above branches of business; but they flatter themselves that the other Counties in this Province, stimulated by the same laudable motives to promote industry, one of the primary sources of virtue and wealth, may join them, in order that the above branches of Manufacture may be effectually carried into execution; in which case, it is hoped the Committees of such Counties as are desirous to contribute, will correspond with this Committee upon the subject, that the whole Premium offered may appear at once in the papers abroad, in which it is proposed to have it published.

The Committee likewise offer a Premium of Ten Pounds, Proclamation Money, to be paid by their Chairman, to any person who shall, within twelve months from this date, first produce one hundred yards of well fulled Woollen Cloth to the Committee, spun and wove in this County, and fulled in any County within the District of the Superiour Court of Edenton; and a Premium of Ten Pounds, like money, to be paid by the Chairman, to the person who shall, within twelve months from this date, first produce to the Committee one hundred yards of well bleached Linen, such as usually costs Two Shillings Sterling in Great Britain; and the sum of Five Pounds, like money, to any person who shall produce one hundred yards of Linen, next in quality, not of less value than what usually costs One Shilling and Eight Pence Sterling, in Great Britain; and both kinds of Linen to be manufactured in this County; and the quality of them to be submitted to the judgment of the Committee.

Signed by order of the Committee,

SAMUEL JONES, Clerk.

Durham, New-Hampshire, March, 4, 1775.

MR. FOWLE: Whereas, some evil-minded and malicious persons have asserted that a number of people in the Town of Durham are about forming themselves into a Company, in order to throw off all obedience to the Militia Officers, and set at defiance the Laws of Government: I desire you to publish the Articles of Inlistment in your next paper, that the publick may judge how little foundation there is for so scandalous a report. The Articles are as follows:

“We, the Subscribers, do hereby agree to form ourselves into a Company, and meet at Durham Falls, on every Monday afternoon, for six months next coming, to acquaint ourselves with the Military Art, and instruct each other in the various manœuvres and evolutions which are necessary for Infantry in time of battle. We also agree to appear each time well furnished with Arms and Ammunition: And at our first meeting, to nominate and appoint the several Officers, who are to preside over us for the first month, and then proceed to appoint others for the next month, always avoiding to re-elect any that have served, until all the others have gone through their tour of duty, as Officers: And at any muster or field-day, we shall hold ourselves obliged to incorporate with the respective Companies to which we belong, and yield all due obedience to the proper Officers of the Militia, appointed by the Captain General; and endeavour to instruct those who are undisciplined in the best manner we are able.”

Signed by eighty-two reputable inhabitants.

This is an exact copy of the Articles, which any person that yet remains in doubt may be satisfied of by applying to me and viewing the original, a sight of which may, at any time, be had; and was there nothing more illegal and injurious in a late paper, signed by several persons in this Province, I believe the signers would not take so much pains in keeping it from the publick view. But whatever may be the purport of that, I rejoice in laying the contents of this before the people, that they may judge whether it has the least appearance of an illegal combination, or whether, on the contrary, it does not appear to be a well concerted plan to promote and encourage the Military Art. I flatter myself that even malice itself could not adjudge this to be an unjustifiable measure, or suggest that any part of it looks like treason or rebellion; and I can account for the scandalous report concerning it, in no other way, but by supposing that these defamers expected (according to the custom of this day) to be rewarded for their slander by some posts of honour or profit.

Sir, I am your very humble servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

ON MR. SULLIVAN’S LETTER, OF MARCH 4, 1775.

MR. FOWLE: In a publication in your last paper, under the signature of Mr. Sullivan, we have been favoured with a copy of an Engagement entered into by a number of people to meet at Durham Falls, once a week, for the space of six months to come, in order to acquire Military skill, under Officers to be appointed by themselves, monthly.

As this is a matter of publick concern, I shall beg permission, Mr. Printer, through the channel of your paper, to lay some animadversions before the publick upon it, which, I think, it would be unpardonable to neglect.

In the first place, the appointment of all Military Officers, whether for a day, a week, or a month, is the sole right of the King, or of those deriving authority from him, and (to treat the matter in the most moderate terms) it is a very improper step for any body of men to assume that power to themselves, upon any occasion or pretence whatsoever.

The Laws of the Province require the Militia to be drawn forth, to learn the Military exercise, four times a year, and no more. Mr. Sullivan may, probably, tell us that this new-modeled Company does not come under this limitation; yet I presume he will not deny but that the meeting of any part of the Militia—and these people declare themselves to belong to it—any otherwise than the law directs, is, at least, an evasion, if not a direct violation of the law, both which ought to be equally avoided.

The Town of Durham, by having eighty-two of its inhabitants employed one day in a week, (for we cannot suppose they will mind any other business on those days,) for six months, in Military exercises, instead of their husbandry, will sustain a damage of Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven Pounds, lawful money, computing the loss of their labour only at half a dollar a day, for each person. Supposing, now, that all the men in the Province, fit to bear arms, which may be reasonably calculated at fourteen thousand, should catch this Military ardour, as most infections are catching; and according to the tendency of this plan, follow the example of Durham, it would, after Durham fashion, occasion a damage of Fifty-Four Thousand Pounds, lawful money, to the Province. A pretty tax, truly, for a new Country! Whatever reason Mr. Sullivan may have to rejoice in thus leading on the people to their own damage, I am sure the Province would have abundant reason not to rejoice in his rejoicing, but to regret their own folly; and it is well known that many are, at this day, in the like predicament on account of some past transactions amongst us. I hope, therefore, the people will judge for themselves, and avoid incurring a damage to the Province, which, no doubt, the Legislature had in contemplation to prevent, by limiting the times of training the Militia to four days in a year.

Moreover, this extraordinary spirit to acquire the use of Arms, at a juncture when the noise of civil discord begins to roar in our neighbourhood, marks strongly a disposition to employ our Arms against the power and authority we ought to support and defend; every appearance of which should be avoided with the utmost caution and circumspection.

As I wish not, Mr. Printer, to trespass too much on your indulgence, I shall, for the present, only take notice that, though Sullivan plainly discovers the Durham plan to be a child of his own; yet I still hope he will, upon reflection, have candour enough to acknowledge the deformities of his baby, and take it in good part in me, to advise him to abandon the system he hath for some time past been engaged in; a system manifestly tending to bring calamity and distress upon the good people of this once happy Province.

MONITOR.

MR. SULLIVAN’S REPLY TO “MONITOR.”

MR. PRINTER: In your paper of the 17th instant, I observed a piece, signed by a person who calls himself Monitor, full of ill-natured reflections upon an Agreement entered into by a number of persons in Durham, to assemble once a week, for the space of six months, to instruct each other in the Military Art. The feeble attempts of this scurrilous writer to display his wit in the former and latter part of his nonsensical piece, can deserve nothing but contempt and ridicule.