is it ?" "Take your hat off, sir." Anthony stood still, when it was taken off by a soldier. Showing him the Declaration, he was asked if he would put his hand to that paper. Down went his left hand on the paper. He was soon thrust out of the room, as a fool. Col. Heard next proceeded through Jericho and Norwich to Oyster Bay, (Weeks' Tavern,) where he staid two nights, his men billeted on the inhabitants. He sent out parties to Cedar Swamp, Hempstead Harbor and Flushing, on his return probably. In some cases the delinquents on being notified came to designated places. Remote spots 'were visited by detached parties. Many however fled, hid in swamps, concealed their best guns, and gave up the poorer ones. Col. Heard carried off nearly 1000 muskets, four colors of Long Island militia, and nineteen of the principal disaffected persons; seven having left their homes. Feb. 6. They were sent back by the Continental Congress from Philadelphia, and handed over to the New-York Provincial Congress to examine and report on their conduct. They were put under guard at their own expense, in a house of their own selection, in New-York city; and letters were sent to the town committees to collect evidence against them. Feb. 16. They petitioned for a discharge, which was granted on their paying all expenses and giving bonds for their peaceable deportment and appearance before the Provincial Congress, when summoned. Col. Heard received the thanks of the committee for his prudence in the execution of his duty. "The party of Continental troops behaved in so disorderly a manner that he was obliged to dismiss them." Fragment of an old Song, intended to ridicule Col. Heard: 1. Col. Heard has come to town, In all his pride and glory; And when he dies he'll go to H-1 For robbing of the Tory. 2. Col. Heard has come to town 3. And when he came to Hempstead town And dared not face the battle. 4. And now he's gone to Oyster Bay He dare no more in Hempstead stay For fear of meeting with a slaughter. A Teacher at Newtown had his boys drawn up by the road-side to make their manners as the soldiers passed. 39. In reply to a circular letter sent to the different committees of Queens county, soliciting evidence against the prisoners carried off to Philadelphia by Col. Heard, the committee of Great Neck, Cow Neck, &c., replied as follows: District of Great Neck, Cow Neck. &c., March 9, '76. SIR: The committee have received a letter from your honorable body, of the 15th of February, and as far as lay in their power, complied with its contents. "But surely [you will say] you could have collected more proof than all this?" The answer is ready. Their meetings were confined to their own party, their conclusions kept as secret as possible, added to our living in a remote part of the county, rendered our abilities unequal to the task. We are, however, able to give an imperfect account of our own district, wherein lives but one of the proscribed. And as this great man has been supposed by many the main-spring in keeping up the divisions in this county, it may be a sufficient excuse for our being tedious on this head. We shall therefore, with the utmost humility, proceed to put our scattered materials in order, for the consideration of your honorable body. Soon after this gentleman left the General Assembly, he appears in the light of a disperser of the "Queens County Freeholder." The design of this paper is glaring on its whole surface. He next appears the author of the Hempstead resolves;2 and as the Queens County Freeholder levelled its whole force at the very essence of a Continental Congress, so these resolves struck at the total overthrow of Provincial ones. Soon after the Battle of Lexington, this gentleman roundly avows that the Bostonians fired first on the King's troops, and that more of the Bostonians were killed than of the Regulars; but as the public prints gave the lie to this proposition, it became necessary to erect a new battery. Hence he asserts the newspapers are lies.* He had, he said, private information that might be depended upon. But this having no other foundation than his own assertions, the means were unequal to the end. Here, with an air of importance equal to its absurdity, [he] asserts, "Capt. McDougal says 'it is necessary to print untruths' to keep up the spirits of the people, and Capt. St. Thorne [says he] is my author, who heard him say so." 5 The populace took fire like hasty combustibles, and although Capt. Thorne denied the essential part of the charge, yet it was impossible fully to prevent its effects. Soon after the order of the respectable committee of safety for collecting some arms in Queens county, (see 36,) this gentleman attacks the right, and openly declared that they were an unconstitutional body, who had no legal existence, and that he was determined to resist the order; but had it been the Continental Congress [he said] he would have submitted publicly, for he did not deny their authority, but spoke respectfully of them. "But what [said he] is to be done for our friends in Boston -the friends to order and good government-and loyal soldiery, that are supporting the rights of the States and the very being of the Constitution, who are starving by means of a restrictory Act?" "Why, this," says he, "I'll do-" "I'll charter Capt. Thorne's sloop' and send them provisions," notwithstanding an order of the honorable Congress to the contrary. Mark the gradual steps of this gentleman to something of more alarming dye: for things were no sooner ripe, than he attacks the honorable Continental Congress itself; hence he has openly asserted he knew no such s[elf constituted au]thority, and declared they were in c[onsequence unconstitutional. Not content with dispersing a scandalous libel; fabricating seditious resolves; declaring our bleeding friends in Boston the aggressors; alarming opposition by our great loss; discountenancing our public prints; defaming our respectable committee of safety; denying the authority of our honorable Continental Congress; but [he] begins an open attack on our grand resource, the continental currency, also. Hence he asserts, "I take no continental currency9 unless for a bad debt:" and getting one of these bills on this ground, expressed his uneasiness to pay it away as soon as possible. "But we see [you'll say] no accounts of the formation of committees who protested against your spring and fall county meetings for deputies. We see no proof of the meeting previous to their getting powder from the Asia, nor any of the proscribed being concerned in that affair." Very true; for this proof is not in our power. "Why, you might have cited some of their second rate leaders, and by that means got proof to your satisfaction." What effects the solemnity of your honorable body might have on them, we do not pretend to determine; but we have tried the experiment in our own little sphere, and found it entirely in vain. We fear you are tired through this long detail. So con[scious of the importance of the subject, we are] determined to persevere [in the discharge of our duties.] We are, sir, Your very humble servants. Signed by order, BENJ. SANDS, Chairman. P. S. We have cited Esq., an inactive Whig, for interrogation, who evaded attendance on pretence of business. We suspect him too good an evidence to escape your notice, as well as to convince him that all business must bend to the preservation of his country. To Col. NATH'L WOODHULL, President of the Hon. Provincial Congress. I Witness-Dan'l Whitehead Kissam, of Cow Neck. • Witness-John Burtis, tanner, of Cow Neck. Witness-Henry Stocker, Capt. Richard Thorne, of Great Neck. 5 Witness-Ann Rapalje, of Cow Neck. 7 Witness-Caleb Cornwell, Cow Neck. 8 Witness-Rich'd Thorne, Capt. Thomas Williams, North Side. • Witness-Henry Stocker, Great Neck; Thomas Williams, North Side. 40. February 18, '76. A circular letter was sent to the counties for raising companies in four regiments, for the de. fence of the colony, by order of the Continental Congress. March 5. Congress took into consideration the state of the militia in Queens county, and determined that it would be requisite to have the friends to the liberties of their country there properly regimented, and a letter was sent to Col. Blackwell. In Provincial Congress, March 7, 76. GENTLEMEN: The Congress being of opinion that it is absolutely necessary that the inhabitants of your county, who have signed the association, and are friendly to the liberties of their country, should be formed into military companies and regimented, and be in a capacity of defending themselves if attacked; (and being informed that they have appointed a county committee, and likewise that committees are chosen in several districts in your county,) that they carry the resolves of Congress for regulating the militia into execution, and recommend suitable men for field officers. The very great importance of the rights for which we are contending, the situation of our public affairs, and the great probability that the enemy will endeavor to get possession of this colony in the course of the spring, renders it totally unnecessary for us to use any arguments with you on the subject. We doubt not you will exert yourselves to have these matters settled with all possible despatch in your county. Your humble servant, NATH'L WOODHULL, Pres. 41. March 6, 76. Gen. Lee sent Col. Ward to secure |