re-establish the publick tranquillity; and the present state of this unfortunate dispute affords reason to believe, that as it commenced without policy, it must be prosecuted by means which the natural and constitutional strength of Great Britain cannot supply.

In your Majesty’s justice we confide for a fair construction of an apprehension we have conceived, that your. Majesty hath been advised to take foreign Troops into British pay, and to raise and discipline Papists, both in Ireland and Canada, for the purpose of enforcing submission to laws, which your Majesty’s Protestant subjects in America conceive to be destructive of their liberties, and against which they have repeatedly petitioned in vain.

Anxious to vindicate the national honour, we would willingly discredit reports of slaves incited to insurrection, and barbarous nations encouraged to take arms against our American brethren, if they had not prevailed without refutation, and filled the minds of your Majesty’s faithful subjects with indignation and horror.

If to these circumstances of peril and distress, our fears could suggest any addition, we might justly expect it from the resentment of those powerful enemies, who have ever shown a readiness to take advantage of our internal commotions, and will joyfully embrace the occasion of avenging that disgrace they sustained during the late glorious war, from the united arms of Great Britain and America; and we should, indeed, be reduced to despair, but that we are encouraged to look up to your Majesty, the common father of all your people, as the happy instrument in the hands of Divine Providence, which bringeth good out of evil, for restoring to this distracted Empire the blessings of mutual confidence, liberty, and peace. For the speedy effecting of which, we most humbly beseech your Majesty to cause hostilities to cease in your Majesty’s Colonies in America, and to adopt such mode of reconciling this unhappy controversy as may best promote the interest of commerce and the welfare of all your people.*

MR. BURKE TO MR. HATES, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING
OF MERCHANTS, ETC., AT BRISTOL.

Westminster, October 11, 1775.

SIR: I delayed my acknowledgment of your commands until I should be able to inform you that I had obeyed them. I had this day the honour of presenting your petition to the King. It was graciously received. At the same time Mr. Baker presented a petition from the merchants of London, which had the same reception.

It gave me as much pleasure, as in the present state of things I am capable of feeling, to be honoured with such commands from so numerous and respectable a body of my constituents. I do not yet abandon all hopes that truth and reason, frequently and firmly urged, will have their effect; and that the healing endeavours of good and moderate men will prevail over the hasty violence of those deluded people, who, though unable to assist either with counsels or arms, are so forward to give their inconsiderate voices for the continuance of a bloody and expensive civil war, which neither they nor those whom they urge to such a desperate course are able to foresee any end of. It is indeed a war against the interest of England, and in favour of her inveterate enemies.

I have no doubt but that you will persevere in sentiments so becoming all virtuous and sober citizens. By degrees, the example of your temper, forbearance, and moderation, operating with the unhappy effects of the present measures, which begin to be daily more and more conspicuous, will abate the irregular ardour of some fiery spirits, and render our City at least unanimous in its wishes for the tranquillity of the whole Empire.

I beg my best compliments to the gentlemen of the Committee; and do me the favour to believe me, with great esteem and regard, your most obedient and humble servant,

EDMUND BURKE.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, October 11, 1775.

SIR: The Congress have considered your letters of the 19th and 29th of September last, and directed me to assure you that they are very sensible of the difficulties under which you labour, and your unremitted diligence to remove such as may in any wise obstruct the publick service. They most heartily lament the loss of your health, as well on your own as on account of the publick, but find some pleasure in thinking that you are not without consolation, when you reflect, that the obligations of your Country are increased in proportion to the sacrifices you make to her interest. Their concern for the publick is greatly alleviated by the abilities and zeal of General Montgomery, in which they cannot but place the highest confidence.

The Congress see the necessity of attending to the situation of Canada, but trust that your care and prudence will render any delegation from this body unnecessary, at least for the present. What they expect from your endeavours is, that the Canadians be induced to accede to an union with these Colonies, and that they form from their several Parishes a Provincial Convention, and send Delegates to this Congress. And, as in the present unsettled state of that country, a regular election can hardly be expected, we must acquiesce in the choice of such Parishes and Districts as are disposed to join us.

You may assure them that we shall hold their rights as dear as our own, and, on their union with us, exert our utmost endeavours to obtain for them and their posterity the blessings of a free Government, and that security to their persons and property which is derived from the British Constitution. And you may further declare, that we hold sacred the rights of conscience, and shall never molest them in the free enjoyment of their religion.

If our arms should be crowned with success, you will consult with your principal officers about the number of Troops that will be necessary for the defence of Canada, and for the different posts of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and the best method of procuring men for those services. If you should observe in the Canadians an inclination to take up arms, you may immediately, at the expense of the Continent, raise a Regiment, and appoint such officers as you conceive will be most agreeable to them and serviceable to us. The Congress will endeavour to attend to the clothing of your Troops, and approve of your design to purchase woollens at Montreal, which they sincerely hope it may be in your power to accomplish. You may depend upon their compliance with all contracts made by you for the supply of the Troops under your command.

The establishment of a civil Government in Canada is a subject of great consequence, and requires the most deliberate counsels. The temper, the disposition and local circumstances of our brethren in that Colony must be known, before we can form a proper judgment on so important a question. You will endeavour, therefore, to collect the sentiments of the most discreet and sensible among the principal Canadians and English on this head, and communicate their opinion, with your remarks, to the Congress.

It is the determination of the Congress, at all events, to keep the command of Lake Champlain. They would, therefore, have the most effectual measures adopted for that purpose; and, if our enemies should be expelled Montreal, will exert their utmost endeavours to secure the River St. Lawrence, and prevent, by batteries, vessels, and every other obstruction, the Ministerial Troops from regaining the possession of that Town.

The Congress approve of the presents made to the Caughnawagas, also of the disposition of the prisoners, and have borrowed one ton of gunpowder from the Committee of Safety of this Colony, and directed it to be sent to the Provincial Convention of New-York, with a request to transmit to you the whole, or such a part of it as they can spare; nails will be supplied you by the Convention of New-York, when they receive your direction on that head. They, together with the Committee of Albany, and the Governour of Connecticut, will, on application, furnish such carpenters and blacksmiths as you may want, over and above what may be procured from among the Troops. As for the artificers taken from thence, you will pay them the customary allowance, if you think their services entitle them to any reward. The Congress are pleased with the mode in which you propose to settle with and pay those who took and garrisoned Crown Point, and desire that the accounts may be transmitted to them as soon as possible.

*The number of names signed to this petition were one thousand one hundred.