instantly taken as will restore them to the benefits of Constitutional Government in all its branches; and that they improve offensively the natural advantages of their situation. Upon the same principle that I would have opposed the taking up arms and assuming the powers of Government six months ago, I now insist that the first be not employed, or rather neglected, for the service of the enemy, and that Government be instantly established in all its parts, upon principles of publick good. It is indifferent to me whether the Minister carries his point by violence, or whether, by holding out the olive branch in one hand, while he manages the war with the other, he accomplishes the same pernicious designs. In either case, I consider him as a dangerous enemy, who ought to be attacked.

I do not mean to point out any particular mode of attack or defence; I leave it to those of greater abilities—to publick councils. I give my opinion to the people, as one of the people. I only affirm, in general, that we have nothing to expect from the best of Princes, or his virtuous servants, but war. I have endeavoured to confirm my opinion by recollecting past events, by bringing the various appearances of the political world into one point of view. I have said that this is the moment to obtain substantial justice for the people; that it ought to be improved; and, were I to give my opinion upon the subject, I should say, in general terms, that I would have all the members of the community instantly employed for the common weal, in departments to which their various abilities are best adapted. That all, or as many as possible, of our sea-ports be thrown into a posture of defence, and the people constantly used to arms. That vessels of force be immediately fitted out from the several ports upon the Continent, to protect our trade, and drive from our coasts the thousand armed tenders that infest the seas and seize our merchantmen; and that we be no longer guilty of delay.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM NEWBERN, IN N0RTH-CAR0LINA, DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 1775.

Our Convention will rise next week. They have agreed to raise one thousand men, to be stationed as follows: two hundred at Newbern, two hundred at Edenton, two hundred at Salisbury, and four hundred at Cape-Fear. Mr. James Moore and Mr. Robert Howe, of Cape-Fear, are appointed Colonels. Francis Nash and Alexander Martin, of Hillsborough and Salisbury, Lieutenant-Colonels. Thomas Clerk, of Hillsborough, and John Patton, of Pamlico, Majors. Dr. White, of Cape-Fear, Adjutant.

There has been a conference held with the chiefs of the Regulators. They have some scruples about the oath administered to them by Governour Tryon; but some of them have signed the Test or Association, and are now signing, and we apprehend no danger from them.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, September 15, 1775.

Last week, Captain Squire sent the following impertinent Letter, by a servant of Lord Dunmore’s, to the Printer of the Norfolk Gazette:

“Otter Sloop, Norfolk River, September 9, 1775.

“SIR: You have, in many papers, lately taken the freedom to mention my name, and thereto added many falsities. I now declare, if I am ever again mentioned therein, with any reflections, I will most assuredly seize your person, and take you on board the Otter.

“I am, &c.,

MATTHEW SQUIRE.”

And on the day after the disaster which happened to his tender, which was chiefly manned with runaway negroes, he despatched the following Letter to the Committee of the Town of Hampton, dated

“Otter Sloop, Norfolk River, September 10, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Whereas a Sloop tender, manned and armed in His Majesty’s service, was on Saturday, the 2d instant, in a violent gale of wind, cast on shore in Back River, Elizabeth County, having on board the undermentioned King’s stores, which the inhabitants of Hampton thought proper to seize, I am therefore to desire that the King’s Sloop, with all the stores belonging to her, be immediately returned, or the people of Hampton, who committed the outrage, must be answerable for the consequences. I am, &c.

MATTHEW SQUIRE.

“Six swivels, five muskets, five cutlasses, two powderhorns, one seine and rope, an anchor and grapnel, with two cables and hawser, one boat’s awning, one iron stone, with some lead.”

The Hampton Committee having thought proper, on Monday last, to lay the above Letter before the Committee of this City, they represented to the commanding officer of the volunteers here, the necessity of sending down a sufficient force to protect the inhabitants of Hampton from any insult that might be offered to them by Captain Squire, who immediately communicated the same to the volunteers, when one hundred men offered themselves, and next morning set out upon their march to Hampton; where it is to be hoped, should the said Squire attempt any thing hostile against the people there, that they will be able to give a good account of him. And as to the requisition of the King’s stores, &c., that were on board the tender, being delivered up to him, it will be time enough to settle accounts with him after he has made satisfaction to the owners of the several slaves he has harboured, some of whom he now employs in the King’s service, as well as for the number of robberies he has suffered to be committed, in hogs and poultry, from sundry plantations.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN VANDEPUT, OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP ASIA, TO ABRAHAM LOTT, CONTRACTOR FOR SUPPLYING THE KING’S SHIPS ON THIS STATION, DATED NEW-YORK, SEPTEMBER 9, 1775.

Will you do me the favour to contradict a paragraph in Mr. Holt’s paper of September 7th, in which he says that the man-of-war had stopped several vessels with provisions, and that we had set our own price upon whatsoever we chose to take. The truth is, that we have not taken or bought any sort of provisions from any vessel, except three hundred oysters, which I bought yesterday, and for which I gave the owner two shillings more than what he told me was the market price. The transport has, I believe, got a few fowls and ducks for their sea stock, not being able to procure any from the shore; but I am well assured, that whatever price was asked for them was paid, and that the officer in the transport has receipts for whatever few things he has bought. I should not have taken notice of this, as I scarcely suppose any one who knows me would believe it; but I think it would be blameworthy in any one not to contradict any such report, which, if credited, might serve to inflame.

CAPTAIN JOHN HULBERT TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Southampton, September 9, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I would inform you that I marched with my Company from Montauk, the 7th inst.; am preparing to march, and shall set off by the middle of next week.

My Company will want a number of guns, as the inhabitants that supplied them will not let them go away, pleading the want of them themselves. I give you this timely notice, that the Company may not be detained long, when we come to New-York, &c.

I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant,

JOHN HULBERT.

To Mr. Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
[Read September 14, 1775.]

GENTLEMEN: We enclose you a copy of a letter which we have this day received from General Washington, dated at Cambridge, August 30, 1775, to which we beg leave to refer you. As the General stands in need of gunpowder, and as we are informed that a considerable quantity has lately been received in Philadelphia, we doubt not you will forward as much as can be spared for this necessary service. We have about eight hundred weight in our magazine, which we would willingly part with, if our citizens had a supply. Be assured, we shall be attentive to every requisition from the General, We beg leave to