University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER III.

August 4.—The good people of Virginia now consider Lord
Dunmore as their mortal enemy, and will no longer brook the
many gross insults they have received from him, which are
daily repeated; and the d—d shirtmen, as they are emphatically
called by some of his minions, it is more than probable,
will make some of them rue, before long, their ill-timed, base,
and ungenerous conduct.[1]

An officer in General Gage's army says:—"The reason
that so many more of the king's troops were wounded than
killed in the late action in New England, is, that the Americans
use a small shot, called buck shot, which is much smaller
than the soldiers' bullets."[2]

Last Sabbath, a child of Colonel Robinson, of Dorchester,
Massachusetts, was baptized by the Reverend Mr. Dunbar,[3] of
Stoughton, by the name of George Washington. [4]

August 7.—On Friday evening last, arrived at Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, on their way to the American camp, Captain
Cresap's company of riflemen, consisting of one

hundred and thirty active, brave young fellows;
many of whom have been in the late expedition under Lord
Dunmore, against the Indians. They bear in their bodies visible
marks of their prowess, and show scars and wounds which
would do honor to Homer's Iliad. They show you, to use the
poet's words:—

One of these warriors, in particular, shows the cicatrices of
four bullet holes through his body. These men have been
bred in the woods to hardships and dangers from their infancy.
They appear as if they were entirely unacquainted with, and
had never felt the passion of fear. With their rifles in their
hands, they assume a kind of omnipotence over their enemies.
One cannot much wonder at this, when we mention a fact
which can be fully attested by several of the reputable persons
who were eye-witnesses of it. Two brothers in the company
took a piece of board five inches broad and seven inches
long, with a bit of white paper, about the size of a dollar,
nailed in the centre, and while one of them supported this
board perpendicularly between his knees, the other, at the distance
of upwards of sixty yards, and without any kind of rest,
shot eight bullets through it successively, and spared a brother's
thigh! Another of the company held a barrel stave perpendicularly
in his hands with one edge close to his side, while
one of his comrades, at the same distance, and in the manner
before mentioned, shot several bullets through it, without any
apprehension of danger on either side. The spectators appearing
to be amazed at these feats, were told that there were upwards
of fifty persons in the same company who could do the
same thing; that there was not one who could not plug nineteen
bullets out of twenty, as they termed it, within an inch
of the head of a tenpenny nail. In short, to evince the confidence
they possessed in their dexterity at these kind of arms,
some of them proposed to stand with apples on their heads,
while others at the same distance, undertook to shoot them off;
but the people who saw the other experiments declined to be
witnesses of this. At night a great fire was kindled around a
pole planted in the Court House Square, where the company,
with the captain at their head, all naked to the waist, and
painted like savages, (except the captain, who was in an Indian
shirt,) indulged a vast concourse of people with a perfect exhibition

of a war-dance, and all the manœuvres of Indians, holding
council, going to war, circumventing their enemies by defiles,
ambuscades, attacking, scalping, &c. It is said by those
who are judges, that no representation could possibly come
nearer the original. The captain's expertness and agility, in
particular, in these experiments astonished every beholder.
This morning they will set out on their march for Cambridge.[6]

August 8.—The riflemen on their way from the southern
colonies through the country, administer the new-fashioned
discipline of tar and feathers to the obstinate and refractory
Tories that they meet on their road, which has a very good
effect. Those whose crimes are of a more atrocious nature,
they punish by sending them to General Gage. They took a
man in New Milford, Connecticut, a most incorrigible Tory,
who called them d—d rebels, &c., and made him walk before
them to Litchfield, which is twenty miles, and carry one of his
own geese all the way in his hand. When they arrived there,
they tarred him, and made him pluck his goose, and then
bestowed the feathers on him, drummed him out of the company,
and obliged him to kneel down and thank them for their
lenity.[7]

August 9.—This morning the following appeal was posted
in the city of Philadelphia:—"To the Spinners in this city,
the suburbs, and country:—Your services are now wanted to
promote the American Manufactory, at the corner of Market
and Ninth streets, where cotton, wool, flax, &c., are delivered
out; strangers, who apply, are desired to bring a few lines, by
way of recommendation, from some respectable person in their
neighborhood.

One distinguishing characteristic of an excellent woman,
as given by the wisest of men, is, "That she seeketh wool and
flax, and worketh willingly with her hands to the spindle, and
her hands holdeth the distaff." In this time of public distress,

you have now, each of you, an opportunity not only to help to
sustain your families, but likewise to cast your mite into the
treasury of the public good. The most feeble effort to help to
save the state from ruin, when it is all you can do, is as the
widow's mite, entitled to the same reward as they who, of their
abundant abilities, have cast in much."[8]

The riflemen from York County[9] have annoyed the regulars
very much. By a gentleman who left Boston yesterday,
we hear that Captains Percival and Sabine, of the marines, Captain
Johnson of the royal Irish, and Captain Le Moine of the
Train, were killed on Monday. Captain Chetwyn, son of Lord
Chetwyn, is mortally wounded. The number of privates killed
this week we have not heard. The regulars have thrown up a
breastwork across the neck at the foot of Bunker's Hill, to secure
their sentries and advanced guards. Yesterday Captain
Morgan arrived from Virginia with his company of riflemen;
but they are grown so terrible to the mercenaries, that nothing
is to be seen from their breastworks but a hat. General Gage
has built thirteen boats, which will carry sixty men each, and
they have been several days practising the men to row them
about in Boston harbor, from which we may suppose some
party is to be made by water.[10]

August 10.—Yesterday the Falcon sloop-of-war, under the
command of Captain Lindzee, hove in sight of Gloucester, Cape

Ann,[12] and seemed to be in quest of two schooners
from the West Indies, bound to Salem, one of
which he soon brought too; the other taking advantage of a fair
wind, put into Gloucester harbor; but Lindzee having made a
prize of the first, pursued the second into the harbor, and brought
the first with him. He anchored, and sent two barges with fifteen
men in each, armed with muskets and swivels. These
were attended by a whale boat, in which was the lieutenant and
six privates, with orders to seize the loaded schooner, and carry
her under the Falcon's bow. The militia and other inhabitants
were alarmed at this dangerous attempt, and prepared for
a vigorous opposition. The barge men, under the command of
the lieutenant, boarded the schooner at the cabin windows,
which provoked a smart fire from the people on the shore, by
which three of the enemy were killed, and the lieutenant
wounded in the thigh, who thereupon returned to the man-of-war.
Upon this Lindzee sent the other schooner and a small
cutter he had to attend him, well armed, with orders to fire
upon the damned rebels, wherever they could see them, and
that he would in the mean time cannonade. He immediately
fired a broadside upon the thickest settlements, and stood
with a diabolical pleasure to see what havoc his cannon
might make. "Now," said he, "my boys, we will aim at the
damned Presbyterian church. Well! my brave fellows, one
shot more and the house of God will fall before you." While
he was thus venting his hellish rage, and setting himself as it
were against heaven, the Almighty was on our side. Not a
ball struck or wounded an individual person, although they
went through our houses in almost every direction when filled
with women and children. Under God our little party at the
water-side performed wonders, for they soon made themselves
masters of both the schooners, the cutter, the two barges, the
boat, and every man in them, and all that pertained to them.
In the action, which lasted several hours, we have lost but one
man, two others wounded, one of whom is since dead, the other
very slightly wounded. We took, of the men-of-war's men,
thirty-five; several are wounded, and one since dead; twenty-four
are sent to head-quarters. The remainder being impressed
from this and the neighboring towns, are permitted to return to
their friends. This morning Captain Lindzee warped off with
but one-half of his men, with neither a prize boat nor tender,
except a small skiff the wounded lieutenant returned in.

Among the prisoners taken, is one Budd, gunner of the
Falcon sloop-of-war, who was some time ago at Machias with a
number of others, and carried to Worcester, and upon being
released from close confinement, took an opportunity of running
off with a few of the Tory gentry, and got on board the

Falcon again. It is hoped this fellow, if re-taken, will be
better secured.[13]

Last evening, returned to Boston, after about three weeks'
cruise, twelve transports, having on board about a thousand
ministerial butchers, under convoy of three men-of-war. During
their cruise they plundered and pillaged about two thousand
sheep, and upwards of one hundred head of cattle, from
Gardiners' and Fishers' Islands, near New London, Connecticut,
though it is said, after they were secured, they tendered payment.
They also took and carried in with them, an outward
bound vessel, with about forty head of cattle and thirty sheep.
With this trophy of victory, on their arrival at Boston, the
bells were set to music, to the no small joy and rejoicing of
the Tories there.

How is the glory of Britain departed! Her army which
not long since was the terror of many nations, is now employed
in cutting the throats of his majesty's loyal subjects,
and Sheep Stealing! Felons, indeed![14]

August 12.—A writer in Plymouth, England, says:—
"The whole country here is in great consternation about the
fire kindled in America, and it is thought that the assistance
of our pious and reverend fathers in the church, will be much
wanted there, to quench the flames of zeal for liberty, and to
spirit up the soldiery, as Father O'Neil did in Ireland, `Declaring
that all who died in their country's cause, should sup
with him in Paradise that night.' But the king getting the better
of the action, Father O'Neil clapped spurs to his horse and
made off; which one of his party observing, cried out, `Oh
father, will you not stay and sup with us to-night?' To which
the pious father answered, `That it was a fast day with him.'
We might expect the same answer from our pious fathers;
they would sooner fast, if called upon, than go over to
America."[15]

August 14.—This day being the anniversary of the ever
memorable 14th of August, 1765, when an opposition to the
ministerial plan to enslave the Americans was first made, it
was celebrated by the field-officers of the sixth brigade, under
the command of Colonel James Frye, at the House of Jonathan
Hastings, Esq., in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the
following toasts were drank, viz.:

1. The Continental Congress. 2. Success to our undertakings.
3. The memorable 14th of August, 1765. 4. May
American valor ever prove invincible to the attempt of ministerial
tyranny to oppress them. 5. The twelve united colonies.
6. All our friends in Great Britain. 7. Liberty without
licentiousness. 8. A speedy and happy conclusion to the
present unhappy disputes. 9. The 19th of April, 1775. 10.
A speedy entrance, possession, and opening of the town of
Boston. 11. The President of the Continental Congress. 12.
General Washington, and the other general officers of the
American army. 13. A speedy export to all the enemies of
America, without any drawback. 14. Immortal honor to that
patriot and hero, Doctor Joseph Warren, and the brave
American troops, who fought the battle at Charlestown, on
the 17th of June, 1775.[16]

Intelligence was received this morning, at Williamsburg,
Virginia, that a brig which was lately taken, laden with provisions,
and carried into Boston by ministerial pirates, returned
from thence to Norfolk last Wednesday, having on board seven
officers of the regular army. We do not hear that any soldiers
are come with them, or are to follow, but it is certain that the
Earl of Dunmore's ship is now completed for an expedition;
and that his lordship has fitted up thirteen field-pieces for
service. It is apprehended he intends to commence hostilities
upon York, or James river very soon.[17]

Last night, arrived at the camp in Cambridge, Swashan the
chief, with four other Indians of the St. Francis tribe, conducted

by Mr. Reuben Colburn, who has been honorably recompensed
for his trouble. The above Indians came to offer their services
in the cause of American liberty, have been kindly received,
and are now entered the service. Swashan says he will bring
one-half of his tribe, and has engaged four or five other tribes,
if they should be wanted. He says the Indians of Canada, in
general, and also the French, are greatly in favor of the
Americans, and are determined not to act against them.[18]

August 17.—This morning, at East Hartford, Connecticut,
sallied from the Lyon Tavern and its dependencies, a corps of

female infantry, of twenty rank and file, with a
flank guard of three chosen spirits of the male line,
and marching westward about one mile in martial array and
excellent order, saving stride and gabble, these attacked and
carried, without opposition from powder, law, or conscience,
Mr. Pitkin's store, in which was lodged a quantity of sugar designed
for the army, of which they plundered and bore away
in triumph two hundred and eighteen pounds. A travelling
gentleman falling in with the rear, whom they mistook for the
owner of the spoils, was attacked and drove with great fury;
but being well mounted, made his escape. The whole was completed
in two hours, and without loss of blood, except from a few
accidental scratches of side arms, underslung without scabbards.

That so unexampled a spirit of heroism may not want due
notice and encouragement, it is proposed that this corps be
augmented by voluntary enlistment to a battalion, for the ranging
service in the northern department, to be in the uniform of
rifle frocks, and the snug Scotch kilt, and allowed, besides
perquisites and plunder, a generous bounty on scalps, and a
fine new standard with an elegant device of a lady inverted,
and to be commanded by the celebrated Madame de la Mell
Hobb Greg Scratch. [20]

August 21.—We hear from Cecil county, in the province

of Maryland, that Mr. Elihu Hall, jr., a young gentleman of
family, fortune, and character, in said county, last Sabbath had
his first-born son baptized John Hancock, as well to express
his esteem of the New England bravery in general, as in particular
honor of the great American Patriot of that name,
who now, under God, presides in the honorable Continental
Congress.[21]

Captain Ross, with his company of riflemen and the stores,
arrived at Cambridge on Friday last. There has not a random
shot of a rifleman done any execution lately, worth mentioning.
A letter from a selectman in Boston to his son in our
camp, advises him to quit it, as there was to be some very important
stroke made in a few days; we do not pay much regard
to it, as it is very improbable he should know any thing of
what they intend. Our lines are so strong we have nothing to
fear but a surprise. There have been letters passing between
the Generals Washington and Gage, on his treatment of our
officers who are in jail in Boston. Our letter was in very mild
terms, carefully avoiding any epithets that might be deemed
unpolite. Gage's answer was in a different strain, directed to
"George Washington, Esq.," calling us rebels and usurpers,
and what not, affecting great clemency in having forborne to
hang our prisoners. General Washington gave him a suitable
reply; and so it stands:—We broke a Colonel Gerish yesterday,
for cowardice on Bunker's Hill, the 17th of June.[22]

August 28.—The Provincial Congress of New York having
resolved that the cannon should be removed from the battery
in the city, a number of the citizens collected

for that purpose last Wednesday evening; and
part of the provincial artillery, under the command of Captain
John Lamb, were posted on the battery to prevent the landing
of any party from the Asia man-of-war, to annoy them while
at work. When they marched down, which was about eleven
o'clock, they observed one of the above ship's barges lying at
some distance from the shore, where she continued upwards of
an hour; then she got under sail, and fired a musket at the men
that were posted on the Battery. This was immediately returned
by a smart fire of musketry from the artillery, and a few of the
Independent light infantry belonging to Colonel Lasher's battalion,
that were likewise posted there for the above purpose.
Soon after this the Asia fired three cannon, when the drums
beat to arms, which alarmed the inhabitants. When they had
assembled she began a heavy and smart fire, of nine, eighteen,
and twenty-four-pounders, and some grape shot, succeeded by
a discharge of musketry from the marines, but without doing
any other mischief than damaging the upper part of several
houses near the fort and Whitehall, and wounding three men.
Notwithstanding the fire from the Asia, the citizens effected
their purpose, and carried off twenty-one pieces of cannon,
being all that were mounted on carriages. Since this disturbance
the women and children have been continually moving
out of town, with their most valuable effects.[24]

This evening was married, at the seat of Thaddeus Burr,
Esq., at Fairfield, Connecticut, by the Reverend Mr. Elliot,
the Hon. John Hancock, Esq, President of the Continental
Congress, to Miss Dorothy Quincy, daughter of Edmund
Quincy, Esq., of Boston. Florus informs us, that "in the
second Punic war, when Hannibal besieged Rome and was
very near making himself master of it, a field upon which part
of his army lay, was offered for sale, and was immediately purchased
by a Roman, in a strong assurance that the Roman
valor and courage would soon raise the siege." Equal to the
conduct of that illustrious citizen was the marriage of the
Honorable John Hancock, Esq., who, with his amiable lady,
has paid as great a compliment to American valor, and discovered
equal patriotism, by marrying now while all the
colonies are as much convulsed as Rome when Hannibal was
at her gates.[25]

August 31.—Yesterday morning a tender chased into
Stonington harbor two small sloops, which had a number of
people on board bound to Block Island. They had but just
time to get on shore before the tender came in, which after
making a tack came close alongside of Captain Denison's
wharf, discharged a full broadside into the stores and houses,
and sailing out again, in a little time returned with the
Rose man-of-war and another tender. As soon as the Rose
could get her broadside to bear on the town, she began a very
heavy fire, also the tenders, who were under sail, and continued
firing the whole day, with very little intermission. During
the time a flag was sent off from the shore, desiring Captain
Wallace, commander of the Rose, to let them know what he
meant by firing on the town. His answer was, that he did it
in his own defence. We have one man mortally wounded, and
the houses, stores, &c., very much shattered. This morning
they sailed out and anchored at the north side of the west end
of Fisher's Island, where they remain. There were five or six
people killed on board the tenders, by the inhabitants, who
assembled, and were under arms the whole day. They have
carried off a schooner loaded with molasses, belonging to
Patuxet, near Providence, from the West Indies, and the two
small sloops that landed the people.[26]

September 1.—The enemies to liberty and America, headed
by Tom Gage, lately gave a notable specimen of their
hatred to the very name of liberty. A party of

them, of whom Job Williams was the ringleader,
a few days since repaired to a tree at the south end of Boston,
known by the name of Liberty Tree, and armed with axes, &c.,
made a furious attack upon it. After a long spell of laughing,
and grinning, sweating, swearing, and foaming with malice
diabolical, they cut down a tree, because it bore the name of
liberty. Be it known to this infamous band of traitors, that
the Grand American Tree of Liberty, planted in the centre
of the united colonies of North America, now flourishes with
unrivalled, increasing beauty; and bids fair in a short time to
afford under its wide-spreading branches, a safe and happy
retreat for all the sons of liberty, however numerous and dispersed.[28]

September 5.—On Monday last, died at Brunswick, New
Jersey, in the sixty-third year of his age, on his way to New

York, the Hon. James Habersham, Esq., president
of his Majesty's council of Georgia. He was
a man of great probity, integrity, and honor; an able counsellor,
an affectionate and tender parent, and well acquainted
with the delicacies of true friendship. In his life he was
greatly beloved, esteemed, and honored by all his friends; and
his death is equally regretted by all who had the honor of his
acquaintance. His remains were on Thursday evening interred
in the family vault of Nathaniel Marston, Esq., in
Trinity Church-yard, at New York.[30]

The following remarkable piece was distributed in a handbill,
through the city of London, last July:

Lieutenant-General Bastwick's beating orders for free
American Volunteers:—"All gentlemen volunteers, natives

of Great Britain, friends to the liberty of America,
who are willing to serve their sovereign by saving
their country, and to succor and support their injured brethren,
inhabitants and possessors of the great Western hemisphere,
suffering by the murderous orders of an unoffended but implacable
man, have now the singular honor paid them of being
solicited to stand forward in a cause, where their own character,
their conscience, and even their interests should urge them to
the most conspicuous exertions. Let all such, of all sizes from
three feet nine to six feet three, and the shorter the better,
who can feel no wounds but the wounds of the constitution,
who bleed already at every pore for the distresses of the oppressed
Americans, whose lungs are panting for the fame they
are going to enjoy by relieving them, whose hearts lie in the
right places, and are ready to burst within their breasts, for
want of vent to the vengeance they wish to take. Let all
such repair to the Castle and Falcon Inn, Aldergate street,
where they will be honorably entertained by Lieutenant-General
Jedediah Bastwick, and may enter into present pay and
quarters. Entrance money, fifty acres of land in the Alleghany
Mountains, or their value payable at the Royal Exchange.
Bringers will be proportionally rewarded. No persons well
and alive will be refused. A fine fifty gun ship lies ready at
the Nore, to waft the brave adventurers in military heroism to
the real scenes of action in America, to the scenes of glory,
victory, and triumph. Now is your time for making your
fortunes. Who is there afflicted whom I will not relieve?
The ends of the world are come upon us, and we shall soon
possess them for our own. The completion of the scripture is
at hand. `Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I
will relieve you.' Your armor is but light. A rifle barrel,
or a tomahawk, is all you have to bear; and you have now
your choice of joining with myriads of brave partakers in the
same glorious warfare, by entering into one of the following
regiments: Ticonderoga Pioneers, Schenectady Scalpers, Mohawks,
Missalago Hatchetmen, Ohio Scouts, Massachusetts
Minute Men, Scarondarona Split Shirts, Lake Champlain
Pikes, Lake Ontario Jacks, Concord Riflemen, or the General's
own Regiment of Alleghany Mountaineers. God save
America!"[32]

America is determined and unanimous, a very few Tories
excepted, who will probably soon export themselves. Britain,
at the expense of three millions, has killed one hundred and
fifty Yankees this campaign, which is twenty thousand pounds
a head, and on Bunker's Hill she gained a mile of ground, half
of which she has since lost by not having post on Ploughed
Hill; during the same time sixty thousand children have been
born in America. From this data —'s excellent mathematical
head will easily calculate the time and expense requisite
to kill us all, and conquer our whole territory.[33]

September 8.—It is reported and generally believed, that
Lord Dunmore is called home, with what view we have not yet
learned, but probably it is to render an account of his sagacious
and spirited conduct in Virginia, which can hardly fail
to attract the attention of Lord North, and the Butonian
Junto, so as to have his eminent services recompensed with
some higher department in the state, perhaps Lord Dartmouth's.
His lordship has this satisfaction upon his departure, that he
will leave Virginia with the universal consent of the inhabitants
of all ranks and denominations.[36]

September 11.—The people of New Hampshire are building
a strong fort at Pierce's Island, in Piscataqua river, in
order to prevent their capital, the town of Portsmouth, from
being attacked by the piratical ships-of-war which now infest
this coast.

In the late exploit of cutting down the Liberty Tree in
Boston by Gage's men, a soldier in attempting to dismantle
it of one of its branches, fell on the pavement, by which he was
instantly killed.

General Gage, it is said, has hanged three of the provincials,
for breaking open and plundering some of the houses in
Boston evacuated by the inhabitants; so that the great thieves,
it seems, begin to hang the little ones. O! glorious times indeed!
But what then? Why, then the fate of these petty
rogues is, in some respects, like that of the little fish that are
occasionally devoured to fatten and keep alive the larger ones.
Besides, administration have herein verified the ancient aphorism,
viz.: set a rogue to catch a rogue. Well, what next?
Why the next thing is, a short but fervent petition, that Jack
Ketch, Esq., might go forward in the business of hanging with
despatch, till the world is filled with great thieves as well as
little ones.[37]

One of the royal sloops at anchor near Norfolk, was lately
kept in constant alarm a whole night; with her matches burning,
tomkins out, guns loaded with grape shot and all hands

at their quarters, till day-light discovered the formidable enemy
which had caused such terrible apprehensions, to be only one
of the neighbors with his negroes catching mullets. The governor,
it is said, was sent for, to assist with his sage advice at
the council of war that was held on this mighty occasion.[38]

September 15.—An officer in Boston, writes thus to his
father in London: "Why should I complain of hard fate?
General Gage and his family have for this month past, lived
upon salt provisions. Last Saturday, General Putnam in the
true style of military complaisance, which abolishes all personal
resentment and smooths the horrors of war when discipline will
permit, sent a present to the General's lady of a fine fresh quarter
of veal, which was very acceptable, and received the return
of a very polite card of thanks."[39]

In a late hurricane at Virginia, it seems Lord Dunmore
fared but indifferently, as by some accident or other, occasioned
by the confusion in which the sailors were, his lordship fell
overboard, and was severely ducked. But according to the
old saying: "Those who are born to be hanged, will never
be drowned."[40]

September 17.—Last week the Reverend Doctor Morrison
received a call to the elegant new church in Brattle street, in
Boston, vacated by the flight of Doctor Cooper; and to-day
he delivered an excellent discourse to a genteel audience. His
discourse tended to show the fatal consequences of sowing
sedition and conspiracy among parishioners, which this pulpit
has been most wickedly practising ever since the corner-stone
was laid.[41]

September 18.—We are much astonished at the behavior

of some of those captains of men-of-war, who are stationed
upon our coasts. They seem greedily to antici-
pate the horror of blood shedding; and although
war is not yet proclaimed, nor any hostilities ordered by Parliament
against the colonies in general, yet confiding in their
strength, they daringly assault our towns, and destroy lives
upon the least provocation whatever.

When Porto Bello was restored to the Spaniards, it was
agreed that the English should have a free trade there; before
some of the people of the town destroyed one of the English
vessels there in the night, and murdered the men on board her.
When this was known, ships were sent to demand satisfaction,
which was refused. Orders were then given to beat down the
town. The commander in that service sent a boat on shore to
inform the inhabitants of his business, and desire the women
and children to remove out of the city. He allowed them a
whole day for the purpose—sent ashore again to see if it was
done, and then battered down only some of the houses, and a
church or two, and that in the day time. Such was the true
old British spirit, even when dealing with Spaniards and executing
positive orders! How different from this is the conduct
of those inhuman commanders now upon our coasts! How
detestable their character! A Wallace and an Ayscough disgraced
humanity and brought reproach upon the British Navy
by wantonly employing it to terrify women and children.
But the conduct of a Vandeput is more surprising

and cruel than even theirs. They only threatened
—he actually fired upon a defenceless town, and his previous
preparations showed that he was not actuated by a sense of
duty, but by the cold-blooded barbarity of an assassin. He
acknowledges in his first letter that he was informed of the
design of taking away the cannon from the battery; why then
did he not, by a letter to the magistrates, let the city know he
esteemed it his duty to defend those guns? In that case the
town, apprised of his determination, might have thought it
more prudent to desist than to provoke him. But upon his own
principle of protecting the battery, what right had he to
elevate his guns, and fire heavy balls at random upon the city,
a great part of whose inhabitants must consist of children and
women. Surely the blood of innocents will rise in judgment
against him. It was not owing to his wishes or endeavors,
but only to the goodness of Almighty God, that hundreds of
men, totally ignorant of what was doing at the battery, were
not murdered. O! had this happened in the days of good old
King George, that father of his people, it would have cost
Vandeput not only his character and his ship, but his head
would atone for his horrid barbarity.[44]

September 19.—This morning the mayor of New York
informed the committee of safety, that Governor Tryon acquainted
him he had received a letter from Lord Dartmouth,
informing him that orders had been given to the commanders
of his majesty's ships in America, that in case any more troops
should be raised, or any fortifications erected, or any of his
majesty's stores taken, the commanders of the ships-of-war
should consider such cities or places in a state of rebellion.[45]

Last Saturday night, in Duchess County, New York,
James Smith, Esq., a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for

that county, was very handsomely tarred and
feathered, for acting in open contempt of the resolves
of the county committee, as was Coen Smith, of the same
place, for the like behavior. They were carted five or six miles
into the country. The judge undertook to sue for, and recover
the arms taken from the Tories by order of said committee,
and actually committed one of the committee, who assisted
at disarming the Tories, which enraged the people so much,
that they rose and rescued the prisoner, and poured out their
resentment on this villanous retailer of the law.[47]

The besieged army in Boston have pulled down a number
of houses between the Haymarket and the old fortification;

but whether from the want of fuel, or to make room for erecting
any new defence, or digging a canal, we have not been
able to learn. One of the impressed seamen, who
had the good fortune to make their escape from
there last night, says that the sailors on board the men-of-war
are very sickly, and almost all of them very feeble and greatly
emaciated, owing to bad provisions.

Last war, thirteen brothers, sons of one woman in the colony
of Connecticut, each of them six feet high, all went into the
war in defence of their country, and were all brave men. This
perhaps is the most remarkable instance of the kind any country
hath produced. The name of this prolific and heroic
family is Huntly. [49]

September 20.—A system of justice similar to that adopted
against the devoted town of Boston, is likely to be established
in Virginia, by the renowned commander[50] of the

fleet there. He has in the course of this week, as
a reprisal for the loss of a tender, seized every vessel belonging
to Hampton that came within his reach, and thereby rendered
himself the terror of all the small craft and fishing boats in
this river, especially the latter, having brought some of them
under his stern, by a discharge of his cannon at them. He
has likewise seized a vessel belonging to the Eastern shore, and
having honored the passengers so far with his notice, as to receive
them on board his own vessel, took the liberty of sending
one of their horses as a present to Lord Dunmore. This
act of generosity, we doubt not, will gain him considerable
interest with his lordship, it being an instance of his industry
in distressing a people, who have of late become obnoxious to
his excellency for their spirited behavior. We hope that those
who have lived under and enjoyed the blessings of the British
Constitution, will not continue tame spectators of such flagrant
violations of its most salutary laws in defence of private property.
The crimes daily committed by this plunderer, we
would not willingly brand with the odious name of piracy,
but we are confident they come under those offences to which
the English laws have denied the benefit of clergy.[52]

September 22.—This week will ever be remembered as the
most remarkable epoch in the annals of this country, for the

discovery of the grand repository and dark depositum
of Governor Martin's infernal magazine,
which in cool deliberation he intended to deal out in weapons
of death to the good people of North Carolina. In the Palace
Garden, at Newbern, and under a fine bed of cabbages, was
discovered and dug up, a barrel containing about three bushels
of gunpowder; in the palace cellar was also dug up, two
quarter casks of the same commodity, the casks quite new,
and marked, "R. B." In the Palace Garden was also dug
up, about one thousand pounds of musket balls, lately cast,
and about five hundred pounds of iron swivel balls, a large
quantity of small shot, lead, iron worms for the cannon, with
swabs, rammers, artillery, boxes, matches, and the whole apparatus
for his park artillery which he would certainly have
mounted at the palace, had not the appearance of the people
of the town of Newbern, on his attempting to move the palace
guns, driven him from the trenches before he had made them
quite tenable. 'Tis said his excellency, the night before he
took his precipitate flight from the palace, buried those engines
of death, that they might remain in places of safety till he
or his creatures might have an opportunity of using them.
The palace cannon were spiked up after his excellency left the
palace, by a person who no doubt will be obliged to answer
for his conduct. As it is improbable the governor could procure
these deadly weapons without assistance, the committee of
the town and county are using their utmost endeavors to discover
the authors of so black a treachery.[55]

The following droll affair lately happened at Kinderhook,
New York. A young fellow, an enemy to the liberties of
America, going to a quilting frolic, where a num-

ber of young women were collected, and he the
only man in company, began his aspersions on Congress, as
usual, and held forth some time on the subject, till the girls,
exasperated at his impudence, laid hold of him, stripped him
naked to the waist, and instead of tar, covered him with molasses,
and for feathers took the downy tops of flags, which
grow in the meadows, and coated him well and then let him
go. He has prosecuted every one of them, and the matter has
been tried before Justice S—. We have not as yet heard his
worship's judgment. It is said Parson Buel's[57] daughter is
concerned in the affair.[58]

It is whispered that government has ordered General Gage
to offer five thousand pounds to any person or persons, who

will bring him General Putnam's head; this has been privately
communicated to most of the royalists in and about
Boston, who can be confided in.[59]

A few days since the authority of Portsmouth, in New
Hampshire, disarmed all those persons in that town called

Tories, including crown officers, who would not
declare their readiness to use their arms in the
present contest in favor of the United Colonies. The Sandamanians [61]
urged their religious principles in excuse for their
not taking up arms, which as tending to affect a revolution
they could not conscientiously do; but declared their intention
of peaceably submitting to whatever government might be established.

September 30.—That grand rebel to his king and country,
Thomas Gage, and his desperate band of traitors and military
butchers, intends raising a regiment of "loyal fencible Americans;"
the command of which is already given to one Gorham,
who served last war in America. We are told that some
head Tories, a few negroes, and convicts, have already enlisted.
Whether a regiment of such beings can be called "loyal fencible
Americans," the world can judge. We are likewise informed
by a Boston paper, that regiments similar to the
above are forming in the other colonies. Yes, ye Judases!
for your consolation we would inform you that (exclusive of
our army in camp) regiments of truly "loyal fencible Americans,"
are now raising in all the colonies from Nova Scotia to
the Floridas, who are determined to defend their liberties and
properties; and to resist, whilst life lasts, the tyranny of your
master, the devil, whose chief vicegerents in the British dominions
are Bute and North. Rebels! remember, that Americans
revere their king while he governs righteously—they love

their country, and are ready to bleed in its behalf. But ye, ye
butchers! disgrace your king, and millions yet unborn will
curse your memory.[62]

This afternoon, between two and three o'clock, an officer at
the head of a party of marines and sailors landed at the County
Wharf, in Norfolk, in Virginia, under cover of the men-of-war,
who made every appearance of firing on the town, should the
party be molested, and marched up the main street to Mr.
Holt's printing-office, from whence they carried off the types,
and sundry other printing implements, with two of the workmen,
and, after getting to the water-side with their booty, gave
three cheers, in which they were joined by a crowd of rascally
negroes. A few spirited gentlemen in Norfolk, justly incensed
at so flagrant a breach of good order and the constitution, and
highly resenting the conduct of Lord Dunmore and the navy
gentry, who have now commenced to be downright pirates and
banditti, ordered the drums to beat to arms, but were joined
by very few; so that it appears Norfolk is, at present, a very
insecure place for the life or property of any individual, and is
consequently deserted daily by numbers of the inhabitants,
with their effects.

Lord Dunmore is exceedingly offended with the Virginia
printers, for presuming to furnish the public with a faithful relation
of occurrences, and now and then, making a few strictures
upon his lordship's own conduct, as well as that of some
of his delightful associates, such as Dicky Squire and little
white-headed Montagu.[63] Some of their actions have certainly
deserved the severest reprehension, to say no more; for which
the printers appeal to the whole world, even Freddy North
himself, and the immaculate Johnny Bute. It seems his lordship
has it much at heart to destroy every channel of public
intelligence that is inimical to his designs upon the liberties of
this country, alleging that they poison the minds of the people;
or, in other words, lay open to them the tyrannical designs

of a wicked ministry, which hath been supported in character
by most of their slavish dependents. It is to be hoped,
however, that neither his lordship, nor any other person, however
dignified, will have it in his power to succeed in so diabolical
a scheme, only fit to be accomplished among Turks, and
never could have been devised but by a person of the most
unfriendly principles to the liberties of mankind.[64]

The following is said to be the plan which will be put in
execution for reducing America:—Ten thousand Hanoverians
are to be taken into British pay, the expenses to be defrayed
out of duties to be laid by parliament, and levied in America.
This body of men is to be stationed in several parts of that
continent, and to be kept on foot in peace as well as in war.
Fortresses are to be built in the provinces of New England,
New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, in which those foreign
mercenaries are to be stationed, and accommodated with barracks,
firing, etc., at the expense of the several colonies in
which they shall happen to be quartered. Besides this, a fleet
of five ships of the line and twenty frigates are always to be
stationed in that service, both to prevent smuggling, and, in
case of any disturbance, to be ready to co-operate in reducing
the rebellious or disaffected to obedience. Every Hanoverian
soldier, who shall have served seven years with the approbation
of his superior officer or officers, shall have a portion of
ground, not more than fifty nor less than twenty acres, rent
free, forever. The expense of raising a proper habitation, furnishing
same, purchasing implements of husbandry, etc., to be
defrayed by the colony in which he shall be then resident.
The whole expense of recruiting to be provided for in like
manner—that is to say, fifty pounds for every soldier, and one
hundred for every trooper, rating his horse at fifty and himself
at as much more. This mercenary army is to consist of thirty
battalions of infantry, of five hundred men each, and four
regiments of cavalry; twenty battalions and two regiments
of which are always to be stationed in the four New England

provinces, and the remaining ten battalions and two regiments
at New York, Philadelphia, and Williamsburg in Virginia,
and their neighborhoods. On the whole, as the Germans are
known to be a very prolific people, it is supposed that by the
beginning of the year 1800, there will be no less than a million
of that nation, including their offspring, within the four
New England provinces alone.[65]

October 2.—This evening were married at Union Hill, in
the borough of Westchester, New York, John Watts, junior,
Esq., recorder of New York, to Miss Jane De Lancey; and
Thomas H. Barclay, Esq., to Miss Susanna De Lancey, daughters
of the late Peter De Lancey, Esq.

This evening arrived in the Piscataqua river a ship from
England intended for Boston. It appears that yesterday she
was in company with the Raven man-of-war,

bound to the same place, but parted with her
in the night. Meeting a fisherman at the eastward of Cape
Ann, the captain inquired the course to Boston. The honest
fisherman, pointing towards the Piscataqua, said, "There is
Boston." The crew shaped their course accordingly, and soon
found themselves under the guns of a battery lately erected
by the people of New Hampshire. The commander of the
battery, with a number of men, very humanely went on board
to pilot the ship up to Portsmouth. "I cannot go there," said
the captain of the ship, "I am bound to Boston." "But you
must," replied the other. Then he ordered her to get under
way, and soon carried her safe alongside a wharf, where she is
taken proper care of. She has been out eleven weeks from
Bristol, in England, and has on board eighteen hundred barrels,
and four hundred half barrels, of flour, intended for the
use of the besieged army in Boston [68]

October 3.—The thanks of the worthy New York Sons
of Liberty, in solemn congress assembled, were this night

voted, and unanimously allowed to be justly due
to Mr. Jacob Vredenburgh, barber, for his firm,
spirited, and patriotic conduct in refusing to complete an operation
vulgarly called SHAVING, which he had begun on the
face of Captain John Croser, commander of the Empress of
Russia, one of his Majesty's transports, now lying in the
river; but most fortunately and providentially was informed
of the identity of the gentleman's person when he had about
half finished the job.

It is most devoutly to be wished that all gentlemen of the
razor will follow this wise, prudent, interesting, and praiseworthy
example, so steadily, that every person who pays due
allegiance to his Majesty, and wishes peace, happiness, and
unanimity to the colonies, may have his beard to grow as long
as ever was king Nebuchadnezzar's.[70]

2 From the London Evening Post, republished in Holt's Journal, October 5.

We are not a little cheered to hear our grievances exciting
sympathy in England. At a dinner given by the Lord Mayor
to the freeholders of Middlesex, at the George, at

Cheswick, several loyal toasts were drank, among
which were the following: "General Putnam and all those
American heroes who, like men, nobly prefer death to slavery
and chains."—"To him who risks his life in support of a good
government, and would in opposition to a bad one."—"Messrs.
Hancock and Adams, and all our worthy fellow-subjects in
America, who are nobly contending for our rights with their
own."[72]

October 4.—A correspondent at London says, "It is under
consideration to form a parliament, or general council, for all
the provinces in America, something similar to

that of Ireland; the governors and some particular
officers to form an upper house."—With due thanks to
our aged mother, now debilitated in her mental faculties, for
her solicitude in forming a government for us, we would
desire her to spare herself that trouble. We, being now of
age to manage our own business, shall take care to form a
government for ourselves, in which we want no one to interpose,
though we shall always have a dutiful regard to our
mother, desire to be upon good terms with her, and render her
all the help that is consistent with the necessary care of our
freedom and interest—which is as much as any reasonable,
affectionate mother can expect or desire.[75]

October 6.—The infamous Dr. Kearsley of Philadelphia,
not content with his late triumphal procession for his enmity

to this country, has made a further attempt to
injure it, but to-day was happily discovered.
Some letters of his were intercepted in a vessel bound from
here to London, which were filled with the most villanous invectives
and scandalous misrepresentations of the first characters
in this country, and the public proceedings.

This so enraged the people in general, that if it had not
been for the humanity of some gentlemen who conducted him
to gaol, he would possibly have been very roughly handled.
He is as sulky as when exalted on the cart, glories in the mischief
he still hopes to do this country, and refuses to give any
satisfaction.

This ungrateful son of Galen has acquired a considerable
fortune by his practice in Philadelphia, and in manufacturing
Keyser's Pills, which are sold for genuine by a certain Tory
bibliopolist[77] in a neighboring province.[78]

October 8.—Yesterday afternoon appeared in sight of
Bristol harbor[79] a very formidable fleet, consisting of sixteen

sail, viz.: three men-of-war, one bomb ketch, and
other armed vessels, all of which, excepting the
Glasgow, which ran ashore at Papaquash point, drew up in a
line of battle from one end of the town to the other. Soon
after they had moored, a barge came from the Rose to the head
of a wharf, with the lieutenant, who asked if there were any
gentlemen on the wharf? William Bradford being present,
answered yes; whereupon the lieutenant informed him Captain
Wallace had a demand to make on the town, and desired that
two or three of the principal men, or magistrates, of the town,
would go on board his ship, within an hour, and hear his proposals;
otherwise hostilities would be commenced against the
town. The above gentleman replied, as a magistrate, that, in
his opinion, Captain Wallace was under a greater obligation
to come ashore and make his demands known to the town, than
for the magistrates to go on board his ship to hear them; and
added, that if Captain Wallace would come to the head of the
wharf the next morning, he should be treated as a gentleman,
and the town would consider of his demands. With this answer
the lieutenant returned on board the Rose. The inhabitants
being made acquainted with the above association, repaired
to the wharf and waited with the utmost impatience
for a reply from Captain Wallace, till an hour had expired,
when the whole fleet began a most heavy cannonading, and
the bomb vessel to bombard and heave shells and carcases into
the town; which continued, without intermission an hour and
a half.

In the mean time, Colonel Potter, in the hottest of the fire,
went upon the head of the wharf, hailed the Rose, went on
board, and requested a cessation of hostilities, till the inhabitants
might choose a committee to go on board and treat with
Captain Wallace; which request was complied with; and six
hours were allowed for the above purpose. Colonel Potter returned
and made a report to the committee of inspection, who
chose a select committee to hear Captain Wallace's demands,
which, after they had gone on board, Captain Wallace informed
them were a supply of two hundred sheep and thirty
fat cattle. This demand, the committee replied, it was impossible
to comply with; for the country people had been in and
driven off their stock, saving a few sheep and some milch
cows.

After some hours had expired, during the negotiation,
without coming to any agreement, Captain Wallace told them:
"I have this one proposal to make: if you will promise to supply
me with forty sheep, at or before twelve o'clock, I will assure
you that another gun shall not be discharged." The
committee, seeing themselves reduced to the distressing alternative,
either to supply their most inveterate enemy with provisions,
or to devote to the flames the town, with all the goods,
besides near one hundred sick persons, who could not be removed

without the utmost hazard of their lives; I say, seeing
themselves reduced to this dreadful dilemma of two evils, reluctantly
chose the least, by agreeing to supply them with
forty sheep at the time appointed, which was punctually performed.

The Reverend Mr. John Burt, having been confined to his
house by the camp distemper, when the cannonading began,
left his habitation to seek some place of safety, and to-day was
found dead in a neighboring field.[81] It is conjectured that, being
overcome with fear and fatigue, he fell down and was unable
to raise himself up, and so expired. A child of Captain
Timothy Ingraham, having been removed in the rain, is also
dead.

What equally challenges our admiration and gratitude to
God is, that no more lives were lost, or persons hurt, by such
an incessant and hot fire; the streets being full of men, women,
and children, the whole time. The shrieks of the women, the
cries of the children, and groans of the sick, would have extorted
a tear from even the eye of a Nero.[82]

Lord William Campbell, Governor of South Carolina, has
fled with the utmost precipitation on board the man-of-war in

the harbor; the committee of Charleston having
very fortunately discovered that his excellency
had employed one Cameron, an Indian commissary in the interior
parts of that province, to engage the Indians in the
ministerial service, who had actually enlisted six hundred of
them, and furnished them with every necessary in order to
butcher the inhabitants of the back country. This plan was
discovered by a gentleman who seized the express on its way
from said Cameron to the Governor, whom he knew to be disaffected
to the American cause, and conveyed the despatches
to the provincial committee. The gentleman disguised himself
in a drover's habit, and attended the express to the governor's
house, heard the conversation between them, and then discovered
the whole plot to the committee.[84]

October 12.—Last Tuesday, one of the privateers from
Beverly, Massachusetts, having been on a cruise in the bay,
was followed, on her return into port, by the

Nautilus man-of-war. The privateer ran aground
in a cove a little without Beverly harbor, where the people
speedily assembled, stripped her, and carried her guns, etc.,
ashore. The man-of-war was soon within gun-shot, when she
also got aground; she, however, let go an anchor, and bringing
her broadside to bear, began to fire upon the privateer. The
people of Salem and Beverly soon returned the compliment
from a number of cannon on shore, keeping up a warm and
well-directed fire on the man-of-war for two or three hours,
and it is supposed did her considerable damage, and probably
killed and wounded some of her men; but before they could
board her, which they were preparing to do, the tide arose
(about eight o'clock in the evening), when she cut her cable
and got off. Some of her shot struck one or two buildings in
Beverly; but no lives were lost, and the privateer damaged
very little, if any.[86]

It is said General Gage has actually sailed from Boston for
England:—General Howe, since he took command of the
butchering army, in order to show his skill in the art militaire,
on Friday last began a smart cannonade, when ninety-three
shot were fired from the several batteries at Boston on the
army at Roxbury, without doing any other damage than
wounding one man in the arm and killing two cows.[87]

A party of young men in London lately went to one of
the temporary cook-shops in Covent Garden, when one of them

said to his companions:—"I'll show you how the Americans
intend to serve Boston. You must suppose that pan over the
charcoal fire to be the town, and the sausages in it to be General
Gage and the king's troops; and then," says he, "they
will be served thus"—when he threw a paper with some gunpowder
in it under the pan, which immediately blew the sausages,
etc., into the air. "There," cries he, "now you may see
where Boston is, and also how the Americans will leave General
Gage and his soldiers to fly without wings!" He then
gave the woman a guinea for the loss of her goods, and left
her very well satisfied about the matter.[88]

October 19.—Yesterday, at New York, departed this life,
of a fever, Michael Cresap, Esq., eldest son of Colonel Thomas

Cresap, of Potomac, in Virginia, in the twenty-eighth
year of his age. He was captain of a rifle
company now in the continental army before Boston. He
served as a captain under the command of Lord Dunmore, in
the late expedition against the Indians, in which he eminently
distinguished himself, by his prudence, firmness, and intrepidity,
as a brave officer; and in the present contest between the parent
state and the colonies, gave proofs of his attachment to the
rights and liberties of his country. He has left a widow and
four children to deplore the loss of a husband and a father; and
by his death his country is deprived of a worthy and esteemed
citizen. To-day he was interred at Trinity Church. His funeral
was attended from his lodgings by the independent companies
of militia, and the most respectable inhabitants, through the
principal streets to the church. The grenadiers of the first
battalion fired three volleys over his grave. The whole was
conducted with great decency, and in military form.[90]

By accounts from Canada we learn, that on the twenty-fifth
of September last, Colonel Ethan Allen, prompted by ambi-

tion, had imprudently, without orders, crossed
over from Longueuil with thirty of his own men
and fifty Canadians, in order to get possession of Montreal.
Colonel Prescot, hearing of his coming, engaged a number of
people from the suburbs, at half a joe per man, to join a party
of regulars from the garrison, and to go out against him.
They met about two miles from the town, when a smart engagement
ensued, which lasted upwards of two hours. The
enemy had two field-pieces. After a long engagement, the
Americans were obliged to retire. Colonel Allen and two or
three of his men were taken prisoners, and about as many were
wounded; the rest returned to their friends. By the best accounts
we learn that a considerable number of the regulars
were killed and wounded.[92]

This morning news came in from Marblehead, that a small
vessel, sent from Boston to New Providence, in the Bahamas,
for fruit and turtle, and having one hundred and twenty of the
latter on board, came either accidentally or designedly to Marblehead,
where they were all seized, and are now on the road
to Cambridge. What a baulk to the poor regulars, and what
vexation to them to think the Yankees should regale on what
they themselves had already feasted on in imagination.[94]

An English paper says: "As every rebel who is taken
prisoner in America has incurred the pain of death by the law
martial, it is said government will charter several

transports, after their arrival in Boston, to convey
the culprits to the East Indies for the Company's service; as it
is the intention of the government to punish only the ringleaders
and commanders capitally, and to suffer the inferior rebels
to redeem their lives by entering into the East India Company's
service. This translation will only render them more useful
subjects than in their native country."—How these traitors arrogantly
presume upon the execution of their schemes of villany,
as if they possessed a real omnipotence, and could command
future events.[96]

The London Morning Chronicle,[97] contains the following
lines, on taking the fort and stores at Ticonderoga by the provincials:

October 24.—Last Sunday, died of an apoplectic stroke,
at Philadelphia, in the sixty-third year of his age, the Hon.

Peyton Randolph, Esq., of Virginia, late President
of the Continental Congress, and Speaker of
the House of Burgesses in Virginia; a gentleman who possessed
the virtues of humanity in an eminent degree, and, joining
with them the strongest judgment, was the delight of his
friends in private life, and a most valuable member of society;
having long filled, and with great ability and integrity discharged,
the most honorable public trusts. To the truth of
this his family, his friends, and his country bear mournful testimony.
This afternoon his remains were removed from Mr.
Benjamin Randolph's to Christ Church, where an excellent
sermon on the mournful occasion was preached by the Rev.
Mr. Duche, after which the corpse was carried to the burial-ground,
and deposited in a vault till it can be conveyed to
Virginia.[100]

October 28.—Captain Barnes's sloop, one of the four prizes
taken by the Viper sloop-of-war, some time ago, has been retaken
by the following stratagem: A midshipman

and four men from the Viper were put on board,
with two of Captain Barnes's crew, and the master of another
vessel, lately taken by the enemy, was shipped as a pilot. Their
orders were to carry the vessel to Boston, but, if separated from
the others, to take her into Newport. They parted the first
night, and the night following made Rhode Island. The pilot
was carrying her in at the east side, and on the midshipman's
expressing his surprise at not seeing the lighthouse, he was informed
that the sons of liberty had burned it. They soon
came to an anchor at Howland's ferry; the midshipman inquired
for the man-of-war, when the pilot, pointing to the lights
on the shore, told him they were the ships. Early next morning
the pilot, assisted by Captain Barnes, nailed up the companion
door, and beckoned a number of people on board from
the shore, who released the pirates from their confinement, and
conducted them to head-quarters on the island; from whence
they were carried to Providence and safely lodged in gaol.[102]

After Lord Dunmore, with his troops and navy, had been
for several weeks seizing the persons and property of his Majesty's
peaceable subjects in Virginia, on Wednes-

day night last (25th) a party from an armed tender
landed near Hampton, and took away a valuable negro man
slave and a sail from the owner; next morning there appeared
off the mouth of Hampton river a large armed schooner, a sloop,
and three tenders, with soldiers on board, and a message was
received at Hampton from Captain Squires, on board the
schooner, that he would that day land and burn the town; on
which a company of regulars and a company of minute men,
who had been placed there in consequence of former threats
denounced against that place, made the best disposition to prevent
their landing, aided by a body of militia who were suddenly
called together on the occasion. The enemy accordingly
attempted to land, but were retarded by some boats sunk
across the channel for that purpose; upon this they fired several
small cannon at the provincials, without any effect, who, in
return, discharged their small arms so effectually, as to make
the enemy move off, with the loss of several men, as it is believed;
but they had, in the mean time, burnt down a house
belonging to a Mr. Cooper, on that river.

On intelligence of this reaching Williamsburg, about nine
at night, a company of riflemen were despatched to the aid of
Hampton, and the colonel of the second regiment sent to take the
command of the whole; who with the company, arrived about
eight o'clock next morning. The enemy had, in the night, cut
through the sunken boats and made a passage for their vessels,
which were drawn up close to the town, and began to fire
upon it soon after the arrival of the party from Williamsburg;
but as soon as our men were so disposed as to give them a few
shot, they went off so hastily that our people took a small
tender with five white men, a woman, and two slaves, six
swivels, seven muskets, some small arms and other things, a
sword, pistols, and several papers belonging to a Lieutenant
Wright, who made his escape by jumping overboard and
swimming away, with Mr. King's negro man. They are
on shore, and a pursuit, it is hoped, may overtake them.
There were in the vessel two men mortally wounded; one is
since dead and the other near his end; besides which, nine
men were seen to be thrown overboard from one of the vessels.
We had not a man even wounded. The vessels went over to
Norfolk, and the whole force from thence is intending to visit
Hampton to-day. If they come, we hope our brave troops
will be prepared for them.[104]

On the morning of the twenty-fourth instant, departed
this life, at Philadelphia, in the seventy-second year of her age,
in certain hope of a joyful resurrection, Sarah Morris, an eminent
minister among the people called Quakers.

Her life and conversation were uniformly consistent with
her Christian profession, adorning the doctrine she preached.
Cheerful without gaiety, serious without austerity, and pious
without affectation, she was an ornament to society and the delight
of her friends and acquaintance, whose affliction for their
loss can only be alleviated by an assurance that it is her great
gain. A long and painful illness she bore with the fortitude
and resignation becoming a Christian, whose expectations of
enduring happiness were fixed on that foundation which standeth
sure.[105]

A short time before the skirmish at Concord, Massachusetts,
the officers of the army, being highly incensed by the inhabitants
of Boston, from the many insults which had been
offered them, and exasperated by the many inflammatory
preachings and orations delivered from the pulpit, resolved
privately to take an opportunity to seize the promoters of these
discourses, the principals of which were Adams, Hancock, and
Doctor Warren. The scheme was now laid, and the young
man fixed upon to carry it into execution was an ensign in the
army, who was to give the signal to the rest, distributed about
the church, by throwing an egg at Doctor Warren in the pulpit.
However, this scheme was rendered abortive, in the most
whimsical manner, for he who was deputed to throw the egg
fell in going to the church, dislocated his knee, and broke the
egg, by which means the scheme failed, and the skirmish at
Concord happening within a few days, these worthy patriots
of their country retired to Roxbury.[106]