was reported that it was proposed, after three months, that all copper coin inade of base metal or light in weight, should be suppressed, and the remainder to pass at the rate of 15 for an 8th of a dollar; and if not then a supply for use, in such case, all were to be called in and a new issue made, of continental copper coin of a large size, 12 of which should be passed for the 8th of a dollar, and no other coppers to pass.

July 8th, 1776. Last week twenty-two prisoners were taken on board a barge of the British fleet, as they were sounding a channel below New York, and arrived at Farmington, in this State.

- The committee for prisoners, resolved that no prisoner on parole, should go out of the parish where he was stationed, except by a written permit, on pain of imprisonment. And that it would be unsafe to employ prisoners to make fire arms, gun powder, cast cannon, cannon balls, or erect fortifications; it was also recommended to all the towns in the colony, where prisoners were stationed, to have a watch to guard the avenues into and out of towns, to be set by 9 o'clock, P. M., to preserve peace and prevent intelligence prejudicial to the liberties of America. [Connecticut Courant]

Hartford, July 15, 1776. Last week about one hundred and fifty tories in the Nine Partners, N. Y., rose in a body, fell upon the sons of liberty, disarmed them, and took possession of their committee chamber, but were quelled by a party from the west part of Connecticut of about three hundred; and twenty of them taken prisoners.

Governor Trumbull issued a proclamation for all persons excused by law from military duty, householders, to form themselves into companies, to keep up the spirit of the times, &c.

After which East Windsor, Saybrook, and various other towns, formed themselves into companies, appointed their officers, &c.

and instructions to the heroic youth in person. In obedience to his directions, Hale passed over to Long Island, and fulfilled the object of his mission by obtaining the desired information. On his return he was recognized and betrayed by a relative. He was immediately arrested and brought before Sir William Howe, who, without even the formalities of a trial, ordered him to be

The following General Orders, dated Chamblee, August 7, 1776, were sent to Gov. Trumbull by express from Ticonderoga :

"ss." General Orders. Parole, St. Jerome. Countersign, Paris.

"His Excellency Gen. Carlton, orders the commanding officers of corps, to take special care, that every one under their command should be informed that letters or messages from rebel traitors in arms against their king, rioters, disturbers of the public peace, plunderers, robbers, assassins or murderers, are on no occasion to be admitted. That should emissaries from such lawless men again presume to approach the army, whether under the name of a flag of truce men, or embassadors, except when they come to implore the king's mercy, their persons shall be immediately seized and committed to close confinement, in order to be proceeded against as the law directs; their papers and letters for whomsoever, even those for the commander-in-chief, are to be delivered to the provost marshal, that unread and unopened, they may be burned by the hands of the common hangman. At the same time, the commander-in-Chief expects that neither the assassination of Brigadier General Gordon, nor the late notorious breach of faith, in resolving not to return the troops, and Canadians taken at St. John's in exchange for those rebels who fell into the hands of savages. at the Cedars, and Quinchin purchased from them at a great price, and restored to their country, on those express conditions, be not imputed to the provincials at large, but to a few wicked and designing men, who first deceived them step by step, misled the credulous multitude to the brink of ruin, afterwards usurped authority over them, established a despotic tyranny not to be borne, and now wantonly and foolishly endeavor to provoke the spilling the blood of our unhappy countrymen, of this continent, in hopes of covering their own guilt, or confirming their tyranny by the general destruction of their country. Let their crimes pursue these faithless, bloody-minded men, who assert that white is black, and black white; it belongs to Britons to distinguish themselves, not less by their humanity than their valor; it belongs to the king's troops to save the blood of his deluded subjects, whose greatest fault perhaps is in having been deceived by such men to their own destruction; it belongs to the crown, it is the duty of all faithful servants of the crown, to preserve from oppression, and restore to liberty, the once happy, free and loyal people of this continent.

"All prisoners from the rebellious provinces that choose to return home, are to hold themselves in readiness to embark at a short notice. The commissary, Wm. Murray, shall visit the transports destined for them, and see that wholesome provisions, necessary clothing, with all possible convenience for their passage, be prepared for the unfortunate men. They are to look on their respective provinces as their prison, and there to remain until further enlarged, or summoned to appear before the commander-in-chief of this province, or any other commander-in-chief, for his majesty for the time being, which summons

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