this short hint for the observation of the honest men among you. I need not attempt to expose the baseness or folly of the present men in office, for they take care to do it themselves.”

The foregoing were at first intended only to be communicated to the inhabitants of Massachusetts-Bay, &c. But on more consideration it was judged best to inform those of Connecticut also, leaving them to forward the accounts to Concord with the utmost despatch.

HENRY REMSEN, Deputy Chairman.

TO THE RESPECTABLE PUBLICK.

New-York, April 19, 1775.

When the character of a fellow-citizen is basely traduced, his injuries become a common cause, in defence of which, every virtuous member of society will be an advocate. The insignificance of some enemies, indeed, secures them from resentment; and while they confine their calumny within the sphere wherein they are known, contempt is the only proper return for their malice. But when they make a publick newspaper the vehicle of their scandal, a more formal defence becomes necessary.

In Mr. Holt’s paper of the 13th instant, are published the proceedings of a set of people, assembled at the Liberty Pole, on Thursday, the 6th instant, in which is contained a declaration, that “Messrs. William and Henry Ustick are inveterate foes to American freedom.” This, it seems, passed almost unanimously, upon the motion of a certain person, who is not named, to a Chairman, likewise not named. This concealment would entitle these little patriots to some credit for their modesty, if they had not known that the publication of their names would have defeated their malice; the gratification of which, it seems, they have preferred, to the pride of seeing themselves in print, They have, however, artfully engrafted in their proceedings, an advertisement, subscribed by the Chairman of the Committee, from which the inattentive reader would be led to conclude, that they were the proceedings of that body; which, however, was not the fact.

The peace and orderly state of the Town having given great offence to this little set of heroes, they made various efforts to rouse the citizens into action; and the Messrs. Usticks were to be the victims of their little rage. Several attempts to collect the Town together, failed; though on every such occasion, they resolved that their meetings had been very useful, and the glorious means of defeating the Tories.

It was reserved, however, for the meeting at the Liberty Pole to strike the important blow, and the actors were worthy of the farce, whose names shall be held up to the publick in some future paper.

Although the Ustick a confident that this City will never suffer the rule and government of it to be committed into such hands, and that they never will submit to the inquisition they would establish here, yet they are actuated by a very sincere desire of retaining the good opinion of every friend to liberty. They are bold to say, that the charge against them of their being foes to freedom, is false; and as they have not transgressed any of the laws of their Country, so neither have they violated any part of the Association of the Congress. Upon what principles then are they to be held up to the respectable publick, by these paltry sons of mischief, as enemies to their Country? Must they be deprived of the exercise of the trade, by which they earn their bread? Must they be precluded from the benefits of a manufactory which they have carried on under so many difficulties and discouragements, and which will be so extremely useful to the Country? Why was not a clamour raised when a certain person shipped such quantities of Flour to the Army ? For if they must be considered as enemies, surely the best way would be to starve them at once, and thereby prevent them most effectually from doing mischief. No, my fellow-citizens, this is but the pretended reason. The true motive is to make every trader, but the chosen few, odious to the people in the Country, and thereby to engross the whole custom to themselves. Upon this principle it is, that by stigmatizing a number of worthy friends of liberty with the name of Tories, these restless people have, so far deluded many Country traders, as to withdraw their custom from them, and even prevented boatmen from carrying up goods which have not got a clearance from them.

New-York, April 19, 1775.

Mr. RIVINGTON: Be pleased to insert the following in your Paper, and if any person conceives himself injured by any thing contained in it, the facts shall be publickly proved by the most unexceptionable evidence.

That the tranquillity of this City and Province has long given great umbrage to a set of folks among us, must have been evident from the frequent buzzings of these little harmless insects, who have at length made a feeble essay to sting as well as make a noise. Sensible that in a calm they must grovel in the dirt, they have tried to raise a storm, by which they hope to be elevated into notice.

On Wednesday, the 5th instant, the Committee of Inspection published an advertisement, in which they declare, with respect to Nails, “That though the manufactures which have been since (the last non-importation) established, will supply more than sufficient for our own consumption, we apprehend it would be imprudent thus rashly to part with what we have in store; especially as this sudden exportation has given just grounds for sufficient alarm.”

No sooner did this notice appear in publick, than a certain set, in consequence of it, (the direction being to the respectable inhabitants,) assembled first at Philips’s Beerhouse, next at Bardin’s, then at the Liberty Pole, and lastly, at Van Der Water’s; at which several meetings (tremble, Lord North, and be dismayed, ye Tories!) Mr. Marinus Willet, and Mr. John Lamb, were Chairmen.

Having despatched the poor Usticks, by a vote that they were foes to their Country, entered into upon the motion of Mr. James Alner, a new and important subject arose for debate. It was suggested that Mr. Ralph Thurman had been employed in packing Straw, and Mr. Robert Harding, in purchasing Boards, to be sent to Boston. This was a heinous crime; and a Committee was ordered, from the body assembled on the — instant, to wait on those two traitors to their Country. Mr. Harding was out, so that he was spared for that night; but, unfortunately, his daughter was at home, and, terrified at the formidable appearance, fell into fits. This, however, was a trifling consideration to men engaged in the cause of liberty. Mr. Thurman, it seems, was so obstinate, and such an inveterate foe to his Country, that he presumed to call in question the power of this body to interfere with his private affairs. Unpardonable impudence!

At this meeting, which was duly notified, very few attended; but although Captain Sears complained that he was deserted while he was engaged in the grand cause, yet ’tis evident that fortune conspired to make his glory the more conspicuous, as if determined that none should deprive him of the honour of a motion he made, which was, that “every man should provide himself with four-and-twenty rounds.”

Another meeting, however, was, by adjournment, fixed upon for Saturday, the 15th instant, at the Liberty Pole. Meanwhile, complaint being made of these proceedings, as disorderly and a breach of law, the Magistrates issued a warrant against Captain Sears; he was apprehended and carried before the Mayor. Bail was demanded, but this being a violation of liberty, was refused. A mittimus was therefore issued, and the illustrious prisoner carried towards the Jail. But this was the height of arbitrary power; the very quintessence of toryism; and as it would doubtless have given Lord North great pleasure, it was not to be endured; the Captain was therefore set at liberty from the officers of justice, and led in triumph through the Town.

Accompanied by a number of his friends, with colours flying, the Captain proceeded through the Fly, Wall-street, and Broadway, to the Liberty Pole. Among those who were near him, were Mr. Ivers, Mr. Alner, Mr. Richard Livingston, and Mr. Roorbach.

At six o’clock, the Captain, attended with a large crowd, mounted a rostrum prepared for him in the Fields, from whence, like the Devil in Milton, “By merit raised to that bad eminence,” he opened the business by a circumstantial recapitulation of facts, of which his own merit, the good he had done, and the evils he had averted, made a considerable part. At length, the following question was put: