happy in hearing from you (and who can doubt what you assert?) that they were called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the Constitution, to a froward and stubborn generation.
And is it for this, O! sublime lieutenant-general, that you have given yourself the trouble to cross the wide Atlantic, and with incredible fatigue, traverse uncultivated wilds? And we ungratefully refuse the proffered blessing? To restore the rights of the Constitution, you have called together an amiable host of savages, and turned them loose to scalp our women and children, and lay our country waste; this they have performed with their usual skill and clemency; and yet we remain insensible of the benefit, and unthankful for so much goodness.
Our Congress have declared independence, and our Assemblies, as your highness justly observes, have most wickedly imprisoned the avowed friends of that power with which they are at war, and most profanely compelled those, whose consciences will not permit them to fight, to pay some small part towards the expenses their country is at, in supporting what is called a necessary defensive war. If we go on thus in our obstinacy and ingratitude, what can we expect, but that you should, in your anger, give a stretch to the Indian forces under your direction, amounting to thousands, to overtake and destroy us? or, which is ten times worse, that you should withdraw your fleets and armies, and leave us to our own misery without completing the benevolent task you have begun, of restoring to us the rights of the Constitution?
We submit—we submit—most puissant colonel of the queen's regiment of light dragoons, and governor of Fort William, in North Britain. We offer our heads to the scalping-knife, and our bellies to the bayonet. Who can resist the force of your eloquence? Who can withstand the terror of your arms? The invitation you have made, in the consciousness of Christianity, your royal master's clemency, and the honor of soldiership, we thankfully accept. The blood of the slain, the cries of injured virgins and innocent children, and the never ceasing sighs and groans of starving wretches, now languishing in the jails and prison ships of New York, call on us in vain; whilst you sublime proclamation is sounded in our ears Forgive us, O our country! Forgive us, dear posterity. Forgive us, all ye foreign powers, who are anxiously watching our conduct in this important struggle, if we yield implicitly to the persuasive tongue of the most elegant colonel of her Majesty's regiment of light dragoons.
Forbear, then, thou magnanimous lieutenant-general! Forbear to denounce vengeance against us; forbear to give a stretch to those restorers of constitutional rights, the Indian forces under your direction. Let not the messengers of justice and wrath await us in the field, and devastation, and very concomitant horror, bar our return to the allegiance of a prince, who, by his royal will, would deprive us of every blessing of life, with all possible clemency.
We are domestic, we are industrious, we are infirm and timid: we shall remain quietly at home, and not remove our cattle, our corn, or forage, in hopes that you will come, at the head of troops, in the full powers of health, discipline, and valor, and take charge of them for yourselves. Behold our wives and daughters, our flocks and herds, our goods and chattels, are they not at the mercy of our lord the king, and of his lieutenant-general, member of the House of Commons, and governor of Fort William, in North Britain?
| A.B. |
| C.D. |
| E.F., etc., etc., etc. |
Saratoga, July 10, 1777.
POETIC VERSION OF THE PROCLAMATION.
ATTRIBUTED TO FRANCIS HOPKINSON.
| BY John Burgoyne, and Burgoyne, John, Esq |
| And grac'd with titles still more higher, |
| For I'm Lieutenant-general, too, |
| Of George's troops both red and blue, |
| On this extensive continent; |
| And of Queen Charlotte's regiment |
| Of light dragoons the Colonel; |
| And Governor eke of Castle Wil— |
| And furthermore, when I am there, |
| In House of Commons I appear, |
| [Hoping ere long to be a Peer,] |
| Being a member of that virtuous band |
| Who always vote at North's command; |
| Directing, too, the fleet and troops |
| From Canada, as thick as hops; |
| And all my titles to display, |
| I'll end with thrice et cetera. |
| The troops consign'd to my command, |
