Consequences of the Delusions which have led to the Measures the People of America are now pursuing; and that we may yet see the public Tranquility reestablished on the grounds of the terms held out in the Resolutions of the House of Commons of the 20th of February. The notice which the Assembly has taken of the publication, in the Parliamentary Register, of an Extract of one of your letters to me, is illiberal & unjust; At the same time I cannot but observe that I have, almost every day, some Occasion to regret the Necessity which the King's Servants have been under of exposing to the Public, thro' the Channel of the two Houses of Parliament, a Correspondence that, for every Consideration, ought to be secret & confidential. [DARTMOUTH] Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, announcing that Congress had declared War, and preparations were in progress for carrying it on; also inclosing a letter from Col. Coxe to Mr. Skin ner. [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 177 (195).] PERTH AMBOY Augst 2d 1775 Right Honble Lord Dartmouth My Lord, I am honoured with your Lordship's Circular Dispatch of the 224 of May, mentioning the Death of the Queen of Denmark, on which melancholy Occasion I do most sincerely condole with your Lordship. The same Disposition & the same Measures continue as mentioned in my last. A formal Declaration has been published by the Congress, & every preparation made for carrying on a War which is in their Power, the Particulars of which I need not mention as they are printed in all the News-papers. - Enclosed is a Copy of the Declaration, and also of a Letter which M: Skinner the Attorney General received a few Days ago from Col. Coxe one of the Members of His Majesty's Council in this Colony. The latter will shew your Lordship the Critical Situation the Officers of Government are in, having no kind of Protection. It is true that there are many Friends of Government still remaining in the several Provinces, but they are too scattered to venture forming themselves into a Body, especially as they have no places of Strength or Security to resort to.-Not that I believe there are any of the Gentlemen of the Country who would draw their Swords in Support of Taxation by Parliament; but there are many who would fight to preserve the Supremacy of Parliament in other respects, and their Connexion with Great Britain, until some Constitution should be formed for America, consistent with that idea, on just and equitable Principles. There is indeed, a Dread in the Minds of many here, that some of the Leaders of the people are aiming to establish a Republic, rather than to submit to which we have Thousands who would risk the loss of their Lives in Defence of the old Constitution, and are ready to declare themselves whenever they see a Chance of its being of any Avail. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect and Regard, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient Copy of a Letter from the Honble Dan! Coxe, Esq to Cortland Skinner, Esq Attorney Gen! of N. Jersey. Dear Sir -"Such is the present infatuated Temper of the Times, and the Minds of Men daily increasing in Madness and Phrensey, that they are ready to enter upon the most daring and desperate attempts.-A prostration of Law and Government naturally opens the Door for the licentious and abandoned to exercise every malevolent Inclination—what then have men of Property not to fear and apprehend, and particularly those who happen and are known to differ in sentiment from the generality? They become a mark at once for popular Fury, and those who are esteemed Friends to Government devoted for Destruction.— They are not even allowed to preserve a neutrality, and passiveness becomes a Crime-Those who are not for us are against us is the Cry, and Publick necessity calls for & will justify their Destruction, both Life & Property. In short those deemed Tories have every thing to fear from the political persecuting Spirit now prevailing--The Lex Talionis is talked of should Gen' Gage exercise any Severity on those Prisoners lately taken in forcing the Entrenchments on Bunker's Hill and every man who may be deemed disaffected to the present measures of America must make attonement for their sufferings-This I can assure you is mentioned as a matter determined upon, and I doubt not in the least of its being put in Execution should the General proceed against those unhappy people as is expected he will, in Terrorem.-This is an impending Storm that ought, if possible, to be averted, and could Gen!. Gage but be informed of the probable, and, as I really believe, a certain, consequence of such a pro ceeding, I should imagine it might, as it ought to, be an inducement for him to suspend taking any present measures against them, otherwise than as keeping them safe as Prisoners. It is a matter of such importance to all of us that I think the General should be immediately advertised of it some how, but how is the question? Was a safe communication open by the Post I should not hesitate one moment to write to him, but that is impossible I believe.-I can think of no better method than for the Governor to write, and from whom it will come with more propriety, and, perhaps, some opportunity may be known to or contrived by him that we are ignorant of this way.-I write to you rather than the Governor as less suspicious, and beg you will communicate to him my apprehensions, they are serious and ought to be attended to. -If a Blow should be once struck anywhere, you must know that it will be a sufficient precedent to carry it through, and must come to your own door as well as your Friends and therefore think every precaution should be taken to avert the Horrid evil. I entreat you then to attend to it while it is possible, or perhaps it may be too late bye and bye.-Your own prudence will dictate to you the propriety of keeping this Letter to yourself should it get Safe to you a Risque I must run by the Post as no other opportunity offers. I am Dr Sir Yours sincerely, in haste, July 4th 1775 D. C. Circular Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to the Governors in America, relative to employing His Majesty's Ships in sending dispatches to England. [From New York Colonial Documents, Vol. VIII., p. 631.] WHITEHALL 5 Sept 1775 As it is of great consequence to His Majty's service in the present state of affairs in North America, that His Majty's ships of war stationed there should not be employed in any other services, than those to which they are appointed by the Admiral, I am commanded by the King to signify to you His Majty's pleasure that you do not take upon you to send to England any such ships that may be stationed within the limits of your Government with any Dispatches unless such dispatches are of the most pressing nature and no vessel can be otherwise procured in which an Officer may be sent home with them. I am Ette DARTMOUTH Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, complaining that his dispatches are opened at the Post-office, and giving information that the Congress of New Jersey had assumed the command of the Militia. [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 177 (195).] PERTH AMBOY 5th Sept 1775 Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth My Lord I am honoured with your Lordships Dispatch of the 7th of June (N° 17) which came to me opened from the |