will excuse what otherwise might have been partly blamed. The principal Inhabitants are now heartily united in favour of Govern1 with a resolution to suppress all riots and tumultuous meetings, and I am perswaded, that if the same measures be pursued, this ProvTM will be in tranquility and good order. Soon after it was known that the Parliam' had repealed the duties on Paper, Glass ettc. the Merchants in this place sent to Philadelphia that they might unitedly agree to a general importation of every thing except Tea. They at first received a favourable answer, and their agreement to the proposal was not doubted; but soon after a letter was received at Philadelphia, from a Gentleman in England, on whom the Quakers in that place, repose the greatest confidence, advising them to persist in non importation, till every internal Taxation was taken off; this changed the measures of Philadelphia; but the principal Inhabitants of this place continue resolved to shew their gratitude, for the regard the Parliament has in removing the grievances they complained of. As there still remains a restless Faction, who from popular arguments, rumours and invectives, are endeavouring to excite riots and opposition among the lower class of people, a number of Gentlemen went round the Town to take the sentiments of Individuals. I am told, that 1180, among which are the principal Inhabitants, declared for importation, about 300 were neutral or unwilling to declare their sentiments, and a few of any distinction declared in opposition to it. I am informed likewise that the Merchants of this place resolved to acquaint the Merchants of Boston and Philadelphia with their inclinations to import. Having removed from the City to my house in the Country, after the Earl of Dunmore's furniture arrived, that the Gov'' house may be fitted up for his reception, I am not sufficiently informed of the final resolution of the Merchants, but I believe they are resolved to import. Of this, Your Lord" will be informed with certainty from the Merchants in London their correspondents. The Packet being ready to sail next morning obliges me to close my letter before I receive perfect information of the resolution of the Merchants. The disorders in North America began, while the administration of Govern' was in my hands, while no Govr in any of the Colonies had sufficient authority to suppress them; I am happy that now, while the Administration is again in my hands, the People of this Province, set an example to the other Colonies of returning to their duty. All Men of property are so sensible of their danger, from Riots and tumults, that they will not rashly be induced to enter into combinations, which may promote disorder for the future, but will endeavour to promote due subordination to legal authority. From the different Political and Religious principles of the Inhabitants opposite parties have at all times and will exist in this Provce, which at different times have taken their denomination from some distinguished person or family which has appeared at their head; but you may be assured, My Lord, that it is not in the power of any one family to distress the Govern', while the Administration is conducted with prudence, which often requires a compliance with popular humours. I am so far advanced in years, that it is most desirable to retire, with the reputation of having gained; and if at the same [time] I can gain His Maj's approbation, I shall be very happy, for I have had His Maj'*'* service sincerely at heart. If I shall be so happy, I make no doubt of preserving Your Lord's regard, and am with the greatest {respect & submission My Lord, Your most obedient ettc: Cadwallader Colden. The Secretary informs, that he sends by this Packet all the Minutes of Council to the 6,h of June last which had not been formerly sent. N° 13. My Lord, Lieutenant-Governor Golden to the Earl of Hillsbarough. [New-York Papers (8. P. 0.) CLXII.] New York. 10. July 1770. The Faction in opposition to importation from Great Brittain, having last week attempted by every method in their power by Riots, Clamour and threats, to deter the Merchants in this place from agreeing to import, without the concurrence of Philadelphia and Boston. The Merchants were desirous to know the sence of the Inhabitants with certainty in a matter of so great consequence, and after my last of the 7lh inst: was wrote, desired to have the packet detained a few days, which was accordingly done to the Wednesday following. Persons on both sides of the question, were appointed to go from house to house to collect the sentiments of the Inhabitants. I am informed, that a great majority declared for importing, and consequently I make no doubt, the Merchants send their orders for importing, by this packet. This is of so great importance that I think it my duty, to give your Lord the earliest notice of it; it must be agreable to you as it will give a favourable impression to His Maj" of his subjects in this Provce. It gives me great pleasure to have it accomplished, while the Administration is in the hands of My Lord—your ettc. CADWALLADEr Colden. Alexander Colden to Anthony Todd, Esq., Secretary to the Postmaster-General. Anthony Todd Esqre Sir, [New-York Papers (S. P. O.) OLXII.] 11 July 1770. A day or two before the Duke of Cumberland Packet Boat sailed, the Principal and most numerous of the Merchants of this City, had a meeting and came to a resolution, that proper persons should go, thro' the several wards of the City with two subscriptions, the one for non importation, the other for importation, in order to collect the sentiments not only of the Merchants, but of the Mechanicks and every inhabitant relative to importing goods from Great Brittain as formerly. At that time it plainly appeared by the lists a great majority was for importing; upon which the Committee of Merchants dispatched Expresses, to Philadelphia and Boston, informing the Merchants at these places the sentiments of this City. At this time it was known the generality of the Merchants of Philadelphia inclined to break through the nonimportation agreement, but before the Express reached Philadelphia, a letter was published in the Philadelphia papers from a Gentleman in London on whose opinion and advice it is said, the Quakers and those in their interest entirely rely, the purport of which letter was advising the Philadelphians by all means to abide by their non importation agreement, as the only means of obtaining full redress from the grievaneies they complained of; this made the Philadelphians change their sentiments and resolve to abide by their agreement. You will see the Committee of Merchants at New York Letters, to the Merchants at Philadelphia and Boston published in the papers, and also the above letter from London and the Merchants answers to our Committees letter. The answers from Philadelphia and Boston did not discourage the principal and most thinking Merchants amongst us from perusing their scheme, not doubting they should soon bring about a general consent in this City to break through the nonimportation agreement, being sensible, many families must starve if an importation of goods from Great Brittain did not soon take place, for many could not subsist their families, especially the Mechanicks, unless we imported sundries of which we at present stand in absolute need of and can't get elsewhere, this would have been effected some weeks ago, had it not been for the opposition of a small, inconsiderable, noisy, blustering Faction whose whole aim is to keep the Country in confusion in order to answer their purposes, and keep up a popularity, which by vile means, they have obtained among the lower class of the Mechanics and Inhabitants, well knowing, should an importation take place, they would loose that popularity, be disregarded by every honest Man, and wellwisher to his Country, and sink into their former state of being despised and perhaps treated (as they justly deserve) as Enemies to their Country. Notwithstanding the principal Gentlemen and Merchants have been at great pains to show the unreasonableness of abiding by the nonimportation agreement (after the Legislature of Great Brittain had been graciously pleased to repeal the Act relative to laying duties on sundry articles) except that on Tea) and how much it would redound to the honour of this Province immediately to shew their gratitude for this favour by ordering all kind of goods from home on which there was no duty to be paid in America (things remained in a fluctuating state till last Fri iay evening) the night before the mail by the Halifax Packet was to be closed) a number of Merchants met at a Tavern and then agreed at all events to send their orders by the Packet to send them goods as usual, except Tea. The Faction being informed of this Resolution published an inflammatory anonymous advertisement the next morning, desiring all the Inhabitants to meet that day at 12 o'clock at the Citty Hall, where the Faction & their Cabal (such as they were) met accordingly; amongst the number of the principal of them was one Isaac Sears' (who, you 1ISAAC SEARS, a descendant from the Pilgrim stock at Plymouth, and for ten years the recogniz d head of the citizens of New-York, was a member of the original association of the "Sons of Liberty," and of the committee appointed to correspond with the different Colonies with a view to a resistance of the Stamp Act, in 1765. Some soldiers of the 28th regiment having cut down the Liberty Pole on the 10th of August, 1766, a party of the citizens of New-York, who assembled on the following evening to restore their standard, were assailed by the soldiers, on which occasion Mr. Sears was wounded. In the month of March, 1767, a party of the 16th regiment again cut down the pole, and in a collision which subsequently occurred between the citizens and the military, one of the latter was arrested by Sears, who marched his prisoner to the mayor's office. In 1769 he was a conspicuous supporter of Capt. McDougall (supra, p. 213 ) and in 1772, on a complaint batched up against him as inspector of pot ashes, he was dismissed from office, but this only rendered him more active. In 1774 he was prominent in preventing the landing of the Tea at New-York. On 20th April, 1775, ho bold y proposed that the people provide themselves with arms and ammunition, for which he was arrested; but the populace rescued him and carried him in triumph through the city. News of the battle of Lexington arriving a few days afterwards, the citizens, headed by Sears and others, rushed to arms, seized the custom-house and deta ned all the vessels in port about to sail for the East. Soon after this the Provincial Congress sat in New-York, and the great committee nominated Mr. Sears to represent the city nnd county. Dunlap't History of New-York, II., 457. He soon after removed to New Haven, where he raised a party of horsemen at whose head he proceeded to Westchester county, N. Y., to disarm the leading tories of that section of the country, some of whom they sent prisoners to Connecticut; and on the 23d November, 1775, entered the city of New-York and drew up in the greatest regularity in front of James Rivington's printing office and destroyed his types, after which they marched out of the town to the tune of Yankee Doodle, amidst the cheers of the vast concourse of people collected on that occasion, and returned to New Haven, where Capt. Sears spent the winter. General Lee shortly after arriving in New-York, of his own authority appointed Captain Sears, the following year, Deputy Adjutant-General, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and empowered will find often mentioned, of late in our papers) Capt" McDougald the American Wilks and some others of the same kidney. Every Merchant of any note met at the same time at the Coffee House, and a number of other Gentlemen. The Cabal at the City Hall proposed an opposition to importation, and as I have been informed (whether true or not, I don't presume to say but do not doubt it) Isaac Sears publicly declared if any Merchant, or number of Merchants presumed to break through the non importation agreement till the several Provinces had agreed to do the same, he would loose his life in the attempt, or the goods imported should be burnt as soon as landed, and strenuously advised that every measure in the power of that Faction should be attempted to frustrate the resolutions taken or to be took by the Gentlemen and Merchants for bringing about an Importation. The Merchants met at the Coffee House resolved to use their Lest endeavours to bring it to pass, and resolved, that persons of note should again be sent thro' the several Wards to take the same1 of all the Inhabitants on this subject in general, and made not the least doubt, but by far the greatest number would be for importation. This being agreed to only about 1 o'clock last Saturday, and the Mail was to close at 12. that night it would be impracticable to know the result time enough to send the necessary order to their correspondents for goods by this Packet which, they were very desirous to do as early as possible—Wherefore they appointed Committee of their body to wait on me desiring me to detain the Packet for two or three days, which I told them I could not possibly do without breaking through my Instructions. They then sent to the Lieut' Gov' who was out of Town at his Country seat about 17 miles off, and sent some of the Committee to the General, requesting the Packet might be detained; upon their application to the Lieut' Govr and to General Gage, they wrote me the following letters: Sir, July 7,h 1770. It is for His Maj'"'' service that the Packet be detained till Wednesday next, which you are desired to do accordingly. To. Alex: Colden Esq' Agent for the Packets. CADWALLADer Colden. Sir, New York July 7'" 1770. Application having been made to me that the Packet might be detained for two or three days in order to give time to the Merchants of this place to make out orders to their Correspondents at home for such British Merchandize as they shall severally want, being on him to raise vol intcers in Connecticut, and afterwards sent him into Queen's county, to administer the test oath to certain suspected parties "which they swallowed like a 4lb. shot." 4. American Archive*, IIL, 1707; IV., 1145; V., 75, 105, 511, 1175. Long Island having fallen into the hands of the British who, it was reported, had offered a reward for Sears, he moved to Boston, where he resided during the war, having formed a copartnership with his son-in-law. Duulap'* New-York, II., ccli. He returned to New-York after the peace, and was chosen one of the members of Assembly for that city at the ensuing election of 1783. In 1784, 5, the company of Sears and Smith failed, and the energetic old man made a voyage to the East Indies, which retrieved in part his fortunes, but in 1786 he was seized with fever in Batavia and died. Dunlap. Leake, in his Life of Lamb, from which many of the preceding particulars are borrowed, says (p. 304) that he went on a voyage to China, and died in Canton on the 28th of October, 1786. The family was originally from Colchester, in England, whence their ancestor, Richard Sears, emigrated to Holland with other Puritans, and landed at Plymouth in 1630. New England Historical and Qenealogical Register, VIIL, 214; IX., 134. — Ed, 1 Sic. the point of breaking the nonimportation agreement; I am therefore to desire that you will detain her accordingly. Alex Colden EsqTM Agent for the Packets I am ettc. THO GAGE. Upon receipt of these letters, joined with the applications the Merchants made to myself, I agreed to detain the Packet till this day, not doubting but I should have the happiness of their Lord PP'' the Postmaster General's approbation for so doing; and immediately advertised that the Packet was detained and to sail this day. I am now closing the mail, and the Packet will sail as soon as the Tide permits. Mr James Parker1 Secretary and Comptroller to the General Post Office for this district died a few days since; this must cause some new appointments in the Americal General Post Office; if any which may be more honourable or profitable, than the one I now enjoy as Post Master in this City, I hope you will not forget me. I am ettc. Alex: COLDEN.2 1JAMES PARKER was born in Woodbridge, N. J., and served his apprenticeship to William Bradford the first printer in NewYork, He commenced business when Bradford retired, about the year 1752, and began the N. T. Gazette and Postboy, a weekly newspaper, in January, 1743, on the discontinuance of Bradford's Gazette. In November, 1742, he began the publication of the New-York Reflector, containing moral and political essays, but no news. Gov. Livingston, President Burr of N. J. College, John Morin Scott, W. Alexander Lord Stirling, and Smith, the New-York Historian, were the chief contributors. He printed at Woodbridge a folio edition of the laws of the Province of New Jersey, and in January, 1753, formed a partnership with William Weyman, which continued for six years. At the commencement of the French war it was deemed proper to establish a post-office at New Haven and James Parker was appointed, in 1754, the first postmaster, by Benjamin Franklin, then at the head of the department in America. Having secured the post-office, he formed a partnership with John Holt, another printer, and sent on a press from New-York at the close of the year. The first work from this press was the laws of Yale College in Latin. A newspaper followed in January, 1755. During all this time his residence was mostly at Woodbridge, where he managed the press on his own account, and printed a monthly magazine for more than two years. Having dissolved partnership with Weyman, his printing house and newspaper in New-York devolved on him. He assigned the paper to his nephew, Samuel, who printed the Postboy until July, 1760; when Hoi', having closed his concerns at New Haven, came to New-York, Parker, who still resided at New Jersey, formed a partnership with him, which lasted until April, 1762. In 1765 he removed his Woodbridge press to Burlington, where he began and completed Smith's History of New Jersey, pp. 570, demy 8vo., and then returned with his press to Woodbridge. Thomas' History of Printing. In 1766 Holt retired and Parker resumed business in connection with his nephew. At this office the Address of a Son of Liberty "To the Betrayed Inhabitants of New-York" was printed in December, 1769, and one of the journeymen having informed the authorities of that fact, Parker, though still residing in New Jersey, was arrested on a charge of having printed a Seditious Libel. He was pardoned, however, on furnishing the name of the author. Book of Commissions, V., 439. Parker was a correct and eminent printer; besides his professional concerns, be held various public employments; among others that of Comptroller and Secretary of the General Post-Offico for the Northern District of the British Colonies. He possessed a sound judgment and a good heart; was industrious in business and upright in his dealings. He died July 2, 1770, at Burlington, N. J., and was conducted by a large concourse of his fellow citizens from Burlington and Amboy, to the place of interment at Woodbridge, where his remains were deposited with those of his ancestors. Thomas, II., 121, 122. 2 was * Alexander Colden, eldest son of the Lieutenant-Governor, was born, we presume, in Philadelphia, in 1716, and in 1737 appointed Ranger of the county of Ulster, N. Y., which then included Coldenham," a small district of country about midway between Newburgh and the village of Montgomery, in the present town of Montgomery, Orange county, N. Y.i where his father had property, and where he (Alexander) kept a country store, at which the early settlers of the town and those west to Shawangunk mountains were in the habit of trading. He was appointed Joint Surveyor-General with his father in 1751, and succeeded to that office in 1762, and was Postmaster of New-York until his death. He left four daughters and two sons; his eldest daughter married Captain Archibald Hamilton, of the 31st Foot; his second daughter married John Antill. who entered the British service and was, after the peace of 1783, obliged to leave the country, and settled in Canada; his third daughter married Captain (since Colonel) Anthony Farrington, of the Royal Artillery; his eldest son, Richard, married a lady at the Isle of Man, and left two sons in this country; and his second son was lost at sea. Alexander Colden died in New-York in 1776, in the 59th year of his age. Eager'* History of Orange County, 236, 239, 246. — Ed. |