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must of course be incomplete, and the twenty one Guns mounted as above specified were taken off the lower Battery, by the inhabitants on the night of the 23d of August, and carried from thence to the common, where they at present remain

CHRIST BLUNDELL

Store Keeper

Earl of Dartmouth to the Governors in America, except Massachusetts and N. Carolina.

[Plantations General (9. F. 0.) CCLXI.]

Whitehall 28 October 1775

Inclosed I send you by His Maju'1 command, printed copies of His Maj' most gracious speech to His Parliament at the opening of the Session on Thursday last, and of the addresses in answer thereto, which I trust will have the effect to convince the Rebellious inhabitants of the Colonies, of the firm resolution of every branch of the Legislature to maintain the Dignity & authority of Parliament, as well as their desire to receive, with all proper indulgence, the submission of any Colony that shall be inclined to return to its duty and allegiance, and to make such arrangements as may restore harmony & confidence, and remove all just ground of uneasiness and apprehension in the minds of those who are really disposed to a reconciliation with the Mother Country.

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There being great reason to apprehend from accounts lately received thro' different channels, that the insults which have been offered to the King's Officers and servants in the Colonies may be followed by more open violence; I am commanded by his Majesty to signify to you His Majesty's pleasure, that you do inform all such Officers within your Govern', that His Majesty does not expect that they should continue in their present stations at the hazard of their lives & property, and therefore that they are at liberty to withdraw themselves from the Colony whenever their personal safety shall make it necessary for them so to do.

Every protection that those intrusted with the command of the King's Army and Navy can give, will be afforded, and it has been already signified to the Lords of the Admiralty, that the Commanders of his Majy'* ships in their different Stations, should receive on Board such of the King's servants as may be compelled by the violence of the Times to seek such an Asylum. It is impossible without the greatest concern to reflect upon the calamities which the present disorders of the times have brought upon the King's servants in the Colonies; but under all their sufferings they may rest assured of every possible attention to their present unfortunate circumstances. I am ettc

DARTMOUTH.

My Lord

Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth.

[New-York P.per. (8. P. O.) CLXVII., No. 16.]

On Board the Ship Dutchess of
Gordon New York Harbour
Nov 11. 1775

Since the 30th of last month I have been on Board of the ship Dutchess of Gordon under the protection of the Asia Man of War, with Mr Kempe Attorney General and Mr Barrow Deputy Pay Master to His Majestys Forces. This measure though expensive was necessary as I could not have kept up any communication with the Country had I gone on Board the Asia Man of War, Whereas in my present situation the Friends of Government freely come to me, and I beleive my removal has brought many to a deeper reflection of their dayly and increasing distress than while I remained among them, when the consider me as a pledge for the Redemption of any principal Rebel that may fall into the hands of the Kings Forces—It is certain that within this fortnight the Spirit of Rebellion in this Province, especially in the city, has greatly abated and we wait now only for five thousand Regulars to open our Commerce and restore our valuable constitution.—The Counties Westchester, Dutchess, King, Queen and Richmond, had the bulk of their Inhabitants well affected to Government and some friends in all the other Counties. They call for protection as the enemies to Government are daily insulting and disarming them; and succours from Connecticut have very lately made new incursions into West Chester for that wicked purpose. If we have no aid for the friends of Government to associate under this winter. I dread the impending consequence to those who are friendly to Government and remain unprotected. The Sword, My Lord, is drawn and it is that must now establish a constitution. Yet could it be compatible with the dignity and justice of the British Sovereignty to give explicit satisfaction to America that the principle of internal Taxation in America should not be exercised by the British State until a Plan was agreed upon for the Representation of America or other accommodation, the General confederacy would in my opinion speedily if not immediately, unravel; and Bodies even of the enemies to Government stand forth with its present friends to suppress those who should then continue in Rebellion. I am confident one thousand Regulars here with such an olive Branch would be equal to five in the present state of the contest. Not but that I have expectations of the General Congress

settling before the spring a Quota for each Province, with Instructions to the Delegates of the respective Provinces to communicate the said Quota to the General Assemblys of their Provinces, that the offer of support for the General purposes of the State may be made constitutionally to Great Britain through the General Assemblies. This doctrine I have inculcated and every other that I thought could promote the restoration of the Authority of his Majestys Government. I am with the most perfect Respect

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The inclosures here with transmitted will abundantly testify the Anarchy of this Province and the Malignant Spirit that is spread through the Country.

The Paper marked A was received from the Fountain head, and was the ground of my subsequent conduct in removing on Board the Packet.

Fort Chamblee fell into the Hands of the Rebels the lS'h of last month, but as St Johns by letter from Ticonderoga of the 31" of October was still beseiged it is hoped the attempts of the enemy on that Fort will be defeated through the Bravery of the Garrison, favored by the severity of the season or releived by General Carleton who it is confidently asserted has levied a Body of Highlanders and Canadians for that purpose

The enemy have two objects in view in constructing the Fort at the highlands, on Hudsons River; The one to preserve the communication open above those Heights between the Western and Eastern Colonies, which will be important to them when the Kings Ships next Summer command Hudsons River as far up as the Fort: The other object is to prevent the Junction by water of any Forces that may march from this city and Canada to retake the Forts on the Lakes. This Fort however when the Friends of Government can associate in conjunction with the Regulars, will probably soon be dismantled by the Country people or taken by the Kings Forces. I have detained the Packet considering at this Crisis Government would be anxious to know the issue of the Canada Invasion, however as the mercury Packet is arrived I shall dispatch the Halifax in two or three days, tho' no fresher intelligence should arrive

I am with all possible Respect

My Lord

Earl Dartmouth

Your Lordships

most obedt. Servant

W TRYON

Enclosure A.

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

The letter produced to the continental Congress and the Copy sent to this, in New York has the following words.

66

Tryon with all his malignity of heart is obliged to lay still as the four Regiments are gone "to Boston; he is high in esteem with administration for his behaviour at N. Carolina, his "plan that he laid for enslaving this country, when in England is not laid aside, it will be a capital stroke to secure Gov' Tryons person;" it goes on to point it out by "your acting in "conjunction with Gov' Carleton."

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Hancocks letter to the Congress "I also enclose you a resolve of the continental congress "respecting those who in your opinion are dangerous by going at large which I also refer ;" This resolve I can't get sight of I beleive it is destroyed. 150 men working at the Forts, 200 weight of Powder there. Beacons to be erected 30 miles this side of the Forts all the way up at proper places to give the alarm. A plan is laid to build two more batteries this side the Forts, an application to Congress for 25 men to keep watch at night, at the Fort building up the north River. A Plan to sink Blocks to stop up some narrow places going up to the Forts, in order to prevent large vessels going up. Two sloops sailed last sunday fortnight with money for powder, I beleive to the French Islands.

A wounded soldier left St Johns 14th of October examined before Congress. St Johns close beseiged, stand half leg died in mud and water, a new baterie to be opened the day after he came away, next day heard heavy firing. They said in the camp if they did not take it in three or four days they never should. A rumor in the Camp four or five thousand Canadians were coming to the releif of St Johns—Stop'd and dismissed by the President. This man told before he came to Congress he was sure not a provincial was at St Johns by this time. A motion made in Congress by Mr Isaac Low, to lay all the affairs before Gov' Tryon relating to him as above objected to

'Mem. Recd from N York: the best authority Nov 2 1775

W T.

(N° 22)

Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth.

[New-York Papers (State Paper Office) CLXVIII., No. 22. ]

My Lord,

On Board the Ship Dutchess of Gordon
New York Harbour, 61" Dec 1775

Since my Dispatches sent by the November Packet this province has experienced a fresh outrage from the Connecticut people. Near one hundred of their horsemen with Isaac Sears,

1 James Brattle, who had formerly lived with Governor Tryon, was at this time servant to James Duane, a member of Congress, whose minutes he was in the habit of purloining, on his master retiring to bed, and afterwards sending them and other information to Governor Tryon. On being discovered he absconded, and was sent to England by his employer. 4. American Arthives, V., 44. — ED.

Sam' Broom, and other turbulent fellows at their head came into the City of New York and going up to Mr Rivington's house, part of them dismounted, went into his printing office and took away all his Types with other articles out of the Shop, and then, to the disgrace of the City, were suffered unmolested to leave the Town. But before they quitted the Province they ill treated & took prisoners some inhabitants of West Chester County; particularly The Reverend Mr Seabury, and burnt one Sloop belonging to persons friendly to government. Mr Rivington injured almost to ruin throws himself on the benevolent consideration of the British State. The freedom of Mr Rivington's publications, & especially in his last paper herewith transmitted, drew this lawless Violence upon him.

Isaac Sears is evidently a tool of the Continental Army, publickly declaring he acts regardless of Congresses and Committees; and I am told by good Authority he shewed a letter he received from General Lee, recommending the seizure of my person, and that he should do it at all events, and that the Continental Army would bear him out. It probably will not be long before the assumed powers of the general congress will be transferred to their Army.

Reports prevail that all the Plate on the Continent is to be secured, & continental Paper Money given in exchange. This Robbery is to insure the circulation of that fraudulent currency as well as to furnish Resources for future occasions.

The intimation of Isaac Sears' design speedily to revisit this Province with a more numerous body of the Connecticut Rioters, and to take away the Records of the Province induced me to order such publick Records as were most interesting to the Crown to be brought on board to me, which measure has been since approved by the unanimous advice of Council.

The peacable demeanor & loyalty of the Inhabitants of Queen's County, with a firm Resolution to defend their families & property from insult has drawn on them the threatened Violence of Sears and his adherents. But unawed by these threats, it is beleived they will be firm united & spirited in their resistance to such a lawless & wicked attack. Lieu' Governor Colden & his Family have much merit in promoting this laudable spirit of opposition to the Measures of Committees and Congresses in Queen's County.

The rage of the populace in this province for Committees & Congresses seems to have greatly abated. Several Counties have refused to send Delegates to the provincial Congress, and they have not been able to make a house, as they call it, since the late Dissolution. And was it not from the awe of the inhabitants of the neighboring Colonies and the controuling influence of the Continental Congress I am persuaded there would be an immediate End to all Committees and Congresses. But unassisted & unprotected as the well disposed and loyal Part of the Inhabitants are I can determine nothing with certainty as to what may, or may. not be, the state of publick Affairs in this Province. I can only say that my best and unremitted endeavors have been constantly exerted for the Service of my Sovereign, and the Dignity of his Majesty's Government.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect and esteem,

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