October 16, i778. THE Number 50.
NOR TH-Cu4R OL I N A GAZETTE.
With the lateft ADVICES, Foreign and Domestic.
SEMPER PRO LIBERTATE, ET BONO PUBLICO.
la? CON G R ESS, Augtfi 31, 1778.
A PAPER figned Adam Fergufon, fccietary to his
tnajefty's commiffion," dated at New-York, Auguft
26, 1778, accompanied with a declaration by
George Johnftone, Efq ; and a declaration by the
Earl of Carlifle, Sir Henry Clinton, and William
Eden, E fq ; and alio a reqeifition refpecling the troops lately
ferving under Lieut. General Burgoyne, were read, and are as
follows t
New York. Aug. 26, 1778.
HIS M: jetty's commiflioners dirtd Dr. Fergui. n to traofmit
to the Prefident of the American Congrefs, for the information
of the Congrefs, the declaration of thin day by George J ,hn
flone, Efq ; and the declaration of the fame date by the Earl of
Carlifle, Sir Henrv Clinton, and William Eden, Lvq ; ard alfo
th- requifition rei pelting the trocps lately ferurg uiider Lieut.
Gen. Burgoyne, limned bv the Earl of Carlifle, Sir Henry Clin
too. and William Eden, Efq.
ADAM FERGUSO Hf
Secretary to bis Mejtfif! cafr.mrjjicn.
New York, ug. ?6, 177.
rF.ORRR TOHMSTONE. enc of the con-m iuo..r au-
pointed by his Majelty to carry into execution the giaci us pefr
pofes of his Majefky and nis Parliament for quieiiug the difj rdetl
now fubfifting in North America, and for maintaining the peo
pie of thefe provinces in the char ard perfect enjoyment of their
1. berries and rights, having feen a declaration of the American
Congrefs, fignid by Henry Laureni, iheir Piefldent, dated the
Ilth of Auguft, to which, for certain aflumcd rights therein fpe
cified, is fubjoined the following reRluiion : That it is incom
" patible with the honour of CongreA to hold any manner of
correfpondenee or intercourfc with the faid Ge ,rge J hnftone,
" Efq; efpecially to negotiate wi-h him upon affairs in which
the caufe of liberty and virtue is interfiled.
The laid George Jc.hnit.me, for himfelf, fays, that he is far
frnm confidering the faid reflutionof the Congrefs as offeofive to
him ; that he rather receives it a&J mark ol dtltindion, to which
he is by no means entitled, cit(ir by his exertions in the caufe
in wh'ch he is employjgU or by his abilities for improving any
fotore circomftances trtarTiay occ,ut towards fulfilling the purpo
fes oi the commiffion uoeler.which he is appointed.
That he (hall be happy to find, when this exceptun as to mm
ihill be removed, that the Congrels ate inclined to retract tneir
former declaration, and to negotiate with others upon terms e
quasi v conducive to the happincf of both countries. At the fame
me. ne is. mciincu iu lktuw. ...... e-r
1 1 u,i JP mriuct vu i f h (ho p reioiutions lei-
l- u Kr.vo nf flrr, Rnrn.ivnc s arm v. and calcu-
uiur n- .' - . . ...
ited as an excufe to a deluded people for not fending an explicit
r ..,;r,f rhar uac made to the Conprefs from
is Majcfty's commiffioners with regard to the unfortunate foldi-
v nt K.Mtnn ri n n r evert inuiuniiv. LUUiiaiT lu
i- ia. ., '.".,.,, rrr. r i .-. n li o npd ar Saratnca. and
7111a I j 1 I K. J 1 a llilVllil - - - n -
fo to ferve as a pretext to the unhappy conflituents of the Con-
refs, who are fuffering under the the various calamities of war,
-r ,l r if the cdtnmiflion which the
al friends of America had fo long requfted by the moft folemn
r i . . , v i r A ciaratK.nn and uhicn lo ma-
mens, reiiuuon, i.uj)uwiv -
ny of the intabitahis of this continent now defire to lee carried
into full tfitrS.
As the great porpofe Mr. johnftone had in view in coming to
North America was to promote a reconciliation between Great
Britain and her colonies, with a foil determination to do nothing
that could have a tendency to prevent it, in order therefore to
defeat the purpofes intended by this refolution of Congrefs, the
fiibfcriber George johnftone thinks proper to decline acting as a
commiffioner, or otherwise interfering in any mefTage, anfwer,
agreement, negotiation, matter, cr thing, that may regard the
faid Congrefs, which he does with fo much the more pleafure, as
he is perfectly fati&rled the bufinefs will be Jeft in more able and
fufficient hands, referving to himfelf the liberty, if he fhouid
juoge proper, of publifhing, before he leaves North America, a
judication of his conduct againft the afperAons thrown on his
tna a'ttr.
When the Congrefs were contending for efTential privileges n
cefTdry to the preservation of their liberty, under folemn declara
tions that their rtfift ince was calculated merely to obtain redrefs
upon thofe points, Mr. J ihnllone ihould have been forry to have
incurred their cenfure, though unheard in his defence, and upon
a 'chain of evidence fo totally inCoccIuiive as to him.
At prefent, when the Congrefs can remain, deaf to the cries of
fo many of their fellow fubjecls who are fuffering by the miferies
of this war, and, from motives of private ambition, can fo far
fully the principles upon which rheir fift reilftance was made as to
b v t j a French ambaffador, and league with the ancient enemy
of both our countries, from whofe h. itile defigns Great Britain
has fo often reicued the inhabitants of North America, and this
for the avowed purpofe of reducing the power of the parent flare,
after all their ju It claims are gratified, and thereby injuring their
nearefl and dearefl friends and relations, forgetting ail the prin
ciples of virtue and liberty that ought to regulate the condud of
men in fociety, Mr. Johnftone is not anxious about the good cni-
niun oi mca a uuay, notwitnnanaing tne regara ne man always
bear to many of the individuals who compofe it, from a juil al
lowance to be made for men acting under the heats incident to ci
vil comm (ions, and from a certain knowledge they did enter
tain, and a peruafiou that, they now entertain, different ienti
ments. With refpeft to the people of America at large, the fubferiber
fincerely wilhes to avoid every fuojeft of offence which defigning
men may pofilbly intend to create by exciting angry paffijns in
return to perfonal provocations, and thereby defeat any effects
of goodwill towards Mr. Johnftone which the remembrance of
former good offices he has rendered them might occafi .n.
GEORGE JOHNSTONE.
DECLARATION.
WHEREAS the Earl of Carlifle, Sir Henry Clinton, Knight
of the Bath, and William Eden, Efq; three of his Majefty's
commiflioners, appointed with fufficient powers to treat, confult,
and agree upon the means of quieting diforders now fubfifting in
certain of the colonies, plantations, and provinces of North A-
i i j i r .u A a .: r.
merica, nav e rcccivcu a uceiaiauuu ui mc n imii uau wuugrui,
dated the 1 1 th in (t ant, which relates to a gentleman with whom
they have the honour to be joined in commiflion, and is meant to
afficl him as a coin mill! oner, they hereby think proper, on their
part, folemn ly to declare, that they had not any knowledge, ei-