it is feared will neither increase their population, nor the Trade or Revenue of Britain.

Your Majesty cannot be supposed to dissemble with or mock your people in a matter which so nearly concerns them. We must, therefore, necessarily believe, on the faith of royalty, that these measures have originated from Parliament, acting as the great Council of the Nation, and that they have been planned with no other view than to “support the constitutional rights, and protect the commercial interests of Great Britain.” This is a solemn declaration, made before God and the publick; and it would ill become your subjects to entertain a doubt of that sincerity in which your Majesty has been early trained, and of which your auspicious reign has afforded so many great and singular instances.

I could wish, however, (that no opening might be left for invidious censure,) the Ministerial authors of your Majesty’s speeches would endeavour, for the future, not only to think in character themselves, on the small scale of knavish craft, but that they would enable their Royal master, when he addresses the publick, to speak in character also.

Conscious of their own evil principles and designs, they put words into the Royal mouth which would only have become their own. Thus your Majesty is made to address your Capital in a low and familiar style, utterly beneath your dignity as a great King, and your nice feelings as an honest man. My Lord North might be “astonished (speaking in character, as a hollow, hypocritical, sneering Minister) that any of your subjects could be capable of countenancing a rebellious disposition, unfortunately existing in some of the Colonies,” as such tyrannical and vindictive persons are not ashamed to make actual war upon a disposition; but a King of Great Britain, conscious of his own dignity, and speaking with the majesty of truth, as well as royalty, in answer to so heavy a charge, would have expressed his astonishment at the daring presumption of the Petitioners in countenancing rebellion, not at their being “capable of countenancing a rebellious disposition only.” Which is little better than if your Majesty had said, “my good friends, I am very sorry you should be so unkind as to encourage a set of people whom I am obliged to treat as rebels, although I cannot call them such at present; but in all probability, by the blessing of God on my Fleets and Armies, they will deserve that appellation very soon.”

In the mean time, as your Majesty’s confidence in your Parliament is almost as great as the people’s distrust and detestation of them, there can be no doubt but by pursuing the salutary measures they recommend, your Government will become as respectable, though not so gentle and condescending, as your speeches.

Your Majesty will pardon the well meant simplicity of a true subject, although a plain dealer.

REGULUS.

GENERAL GAGE TO GOVERNOUR MARTIN, OF NORTH-CAROLINA.

Boston, April 12, 1775.

SIR: Your letter of the l6th of March, I have had the pleasure to receive, and am glad to hear that many of the people in your Province are beginning to find they have been misled, and that they seem inclined to disengage themselves from the arbitrary power of the Continental Congress, and of their Committees. I wish I could say as much for the people of this Province, who are more cool than they were, but their leaders, by their arts and artifices, still keep up that seditious and licentious spirit, that has led them on all occasions to oppose Government, and even to acts of rebellion. The late accounts from England have embarrassed their councils much. They have applied to the New-England Governments, and doubtless will to those at the Southward, to assist them, but I hope the madness of the latter is wearing off, and that they will get no encouragement from thence.

This Province has some time been, and now is, in the new-fangled Legislature, termed a Provincial Congress, who seem to have taken the Government into their hands. What they intend to do I cannot pretend to say, but they are much puzzled how to act. Fear in some, and a want of inclination in others, will be a great bar to their coming to extremities, though their leaders use every measure to bring them into the field. I have the honour to be, &c.

THOMAS GAGE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE AT FALMOUTH TO SAMUEL FREEMAN, DATED APRIL 12, 1775.

Last night we had a letter from the Committee at Boston, wherein they say they should be extremely uneasy to find any omission of duty “in behalf of this Province and the other Colonies, as the eyes of the whole Continent are upon us. The tools of power wish for an opportunity to charge us with negligence, and are watching for it, to make a division between this Province and the other Colonies. We, therefore, again recommend to you, as our firm opinion, that you conform strictly and religiously to the Association of the Continental Congress in every respect, without favour or affection to any person whatever. We are of opinion, to suspend the publication of your Resolves respecting Captain Coulson, till we hear from you whether he has complied with the request of the Committee, conformable to the Resolution of the Continental Congress.” Coulson no sooner arrived, but the next day had the Canso Man-of-War up to Town, and his old Bristol Sloop alongside of his new Ship, taking out the goods. But it seems he cannot get any of our people to help him; and I do not think he will be able to get his Ship loaded and rigged, unless he gets the Man-of-War’s men to do it. And I hear that Captain Mowat has been pressing men; some he releases, and some retains; and it is suggested by some, that his design is to supply Captain Coulson with men from his own Ship. We shall do all we can to prevent any other person from breaking the Association. I do not think it will be amiss for you to acquaint some of the Committee of Inspection in Boston of Captain Coulson’s conduct, with which the People in general, in Town and Country, are very much dissatisfied.

We rejoice in your zeal and firmness in so trying a time as this, and we pray God to support you in so good a cause as the preservation of our liberties, civil and religious.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN ENGLAND TO HIS CORRESPONDENT IN VIRGINIA.

The sword is drawn here, and the scabbard thrown away. What are you to do? Submission and slavery are the same. The question then can only be, how shall we best resist the chains prepared for us?

Let Virginia, Maryland, and South-Carolina declare their resolution to stand by the Massachusetts; let the non-import be commenced as soon as possible. Were it not for the import of American Grain, this Country would this moment be in famine and insurrection. Be vigilant in keeping the Non-Import and Export Resolutions unviolated in the smallest degree. Select the best of the Militia, train and arm them well, and familiarize them to the right of resistance and the necessity of exerting it; cultivate the frontier Militia and their leaders. Much will depend on them. It is determined to put you to the trial; and every thing that is dear to us depends on your firmness. Remember that night is the time when the discipline of the Regulars is least availing, and their artillery useless. One year’s firm observation of your Resolutions must reduce the Ministry to the necessity of capitulating. This Country cannot bear one year’s interruption of her Commerce. It is impossible. A protractive war on your part must enfeeble her Army, which cannot be recruited but at a vast expense of time and money. The interruption of commerce brings, in a year’s time, half our Merchants and Manufacturers to beggary, loads her landed interest with additional publick taxes and poor’s rates, so as to shake every part of the community to its foundation. Nothing but a miracle can support them under such an accumulation, of calamities. Let it be your study, therefore, to promote a frugality and industry in providing against the consequences of the interruption to you, so as to prevent popular disorders, and keep the people firm. You have the game in your own bands; a little patience, a little endurance, and your victory is sure. If you conquer in this contest, you will be the freest, the