boast to have 1400 killed & wounded in that action; you say the Rebels lost 1500, I suppose with equal Truth. The people of Connecticut are raving in the Cause of Liberty. A number from that Colony from the Town of Stamford robb'd the King's Stores at New York with some small Assistance the New Yorkers lent them. They were growing very turbulent. I counted 280 pieces of Cannon from 24 to 3 pounders at King's-Bridge which the Committee had secured for the use of the Colonies. The Jersies are not a whit behind Connecticut in zeal, The Philadelphians exceed them both. I saw 2.200 Men in Review there by General Lee consisting of Quakers and other Inhabitants in Uniform with 100 Riflemen & 40 Horse, who together made a most Warlike appearance. I mingled frequently & freely with the Members of the Continental Congress, they were united and Determined in Opposition, and appear'd assured of Success Now to come Home The Opposition has become formidable 18,000 men brave and determined with Washington & Lee at their Head are no Contemptible enemy. Adjutant General Gates is indefatigable in arranging the Army. Provisions are very plenty. Cloaths are manufactoring in almost every Town for the Soldiers. 20 Tons of powder lately arriv'd at Philada Connecticut and Providence upwards of 20 Tons are now in Camp. Salt Petre is made in every Colony. Powder Mills are erected & constantly employ'd in Philad" & New York Volunteers of the First Fortunes are daily flocking to the Camp, & 1000 Riflemen are expected in 2 or 3 Days. Recruits are levying to augment the Army to 22,000 Men. 10,000 Militia are appointed in this Government to appear on the first Summons. The Bills of the Colonies circulate freely and are readily exchanged for Cash. Add to this, that unless some plan of Accommodation takes place immediately their Har here. Empire takes bours will swarm with Privateers, an Army will be raised in the Middle Colonies to take possession of Canada. For the sake of the miserable convulsed *Country solicit Peace, Repeal the Acts or Britain is undone. This advice is the result of a Warm Affection for my King & the Realm. remember I never deceived you: every article here sent you is sacredly true. The papers will announce to you that I am a Member for Boston: you will there see our Motley Council, A General Arraignment of Officers will take place except the Chief which will be suspended but for a little while to see what part &c Great Britain in Consequence of the late Continental Petition. A View to Independency grows more & more general. should Britain declare War against the Colonies they are lost for ever. Should Spain declare War against England the Colonies will declare a neutrality which will doubtless produce an offensive & Defensive League between them. For God's sake prevent it by a speedy Accommodation:-Writing this has Employ'd a Day.—I have been to Salem to reconnoitre, but could not escape the Geese in the Capitol. To morrow I set out for Newport on purpose to send you this.--I write you fully, it being scarcely possible to prevent discovery-I am out of place here by Choice therefore out of pay and am determined to be so unless some thing is offered in my Way.-I wish you could contrive to write me largely in Cyphers by way of Newport, Addressed to Tom (Thomas) Richards Merchant inclosed in a Cover to me, intimating that I am a perfect stranger to you but being recommended to you as a Gentlemen of Honour you took the Liberty to inclose that Letter intreating me to deliver it as directed, the person as you are informed living at Cambridge; sign some Fictitious Name. This you may send to some confidential Friend at New * In one Copy handed about it is Country & in another Empire. port to be delivered to me at Watertown. Make use of every precaution or I perish.' July 22 1775. B. CHURCH. Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, transmitting the Governor's address to the Assembly. [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 178 (196).] BURLINGTON, Dec 3, 1775 Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth, &c &c My Lord, I have the Honour to transmit to your Lordship, Copies of my Speech at the Opening of the present Session, the Council's and Assembly's Addresses, and my Answer; together with a Message to them on the Support of Government, and a Proclamation for suppressing Rebellion and Sedition; also an Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia to a Gentleman in this Town, containing some late News from Virginia. These Papers will serve to give your Lordships some Idea of the Business transacted at this Session, and of the present Situation of Affairs. On my Return to Amboy, which I expect will be this week, I shall write your Lordship fully respecting them. I have the Honour to be, My Lord, & most humble Servant Dr. Church made a bungling and insincere explanation of this letter when it was published, and after some difficulty gained his freedom. "He then embarked in a vessel bound for the West Indies, which never reached its destination."— Works of John Adams, II., 182, n. Letter from Lord Germain to Gov. Franklin, announcing the King's concern that his subjects in New Jersey had submitted to the dictates of the Continental Congress. Sir, [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 177 (195).] WHITEHALL Dec 23 1775. Governor Franklin, Your Dispatch to Lord Dartmouth of the 1st Novemb! was received by the Halifax Packet which arrived a few days ago, & I have not failed to lay it before the King, who sees with Concern that His Subjects in New Jersey have submitted in the full Extent of Obedience to the Dictates of the Continental Congress. His Majesty at the same time approves your zeal ous Endeavours for His Service, and relies upon a continuance of them under all the difficulties which surround you, trusting that the time is approaching when the united strength of the Nation will have its Effect to restore the public Tranquility. I am &ca GEO: GERMAIN Letter from Gov. Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, relative to the sentiments of the people and the proceedings of the Assembly; the Earl of Stirling suspended from the Council; general belief that Congress will have the assistance of France. [From P. R. O. America and West Indies, Vol. 178 (196).] [Secret and Confidential] PERTH AMBOY Jan 5. 1776 Right Honble the Earl of Dartmouth My Lord, I did myself the Honour to write to your Lordship on the 3 of last Month from Burlington, and to enclose Copies of my Speech, and the Council and Assembly's Addresses, at the Opening of the Session of General Assembly, together with sundry other Papers. The Minutes of the Assembly not being yet printed, I enclose the written Copy of them which I received daily from the Clerk during the Session. Several petitions were presented to the Assembly praying them to discourage any attempt to promote an Independency on Great Britain, and that they would grant the Support for His Majesty's Government in this Colony as usual. Their Resolves, respecting the first your Lordship will see in their Minutes of Nov 28,' which are nearly similar to those before passed in the Assembly of Pennsylvania on the like Occasion. It seems, indeed, to be the general Opinion of those with whom I converse, that the Majority of people in both Provinces are greatly averse to an Independency; and, if they could be once con 1 See Minutes of the Provincial Congress, etc., 1775-6, 300. |