Warfare in North America, c. 1756-1815 | British Perspectives
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Title:
PRO 30/55/078/024 - Autograph Letter from Guy Carleton to Elias Boudinot
Date:
1783
Language:
English
Date from:
1783-08-17
Date to:
1783-08-17
Section:
2 : PRO 30/55 - British Army Headquarters Papers
TNA Shelfmark:
PRO 30/55/078/024
Full Description:
Carleton to Elias Boudinot, President of Congress. New York. Has received final orders for the evacuation of New York, proof of Britain's adherence to the Provisional Articles. But notwithstanding Carleton's orders are urgent to accelerate the total evacuation, the difficulty of giving a time for this has, of late, greatly increased because of the mounting violence of Americans towards Loyalists. Refers to his correspondence with General Washington, Governor Clinton and Mr Livingston and encloses copies of some of these letters. Will not pretend to determine whether the Loyalists have just grounds to assert that there is either no government within Congress's limits for common protection or that it secretly favours the Committees; the daily gazettes and publications provide repeated proof not only of a disregard of the articles of peace but of barbarous menaces from Committees in towns, cities, districts and even Philadelphia; that he would be lacking in humanity as well as indifferent to the honour and interest of Britain if he left any of the Loyalists that want to leave prey to the violence they believe they have cause to fear. Congress will see how much the speed of the evacuation depends on themselves and the subordinate legislature by abating the Loyalists' fears. Should these fears continue Carleton will regard himself acquitted from any delay in fulfilling his orders. Cannot avoid adding that no small part of his concern arises from the suspension by Congress of the recommendations stipulated by the treaty and in the punctual performance of which the King and his ministers have expressed such complete confidence.
TNA Link:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16536056
Format:
Handwritten
DOI:
10.1163/37612_WNA_PRO_PRO_30_55_78_24