COLONEL ADAM STEPHEN TO R. H. LEE.

February 1, 1775.

MY DEAR COLONEL: A grateful remembrance of old friendship will, I hope, apologize for my troubling you so often without hearing the least whisper from you, since I came from the Shawanese expedition.

The important session of Assembly, big with matters of great moment, is now at hand. I wish that a firm and dispassionate conduct may shine through the whole, and all our passions may be soothed by agreeable accounts from the new Parliament. I must acknowledge my dread to hear from them. Several sensible men, lately from England, inform us the people there seem but little affected with our dispute; and that they, without thought or consideration, declare that America ought to be taxed.

In these troublesome times it is absolutely necessary that you pay the men employed in the late expedition; they have done honour to our country. The Indians are daily delivering up prisoners and horses, and do really stand in awe of us. Unless the men are paid off directly, their certificates will be sold for a fourth part of their value to Pedlars and Storekeepers, and the brave men who did the service, be nothing the better of their pay. Appoint Commissioners from below to settle the accounts; let no interested persons, or their connections, be concerned in the affair; send the Squire up again, Tom Marshall, and Frank Peyton, and as many more as you think proper. By this means the people will have justice done them, and, at the same time, many thousands will be saved to the country. The House must settle what pay they are to get per day, and from what time they are to be paid, as they were raised and detained some considerable time for want of Arms and Ammunition; this time was employed in disciplining them for the service; but, without the consideration and sanction of the House, the Commissioners may think it matter of altercation. With the greatest economy matters on this quarter were managed; but the expense of Fort Pitt must be kept apart by itself, as I am afraid the reverse of economy will appear there; it has no connection with the rest of the campaign. I would have you discharge that Garrison immediately; but, then, I desire you may keep my opinion to yourself. In renewing the Militia Law, let there be one hundred well appointed horse disciplined in every County; to be superiour in horse, commands the field, and no enemy can safely show himself out of sight of their camp; we are immediately apprised of the strength of their escorts, and of every motion they make, and can act accordingly. At the Courts Martial, let a majority present determine any matter; and during an attack, or in battle, let the men be subject to the Articles of War, with what alteration the House thinks proper. Until the men who want Fire-Arms can be provided, let them be furnished with Spears and Tomahawks; the iron of the Spear to be made in shape of a triangular bayonet, only broader at the shoulder, to go on the staff with a large socket, and thin plates of iron reaching up the staff about two, feet to stiffen it, and guard it against any cutting instrument, the plates being part of the socket; the Spear of the men in front to be six inches larger than the Musket with fixed bayonet; those of the second rank eighteen inches Longer than the Spears in front; and those in the third rank eighteen inches longer than the second, that three Spears may reach the breast of the enemy at once, before our men could be touched with the first Bayonet.

This moment I am informed that the Assembly is prorogued till May,—confusion worse confounded; I wish, for the encouragement of the Soldiers, that you would meet, in Provincial Congress, and order an emission of Bills of Credit for their payment. I am sorry that, Lord Dunmore may depend on it, the Militia will never obey his orders again. If the country has a mind to secure useful men, it is absolutely necessary to contrive some method to pay the common men, if the Officers and Provisions should lie over; let us be firm, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. A handfull of men in Canada, six broken Regiments from France, withstood, for five years, all the force of British Fleets and Armies from home, and fifteen or twenty thousand American, every campaign. They gained several victories over us, and chance had a great hand in their reduction at last. What can we do, if united? We only want a Navy to give law to the world, and we have it it in our power to get it. I am, dear sir, firmly yours,

ADAM STEPHEN.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN BOSTON TO HIS FRIEND IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED FEBRUARY 1, 1775.

The day appointed by the Provincial Congress for a Publick Thanksgiving, a number of persons in this Town showed their disapprobation thereto, by opening their Shops as usual, for which they were treated in an uncivil manner, and those persons were said to be Quakers. I therefore think it my duty, as an honest, impartial, and most unbiassed member of this community, and one who wishes nothing more ardently than a true, fair, and candid representation of facts might appear, to assure thee, and I can of my own certain knowledge assure thee, that it is a most malicious and injurious falsehood, and no doubt propagated by the base enemies of our invaluable constitutional rights and privileges, for the most vile and malevolent purposes; for I do well know, that the Friends in this Town did not open their Shops on said Thanksgiving Day; nor have I heard the least unfriendly or uncivil expression uttered by any of the inhabitants of this Town against them, as a people, for many years; but, on the contrary, I do most certainly know, that they are always, and on all occasions, treated with full as much (and I think more) Catholick tenderness, friendly and neighbourly kindness and affection, than persons of any other sect or denomination amongst us.

Ridgefield, Connecticut, February 2, 1775.

Whereas, in a Meeting of the Town of Ridgefield, held on the 30th of January last, the question was put, whether the Town would adopt and conform to the Resolves contained in the Association of the Continental Congress, or not; which question was resolved in the negative. We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the society of Ridgbury, within the said Town, do hereby declare, that we were not on the negative side of the above question, and are very sorry that the Town did not adopt the abovesaid Association, as we think it of importance to the cause of American freedom that it should be faithfully observed, and do accordingly purpose to observe it ourselves, as far as we can, under our present circumstances, and stand ready to concur with the Town, if a majority could be obtained for that purpose in appointing a Committee of Observation.

A considerable number of other subscribers to the above paper are expected to be sent in.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM LONDON TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1775,

I am writing to as many of my friends as I can by this opportunity, as I do not know how soon the communication may be cut off by hostilities, to which, as I apprehend, we are hastening very fast; for our Ministry seem determined to risk their own heads, and the interest of the Nation, in pursuit of their infamous measures.

Your kind remembrance of November 4, seems to breathe that true spirit of liberty which I hope will be universal in America, and will be your only means of escape from the slavery that is preparing for you. As to us, we are lost to all the noble purposes of life, and have not virtue enough to save ourselves, much less to assist you; the immense power of the Crown in the disposition of the publick money, carries every thing before it like a torrent; and while that continues, the two Houses of Parliament are of no security to the people; they both speak the language of the Court, and they have been so long used to it, that they can speak no other.

You have many enemies in this Kingdom, and though they differ in their reasons for being so, yet they unite in the