most prosperous and respected people in the world; if you submit, the most inexorable yoke that ever galled the neck of any Nation will be your lot. The threats thrown out here against you are fit only for savages. It is impossible to conceive with what approbation the House of Commons heard a Colonel Grant, the same who commanded the expedition with Colonel Lewis to Fort Du Quesne, declare, that he had always treated the Americans as beasts of burden, and that they deserved no better usage, being fit for nothing else. American fraud, American rapine, American cowardice, and American insolence, are the perpetual topicks of ministerial declamation. When America is the question, every idea of justice or mercy seems to be extinguished. Your own experience of seven years’ ineffectual supplicatlon will show that their professions of readiness to hear and redress grievances is a mere mockery.

The very existence of liberty on the face of this earth; the precious possession of it to you and your posterity from generation to generation; the avoiding the most cruel bondage and thraldom that ever ground the faces of a miserable people, all depend upon a year or two’s exertion of virtue, fortitude, and forbearance in America. How infinite the purchase, and how cheap! Orders are certainly sent to seize particular persons. Reprisals will surely be made; but remember it is a state of war, and therefore be guarded. It is not the way to conquer the lion to run into his mouth.

I have the greatest inclination to come over. And yet I think I can be more serviceable, here; nor do I imagine myself in less danger. On the contrary, I am Certain of the intention of destroying certain American advocates here, when the temper of the times render it safe.

Adieu.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, April 13, 1775.

By the last prints from England, we find that the proceedings of the General Congress have had a strange effect upon the minds of the people in that quarter. Some esteem, and applaud them as a production, of a most masterly nature; whilst others, swayed by the influence of the ministerial party, and their votaries, declare them not even worthy of notice; that the sentiments contained therein spring merely from a distempered imagination, and that they are naught but the effusions of wild, intolerable enthusiasm. But our wonder, on this account, must immediately cease when we consider that America is not yet without her enemies, who now reside within her territories; enemies who, notwithstanding they are wholly and entirely dependant upon her for subsistence, that would pleasingly aid, if we may judge from their conduct, in showering every misery upon this unhappy Country.

In the last English paper that we have received are the following paragraphs from some of those pious and deserving advocates (who unfortunately reside in Boston) for the meek and gentle measures of Administration; they are termed authentick, and are addressed to persons of great consequence in England:

“The residence of the General Congress at Philadelphia has entirely debauched the minds of the people of that place, who were heretofore the last to make objection to any measure, of Government, but are now as violent as any other of the Colonies. I am informed by a gentleman in whom I can confide, that every resolution of the Congress Will be strictly adhered to. No place on the Continent has shown so great an inclination to disobey the dictates of the General Congress as New-York.

“The Provincial Congress thought it prudent to decamp soon after the arrival of the Scarborough and Asia, and are removed to Worcester from Cambridge. The proceedings have been kept so close that nothing has transpired but what they have put in the papers themselves.

“Associations are forming in several Towns in the country by the well-thinking and better sort of people for their. defence who have been till now obliged to do just as the rabble dictated, very contrary to their own sentiments.

“Our good. General has his hands full; you are not unacquainted with, the people he has to deal with. If they are suffered to go on, adieu to all happiness in this Country; but surely the lion will be roused at last. Notwithstanding their boasted numbers, a determined frown even will make them tremble.”

COMMITTEE OF YORK-TOWN, YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, TO JOHN HANCOCK. AND THOMAS CUSHING.

York-Town, April l3, 1775.

HONOURED FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN: Sorry are we to hear that the hand of oppression still bears hard on your City, and that the distresses of your poor are not yet alleviated. If your misfortunes and sufferings, could be divided, the inhabitants of this County would cheerfully bear a part. This, it seems, cannot be done; your destined Town must stand the shock alone. We want words to express the high sense we have of your conduct and virtue; few men in the world would have opposed despotism, and stood the torrent of ministerial, vengeance with so much steadiness, intrepidity, and resolution, as the inhabitants of your Town and Country have done. You have true notions of liberty. You have purchased it. You ought to enjoy it, The noble stand made by the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, if faithfully adhered to, has laid the foundation for establishing American liberty on the most firm basis. The other Colonies will be equally gainers by a favourable determination of the contest, and will not desert you in the time of danger; they will doubtless grant you the most effectual assistance.

This County, upon the earliest intelligence of your distress, forwarded subscriptions for the poor of Boston. Grain was generally subscribed; we expected to have sent it last fall, but could not collect it at any seaport before the winter season came on, so that the shipping of it was postponed till the spring. Upon the meeting of the Committee of this County in February last, shortly after the receipt of the King’s Speech to the Parliament, it was thought that it would not be safe to send Grain. The Committee, therefore, determined to convert the Grain info cash, and remit the same in Specie or Bills of Exchange to you. Your poor have suffered much by this Resolution, as the price of Wheat is greatly fallen. The subscriptions of but a part of the County are yet come in. We send you the sum of £246 8s. 10d., to be remitted to you in Bills of Exchange or Specie, by Messrs. Jonathan B. Smith and John. Mitchell, Merchants of Philadelphia, which be pleased to distribute among our poor and unhappy countrymen in your Town, or in its neighbourhood, in such manner as you shall think proper. As there are a few disaffected people in this Province, we must trouble you to publish the receipt of the donations as is mentioned in the enclosed paper.* Your friends here are numerous, and most heartily interested themselves in your favour. As soon as the rest of the subscriptions in this County are paid, we shall cheerfully remit the same to you.

We wish you a speedy relief from all your sufferings, and are, gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your real friends and most obedient humble servants,

JAS. SMITH,Pres’t Com.

Committee of Correspondence of YORK County.

To John Hancock and Thomas Cushing, Esq’rs, Committee for receiving and distributing the Donations for the Poor of Boston.

* The Committee of Boston received the sum of £246 8s, 10., valued at the rate of Pennsylvania money, being donations from a part of the County of York, in the Province of Pennsylvania, to the Poor of Boston and its neighbourhood.; subscribed as follows.: