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all this time, the Enemy employed their most fitting Officers with parties to draw in the Canadians to join them, and numbers did so.—Encouraged by this, and relying on some persons said to be disaffected in the City, Col: Allen, their most daring partizan, advanced with a body of about 140 Rebels very near Montreal, which was thrown into the utmost confusion;—a body consisting of some Regulars, Voluntiers and 32 Officers and Men of my Department with a few Indians Marched out to oppose them on the 25,h of Sept & engaged them within less than 3. miles of the gates where the Rebels were defeated, and Col: Allen being vigorously pressed by those of my Corps surrendered to Mr Johnson one of my Officers. This small affair promised great consequences, and had the Govr been able to pursue it immediately, this Colony would now have been freed from the distress under which it has long laboured, but the Canadians have not as yet come in, in such numbers as to answer the design of Govern', and the season being very far advanced in this cold climate, the few remaining Indians propose to return home in a day or two.

This, My Lord is but a hasty sketch of the Affairs of the summer part, every part of wheb would require much enlargement & therefore finding my person proscribed, my Estate advertised for sale, and nothing to be done till next May, I have judged it best after regulating the affairs of the Department and posting my Officers in proper places for preserving the friendship of the Indians, to pay my personal respects to your Lordp, receive His Maj^^ commands, & fully explain the several matters required of me in your last letter, as well as several other things of such essential importance & requiring such immediate regulation, that when I have the honor of an interview, I persuade myself Your Lord will be fully satisfied with the propriety of this measure.

As the nature of the services I had to perform in pursuance to the General's instructions ettc, occasioned an expense far exceeding the ordinary peace establishment of the Department; I have after consultation with Gov' Carleton, as there is no money to be had here and the communication with Gen1 Gage over for the season, found it necessary to satisfy those who have supplyed me with cash and goods, by giving too or three orders on the Lords of the Treasury, in which I hope to be justified from the peculiar situation of the affairs here & circumstances which I can fully explain, and your Lord' may be assured that I shall take every possible measure for promoting the interests of Govern' with the Indian Nations during my necessary absence.

I have the honor to be with the utmost respect My Lord,

Your Lord's most obedient & most faithful humble servant.

G. Johnson.

P. S. The Indians who live in the neighbourhood of this City have assured me that should, any body of Troops advance against the Rebels late as the season is, they will join them.

My Lord

Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth.

[New-York Pepert (8. P. O.) CLXVII.]

New York 16th October 1775

Since the taking away of between Thirty and Forty Load of the Barrick Masters and Hospital Stores in the night of ninth Ins' and the Inhabitants replacing them the next day, on my requisition to the Mayor, the City has been in continual agitation and ferment encreased by a recommenda and resolve of the Continental Congress, that this provincial congress, should take into consideration the expediency of siezing or securing the Crown Officers Upon the first receipt of this Determination I communicated it to the officers most interested, and kept out of Town all Thursday at the Governors Island, & in the evening the asia's boat landed me at Long Island, and lay at Mr Astells at Flatbush

Hearing that the congress had not gone upon any determination upon that subject, I returned early next morning to the City and wrote the Mayor the letter A. Yesterday he brought me the answer B. which conveying no pledged security to my person I sent him the letter C. which will be under deliberation to-morrow, as many of the principal Inhabitants are expected in Town this evening. I am sensible of the importance of my keeping my ground, and feel a reluctance to quit it while prudence will justify my stay

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From undoubted authority from the City of Philadelphia, the Continental Congress have recommended it to the Provincial Congress to seize or take up the officers of this Government, and particularly myself by name, I am therefore to desire you will inform the Corporation and Citizens of this City, that I place my security here, in their Protection, that when that confidence is withdrawn by any seizure of my person, The Commander of his Majestys ships of War in the Harbour will demand that the Inhabitants deliver me on Board the Fleet, and on refusal enforce the Demand with their whole Power, anxious therefore to prevent, if possible, so great a Calamity to this City, as well as inconvenience to myself, I am ready should the voice of the Citizens be unfavorable to my staying among them, immediately to embark on Board the Asia, requesting that the Citizens will defeat every attempt, that may be made to hinder my removal, with my Domesticks and effects should that be their wish; Since I returned to this Province with every honorable Intention to serve them consistent with my bounden duty to my Sovereign I am Sir

Whitehead Hicks Esqre

Mayor of the City of New York.

Your obedient Servant
Signd WILLIAM TRYON

Sir

Enclosure B.

Mayor Hicks to Governor Tryon.

[N«w-Tork Pipers (8. P. 0.) CLXVII.]

New York 14th Ocf 1775

Instantly upon receipt of your Excellencys Commands signified by your letter of yesterday I called the Magistrates and assistants to a Common Council upon its important contents The Members of the Corporation unanimously expressed themselves upon this occasion in termes of the strongest affection and confidence respecting their Governor and I am persuaded sir that their fellow citizens (for I consulted as many individuals without doors as the time would permit) are utterly disinclined to your removal from the Capital of your Province

The City Committee which is a very numerous body consisting of reputable inhabitants elected at a convention of the whole Town before your last arrival were immediately convened upon my acquainting the Chairman with your Excellencys Letter, and in a very little time I had their sentiments in writing under the signature of their Chairman which I now communicate as a consummation of what it gives me the greatest pleasure to declare, That the Citizens confiding in your friendship to a Colony which you have governed with so much reputation ernestly desire you will still continue your residence amongst us and from the Declarations and temper of the People at large, I have not the least doubt of your enjoying the most ample protection I have the honor to be with the highest esteem and respect—

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I have received your letter in answer to my application to the Corporation and Citizens of yesterday to obtain their assurances either of Protection while among them or security to remove on Board the Kings Ship, But as they have not authorized you to pledge to me their assurances of security in either case, My duty in this hour of Alarm will not justify me to my Sovereign in staying longer on Shore without possitive declarations of their full protection under every circumstance.

I beg you will present my best thanks to the corporation & fellow Citizens for their affectionate and friendly wishes towards me I am Sir

Whitehead Hicks Esqre

Mayor of the City of New York

Your most obedt Servant
Signd

Wm TRYON

W

Sir

Mayor Hicks to Governor Tryon.

[New-Tork Pipers (S. P. O. ) CLXVII. ]

New York Wednesday IS"1 Oct 1775

When your Excellencys letter of Saturday came to hand, the day was so far spent, that I had no prospect of an opportunity to take the sense of the citizens upon it, till monday, and then unfortunately, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, I mentioned in my last letter, and many of the members were out of town

On Tuesday morning they met, and deliberated upon it, and had a second convention for that purpose in the evening; and the result of their councils appear in the written answer they sent me, and which I now have the honor to transmit to your Excellency

Permit me to add, Sir, that the friendly and respectful Terms in which people of all ranks express themselves concerning your Excellency, on this occasion, and their anxiety at the thought of your retiring from the capital are very satisfactory to the corporation and in particular to your Excellencys

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His Excellency Governor Tryons second letter to your Worship of the 14"1 Instant: has been laid before the Committee We flattered ourselves that the Sentiments of respect expressed in answer to His Excellencys first letter to your worship, and the assurances that his information from Philadelphia was ill grounded, would have removed every suspicion of Injury intended to his person or property.

We can with great truth assure his Excellency that we are not apprehensive of the least danger to his person or Property; and that he may rest assured of all that Protection from us and our fellow citizens, which will be consistent with the great principle of our safety and preservation, declaring at the same time that we have the utmost confidence in his Excellencys Disposition to serve the true Interest of this Colony, and that he will by his wise and prudent mediation, use his best offices to restore that harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies so ardently wished for by us. The Committee therefore can not but again express their most ernest desire, that his excellency would continue his residence among a people, who have the most grateful sense of his upright and disinterested administration

We have the pleasure to acquaint your Worship that the above letter was unanimously approved of in a full Committee, and are Sir,

His Worshipful

Whitehead Hicks Esq"

Your very humble Servants

By order of the Committee
ISAAC Low, Chairman.

Sir

Governor Tryon to Mayor Hicks.

[New-York Papers (S. P. O.) CLXVII.]

On Board the Halifax Packet 19th October 1775.

Finding your letter of yesterday insufficient for that security I requested from the corporation & Citizens, and objectionable for the mode in which you obtained the same of the inhabit", my duty directed me for the present instant to remove on board this ship, where I shall be ready to do such business of the Country as the situation of the times will permit. The Citizens as well as the inhabitants of the Province may be assured of my inclination to embrace every means in my power to restore the peace good order and authority of Government I am, Sir, Your most obedient Serv

Whitehead Hicks Esqre

Mayor of the City of New York.

Wm TRYON

The within is a true Copy of a letter I received from His Excellency Governor Tryon 19th Oct 1775.

Whitehead Hicks

State of Ordnance belonging to Fort George.

[New-Tork Papert (S. P. O. ) CLXVII. ]

State and Remain of Iron Ordnance &c belonging to Fort George and the Lower
Battery of New York as"" Sept 1775

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For the serviceable Guns above mentioned There are New Carriages in Store, with a sufficient number of Iron Trucks, but as neither Guns or Trucks have been fitted to them the 81

VOL. VIII.

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