half of the freeholders of Dutchess County, after deducting those that voted for Delegates in Poughkeepsie and Charlotte Precincts, although he so confidently asserts that they contain three-fourths. But that the publick may no longer be deceived by more presentations of the state of that County, I am willing to put it upon this issue: the County of Dutchess contains eighteen hundred freeholders; if the author of the Protest will publish a list of six hundred freeholders that are opposed to the election of Delegates, or will sign his Protest, I undertake to show double the number who approve of their appointment.

A FREEHOLDER OF DUTCHESS COUNTY.

N. B. No person will be considered as a freeholder, whose Precinct is not annexed to his name, as that is the only way to guard against misrepresentations

New-York, May 15, 1775

Mr. GAINE: As in this season of publick distress, every altercation that may tend to promote divisions and animosities, ought carefully to be avoided; and as a coalition of parties in the County of Dutchess will probably very soon take place, and a proper union between its inhabitants established, no reply, for the above reasons, will be sent you in answer to the observations in one of your last. Papers; on the Protest from that County; instead of which, as it may be somewhat satisfactory, you may assure the publick that the numerous body of freeholders and inhabitants who have heretofore been averse to the nomination of Committees, opposed solely from a virtuous principle of promoting thereby the real interests of their Country. They conceived, and had good reasons to believe, that as the mode of application for redress of grievances adopted by their Assembly was the only constitutional one, it would most probably be attended with the desired effect; and that no motives unfriendly to the liberties of their Country ever influenced any part of their conduct, when opposed to Committees.

COMMITTEE OF MONTREAL TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Montreal, April 8, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We have received your letter of the 21st of February, by Mr. Brown, and see clearly the great injustice that has been done you. We deeply feel the sorrow and afflictions of our suffering brethren, and sincerely wish it was in our power to afford you effectual relief; but alas, we are more the object of pity and compassion than yourselves, who are now suffering under the heavy hand of power, deprived as we are of the common rights of the miserable, to complain. You have numbers, strength, and a common cause to support you in your opposition. We are still more divided here by our interests than by our religion, language, and manners; and the apprehensions of evils to come upon us in a short time from the unlimited power of the Governour, strikes all opposition dead. Indeed few in this Colony dare vent their griefs, but groan in silence, and dream of letters de cachet, confiscations, and imprisonment, offering up their fervent prayers to the throne of grace to prosper your righteous cause, which alone will free us from those jealous fears and apprehensions that rob us of our peace. In a word, we are the British inhabitants of this widely extended Province, united in their sentiments. We have neither numbers nor wealth sufficient to do you any essential service. We must, therefore, cast ourselves into the arms of our sister Colonies, relying upon the wisdom, vigour, and firmness of the General Continental Congress for our protection, and hoping they will entertain no animosity or resentment against us because we cannot join them in the ensuing General Congress, which, were we to attempt, the Canadians would join the Government to frustrate. You will please to bear in mind, that not only those who hold the helm, of Government, but also all those who make wealth or ambition the chief object of their pursuit, are professedly your enemies, and would be glad to reduce you to the same abject state with themselves. Nevertheless, the bulk of the, people, both English and Canadians, are of quite contrary sentiments, and wish well to your cause, but dare not stir a finger to help you, being of no more: estimation in the political machine than the sailors are in shaping the course, or working the ship in which they sail. They may mutter and swear, but must obey. However, should Government handle them too roughly, and arbitrarily attempt to force them upon dangerous and disagreeable service, to which they have already shown an irreconcilable aversion, they may, perhaps, dearly repent it.

The case is quite different with their noblesse, or gentry. The pre-eminence given to their religion, together with a participation of honours and offices, in common with the English, not only flatters their natural pride and vanity, but is regarded by them as a mark of distinction and merit that lays open their way to fortune; of liberty or law, they have not the least notion.

As to the savages that dwell round about us, doubtless there are some to be found among them, who, for the sake of plunder, would murder, burn, and destroy; but we conceive that their Chiefs know their own interests better than to interfere as a Nation in this family quarrel; for let winch side will prevail, they are sure, in that case, to be the victims.

We desire to know whether English Delegates would be accepted under the above-named limitations, namely: without entering into the General Association for the nonimportation, of goods from Great Britain, or the non-exportation of the produce of this Colony, and the India Countries above; and beg to be informed in what manner we can be serviceable to your cause, without bringing down ruin upon our own heads. It may not be amiss just to hint that the idea the Canadians seem to have of this. Colony at present, is, that it is to be a French Government, holding under “the Crown” of Great Britain, from which they mean to exclude every Englishman, save the Governour and Lieutenant Governour.

We heartily wish our abilities to serve you were equal to our wills, and pray Heaven to prosper your generous purpose; and are, with the utmost consideration and feeling for your distresses, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servants and fellow-sufferers.

P. S. It is our earnest request that this, letter may not be published, for fear of bad consequences to the subscribers.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM LONDON TO A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK, DATED

London, April 10, 1775

The quality at the court-end despise the poor and industrious, arid are obliged now to inform the mob that their brethren in America are to be slaughtered by the large Fleet and Army now ready to sail against them. The people are kept in total ignorance of publick affairs, and the wisdom of our Senators is to deceive those they are chose to protect. There are to be two thousand pounds added to the King’s salary, with a present, to pay his household debts of some thousands. When the budget opens, fine Work how this money will be raised, and each common shop pay ten pounds, or fifteen pounds sterling tax. Every thing is taxed but the publick places of diversion; and they are so filled with people, so numerous, and cause so large a circulation of cash, that they are the only blessing the people think are left them; for they make the rich spend their money, and the sharpers get it. All this is the wise people who are to have the collecting of your taxes, and to support this mode are the mighty preparations of war. Oh, God! who beholds the inhabitants of the earth, and hears the cries of the poor; who understands judgment, and rules in right-leousness, look on America, and keep the land from being polluted with the sins of the Mother Country. Oh, if I dare write what I wish you all to do—what you can do and what Providence seems to intend you shall do!

If you submit, all will be forever lost; a curse on your names, and your estates confiscated by those bills of attainder that are ready to pass against you. Tis impossible to describe the ruin that is studied; the load of taxes; the number of placemen to be saddled on you. The land is to be confiscated, and the King an arbitrary Monarch. He is determined to be arbitrary, and consults no one who will not encourage his universal away. He lives retired; only three times a week goes to the publick diversions, pantheon,