[23] "By his Excellency, Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B., General and Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesty's Forces within the Colonies lying on the Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to West Florida, inclusive, etc. "PROCLAMATION "Whereas, The Enemy have adopted a practice of enrolling NEGROES among their troops: I do hereby give Notice, that all NEGROES taken in Arms, or upon any military Duty shall be purchased for the public service at a stated price; the Money to be paid to the Captors. "But I do most strictly forbid any Person to sell or claim Right over any Negroe, the Property of a Rebel, who may take refuge with any part of this Army: And I do promise to every Negroe who shall desert the Rebel Standard full Security to follow within these Lines any occupation which he may think proper." "Given under my Hand at Head-Quarters, Philipsburgh, the 30th day of June 1779. H. CLINTON. By his Excellency's Command, JOHN SMITH, Secretary." [24] The Journal of the Continental Congress, II, 26. [25] Ramsay, "The History of South Carolina" [Edition, 1809], I, 474-475. [26] _The Gazette of the State of South Carolina_, Nov. 22, 1784. [27] Moore, "Historical Notes," 14. [28] Sparks, "Washington's Works," III, 218. [29] Ibid. [30] Letter of General Thomas to John Adams, Oct. 24, 1775. [31] Moore, "Historical Notes," 4. [32] Hamilton's "Works," I, 76-78. [33] Moore, "Historical Notes," 13. [34] Madison's Papers, 68. [35] Letter of Hamilton to Jay, March 14, 1779; and Journals of the Continental Congress. [36] Hening, Statutes at Large, IX, 280. [37] Ibid., XI, 308, 309. [38] Rhode Island Colonial Records, VIII, 640, 641. [39] Ibid., 358-360. [40] Moore, "Historical Notes," 19. [41] Manuscripts in the Archives of Massachusetts, CXCIX, 80. [42] Moore, "Historical Notes," 20. [43] Laws of the State of New York, Chapter XXXII, Fourth Session. [44] Sparks, "Correspondence of the American Revolution," III, 331. [45] Moore, "Historical Notes," 20. [46] Ibid., 21. [47] Taking up the Southern situation, Hamilton in 1779 wrote Jay as follows: "_Dear Sir_: Colonel Laurens, who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I think, in the present situation of affairs there, is a very good one, and deserves every kind of support and encouragement. This is, to raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance of the government of that State, by contributions from the owners, in proportion to the number they possess. If you should think proper to enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan. He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the State; and, as an inducement, that they would engage to take their battalions into Continental pay.