White Plains? They must be conscious to themselves that they have spread abroad a falsehood, and they are hereby called upon, if they dare, to set their names to those assertions.

In what manner those gentlemen, who chose the Committee at the Plains, proceeded, we cannot positively say; but this we can declare with truth, that we do not believe they can produce to the publick the names of a hundred and fifty persons who voted for a Committee that day, and we are verity persuaded that they did their utmost to make their party as numerous as possible. How then can they justify their choice of a Committee? Or how can they presume to impose upon the world, and to insult the loyal County of Westcheste in so barefaced a manner?

It is well known here, that two-thirds at least of the inhabitants of this County are friends to order and Government, and opposed to Committees and all unlawful combinations; and it will be made apparent to the world that they are so, as soon as certain Resolves, now signing freely by the people, shall be ready for publication. And one principal reason why the friends to Government did not assemble in greater numbers than they did, on Tuesday last, was, that many of them had already, by signing those Resolves, testified their loyalty to the King, their attachment to the Constitution; their enmity to Committees, and their acquiescence in the prudent measures taken by the Assembly in the late session, for accommodating the unhappy difference between the Mother Country and the Colonies, and consequently thought they had done their duty.

The Committee that was chosen may, with some kind of propriety, be, said to represent those particular persons who chose them; but how they can be denominated the Representatives of the County of Westchester, who, in general, abhor Committees and Committee-men, and are determined to take no steps that may lead them into rebellion, we cannot conceive. Certainly the friends to Government, who were collected at Captain Hat field’s, had a better right, from their number, to determine that there should be no Committee, than the opposite party had to appoint one; and might, with much greater propriety, be said to shew the sense of the County than the few who acted without authority, and in direct opposition to Government and to the determinations of our worthy Assembly; and we doubt not but the impartial publick will consider the matter in this light, and not esteem the act of a few individuals, unlawfully assembled, as the act (which it most assuredly is not) of the very respectable, populous, and loyal County of Westchester

TO THE PUBLICK.

Morrisiana, May 7, 1775.

A very extraordinary paper, called a Protest against the proceedings of the Freeholders of the County of Westchester, relative to the election of Deputies for the late Convention, and said to have been subscribed by the several persons whose names are printed with it, was published in Mr. Rivington and Gaine’s Gazette a few weeks ago.

By whom this performance was given to the publick is uncertain; and being as little distinguished by decency as by truth, there is reason to suspect the author’s name will remain a secret.

The falsities contained in this representation are too flagrant to impose upon any person in this Colony; and nothing but the apprehension of its gaining credit in other parts of the world would have induced me to have made it the subject of animadversion,

I shall pass over the many little embellishments with which the author’s fancy has endeavoured to decorate his narrative; nor is it necessary to call in question the reality of that loyal enthusiasm by which it is said those good people were influenced; and I really wish that had been the fact, because when inconsistencies and fooleries result from inebriety or enthusiasm, they merit our pity, and escape indignation and resentment.

Much pains, I confess, were on that day taken to make temporary enthusiasts, and with other more exhilarating spirit than the spirit of loyalty.

To give the appearance of dignity to these curious and very orderly protesters, the author has been very mindful to annex every man’s addition to his name, upon presumption, perhaps, that it would derive weight from the title of Mayor, Esquire, Captain, Lieutenant, Judge, &c.

But it is not easy to conceive why the publisher should be less civil to the clergy, than to the gentry and commonalty. Samuel Seabury and Luke Babcock, certainly ought not to have been sent into the world floating on a newspaper in that plain way; the one is the “Reveren Mr. Samuel Seabury, Rector of the united parishes of East and Westchester, and one of the missionaries for propagating the Gospel (and not politicks) in foreign parts,” &c., &c. The other is the “Reverend Mr. Luke Babcock who preaches and prays for. Mr. Philipse and his tenants, at Philipseburgh.”

In this formidable catalogue of three hundred and twelve sober and loyal protesters, there are not less than one hundred and seventy, who, after the most diligent inquiry, I cannot find have the least pretensions to a vote; and indeed many of them are lads under age.

Their names are as follows:—

Samuel Seabury, Luke Babcock, Benj. Fowler, Esq. Joshua Pell, Edward Pell, John Hunt, Gilbert Horton, Adrian Liforge, Moses Williams, Philip Kelly, James Hains, Jun., Matthew Hains, Bartholomew Hains, John Hains, Elijah Hains, Joseph Clark, Joseph Oakly, James Mott, Daniel Purdy, John Crab, Izrahiah Whetmore, Absalom Gidney, John Brown, Jasper Stivers, Peter Me Farthing, Joshua Purdy, Jun., Hacaliah Purdy, Jun., James Tomkins, Gilbert Theal, William Sexen, Thomas Champeniers, John Cliampeniers, Eleazor Hart, James Hunt, Joseph Parker, Joshua Barns, John Park, Samuel Purdy, Gilbert Purdy, James Chatterton, Tliomas Cromwell, Solomon Horton, Nath Underbill, Jun., Philip Fowler, John McFarthing, Jacob Post, James Baxter, John Hart, Cornelius Losee, Jesse Park, Roger Purdy, Jun., Gilbert Pugsley, Abraham Ledeau, Benjamin Brown, Aaron Buis, John Baizley, David Qakley, Jun.,

Isaac Smith, John Hyatt, Abraham Odell, Thomas Lawrence, John Seyson, Isaac Forsheu, Gabriel Requeaw, Gabriel Archer, Elias Secord, James Peirce, Edward Bugbe, Daniel Haight, John Hunt, Jun., Abraham Losec, Isaac Tomkins, Joseph Paulding, Henricus Storm, Francis Secord, John Parker, Gilbert Bates, David Purdy, David Bleeker, Jordon Downing, Corn. Van Tassell, Joseph Appleby, Patrick Cary, Gilbert Ward, William Dunlap, Joshua Ferris, Timothy Purdy, James McQuire, James Regnaw, Samuel Purdy, Sylvanus Purdy, William Dalton, Elijah Tomkins, Charles Lawrence, Joseph Purdy, Jun., James Sniffin, Jun., Peter Bonet, Peter Fashee, Jesse Lawrence, William Sniden Solomon Dean, Thomas Hyatt, William Woodward, John Whitmore, William Underhill, Nehemiah Tomkins, Henry Lcforge, Evert Brown, Benjamin Beyea, John Loco, Elnathan Appleby, John Baker, Jonathan Underhill, James McChain,

Joshua Hunt, Betts Chatterdon, William Landrim, Dennis Kennedy, James Hains, Andrew Bainton, Nathaniel Tomkins, Caleb Archer, Benjamin Bugbe; Francis Purdy, William Odell, Israel Hunt, Thomas Tomkins, Frederick Underhill, Peter Post, Benjamin McCord, John Williams, John Ackeman, Peter Rusting, Jeremiah Hunter, Abraham Storm, Peter Jenning, John Gale, John Smith, James Hart, Jun., Jonathan, Purdy, Jr., Monmouth Hart, Jr., Christopher Purdy, Gabriel Purdy, Edward Merritt, Jr., Henry Disborongh, William Van Wart, Abraham Storm, Thomas Berry, Charles Merritt, Benjamin Griffin, James Angerine, Jere. Anderson, Jr., William Barker, Gideon Arden, Jr., Joseph Purdy, George Storm Jacob Vermiller, Samuel Huested, John. Warner, John Storm, Joshua Secord, John Underhill, Wm. Underhill, Jr., James Hill, William Watkins, Richard Baker, Bishop Hustiee, Jeramian Hitchcook, William Bond, Samuel Sniden.

Of the others who are Freeholders, many also hold lands at will of Colonel Philipse; so that the truth really is, that very few independent Freeholders objected to the appointment of Deputies.

LEWIS MORRIS.

FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS GAZETTE.

Boston, April 13, 1775.

My worthy Friends and Fellow-Countrymen:

The charms of power are very intoxicating and bewitching. Mankind are naturally inclined to usurp authority over their fellow-men, whenever an opportunity presents; and it may be generally observed, that when their right to it is most questionable, their exercise of it is most wanton and unreasonable. This may be easily accounted for, as they fear its duration will be but short, and therefore are disposed to leaver testimonial of their having enjoyed it. In no instance do we see this truth more strongly verified,