every exertion of Great Britain, if we are linked together in one indissoluble bond. This the leaders know, and they are practising every stratagem to divide us, and unite their own people. Upon this principle it is, that the restraining bill is passed, and Commissioners are coming over. The device, to be sure, is shallow, the covering thin, but they will hold out to their own people, that the Acts complained of are repealed, and Commissioners sent to each Colony to treat with us, and that we will attend to neither of them. This, upon weak minds among us, will have its effect. They wish for reconciliation; or, in other words, they wish for peace without attending to the conditions.

'I shall only add my affectionate regards to my sister and the children, and compliments to friends; and that I am, with every sentiment of true affection, your loving brother and faithful friend.' Sparks, vol. iii. p. 339.

Wash. Writ.

[COLONEL] JOSEPH REED to GENERAL WASHINGton.

'PHILADELPHIA, 15 March, 1776. 'It is said the Virginians are so alarmed with the idea of independence, that they have sent Mr. Braxton on purpose to turn the vote of that Colony, if any question on that subject should come before Congress. To tell you the truth, my dear Sir, I am infinitely more afraid of these Commissioners, than of their generals and armies. If their propositions are plausible, and behavior artful, I am apprehensive they will divide us. There is so much suspicion in Congress, and so much party on this subject, that very little more fuel is required to kindle the flame. It is high time for the Colonies to begin a gradual change of delegates. Private pique, prejudice and suspicion will make their way into the breasts of even good men sitting long in such a Council as ours; and whenever that is the case, their deliberations will be disturbed, and the public interest of course will suffer.'

Ibid. p. 347. Note.

GENERAL WASHINGTON to [COLONEL] JOSEPH REED. 'CAMBRIDGE, 1 April, 1776. 'DEAR SIR, Your letter of the 15th ultimo contained a very unfavorable account of the Carolinas, but I am glad to find by the subsequent one that the prospect brightens, and that Mr. Martin's* first attempt has met with its deserved success. The old proverb of "the first blow being half the battle," cannot better apply than in these instances, the spirits of the vanquished being depressed in proportion as the victors get elated. I am glad to find my camp equipage in such forwardness. I shall expect to meet it, and I hope

* Mr. Martin was Governor of North Carolina.

you, at New York, for which place I am preparing to set out on Thursday or Friday next.'

'The accounts brought by Mr. Temple of the favorable disposition in the Ministry, to accommodate matters, does not correspond with their speeches in Parliament. How, then, does he account for their inconsistency? If the Commissioners do not come over with full and ample powers to treat with Congress, I sincerely wish they may never put their feet on American ground, as it must be self-evident, in the other case, that they will come over with insidious intentions to distract, divide, and create as much confusion as possible. How, then, can any man, let his passion for reconciliation be ever so strong, be so blinded and misled, as to embrace a measure evidently designed for his destruction? No man does, no man can, wish the restoration of peace more fervently than I do; but I hope, whenever made, it will be upon such terms, as will reflect honor upon the councils and wisdom of America. With you, I think a change in the American representation necesMy countrymen,* I know, from their form of government, and steady attachment heretofore to royalty, will come reluctantly into the idea of independence, but time and persecution bring many wonderful things to pass; and by private letters, which I have lately received from Virginia, I find 'Common Sense' is working a powerful change there in the minds of many men.'

sary.

*

*

RALPH IZARD to a FRIEND IN BATH, [Eng]

Ibid. p. 346.

'LONDON, May 3, 1776.

'I wrote you last night, as I thought it would give you pleasure to hear of the Evacuation of Boston.

*

'The Ministry keep this transaction as secret as they can; but there are some private letters, that will make it impossible for them to prevent its being known.

The enclosed is an extract of one, from an officer's wife to her sister, and can be depended on as genuine.'

"Nantasket Road, March 25th. We were cannonaded and bombarded by the Provincials, fourteen days, and at last, after many losses, are got on board one hundred and forty sail of vessels. The Provincials fired eighteen pounders, and threw a vast number of shells into the town.

"We know not where we are to go. We are in great distress. The spectacle is truly terrible. The Provincials entered the town, with their colors flying, and drums beating, the instant we left it. I wish to God, I was with you. It is said, General Robertson is gone to Halifax to provide quarters."

* The people of Virginia.

† A Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine.

1

'May 4th. General Howe, and his army, are in the greatest distress, and know not where to go.

When he found himself cannonaded from one side, and a prodigious battery erected against him on the other, he desired the Selectmen to write to General Washington, and inform him that he would leave the town; and if the firing would cease, and his men were suffered to embark, unmolested, he would not burn the town; otherwise, he should be obliged to lay it in ashes. Washington consented, and that is the reason of Mr. Howe's embarking, without losing any of his men. This may be depended on, as it comes from Governor Hutchinson, whose son has written him a full account of the whole affair.'

Cor. of R. Izard, vol. i. pp. 210, 212.

MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE.

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

NEW YORK, 15 April, 1776.

'SIR, I am now to inform you, that on the 4th instant I set out from Cambridge, and arrived here on Saturday last, [13th.] I came through Providence, Norwich, and New London, in order to see and expedite the embarkation of the troops. The third brigade, under the command of General Greene, was at New London when I left it, where there was a sufficient number of transports to embark them. General Spencer, with the last brigade, marched from Roxbury the day I left Cambridge, and would be at New London, ready to embark in the return transports, which brought General Sullivan's division to this place. The whole of the troops may be reasonably expected here in the course of this week. * I have not had time since I came, to look fully about me; but I find many works of defence begun, and some finished. The troops are much dispersed, some on Long Island, others on Staten Island.

'I have ordered four battalions from hence to Canada,* and am taking measures to have them forwarded to Albany by water, with all possible expedition.'

Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 120.

'MY DEAR SIR,

into my hands.

NEW YORK, 15 April, 1776. Your favor of the 13th was this instant put I am exceedingly concerned to hear of the divisions and parties, which prevail with you, and in the Southern Colonies, on the score of independence. These are the shelves. we have to avoid, or our bark will split and tumble to pieces. Here

*According to a Resolution of Congress, March 25, p. 210.

lies our great danger, and I almost tremble when I think of this rock. Nothing but disunion can hurt our cause. This will ruin it, if great prudence, temper, and moderation are not mixed in our counsels, and made the governing principles of the contending parties. When, my good Sir, will you be with me? I fear I shall have a difficult card to play in this government, [New York,] and could wish for your assistance and advice to manage it.'

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iii. p. 357.

SAME to the COMMITTEE OF SAFETY of the Colony of New York. HEAD QUARTERS, 17 April, 1776.

GENTLEMEN, There is nothing that could add more to my hap piness, than to go hand in hand with the civil authority of this, or any other government, to which it may be my lot to be ordered; and, if in the prosecution of such measures as shall appear to me to have a manifest tendency to promote the interest of the great American cause, I shall encounter the loral inconvenience of individuals, or even of a whole Colony, I beg it may be believed, that I shall do it with reluctance and pain; but, in the present important contest, the least of two evils must be preferred. That a continuance of

the intercourse which has hitherto subsisted between the inhabitants of this Colony, and the enemy on board their ships of war, is inju rious to the common cause, requires no extraordinary abilities to prove. A moment's reflection not only evinces this truth, but points out the glaring absurdity of such a procedure.

'It would, Gentlemen, be taking up too much of your time, to use further arguments in proof of the necessity of putting an immediate and total stop to all further correspondence with the enemy. It is my incumbent duty to effect this, convinced as I am of the disadvantages resulting from it.

In effecting the salutary purposes above mentioned, I could wish for the concurrence and support of your honorable body.

*

'It is therefore, Gentlemen, that I have taken the liberty to address you on this important subject, relying on your zeal and attachment to the cause of American liberty, for your assistance in putting a stop to this evil, and that you will cooperate with me in such measures as shall be effectual.'

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iii. p. 357.

THE COMMITTEE to GENERAL WASHINGTON.

25 April.

'The polite sensibility with which you have been pleased to treat our attention to your requisition of the 17th instant, affords us singular pleasure. Convinced with you, that there can be little doubt that things will go well under a harmonious co-operation of the civil