an adjournment, which they this day accordingly gave, persuaded at the same time that it was necessary to impress the mutineers with a conviction that extremities would be used against them before they would be induced to resolve on a final and unreserved submission. Philadelphia, June 24th, 1783.

The Letter of His Excellency the President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.

Sir,

We have the honor to enclose for your Excellency and the Council a copy of the resolutions communicated in our conference yesterday. Having then fully entered into all the explanations which were necessary on the subject, we shall not trouble your Excellency with a recapitulation; but, as the object is of a delicate and important nature, we think it our duty to request the determination of the Council in writing. We have the honor to be, with perfect respect, your Excellency's most obedient servants. Philadelphia, June 23d, 1783.

BY HIS EXCELLENCY,

ELIAS BOUDINOT, ESQ.,

President of the United States, in Congress assembled,

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas a body of armed soldiers in the service of the United States, and quartered in the barracks of this city, having mutinously renounced their obedience to their officers, did, on Saturday, the twenty-first instant, proceed under the guidance of their Sergeants, in a hostile and threatening manner, to the place in which Congress were assembled, and did surround the same with guards: And whereas Congress, in consequence thereof, did, on the same day, resolve, "That the President and Supreme Executive Council of this State should be informed, that the authority of the United States, having been that day grossly insulted by the disorderly and menacing appear

ance of a body of armed soldiers about the place within which Congress were assembled; and that the peace of this city being endangered by the mutinous disposition of the said troops then in the barracks, it was, in the opinion of Congress, necessary that effectual measures should be immediately taken for supporting the public authority:" And also, whereas Congress did, at the same time, appoint a Committee to confer with the said President and Supreme Executive Council, on the practicability of carrying the said resolution into due effect: And also, whereas the said Committee have reported to me, that they have not received satisfactory assurances for expecting adequate and prompt exertions of this State for supporting the dignity of the Federal Government: And also, whereas the said soldiers still continue in a state of open mutiny and revolt, so that the dignity and authority of the United States would be constantly exposed to a repetition of insult, while Congress shall continue to sit in this city: I do, therefore, by and with the advice of the said committee, and according to the powers and authorities in me vested, for this purpose, hereby summon the honorable the Delegates composing the Congress of the United States, and every of them, to meet in Congress on Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of June instant, at Princeton, in the State of New Jersey, in order that further and more effectual measures may be taken for suppressing the present revolt, and maintaining the dignity and authority of the United States; of which all officers of the United States, civil and military, and all others whom it may concern, are desired to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

Given under my hand and seal, at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, this twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and of the sovereignty and independence of the United States the seventh.

Attest,

ELIAS BOUDINOT. SAMUEL STERETT, Private Sec.

DEMAND MADE BY THE MUTINEERS.

May it please your Excellency,

We, the non-commissioned officers and soldiers now in this city, demand of you and the Honorable Council, authority to appoint com

missioned officers to command us and redress our grievances, which officers to have full powers to adopt such measures as they may judge most likely to procure us justice. You will immediately issue such authority and deliver it to us, or otherwise we shall instantly let in those injured soldiers upon you, and abide by the consequence. You have only twenty minutes to deliberate on this important matter. The officers in general have forsaken us and refuse to take any further command. This, I presume, you all know.

We are, in behalf of ourselves and the men,

Yours, &c., &c.

JAMES CHRYSTIE TO JOHN DICKINSON.

Philadelphia, 24th June, 1783.

Sir,

Yesterday morning we were waited on severally by a committee of Sergeants, who handed to each of us similar appointments, of which the enclosed is one. But upon their being objected to, and refused as inconsistent with the powers granted them and dishonorable to us, they made such concessions relative to us as were satisfactory, so far as we could take up the business; and they have confessed their conduct on the 21st instant to be disorderly, and have promised to hand to us the concessions as soon as possible, which we will immediately lay before your Excellency.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

JAMES CHRYSTIE, Capt. 2d Penn. Regt.,

President of the Committee.

COMMISSION BY THE MUTINEERS.

Sir,

Philadelphia Barrack, 23d June, 1783.

You are hereby appointed by the non-commissioned officers and soldiers in this city, from authority which they have from the President of the State and General St. Clair, as a member to represent them in committee of six commissioned officers. You are to remember that every effort in your power must be exerted to bring about

the speedy and most ample justice; and even to use compulsive measures should they be found necessary-which we declare in the presence of Almighty God we will support you in to the very utmost of our power. Should you show a disposition not to do all in yours, Death is inevitably your fate.

If a consciousness of rectitude can be a consolation to men in adversity, be assured our spirits are far superior to our circumstances, and am confident that none but persons accustomed to judge of things by the event will reprobate our conduct. The little prospect of succeeding in such an attempt, and the difficulties we had to encounter, were so great, that to have been confident of success would have proved us to be as destitute of prescience as of common sense. But a series of injuries, and the incessant indignities we experienced, were our sole inducements for prosecuting the plan at all risks. I am not ignorant of the sentiments of men in power, in respect to the army, and the ideas they entertain of the passiveness of the officers. These circumstances determined us to convince them we had a just sense of our wrongs, and were not callous to our ill treatment.

It avails little what appearance tyranny may assume to veil injustice; but it is a duty incumbent on honest men, by investigating the principles of insidious policy, not to submit to the imposition.

Actuated by the purest motives of patriotism and disinterestedness, I abandoned my dearest connexions at a tender age, to fight under American colors, at a critical period, and when affairs were equally balanced. My conduct in the army, either as a soldier or a gentleman, I appeal to the officers in general, and you in particular, to decide on.

I flatter myself you will not suppose that my attachment for this country is diminished in the most trivial degree. I ever had an innate

affection for America, and were she on the verge of ruin, I would come and perish with her. Let what bad men there are at the helm of Government observe from this instance, how dangerous it is to drive men of honor to desperation.

The person concerned with me is Captain Carbery. This young gentleman served with eclat in the army; bled, and spent a pretty fortune in the service of his country. I have requested Captain Heard to be punctual in paying what trifling debts I owe, and have requested your brother John to draw on my father, if necessary. We are now wafted along by a gentle and generous gale, and possess the most perfect tranquillity of mind, conscious of no unworthy action: all we regret is, failing in a noble attempt.

"And more true joy Marcellus exiled feels,

Than Cæsar with a Senate at his heels."

Adieu, my dear Colonel; be convinced I have a just sense, and want words to express my gratitude for the peculiar marks of favor and affection you have conferred on me.

but

I am, with sincerity, &c.

JOHN SULLIVAN.

you;

I by no means flatter myself with the idea of hearing from my address is Captain Richardson, 1st regiment guards, London. I take the liberty to enclose a certificate for sixty-four pounds.

A DECLARATION OF OFFICERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LINE.

We, the under named officers, do appoint the following officers as a committee to wait on Congress, to assure that honorable body that we disapprove and detest the late proceedings of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, and give them the strongest assurance of every assistance to repel them, if they should take such steps as may render it necessary. The following gentlemen were chosen for the above purpose, viz: Colonels Richard Thompson, Thomas Robinson, and Andrew Porter.

A. PORTER, Col.

ROBT. MARTIN, Lieut.

JAS. PETTIGREW, Lt. 2d P. Regt.