The eyes of America are on New-York; the Ministry have certainly been promised by some of your leading men, that your Province would desert us; but you will be able to form a better judgment when you see how this intelligence is relished. Take care of yourselves; we have more than men enough to block up the enemy at Boston, and if we are like to fall by treachery, by Heaven we will not fall unrevenged on the traitors; but if balls or swords will reach them, they shall fall with us. It is no time now to dally, or be merely neutral; he that is not for us is against us, and ought to feel the first of our resentment. You must now declare, most explicitly, one way or the other, that we may know whether we are to go to Boston or New-York. If you desert, our men will as cheerfully attack New-York as Boston; for we can but perish, and that we are determined upon, or be free. I have nothing to add, but am, your friend and countryman, &c.

P. S. Colonel Murray’s son, one of the Tories, undertook to guide the Regulars in their march to Concord, and on their retreat was taken prisoner; but attempting to escape from our people, they shot him—a death too honourable for such a villain! They have made another of them prisoner, but I do not recollect his name; none of ours were taken.

Will Colonel Grant believe now that New-England men dare look Regulars in the face? Eighteen hundred of their best men retreating with loss, before one-third of their number, seems almost incredible, and I think must be called an omen for good. In every struggle Heaven has, as yet, given us strength equal to the day; its hand is not shortened, nor its arm weakened. We are now called upon to show the world “that whom we call fathers did beget us,” and that we desire to enjoy the blessings they purchased for us with their lives and fortunes. We fix on our Standards and Drums, the Colony Arms, with the motto, “qui transtulit sustinet,” round it in letters of gold, which we construe thus: “God, who transplanted us hither, will support us.”

New-York, Sunday, April 23, 1775.

This morning we had reports in this City from Rhode-Island and New-London, that an action had happened between the King’s Troops and the inhabitants of Boston, which was not credited; but about twelve o’clock an express arrived with the following account, viz:

To all Friends of AMERICAN Liberty let it be known:

That this morning before break of day, a Brigade, consisting of about one thousand or twelve hundred men, landed at Phipps’s farm at Cambridge, and marched to Lexington, where they found a Company of our Colony Militia in arms, upon whom they fired without any provocation, and killed six men and wounded four others. By an express from Boston we find another Brigade are upon their march from Boston, supposed to be about one thousand. The bearer, Israel Bessel, is charged to alarm the Country quite to Connecticut, and all persons are desired to furnish him with fresh horses as they may be needed. I have spoken with several who have seen the dead and wounded. Pray let the Delegates from this Colony to Connecticut see this; they know Colonel Foster, of Brookfield, one of our Delegates.

T. PALMER,

One of the Committee for Safety.

A true copy taken from the original, per order of the Committee of Correspondence for Worcester, April 19, 1775. Attest,

NATHAN BALDWIN, Town-Clerk.

Fairfield, Connecticut, Saturday, 22d April, 8 o’clock.

Since the above was written we have received the following by the second express:

Thursday, 20th April, 3 o’clock, A. M.

I am this moment informed by express from Woodstock, taken from his own mouth, that arrived there at 2 o’clock this afternoon, that the contest between the first Brigade that marched to Concord was still continuing this morning at the Town of Lexington, to which place said Brigade had retreated; that another Brigade, said to be the second mentioned in the letter of this morning, had landed with a quantity of artillery at the place where the first did. The Provincials were determined to prevent the two Brigades from joining their strength, if possible, and remain in great need of succour. The Regulars, when in Concord, burnt the Court-House, took two pieces of cannon, which they rendered useless, and began to take up Concord Bridge, on which Captain..., who, with many on both sides, were soon killed, then made an attack on the King’s Troops, on which they retreated to Lexington. I am your humble servant,

EBENEZER WILLIAMS.

To Colonel Obadiah Johnson, Canterbury.

P. S. Mr. McFarland, of Camfield, Merchant, has just returned from Boston, by way of Providence, who conversed with an express from Lexington, who further informs, that about four thousand of our Troops had surrounded the first Brigade above-mentioned, who were on a hill in Lexington; that the action continued, and there were about fifty of our men killed, and one hundred and fifty of the Regulars, as near as they could determine when the express came away. It will be expedient for every man to go who is fit and willing.

The above is a true copy as received by express from New-Haven, and attested to by the Committee of Correspondence from Town to Town.

The above was received on Sunday, April 23, about twelve o’clock, by the Committee of New-York, and forwarded to Philadelphia by Isaac Low, Chairman of the Committee, at 4 o’clock, P. M.

LETTER FROM NEW-YORK TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED APRIL 24, 1775.

This City was alarmed yesterday by a report from the Eastward, that the King’s Troops had attacked the Massachusetts-Bay people; the report was confirmed in a few hours after by the arrival of St. Croix, from Rhode-Island, and an express from near Boston. The Committee was soon called, and an express sent off to your City; as you will have particulars by him before this reaches you, I need say no more.

There were two Sloops here loaded with Flour for the Soldiers at Boston, by Mr. Watts. The people went, Sunday as it was, and unloaded them in a hurry. Towards evening they went and secured about half the City Arms; a guard of about one hundred men, I am told, was then placed at the City-Hall, to secure the rest of the Arms, and another hundred at the Powder-House; this was not done by the Magistrates, but by the people.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM NEW-YORK TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED APRIL 24, 1775.

I do not doubt but the interesting news from Boston must give every good and virtuous man much concern, that, from present appearances, a reconciliation between us and Great Britain is at a farther distance than we, of late, had rational grounds to hope. Surely this proceeding on the part of General Gage is not the olive branch held up by Government. Yesterday this whole City was in a state of alarm; every face appeared animated with resentment. Soon after the news arrived by express, many citizens went to two Transports loaded with Bread, Flour, &c., for the Troops, and they were speedily unloaded. The Committee met, and after despatching the express, considered of other matters, and will no doubt be attentive to every thing within their power to preserve the peace of the Town, and property, and all other matters tending towards maintaining the character of a sister Colony that feels for another in distress. Many persons of influence, who have been thought inimical to the cause, now come out boldly and declare their sentiments worthy of themselves. Indeed the difference of sentiment has not been much; party views kept men of weight asunder; it is hoped that will subside more and more.