such only, whose consciences accuse them of not having taken an active part in endeavouring to preserve and defend the liberties of their Country, that I would retort the whole force of my former arguments, happy that they would work the desired effect. The good people of Virginia have ever been zealously attached to the present royal family; and you, gentlemen, have always borne an active part, in conjunction with the rest of the Counties in this Colony, in avowing and expressing your attachment and allegiance upon every occasion. And notwithstanding the artful suggestions of all internal enemies, sensible I am that the good people of this Colony wish not any diminution of the constitutional authority of the Crown, or to break off that connexion with the Mother Country so essential to the interests of both. Why, then, will persons pretending the most zealous attachment and firmest adherence to the just cause of America, and putting on professions foreign from their hearts, stand forth and endeavour to gain the confidence of a too much deluded people? To what purpose, other than that of exerting their weak efforts to destroy that unanimity at present so conspicuous throughout this Colony and America, can such persons put on such appearances? Ask such persons to enter themselves as volunteers in the great cause of American freedom, and they will tell you they have taken the oath of allegiance, and cannot; or rather, I suppose, have taken an implicit oath of passive obedience, and will not. Now let such persons bear in mind the doctrine avowed by that very authority which is now endeavouring to enslave us—I mean the Parliament of Great Britain; “That an endeavour to subvert the Constitution of the Kingdom, by breaking the original contract between King and People, and violating the fundamental laws, was sufficient for the People to preserve them in despite of any authority whatever.” Still more apparent, from a supposition that the Constitution is founded upon liberty, and if they do not depart from their former principles, we may yet have the satisfaction of distinguishing between our friends and enemies.

Thus, my countrymen, have I, by a sketch of the political sentiments of this few, endeavoured to set them before you in the clearest point of view; and I could heartily wish that some able pen had taken up the subject before me, for which I have waited with great expectation for some time past. But as it is of great concern that such persons should receive every mark of discountenance and disesteem, they will, I hope, be carefully observed in future, and not be suffered to enlarge upon that confidence already entrusted in them, or to deviate from your own avowed principles, laid down for them to act by—I mean your professed determination of living and dying freemen.

Being influenced to this address by nothing but an ardent zeal for the prosperity of the common cause, grammatical errours will be unnoticed by you, and nothing regarded but the intention of him who wishes at all times to prove himself

A FRIEND TO LIBERTY.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, June 22, 1775.

Friends and Countrymen:

The British Ministry, with unrelenting rigour, continue to persecute the brave Americans. Every device that malevolence could suggest, they adopt to divide the Colonies, who now groan under the rod of tyranny. You are not strangers to the bill which has lately obtained the Royal assent, for restraining the New-England Fishery, whose chief support depends on that beneficial trade; nor the exemption of the Island of Nantucket, which lies about thirty miles from the Massachusetts; an island extremely well calculated to refresh the British fishing vessels, and thereby enable them to rob us of all the advantage arising from that useful commerce. That island has never acceded to the grand American Association, so highly necessary at this important hour for baffling the insidious projects of Bute, North, and Mansfield, with their disgraceful advocates, who are traitors to the British Constitution, and inimical to the rights of mankind.

The noble champions of freedom, the General Congress, recommend to all the friends of America to exert the greatest vigilance to prevent the people of Nantucket from purchasing provisions or necessaries of any kind, except from their neighbours, the people of the Massachusetts, and not more of them than are really sufficient for the inhabitants of the island. Notwithstanding, my countrymen, the General Congress, in September last, resolved we should not have any commercial intercourse with any American who would not approve of that General Association, two vessels from the Island of Nantucket have lately entered within our capes to carry provisions and coal to those foes to American liberty. With propriety, I conceive they merit that appellation, as they never acceded to the resolves of the Congress. One is a large schooner called the Diana, of one hundred tons, commanded by Captain Forgers, which is gone up the Bay of Chesapeake to load with Indian corn. The other is in James River, and I think a schooner of fifty tons, named the Little John, Joshua Bunker, master; the captain of which applied to one of our Representatives for a load of coal, who absolutely refused to sell him one bushel, nobly resolving to sacrifice his private interest whenever it clashes with the liberties of America. Such is the unanimity in this Colony, that I think my countrymen will convince the Island of Nantucket, and the venal wretches of Ministry, that neither money nor menaces, with every invention their tortured imagination may pursue, shall ever induce us to infringe the resolves of that august assembly, or deviate from the cause of America.

I am, with great sincerity, your friend and well-wisher,

A VIRGINIAN.

SAMUEL ADAMS TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.

Philadelphia, June 22, 1775.

MY DEAR SIR: Our patriotick General Washington will deliver this letter to you. The Massachusetts Delegates have jointly given to him a list of the names of certain gentlemen in whom he may place the greatest confidence. Among these you are one. Major General Lee and Major Mifflin accompany the General. They are a triumvirate which will please the circle of our friends. Mifflin is Aid-de-Camp to the General. I. regret his leaving this City; but have the satisfaction of believing that he will add great spirit to our Army. Time will not admit of my adding at present more than that I am, your affectionate friend,

SAMUEL ADAMS.

Elbridge Gerry, Esq., Watertown.

GENERAL CHARLES LEE TO LORD BARRINGTON.

Philadelphia, June 22, 1775

To the Right Honourable Lord Viscount BARRINGTON, His Majesty’s Secretary at War:

MY LORD: Although I can by no means subscribe to the opinion of divers people in the world, that an officer on half pay is to be considered in the service, yet I think it a point of delicacy to pay a deference to this opinion, erroneous and absurd as it is. I therefore apprize your Lordship in the most publick and solemn manner, that I do renounce my half pay from the date hereof. At the same time, I beg leave to assure your Lordship; that whenever it shall please His Majesty to call me forth to any honourable service against the natural hereditary enemies of our Country, or in defence of his just rights and dignity, no man will obey the righteous summons with more zeal and alacrity than myself; but the present measures seem to me so absolutely subversive of the rights and liberties of every individual subject, so destructive to the whole Empire at large, and ultimately so ruinous to His Majesty’s own person, dignity, and family, that I think myself obliged, in conscience, as a citizen, Englishman, and soldier of a free State, to exert my utmost to defeat them. I most devoutly pray to Almighty God to direct His Majesty into measures more consonant to his interest and honour, and more conducive to the happiness and glory of his People.

I am, my Lord, your most obedient humble servant,

CHARLES LEE.

HORATIO GATES TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Traveller’s Rest, June 20, 1775.

DEAR GENERAL: Last night I was honoured by the receipt of your obliging letter of 17th instant. I shall obey