Congress; and as a special Committee is now appointed to examine into the affair, the publick are desired to suspend their judgment until Mr. Moore has had an opportunity either to exculpate himself from the charge, or make proper acknowledgment to his Country.

By order of the Committee:

FRANCIS JOHNSON, Secretary.

TO LORD SANDWICH.

Philadelphia, May 31, 1775.

MY LORD: I congratulate your Lordship on an instance of American cowardice, which your Lordship had so prophetically foretold.* The instance I allude to is to be found in General Gage’s circumstantial account, or narrative of the attack or battle at Lexington and Concord, in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, in which he gives a clear and impartial account of the barbarity of the Americans, as well as that of their cowardice. I make no doubt but the Yankoos will pretend not to believe it, especially the barbarity, which is not quite so clear; but as to the cowardice, it is so incontestably proved, that they themselves will not undertake to deny, if they do not own it. The General, in this sensible and masterly performance, says a man had advanced from the Provincials assembled at Lexington, and attempted to shoot the Regulars by snapping his gun, which flashed in the pan; and that on the attack of the Troops at Concord bridge, after some of them had fallen, and they

expedition from Mecklenburgh in the Revolutionary War, and believed to be the first any where to the South. Yours, respectfully,

J. GRAHAM.

Dr. Joseph McKt. Alexander, Mecklenburgh, N. C.

F.

EXTRACT FROM THE MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. HUMPHREY HUNTER.

Orders were presently issued by Colonel Thomas Polk, to the several Militia companies, that two men, selected from each Corps, should meet at the Court House on the 19th of May, 1775, in order to consult with each other upon such measures as might be thought best to be pursued. Accordingly, on said day a far larger number than two out of each company were present. There was some difficulty in choosing the Commissioners. To have chosen all thought to be worthy, would have rendered the meeting too numerous. The following were selected, and styled Delegates, and are here given, according to my best recollection, as they were placed on roll: Abram Alexander, Senior, Thomas Polk, Richard Harris, Senior, Adam Alexander, Richard Barry, John McKnitt Alexander, Neil Morrison, Hezekiah Alexander, Hezekiah J. Balch, Zacheus Wilson, John Phifer, James Harris, William Kennon, John Ford, Henry Downs, Ezra Alexander, William Graham, John Queary, Charles Alexander, Waitstill Avery, Ephraim Brevard, Benjamin Patton, Matthew McClure, Robert Irwin, John Flenniken, and David Reese.

Abram Alexander was nominated, and unanimously voted to the Chair. John McKnitt Alexander and Ephraim Brevard were chosen Secretaries, The Chair being occupied, and the Clorks seated, the House was called to order, and proceeded to business. Then a full, a free, and dispassionate discussion obtained, on the various subjects for which the delegation had been convened, and the following Resolutions were unanimously ordained:

1st. Resolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form, or manner, countenanced the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this Country, to America, and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man.

2d. Resolved, That we, the citizens of Mecklenburgh County, do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother Country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown, and abjure, all political connexion, contract, or association, with that Nation, who have wantonly trampled on our rights arid liberties, and inhumanly shed the blood of American patriots at Lexington.

3d. Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people; are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self governing Association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the general government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honour.

4th. Resolved, That as we now acknowledge the existence and control of no law or legal officer, civil or military, within this County, we do hereby ordain and adopt, as a rule of life, all, each and every of our former laws, wherein, nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain never can be considered as holding rights, privileges, immunities, or authority therein.

5th. Resolved, That it is further decreed, that all, each and every military officer in this County, is hereby reinstated in his former command and authority, he acting conformably to these Regulations. And that every member present, of this Delegation, shall henceforth be a civil officer, viz: a Justice of the Peace, in the character of a “Committee-man, ” to issue process, hear and determine all matters of controversy, according to said adopted laws, and to preserve peace, union, and harmony in said County; and to use every exertion to spread the love of country and fire of freedom throughout America, until a more general and organized Government be established in this Province.

Those Resolves having been concurred in, by-laws and regulations for the government of a Standing Committee of Public Safety were enacted and acknowledged. Then a Select Committee was appointed, to report on the ensuing day a full and definite statement of grievances, together with a more correct and formal draught of the Declaration of Independence. The proceedings having been thus arranged, and somewhat in readiness for promulgation, the Delegation then adjourned until tomorrow, at twelve o’clock.

The 20th of May, at twelve o’clock, the Delegation, as above, had convened. The Select Committee were also present, and reported agreeably to instructions, viz: a statement of grievances, and formal draught of the Declaration of Independence, written by Ephraim Brevard, Chairman of said Committee, and read by him to the Delegation. The Resolves, By-Laws, and Regulations, were read by John McKnitt Alexander. It was then announced from the Chair, Are you all agreed? There was not a dissenting voice. Finally, the whole proceedings were read distinctly and audibly at the Court House door, by Colonel Thomas Polk, to a large, respectable, and approving assemblage of citizens who were present, and gave sanction to the business of the day. A copy of all those, transactions were then drawn off, and given in charge to Captain James Jack, then of Charlotte, that he should present them to Congress, then in session in Philadelphia.

On that memorable day I was twenty years and fourteen days of age, a very deeply interested spectator, recollecting the dire hand of oppression that had driven me from my native clime, now pursuing me in this happy asylum, and seeking to bind again in the fetters of bondage.

On the return of Captain Jack, he reported that Congress, individually, manifested their entire approbation of the conduct of the Mecklenburgh citizens, but deemed it premature to lay them officially before the House.

Note.—The foregoing extract is copied from a manuscript account of the Revolutionary War in the South, addressed by the writer to a friend, who had requested historical information upon this subject. Mr. Hunter was in the battle of Camden, and has given an interesting narrative of the circumstances connected with the death of Baron De Kalb. The manuscript gives the biography of the writer, from which it appears he was a native of Ireland, and born on the 14th of May, 1755, and at an early age emigrated from his native land to the Province of North-Carolina.

Additional Papers.—From the RALEIGH REGISTER, FEBRUARY 18, 1820.

MECKLENBURGH DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

When this Declaration was first published in April last, some doubts were expressed in the Eastern papers as to its authenticity, (none of the Histories of the Revolution having noticed the circumstance.) Colonel William Polk, of this City, (who, though a mere youth at the time, was present at the meeting which made the Declaration, and whose father being Colonel of the County, appears to have acted a conspicuous part on the occasion,) observing this, assured us of the correctness of the facts generally), though he thought there were errours as to the name of the Secretary, &c., and said that he should probably be able to correct these, and throw some further light on the subject, by inquiries amongst some of his old friends in Mecklenburgh County. He has accordingly made inquiries, and communicated to us the following Documents as the result, which, we presume, will do away all doubts on the subject.

CERTIFICATE.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Mecklenburgh County:

At the request of Colonel William Polk, of Raleigh, made to Major General George Graham, soliciting him to procure all the information that could be obtained at this late period, of the transactions which took place in the County of Meckleuburgh, in the year 1775, as it respected the people of that County having declared Independence; of the time when the Declaration was made; who were the principal movers and leaders, and the members who composed the body of Patriots who made the Declaration, and signed the same:

We, the undersigned citizens of the said County, and of the several ages set forth opposite to each of our names, do certify, and on our honour declare, that we were present in the Town of Charlotte, in the said County of Mecklenburgh, on the 19th day of May, 1775, when two persons elected from each Captain’s Company in said County, appeared as Delegates, to take into consideration the state of the Country, and to adopt such measures as to them seemed best, to secure their lives, liberty, and property, from the storm which was gathering, and had burst upon their fellow-citizens to the Eastward, by a British Army, under the authority of the British King and Parliament.

The order for the election of Delegates was given by Colonel Thomas Polk, the commanding officer of the Militia of the County, with a request that their powers should be ample, touching any measure that should be proposed.

We do further certify and declaro, that to the best of our recollection and belief, the delegation was complete from every company, and that the meeting took place in the Court House, about 12 o’clock on the said 19th day of May, 1775, when Abraham Alexander was chosen Chairman, and Doctor Ephraim Brevard Secretary. That the Delegates continued in session until in the night of that day; that on the 20th they again met, when a Committee, under the direction of the Delegates, had formed several Resolves, which were rend, and which went to declare themselves, and the people of Mecklenburgh County, free and independent of the King and Parliament of Great Britain—and that, from that day thenceforth, all allegiance and political relation was absolved between the good people or Mecklenburgh, and the King of Great Britain; which Declaration was signed, by every member of the Delegation, under the shouts and huzzas of a very large assembly of the people of the County, who had come to know the issue of the meeting. We further believe, that the Declaration of Independence was drawn up by the Secretary, Doctor Ephraim Brevard, and that it was conceived and brought about through the instrumentality and popularity of Colonel Thomas Polk, Abraham Alexander, John M’ Knitt Alexander, Adam Alexander, Ephraim Brevard, John Phifer, and Hezekiah Alexander, with some others.

We do further certify and declare, that in a few days after the Delegates adjourned, Captain James Jack, of the Town of Charlotte, was engaged to carry the Resolves to the President of Congress, and to our Representatives—one copy for each; and that his expenses were paid by a voluntary subscription. And we do know that Captain Jack executed the trust, and returned with answers, both from the President and our Delegates in Congress, expressive of their entire approbation of the course that had been adopted, recommending a continuance in the same; and that the time would soon be, when the whole Continent would follow our example, We further certify and declare, that the measures which were adopted at the time before mentioned, had a general influence on the people of this County to unite them in the cause of liberty and the Country, at that time; that the same unanimity and patriotism continued unimpaired to the close of the war; and that the Resolution had considerable effect in harmonizing the people in two or three adjoining Counties.

That a Committee of Safety for the County were elected, who were clothed with civil and military power, and under their authority several

*March 16, 1775. See Vol. I. 1681.