rendereth it inconsistent with my duty to attend the latter. Agreeable to their desire, shall appoint a proper person to represent the Colony at the conference. Expect to obtain the favour of Deputy-Governour Griswold to accept such appointment. Had the meeting been earlier, it would have afforded me satisfaction to have attended, given me the pleasure of waiting on you and the other gentlemen, besides gratifying my curiosity to see the works the Army have made.

I am, with great truth and esteem, your Excellency’s most obedient very humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

His Excellency General Washington.

MAJOR CHRISTOPHER FRENCH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Hartford, October 9, 1775.

SIR: I was favoured last night with your letter, which I must acknowledge was very different from what I expected. First. Because you ground your reasoning upon the treatment your officers meet with. Secondly. Because you say you cannot help expressing some surprise that I should contest points of mere punctilio. Thirdly. Sir, you are pleased to term me a voluntary instrument of an avaricious and vindictive Ministry: and, fourthly; you say you do not know whether the liberty of wearing our swords was taken or given. I should not have placed these extracts from your letters so near to each other, without answering them in their order, only it appears to me I can thereby answer them with more brevity and precision.

With respect, Sir, to the treatment your officers meet with, I informed you in my last letter, that I had told the Committee here, that our wearing our swords was a matter already granted by the Committee at Philadelphia, and could not be counteracted with justice, propriety, or honour to us. Of this, Sir, you have not taken any notice in your letter to me; though I must think it should be considered of some weight, as it was granted by that Committee to which we gave our paroles as to the whole United Colonies; and therefore conceived what was agreed to by, or in the name of all, could not be counteracted by a part. I cannot, for the same reason, in answer to its being a mere punctilio, be of opinion that it can be considered in that light. An agreement once made, I conceive should be binding to both parties; and could I be capable of acting contrary to my parole, I make no doubt, Sir, you would be among the first to condemn me. Have I not, for the same reason, a right to expect that what was agreed to on the part of the Committee to whom we gave our paroles, in the name of the Twelve United Provinces, should be as invariably adhered to? Would it not be the greatest meanness (not punctilio) in us to submit tamely, and without resenting it?

As I never held any commission from a Minister, I can not conceive with what propriety you can call me a Ministerial officer. You are pleased to observe I am an old officer. True, Sir. I have served His Majesty King George the Third, and his royal grandfather, near thirty-three years, I flatter myself with honour; I have always done it, and do so still, from that motive; and shall at all times think I do right in obeying his Ministers, acting under his legislative power (as I am satisfied they now do) from constitutional principles. If you will be pleased to revise ray last letter, you will see I acquainted you in it (as I have done again in the preceding part of this) that the Committee at Philadelphia bad agreed to our wearing our swords. I am therefore greatly at a loss to account for your saying you do not know whether the liberty of wearing them was given or taken. I am inclinable to suppose your saying it must have been from inadvertence, as I cannot believe you could suppose me capable of telling an untruth. I did not communicate my letter to the Committee here, as I think it would be extremely derogatory to the honour of any commander-in-chief, to show letters written to him to the Committee of a little paltry Town like Hartford; nor could I have conceived a set of men of their penetration and worldly knowledge could have communicated that paragraph at which you take umbrage, viz: " That I would have acted vigorously," &c. I was asked by Mr. Paine, if I would not fight against the Colonies, if at liberty? and answered, I would; in which might have been included that I would endeavour to reduce them; but I did not say so; and must appeal to you, Sir, if the question need or should have been asked. The answer was obvious; and, therefore, it could only be asked with a design to have something to say. I told them, therefore, that I gloried in serving my King and Country, and should always do so; and I glory even in repeating it to you.

As there is no church here of our persuasion, we should esteem it as a particular favour if you direct us to be removed to Middletown, where there is one, and is but fifteen miles distant.

I am to thank you, Sir, for the genteel reasons you as-sign for not determining with respect to the swords; but, as I flatter myself you may alter your sentiments, upon your considering candidly my reasoning upon it, I hope you now will, as I cannot think of paying compliments, which I conceive inconsistent with our honour, even though we were to remain longer than the ten months (if not exchanged) which are unexpired.

I am convinced, Sir, you will not think the worse of me for supporting my honour as a man—as a British officer, which, in all situations, I am determined to do, as long as I have power to subscribe myself, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

CHRISTOPHER FRENCH.

FROM A GENTLEMAN AT BRISTOL, RHODE-ISLAND, TO HIS FRIEND IN NEW-YORK.

Bristol, October 12, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Having observed in the last Newport Mercury an imperfect account relative to the conduct of His Majesty’s Ships, under the command of Captain Wallace, at Bristol, last Saturday night, I embrace this opportunity to give to you a true and particular detail of facts that took place, from their anchoring in the harbour till they left the Town.

On Saturday, the 7th instant, P. M., appeared in sight off this harbour a very formidable fleet, consisting of six-teen sail, viz: three men-of-war, one bomb ketch, and other armed vessels, all which, excepting the Glasgow, (which ran ashore at Paquash Point,) drew up in a line of battle, from one end of the Town to the other. Soon after they had moored, a barge came from the Rose to the head of a wharf, with the Lieutenant, who, asking if there were any gentlemen on the wharf? William Bradford, being present, answered, yes; whereupon, the Lieutenant informed him Captain Wallace had a demand to make on the Town, and desired that two or three of the principal men or Magistrates of the Town would go on board his ship, within an hour, and hear his proposals, otherwise hostilities would be commenced against the Town. The above gen tleman replied, as a Magistrate, that, in his opinion, Captain Wallace was under a greater obligation to come ashore and make his demands known to the Town, than for the Magistrates to go on board his ship to hear them; and added, that if Captain Wallace would come to the head of the wharf the next morning, he should be treated as a gentleman, and the Town would consider of his demands. With this answer the Lieutenant returned on board the Rose. The inhabitants being made acquainted with the above conversation, repaired to the wharf, and waited with the utmost impatience for a reply from Captain Wallace, till an hour had expired, when the whole fleet began a most heavy cannonading, and the bomb vessel to bombard and heave shells and carcasses into the Town, which continued, without intermission, an hour and a half. In the mean time, Colonel Potter, in the hottest of the fire, went upon the head of the wharf, hailed the Rose, went on board, and requested a cessation of hostilities till the inhabitants might choose a Committee to go on board and treat with Captain Wallace; which request was complied with, and six hours were allowed for the above purpose. Colonel Potter returned, and made a report to the Committee of Inspection, who chose a select Committee to hear Captain Wallace’s demands, which, after they had gone on board, Captain Wallace informed them were a supply of two hundred sheep and thirty fat cattle. This demand, the Committee replied, it was impossible to comply with, for the country people had come in and drove off their stock, saving a few sheep and some milch cows.

After some hours had expired, during the negotiation,