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C. S. C.
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Instructions, requires me to Publish, distribute and enforce
the same without any Limitation, and the last Requisition
therein requires (if I apprehend right) that I shou'd give the
necessary Orders for secureing the Arms of the Insurgents in
Somerset & Worcester Counties in the like unlimitted manner,
however 'tho my Instructions & the Proclamation bear the
same Date, and I conceive the former shou'd determine my
Conduct, yet the Public Faith being Plighted in the latter, has
induced me to wave exercising Force, or complying with the
abovementioned Requisitions, 'till the Limitation In the Proc-
lamation expires, or 'till I know the Pleasure of the general
Assembly, and receive their further Direction on that head
tho I must confess I have exercised a Power not clearly
derived from either, in summoning & bringing under guard
here, such Persons whose conduct has been most exception-
able, & whose Testimony might ascertain the Original causes
of this Insurrection, and set in a clear light the conduct of
those, who have been most active against their Country, in
which if I have erred I must beg it may be imputed to gen-
erous Motives, in being anxious to check such conduct in
future, & promote the Public good, which shall be discon-
tinued if disapproved, however those Persons have been
treated with Lenity & suffered no other Inconvenience but
their Attendance here. I am sorry to observe that some of
the Exceptns are extended against Persons who are objects of
Pity, rather than Resentment, & it wou'd appear have been
deluded, whilst others better enabled, and whose Offences
have been more artfully concealed, will avail themselves of the
Benefit of the Proclamation, nor can it be expected that their
Designs and Views will terminate here, unless they are
brought into Public light, and made Examples of. I wou'd not
be understood to shew a disposition to disparrage any mans
conduct, but I submit to superior Judgment if it wou'd not
have answer'd better purposes, had the commanding officers
proceeded to disarm (which I am well assured might have
been effected without Bloodshed) rather than treat with those
Insurgents, which was dishonoring not only their Commis-
sions, but the Power that conferred them, and if I may pre-
sume to judge, this transaction I am afraid has prevented
such a finishing Stroke being put to this Affair, as otherwise
might have been, and at the same Time equal Lenity & Mercy
might have been extended, and it does not appear to me from
the complexion of the People (tho I sincerely wish it) that the
Proclamation will have the desired Effect, any longer than 'till
a more favorable opportunity offers.
This Business is irksome, because Time is pressing & I find
myself inadequate to it, and am apprehensive as its a new
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