proceed; and that as long as the stockholders keep from ruin, the Nation is to run every risk to keep the rewards of Sir R. Walpole and Mr. Fox upon Mr. Jenkinson. How long this torpor will continue, it is impossible to say; nor do I consider with any pleasure upon whom the storm will or ought to burst; but what I fear is, that the evil is irretrievable. Union itself will be too late.

I set out for Ireland on Thursday, and private business obliges me to return early in October. As to publick business, I despond. Personal jealousy and disunion infect and destroy the weight of both individuals and bodies of men. The only uncorrupt body of men remaining in the City of London, I see daily losing its weight, for want of proper direction and joint effort.

I am, with great truth and regard, dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

SHELBURNE.

To Arthur Lee, London.

LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN NORTH-CAROLINA, AND ONE OF THE DELEGATES OF THE CONGRESS, TO A PRINCIPAL HOUSE IN EDINBURGH.

Edenton, July 31, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We wrote to you the seventeenth instant, since which we have not been honoured with any of your favours. With this you will receive a bill of lading for the cargo of the Brigantine Charming Betsey, John Boyle master, (by whom this goes,) which you will please to dispose of to the best advantage for our interest, and place the nett proceeds to our credit with you. You will observe the brig has only six lay days, and beg the favour you will have her discharged, so as we may not be subjected to damage.

We expect to send you another vessel, with such another cargo, before the exportation is stopped, which will be the tenth of next September; but we shall write you more at large by a ship to sail from hence to London in about two weeks. All our remittances must hereafter be by bills; we have laid ourselves out to remit you in that way, as all other is now in a fair way of being entirely shut up. We are in a terrible situation indeed; all trade here is now at an end, and when it will again be revived God only knows. Every American, to a man, is determined to die or be free. We are convinced nothing can restore peace to this unhappy Country, and render the liberties of years secure, but a total change of the present Ministry, who are considered in this Country as enemies to the freedom of the human race, like so many master devils in the infernal regions, sending out their servants, furies, to torment wherever they choose their infernal vengeance should fall.

Permit us, dear Sirs, as you have exerted yourselves, to try another effort to save from destruction the once, and but lately, most flourishing Empire in the world.

We do not want to be independent; we want no revolution, unless a change of Ministry and measures would be deemed such. We are loyal subjects to our present most gracious Sovereign, in support of whose crown and dignity we would sacrifice our lives, and willingly launch out every shilling of our property, he only defending our liberties. This Country, without some step is taken, and that soon, will be inevitably lost to the Mother Country. We say again, for the love of Heaven, for the love of liberty, the interest of posterity, we conjure you to exert yourselves. Petition again; the eyes of our most gracious Sovereign may yet be opened, and he may see what things are for his real interest, before they are eternally hid from his eyes. We can vouch for the loyalty of every one in this part of the Province. We beg your pardon for troubling you on the subject of politick so much as we have done; but we hope you will excuse us, when we tell you our all depends on the determination of Parliament.

We have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obliged humble, servants.

BUCKS COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) MEETING.

At a meeting of the Officers of the County of Bucks, the County was divided into three Battalions, and the following gentlemen were chosen Field Officers:

For the First Division: Joseph Kirkbride, Esq., Colonel; Mr. Alexander Anderson, Lieutenant-Colonel; Mr. Joseph Penrose, First Major; Mr. Joseph Mcllvane, Second Major; Francis Murray, Esq., Standard Bearer.

For the Second Division: Doctor John Beatty, Colonel; Mr. Robert Shewell, Lieutenant-Colonel; Mr. James McMasters, First Major; Mr. Wm. Roberts, Second Major; Mr. John Lacey, Standard Bearer.

For the Third Division: George Taylor, Esq., Colonel; Mr. Robert Robinson, Lieutenant-Colonel; Mr. John Tenbrook, First Major; Mr. John Heany, Second Major; Mr. John Keller, Standard Bearer.

The officers of the respective companies of the Middle Battalion of the County of Bucks, are earnestly requested to meet at the house of Mr. John Bogart, on Monday next, at three o’clock, to give their voice in matters of importance. Their non-attendance will be looked upon as consenting to the business of the day.

By His Excellency WILLIAM TRYON, Esquire, Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief in and over the Province of NEW-YORK, and the Territories depending thereon, in AMERICA, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, the General Assembly of this Province stands prorogued to the ninth day of August next; I have thought fit for His Majesty’s service to prorogue, and I do, by and with the advice of His Majesty’s Council, farther prorogue the said General Assembly to the sixth day of September next, of which all His Majesty’s subjects concerned therein are required to take notice, and govern themselves, accordingly.

Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Fort George, in the City of New-York, the thirty-first day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

WILLIAM TRYON.

By his Excellency’s command:

SAMUEL BAYARD, JUN., Dep. Secretary.

GOD save the King.

FRANCIS STEPHENS TO GENERAL GAGE.

Office of Ordnance, New-York July 31, 1775.

HONOURABLE SIR: In my letter of the twenty-fourth June, I acquainted your Excellency with the depredations committed on such of His Majesty’s property as remained at Turtle Bay; and occurrences of the like nature having since happened at this place, I now beg leave to transmit you the following particular account of the same, viz:

On Wednesday, the twelfth instant, between the hours of nine and ten o’clock at night, I being then at the house of Mr. Banyor, in the neighbourhood, the clerk of stores came and acquainted me that a number of men with side-arms &c., had just then got over the fence of the shot yard, and were breaking open the several doors of the armoury, store-house, and those of the artificers’ shops; whereupon I immediately repaired to, the font doors of the two first mentioned places, and on hearing a most violent noise proceeding from their ransacking the premises, I immediately called on Mr. Alderman Brewerton, acquainting him therewith, and requested his interposition; but he replied, as an individual he could by no means render me any assistance, and advised me, in that case, to call on the Mayor, which I accordingly did, but he was not in Town. I then, in my way to the Governour’s, met with Captain Thomas William Moore, who had the command of the guard appointed to preserve the peace of the City, to whom I communicated the foregoing, and entreated his assistance, in order to put a stop to the felonious proceedings of a number of armed men who were carrying off His Majesty’s stores, as also some of my own private property, and which I conceived it was his duty to protect. Soon after, Mr. Moore came down to the store-houses; and brought with him a party of armed men, who, with myself, went in amongst the people that were committing the depredations, demanding by what authority they presumed to carry off the King’s stores; when some of them replied to Mr.