deal depends upon the hearty concurrence of the body of the people, provision should be made against every thing that may obstruct it. The Ministerial language now is, not for force; however, I would not trust them, but prepare against that too by arming and exercising the Militia.

The plan at present is to pass two Acts, one for taking the fishery from New England, and encouraging the Canadians, the other to make all Associations, touching trade, treasonable. Additional supplies will be granted, and it will be left to the King and his Ministry to add military force, which I verily believe they will do. You have the whole of their plan before you, and I hope you will not remit of the utmost activity to defeat it. The not planting any Tobacco will be a decisive measure to convince them here that you are in earnest. Such conviction will be of great use. You may depend upon it that the Merchants here will never move in your behalf till you alarm their fears so much, or touch their interests so strongly, as to make the cause their own. My anxiety about the publick absorbs every idea of private concerns. Colonel Phil. remits me nothing, and the additional expenses of my being called to the bar in April next, will distress me extremely. My love to Mrs. Lee and every body else. Adieu,

ARTHUR LEE.

To Richard H. Lee.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK, DATED NEWPORT, RHODE-ISLAND, DECEMBER 14, 1774.

The people here have, I think, openly declared themselves against Government, and in such a manner as surely must be pronounced rebellion. Is it possible that a people without Arms, Ammunition, Money, or Navy, should dare to brave a Nation dreaded and respected by all the Powers on earth? What black ingratitude to the parent state, who has nourished, protected, and supported them in their infancy. What can these things indicate but a civil war? Horrid reflection! and such as freezes the blood of every humane heart.

There has been a most extraordinary movement here a few days ago. The publick authority of the Colony have dismantled the King's Fort, and moved all the Cannon and Stores to Providence, in order, as it is said, to assist the ' Bostonians against the King's Troops.

Underneath is a list of the Cannon:

Six 24-pounders, eighteen 18-pounders, given by the late King to the Fort; fourteen 6-pounders, six 4-pounders, belonging to the Colony,

God send us better times. Yours, &c.

GOVERNOUR WENTWORTH TO GOVERNOUR GAGE.

Portsmouth, New-Hampshire, December 14, 1774.

SIR: I have the honour to receive your Excellency's letter of the 9th instant, with the letter from the Secretary of State, which were both delivered to me op Monday evening last by Mr. Whiting.

It is with the utmost concern I am called upon by my duty to the King, to communicate to your Excellency a most unhappy affair perpetrated here this day.

Yesterday in the afternoon, Paul Revere arrived in this Town, express from a Committee in Boston to another Committee in this Town, and delivered his despatch to Mr. Samuel Cutts, a Merchant of this Town, who immediately convened the Committee, of which he is one, and as I learn, laid it before them. This day, about noon, before any suspicions could be had of their intentions, about four hundred men were collected together, and immediately proceeded to his Majesty's Castle, William and Mary, at the entrance of this Harbour, and forcibly took possession thereof, notwithstanding the best defence that could be made by Captain Cochran, (whose conduct has been extremely laudable, as your Excellency will see by the enclosed letter from him,) and by violence, carried off upwards of one hundred barrels of Powder, belonging to the King, deposited in the. Castle. I am informed that expresses have been circulated through the neighbouring Towns, to collect a number of people to-morrow, or as soon as possible, to carry away all the Cannon and Arms belonging to the Castle, which they will undoubtedly effect, unless some assistance should arrive from Boston in time to prevent it. This event too plainly proves the imbecility of this Government to carry into execution his Majesty's Order in Council, for seizing and detaining Arms and Ammunition imported into this Province, without some strong Ships-of-War in this Harbour: neither is this Province or Custom House Treasury in any degree safe, if it should come into the mind of the popular leaders to seize upon them.

The principal persons who took lead in this enormity are well known. Upon the best information I can obtain, this mischief originates from the publishing the Secretary of State's letter, and the King's Order in Council, at Rhode-Island, prohibiting the exportation of Military Stores from Great Britain, and the proceedings in that Colony in consequence of it, which have been published here by the forementioned Mr. Revere, and the despatch brought, before which all was perfectly quiet and peaceable here.

I am, &c.,

J. WENTWORTH.

To the Honourable Governour Gage.

CAPTAIN COCHRAN, COMMANDER OF FORT WILLIAM AND MARY, IN NEW-HAMPSHIRE, TO GOVERNOUR WENTWORTH, DATED DECEMBER 14, 1774.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I received your Excellency's favour of yesterday, and in obedience thereto kept a strict watch all night, and added two men to my usual number, being all I could get. Nothing material occurred till this day, one o'clock, when I was informed there was a number of people coming to take possession of the Fort, upon which, having only five effective men with me, I prepared to make the best defence I could, and pointed some Guns to those places where I expected they would enter. About three o'clock, the Fort was besieged on all sides by upwards of four hundred men. I told them on their peril not to enter; they replied they would; I immediately ordered three four-pounders to be fired on them, and then the small arms, and before we could be ready to fire again, we were stormed on all quarters, and they immediately secured both me, and my men, and kept us prisoners about one hour and a half, during which time they broke open the Powder House, and took all the Powder away except one barrel, and haying put it into boats and sent it off, they released me from my confinement. To which can only add, that I did all in my power to defend the Fort, but all my efforts could not avail against so great a number. I am your Excellency's, &c.

JOHN COCHRAN.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GOVERNOUS WENTWORTH TO GOVERNOUR GAGE, DATED PORTSMOUTH, NEW-HAMPSHIRE, DECEMBER 16, 1774.

On Wednesday last, after twelve o'clock, an insurrection suddenly took place in this Town, and immediately proceeded to his Majesty's Castle, attacked, overpowered, wounded and confined the Captain, and thence took away all the King's Powder. Yesterday numbers more assembled, and last night brought off many Cannons, &c., and about sixty Muskets. This day the Town is full armed men, who refuse to disperse, but appear determined to complete the dismantling the Fortress entirely. Hitherto the people abstain from private or personal injuries; how long they will be so prevailed on, it is impossible to say. I must sincerely lament the present distractions, which seem to have burst forth by means of a letter from William Cooper, to Samuel Cutts, delivered here on Tuesday last, P. M., by Paul Revere. I have not time to add further on this melancholy subject.

P. S. The populace threaten to abuse Colonel Fenton, because he has to them declared the folly of their conduct, and that he will do his duty as a Justice in executing the laws, They will never prevail on him to retract, if all the men in the Province attack him. If I had two hundred such men, the Castle and all therein would yet have been safe. At this moment the heavy Cannon are not carried off, but how soon they may be, I cannot say.

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN IN NEW-YORK.

We have been in confusion here for two days, on account of an express from Boston, informing that two