most pacific to a martial complexion, is owing to the times. The number of Quakers returned to serve in it, was not so large as formerly; and some of them, being upon principle opposed to present measures, have resigned their seats, (which they have the privilege of doing) and left them to be filled by persons of a different judgment.

The Philadelphians, with a view to the safety of the city, are also engaged in making huge machines to sink in the narrow part of the Delaware, and in completing a number of large galliots, carrying at their bows guns from 32 to 48 pounders, swivels, &c. The machines are formed of large heavy square pieces of timber. Two long ones, at a proper parallel distance from each other, form the horizontal base, that is to rest on the bed of the river. Right over these are placed two others of similar size, rising from toward the ends of the horizontal base, in such an angular direction, as with their elevated ends, fortified with strong iron points, to pierce any vessel which may sail against them. The degree of elevation is such as to give the greatest resistance with the least danger to the timbers. The four main pieces are joined to each other by many shorter ones. The whole machine is so contrived, that, with its own weight, and what may be added to it when sunk, it can neither be broken, nor forced backward, nor turned over. They have given the name of chevaux-de-frise to these machines.

There is nothing in New-Jersey which requires particular notice.

The New-Yorkers were freed from the apprehensions they were under, through the expectation of troops from Europe, soon after their arrival. The second embarkation from Cork, consisting of four regiments, got safe to Sandy-Hook, where they received orders from general Gage to sail for Boston. They were wanted to strengthen the army, after the loss it had sustained by Breed's Hill battle. The few troops that were stationed at the barracks, about fifty, went on board the Asia man of war some time before, on the sixth of June, so that the city of New-York was wholly without regulars,

[June 24.] Governor Tryon arrived at New-York from London. He is in much esteem with a large number of the citizens and others; and if any one can succeed in drawing off that colony from the union, he will probably be the person. It is not to be thought that he is limited by ministry either as to expences or promises; but may suit himself to persons and emergencies. There is apparently good policy in employing him to effect the recovery of New-York, on the side of administration. He was in hope of finding the province disunited from the others. [July

[July 3.] The mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city, presented him with a congratulatory address; complimented him upon the rectitude of his former administration, and expressed their trust in the aid of his intercession with his majesty, for a speely termination of the hostile aninosities of his contending subjects.

The governor in his answer confessed his disappointment at the change of circumstances in the province. To palliate the. treatment which the memorial and representation of the NewYork general assembly met with, and to conciliate the minds of as many as could confide in his expressions, he closed with saying, "I am acquainted with a dispatch from the earl of Dartmouth, that the memorial and representation of the generai assembly of this province, were unfortunately blended with expressions containing claims which made it impossible for parliament, consistent with its justice and dignity to receive them; yet the petition to the king has been presented to his majesty, who was pleased to receive it with the most gracious expressions of regard and attention to the humble requests of his faithful subjects in New-York; and I am authorized to say, that nothing can give greater satisfaction to the royal breast, than to see us again a happy and united people."

The same day the address was presented, all the king's stores of various kinds, were taken from Turtle Bay, and carried clear off by the friends of congress.

Connecticut and Rhode-Island, having had no occasion to change their forms of government, proceed in their usual modes of business, to fulfil the engagements that they are under to the united colonics in general, and the Massachusetts in particular, and flag not in their ardor to support the cause of America.

[June 28.] Let us return to the Massachusetts. Political necessity obliged the provincial congress to resolve, "That the notes and bills of the colony of Rhode-Island, of this and all the other colonies (except Nova-Scotia and Canada) shall be taken and received, and accounted a good and sufficient tender for the payment of all debts and damages arising upon the non-performance of any promises; and the committees of correspondence, inspection, and safety, in the respective towns, are to return the names of all persons who shall contravene this resolve."

[July 9.] To procure a supply of articles for the troops of the colony, a resolve passed for the inhabitants of the several towns to furnish shirts, breeches, stockings and shoes, for the soldiers.In a few days after a recommendation passed, VOL. I. C 3

not

not to kill any sheep or lambs, excepting in cases of absolute necesssity.

In consequence of the letters sent to the several towns and districts within the colony, for the choice of representatives, in order to take up a form of government, more than two hundred members met at Watertown [July 19.] and constituted the house of assembly. The general fast interposing, the counsellors were not chosen till Friday morning the twenty-first.

[Aug. 8.] The house agreed to raise £.30,000 sterling. The raising of money will probably produce much dissatisfaction. Great numbers, who are warm for the liberties of America, and violently opposed to being taxed by Great-Britain, are so inconsiderate as to imagine, they are to be exempted from almost every tax upon their succeeding in the present contest. They are for enjoying all the advantage of civilized society, without paying their proportion toward the expence of supporting it.

[Aug. 9.] Captain Linzee, of the Falcon sloop of war chaced two schooners from the West-Indies, one of which he soon brought to; the other, having the advantage of a fair wind, put into Gloucester harbour, at Cape-Ann, and the captain pursued into the harbour, bringing the one with him. He anchored, and sent two barges with fifteen men each, armed with swivels and muskets, attended with a whale boat, in which was the lieutenant and six privates, meaning to scize the loaded schooner. The militia and inhabitants took the alarm, collected, fired from the shore, and killed three men, beside wounding the lieutenant. On this the captain sent the other schooner and a small cutter well armed, with orders to fire on the damn'd rebels wherever they could see them, while he engaged in cannonading the town.. Not a ball struck or wounded a single person, though they passed through the houses filled with women and children, in almost every direction. The party at the water side soon made themselves masters of both the schooners, the cutter, the two barges, the boat, and every man in them. The action lasted several hours, The provincials lost but one man, and had two others wounded; one of whom is since'dead. They captured thirty-five men belonging to the Falcon, several of whom are wounded, and one of them since dead. Captain Linzee after this warped off, having lost half his men.

[Aug. 12.] The scarcity of ammunition is so alarming, that the house agreed upon recommending it to the inhabitants, not to fire a gun at beast, bird, or mark, without real necessity, to prevent a waste of powder.

About five weeks since general Gage sent two officers to NewYork, to procure all the men they could, out of ships expected

from

from Scotland or elsewhere, to join him as volunteers; and with orders to return to Boston with all expedition. This bespeaks a want of men. The want of fresh provision will be supplied for a short space, by the return of a fleet of transports this day [Aug. 15.] from the Sound, bringing with them about 2000 sheep and 110 oxen, beside eggs, butter, &c. which they have taken off from Gardner's and other islands.

Governor Wentworth still continues in New-Hampshire; but the influence of the popular leaders is increasing, while his diminishes daily. He can no longer confide, as formerly, in the attachment of the people for safety; and has for these two months taken up his residence at Fort William and Mary.

The bulk of the colonists have certainly been much cnecuraged in their struggles against the claims of parliament and administration, from the multiplied assurances they have received that the body of the people in England wish them success; and from their knowing that many of the most virtuous and inde-pendent of the nobility and gentry are for them, and among this order, in their estimation, the best bishop that adorns the bench, as great a judge as the nation can boast, and the greatest statesman it ever saw. I

TH

LETTER XV.

Roxbury, December 30, 1775.

HE accession of Georgia to the colonies, will occasion their being called henceforward THE THIRTEEN UNITED COLONIES. To aid in the defence of that colony, congress resolved early in November, to keep up a battalion there at the continental expence. Toward the close of the year, Dr. Zubly, perceiving that there was an apparent propensity to indepen dency in several of the delegates, withdrew and returned to Georgia. His opposition to it being well known, and his influence upon the Georgia inhabitants being feared, it was contrived that one of his brother delegates, Mr. John Houston, should likewise return, with a design of counteracting him, in case he soould set himself to oppose independency.

* The bishop of St. Afaph. † Lord Camden.

Loid Chatham.
The

The first hostilities which happened in this colony between the opposite parties, commenced about the middle of November, when a number of royalists attacked the American whigs, and by their superiority obliged the latter, after three days, to surrender the fort, in which they expected to make an effectual resistance.

The governor of South-Carolina, lord William Campbell, after the provincial congress had raised troops, gave commissions to the officers of the volunteer companies of militia, that were formed and trained on the recommendation of the popular leaders. His lordship also convened an assembly, of which several officers in the provincial regiments were members; but finding them and their colleagues inflexibly set against his schemes, he dissolved them [Sept. 15.] and never afterward issued writs for a new election. He was indefatigable in secretly promoting opposition to the popular measures, and kept up a constant correspondence with the back country royalists. These people were told, that it would be impossible to resist the power of Britain; that the whole dispute was about a trifling tax on tea; and that the expences of the new raised provincial regiments would be infinitely more than the insignificant taxes imposed by the British parliament. They were therefore much disaffected with the proceedings of the provincial congress. It being suspected in Charleston that their disaffection was greatly owing to the governor, in order to ascertain, if possible, the connection between them, captain Adam M'Donald, of a new raised provincial regiment, introduced himself to his lordship about the middle of September, under the feigned name of Dick Williams, a supposed confidential messenger from these royalists. In this assumed character he had a long conversation with his lordship, and was informed, that a letter received the day before, set forth, "That his majesty was determined speedily to send out troops to execute his schemes from one end of the continent to the other." The conversation being reported to the general committee, they sent a deputation, of which captain M'Donald was one, to demand a communication of his lordship's late dispatches from England, and a perusal of his correspondence with the back country. These requisitions being refused, it was moved to take the governor into custody, but the motion was rejected by a great majority. His lordship, mortified at the deception which had been passed upon him, and distrustful of his personal safety in Charleston, took the provincial seal with him, and retired on board the Tamar sloop of war.