keeper of the Public Records, was good enough to make some special inquiry among those old citizens whose knowledge would cover such matters, and as the result, from their verdict, and his own, entirely confirmed the statement which had been made to me six years before. I am, therefore, entirely satisfied that the painful inference which Mr. Sumner's language necessitates concerning the ultimate disposal of the remains of the venerated Robinson, is unauthorized by the facts, and that his repose has not been disturbed in the repulsive manner therein implied. I entertain no doubt whatever that a suitable memorial erected in St. Peter's would have there as legitimate a relation to what was mortal of him, as those of Bockenbergius and Erpenius, and the host of Dutch worthies, which beautify its walls, have to their most respectable dust.

I am not careful to undertake to explain in what way so capable and exact an investigator as Mr. Sumner was led into these erroneous statements; and I entertain no doubt that, were he alive, he would be the first to accept the correction offered by what I humbly conceive to be a patient and thorough, as I know it has been an honest, reinvestigation. With fraternal regard,

I have the honor to be, &c.,

34 YORK PLACE, PORTMAN Square, LONDON, ENG., 13 Dec. 1871.

HENRY M. DEXTER.

The Rev. William Barry, of Chicago, was elected a Corresponding Member.

Mr. DEANE presented, in the name of Mrs. Romeo Elton, a number of printed and manuscript papers of much interest and value. The manuscripts consisted principally of letters of eminent lawyers of Maine, addressed to the father of Mrs. Elton, the late Frederic Allen, of Gardiner, in that State. These were accompanied by portraits of most of the writers. Among the printed papers were included several broadsides of considerable rarity in their original form, consisting of General Gage's "Circumstantial Account" of the affair of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775; the "Recantations" of several citizens of Marblehead, who had signed the "Address to Governor Hutchinson in 1774; "By the King, A Proclamation for suppressing Rebellion and Sedition," Aug. 23, 1775; the Proclamation of Lord Howe and William Howe, dated at New York, Nov. 30, 1776, issued from the office of "The New-York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury," Dec. 16, 1776; "the Proclamation of General Burgoyne from the Camp at the River Bouquet," June 23, 1777. Two of these papers are printed below. The others may be found in Force's Archives, under their respective dates.*

* These papers were found among the effects of Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, of Boston, a

The Recantations of Robert Hooper, John Pedrick, Robert Hooper, Jun. George M'Call, Richard Reed, and Henry Sanders.

IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY,

CAMBRIDGE, May 4, 1775.

The Recantations of a Number of Persons of the Town of Marblehead, viz. Robert Hooper, John Pedrick, Robert Hooper, Jun. George M Call, Richard Reed, and Henry Sanders, having been laid before this Committee for their Opinion as to the Propriety of accepting them;

Voted, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Recantations of these Persons be accepted, and that they be made acquainted with the Proclamation lately issued by the PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, respecting those who may incline to go into Boston; and that it be recommended to the Inhabitants of this Province, that they be protected from all Injuries or Insults whatsoever, so long as they adhere to their several Recantations, and continue to assist and abide by their Country, and the Inhabitants of Marblehead in particular, in the important Dispute between Great-Britain and America.

WILLIAM COOPER, Sec'y.

To the Inhabitants of the Town of Marblehead.

When Governor Hutchinson was about leaving the Province, I signed an Address † to him with no other Motive, than the Hopes it would have a Tendency to serve the Province in general, and this Town in particular. I am now convinced it has not had the hoped for Success, and therefore renounce it in all its Parts, and am sorry for it; and stand ready with my Interest to defend the Rights of my injured Country. ROBERT HOOPER.

MARBLEHEAD, May 3. 1775.

Whereas I the Subscriber, did some Time since sign an Address to Governor Hutchinson, which has given just Cause of Resentment to my Fellow-Countrymen: I do now declare that at the Time of signed said Address, I did suppose it might serve us, but am convinced of my Error, and do now renounce said Address in all its Parts, and stand ready with my Life and Fortune to defend my injured Country, and hope for the Forgiveness of all Mankind. JOHN PEDRick.

MARBLEHEAD, April 28. 1775.

To the Inhabitants of the Town of Marblehead.

Whereas I the Subscriber did some Time since sign an Address to Governor Hutchinson, which has given just Offence to my Town and

Loyalist and Refugee, who was a great-grandfather of Mrs. Elton. A large number of letters from Refugees and others, addressed to Dr. Gardiner; also maps, plans, and documents of various kinds, relating especially to lands in Maine, were presented to the Maine Historical Society. - EDS.

* See "Proceedings" under date of Oct. 1870, p. 392, and Feb. 1871, p. 43. EDS.

Country: I now declare, that I had not the least Design to offend either, but at the Time of signing said Address I thought it might be of Service to my Town and Country, but finding that it has not had the desired Effect, I do now renounce said Address in all its Parts, and beg that my Town and Country would forgive the Error, and I now assure them that at all Times I have been, and still am ready to the utmost of my Power, to support and defend the just Rights and Liberties of my Town and Country with my Life and Fortune. ROBERT HOOPER, Jun.

MARBLEHEAD, May 1. 1775.

Mr. MODERATOR,

My not acknowledging my Error and Sorrow in the last Meeting, for having signed an Address to the late Governor Hutchinson, which justly incensed this Town and Country, was, because I did not know what Business they were to proceed upon until it was too late: I now publicly and solemnly declare, that the Welfare of this Land was the only Motive that induced me to sign it. And as I find myself mistaken, am as ready as any other (as far as in me lies) to support its Rights and Liberties with my Life and Fortune. I humbly ask Pardon of those whose Sentiments then differed from mine, respecting Governor Hutchinson, for the high Reflection, which by signing said Address, I cast upon their Sense and Temper, and hope that my Townsmen and the Public will restore me to their Favour and Friendship. GEORGE M'CALL.

MARBLEHEAD, May 3d, 1775.

To the Gentlemen Select-Men of Marblehead.

Whereas I the Subscriber signed an Address to Governor Hutchinson, which I supposed would answer a good Purpose and be generally adopted, and being now convinced from a further Attention to the Matter, as well as the public Opinion, that it will greatly injure the Cause of America; I do now publicly declare, that I had no such Design, and therefore renounce the said Address in every Respect, and am heartily sorry that I ever signed it, and hope to be forgiven by my Town and Countrymen. I now stand ready with my Life and Interest to defend my injured Country whenever called upon.

Marblehead, May 3. 1775.

GENTLEMEN,

RICHARD REED.

Whereas I the Subscriber signed an Address to Governor Hutchinson, which I supposed would answer a good Purpose, and be generally adopted, and being now convinced from a further Attention to the Matter, as well as the public Opinion, that it will greatly injure the Cause of America, I do now publicly declare, that I had no such Design, and therefore renounce the said Address in every Respect, and am heartily sorry that I ever signed it, and hope to be forgiven

by my Town and Countrymen. I now stand ready with my Life and Interest to defend my injured Country whenever called upon. HENRY SANders.

MARBLEHEAD, May 3. 1775.

Proclamation of General Burgoyne.*

By JOHN BURGOYNE, Esq; &c. &c. Lieut. General of his Majesty's Forces in America, Colonel of the Queen's Regiment of Light Dragoons, Governor of Fort-William, in North-Britain, one of the Representatives of the Commons of Great-Britain in Parliament, and commanding an Army and Fleet in an Expedition from Canada, &c. &c. &c.

The Forces entrusted to my Command are designed to act in concert, and upon a common Principle, with the numerous Armies and Fleets which already display, in every Quarter of America, the Power, the Justice, and, when properly sought, the Mercy of the King; the Cause in which the British Arms are thus exerted, applies to the most affecting Interest of the human Heart: And the Military Servants of the Crown, at first called for the sole Purpose of restoring the Rights of the Constitution, now combine with the Love of their Country, and Duty to their Sovereign, the other extensive Incitements, which spring from a due Sense of the general Privileges of Mankind. To the Eyes and Ears of the temperate Part of the Public, and to the Breasts of suffering Thousands in the Provinces, be the melancholy Appeal Whether the present unnatural Rebellion, has not been made the Foundation of the compleatest System of Tyranny that ever GOD, in his Displeasure, suffered for a Time, to be exercised over a froward and stubborn Generation: Arbitrary Imprisonments, Confiscation of Property, Persecution and Torture, unprecedented in the Inquisitions of the Romish Church, are among the palpable Enormities that verify the Affirmative: These are inflicted by Assemblies and Committees, who dare to profess themselves Friends to Liberty, upon the most quiet Subject, without Distinction of Age or Sex, for the sole Crime, often from the sole Suspicion, of having adhered in Principle to the Government under which they were born, and to which, by every Tie divine and human, they owe Allegiance. To consummate these shocking Proceedings the Profanation of Religion is added to the most profligate Prostitution of common Reason! The Consciences of Men are set at naught, and Multitudes are compelled not only to bear Arms, but also to swear Subjection to an Usurpation they abhor. — Animated by these Considerations, at the Head of Troops in the full Powers of Health, Discipline and Valour, determined to strike where necessary, and anxious to save where possible, I, by these Presents, invite and exhort all Persons, in all Places where the Progress of this Army

For contemporary references to this remarkable proclamation of General Burgoyne (who was then encamped on a small stream on the west side of Lake Champlain, in Essex County, New York, not far from Crown Point), see Lieutenant Anbury's "Travels ... in a series of letters," London, 1791, vol. i. p. 274; and Thacher's “Military Journal," Boston, 1827, p. 82.- - EDS.

may point, and by the Blessing of God I will extend it FAR, to maintain such a Conduct as may justify me in protecting their Lands, Habitations, and Families. The Intention of this Address is to hold forth Security, not Depredation, to the Country; to those whose Spirit and Principle may induce them to partake the glorious Task of redeeming their Countrymen from Dungeons, and re-establishing the Blessings of legal Government, I offer Encouragement and Employment, and upon the first Intelligence of their Association, I will find Means to assist their Undertakings. The domestic, the industrious, the infirm, and even the timid Inhabitants, I am desirous to protect, provided they remain quietly at their Houses; that they do not suffer their Cattle to be removed, or their Corn or Forage to be secreted or destroyed; that they do not break up their Bridges or Roads, or by any other Act, directly or indirectly, endeavour to obstruct the Operation of the King's Troops, or supply or assist those of the Enemy. Every Species of Provision brought to my Camp, will be paid for at an equitable Rate, in solid Coin. In Consciousness of Christianity, my Royal Master's Clemency, and the Honour of Soldiership, I have dwelt upon this Invitation, and wished for more persuasive Terms to give it Impression; and let not People be led to disregard it by considering the immediate Situation of my Camp. I have but to give Stretch to the Indian Forces under my Direction, and they amount to Thousands, to overtake the hardened Enemies of Great-Britain; I consider them the same wherever they may lurk. - If notwithstanding these Endeavours and sincere Inclination to assist them, the Phrenzy of Hostility should remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the Eyes of God and Men, in denouncing and executing the Vengeance of the State against the wilful Outcast. The Messengers of Justice and of Wrath await them in the Field, and Devastation, Famine, and every concomitant Horror that a reluctant but indispensible Prosecution of Military Duty must occasion, will bar the Way to their Return. J. BURGOYNF.

Camp at the River BONGRETT, [Bouquet] June 23d, 1777.

By Order of his Excellency the Lieutenant General,

ROBERT KINGSTON, Sec'ry.

The President spoke of the Treasurer's having been obliged to borrow twenty-five hundred dollars to pay the debts and current expenses of the Society, and suggested, as a method of aiding the funds just now, that members, in lieu of their annual assessment for the year 1872, should pay a larger sum into the Treasury.

The Treasurer said that more than the sum named would be required for present needs, and he expressed the hope that members would pay their assessments for 1872 in advance. He also read a heading which had been prepared for signatures, agreeably to the suggestion of the President.