NEW-YORK, March 5. A report prevailed yesterday in this city, and is
generally credited, that Shays, the ringleader of the Massachusetts insurgents,
(for the apprehension of whom, in New-York or Massachusetts, 150l. have been offered
by proclamation) is at present actually in King's District, Columbia County, in
this state, accompanied by about 1000 of his adherents; that they have been countenanced
by many of the inhabitants of the district, several of whom have joined them;
and that, in consequence thereof, they have entrenched themselves. Be this as
it may, it is certain that an express arrived on Saturday afternoon, to his Excellency
Governor Clinton, said to be from General Lincoln, now on the borders of this
state, soliciting permission to enter it in pursuit of the rebels; and that his
excellency, accompanied by our worthy High Sheriff, Col. Willet, Col. Fish, Adjutant
General of Militia, and some other gentlemen of note, set out from this city yesterday
morning for Columbia County, in order by this presence to give an instanteneous
and effectual check to the first appearance of insurrection in this state.
Extract from the proceedings of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania,
Friday, March 2.
Resolved, That the supreme executive council be by law authorized to
give the additional proposed reward (100l. for Shays, and 50l. for either Day,
Wheeler or Parsons) for apprehending Daniel Shays, Luke Day, and others, and
that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for that purpose.
Whereupon it was directed that the committee who brought in the reports, be
a committee to prepare and bring in a bill for the same.
BENNINGTON, February 26.
On Saturday the 17th instant, there appeared in the towns of Brattleborough
and Marlborough, a troop of Horse from the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and
broke into the dwelling house of Giles Day, of Marlborough, in search of Luke
Day, of West-Springfield; on their way through Brattleborough, they were interrogated
by a number of the inhabitants by what authority they entered this state in
such a hostile manner, were answered by Capt. Buffington, their commander, that
they had licence from Governor Chittenden.
Extract from Journals of the General Assembly of last week.
24. The Committee on Major Tyler's, Gov. Bowdoin's and Gen. Lincol's letters,
reported a form of a proclamation for apprehending Daniel Shays, Luke Day, Adam
Wheeler and Eli Parsons, and delivering them to the authority of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and forbidding the citizens of this State to aid or assist
the rebels in that government, on which Resolved, That his Excellency
the Governor be and hereby is requested to issue his proclamation contained
in the foregoing report, and take effectual measures that the same be promulgated
immediately, in every part of this Commonwealth.
BOSTON, March 8.
Pittsfield Feb. 28th. 1787,
DEAR SIR,
I HAVE this morning been honoured with the receipt of your favour, giving an
account of your movements of yesterday:- They were judicious and timely:- The
spirit rendered on the occasion was truly military:- Your success must be important,
as it will teach those deluded wretches that they cannot march unchecked by
the good citizens, or spread depredations among them with impunity.
While I beg you to accept my thanks for your exertions, and request you to
communicate them to the officers and men with you in the field, I must solicit
you to mention to the friends of the deceased that I sincerely condole with
them- and to the wounded, my sympathetick concern for their misfortune, and
my wishes for their speedy recovery; - tell them I remember my own wounds, and
that my consolations was, they were received in the line of my duty, whilst
in the service of my country. From reflections like these, they cannot fail
to derive the most substantial comfort.
I am &c.
B. LINCOLN.
Colonel ASHLEY.
Extract of a letter from Hon. General LINCOLN, to his Excellency
the GOVERNOUR, received last evening.
Pittsfield March 3d. 1787.
"Dear Sir,
I HAVE this morning information, by Major Allen, who is on his return from Otter
Creek, that Shays, Parsons, and others, who have been leaders in the rebellion,
are there; he saw Parsons on his way there. His opinion is, that they will set
down near the British lines, until they know their disposition concerning them.
He also informs me, that he met a large number or people moving northernly,
in the state of Vermont with their household furniture, stocks of cattle &c.-
I have received information, that some circumstance or other has caused the
rebels to leave the states of Connecticut and New-York. It is said they have
been ordered out by authority: it is a fact they are not there now in bodies,
as they have been. Parsons, who seemed to be their late director, having left
them, they are discouraged; some are returning here, others are seeking settlements
in Vermont. I am pretty well convinced, that the body of man who for a short
time past, were distressing the good citizens, in this part of the country will
soon be so effectually dispersed, as that we shall not have any thing to apprehend
from them hereafter, unless they are aided by those without the State, who ought
to be our friends."
Major Tyler who left the Camp at Pittsfield on Thursday last further informs,
that 62 of Hamlin's men, among them were a number who had taken the oath of
allegiance, were on Wednesday escorted by a party of light-horse to the provost
in Pittsfield: That an half hour previous to the time of action, the Rebels
had paroled a part of their prisoners, upon condition of their proceeding to
Egremont under a small guard of four men, and that it was currently reported
that those gentlemen were relieved a few hours after the action by a party of
horse.
Major Tyler has likewise favoured us with a partial list of the principal gentlemen
who were captured by the rebels, viz.
Jahleel Woodbridge, Esq. Deacon Nash, Henry W. Dwight, Edward Edwards, Silas
Pepoon, Daniel Pepoon, Silas Whitney, Henry Hopkins, Solomon Gleason, jun. said
to be killed in the action, Elisha Williams, Jonathan Woodbridge, George Kirtland,
Dr. Erastus Sergeant, Moses Ashley, Capt. Josiah Jones, Josiah Jones jun.- Smith-
Jearom.
Ge. Ethan Allen, we are informed, lately declared, in the presence of several
gentlemen of this state, that he had never had any communications with Shays
or any of his adherents, directly or indirectly; but that he heartily despised
both them and their cause.
Last Monday Daniel Beard, a Selectman of Worcester, late a member of Worcester
County convention, a character notoriously disaffected to Government- Daniel
Brawd and George Pepperel- persons whose being at large was considered as dangerous
to the public safety, were brought to town and lodged in jail.
On Saturday last, the Legislature made choice of the Honorable FRANCIS
DANA, ELERIDGE GERRY, NATHANIEL GORHAM, RUFUS KING and CHARLES STRONG, Esquires,
as Delegates to represent this commonwealth in the Convention to be held at
Philadelphia, on the second Monday in May next- agreeably to the resolution
of Congress, of the 21st of February, 1787.
On the 15thth of February, the bill for granting the impost to Congress,
agreeably to their requisitions of the 18th of April 1783, was negatived
in the assembly of New-York, being
Yeas 21.
Nays 37.
Majority 16.- Against the bill.
On this important and interesting question Mr. Hamilton went into a large
and extensive field of discussion, and with Ciceronian elequence advocated the
measure.- Whether his arguments were inrefragable, and admitted no reply, those
who read that nervous oration will judge; but certain it is, not a word was
spoken in opposition to the bill, yet. on calling the question the decision
was as above stated.
Extract of a letter from Springfield, dated March 9, 1787.
"Shays, and ten more (his officers) are taken up by the British garrison
at St. John's, and confined until Sir Guy Carleto's pleasure is known respecting
them. Gen. Lincoln has sent an express to Sir Guy on the subject, but it does
not appear probable they will be returned." |