been continued in a manner practised only by savages; and in the conduct of a war, on which, with unhallowed lips, they implore the Divine blessing, we behold, with equal amazement and horrour, the violation of those rules of war to which humanity and the practice of all civilized nations have given a sanction.

Miseries, greater, if possible, than those of a war thus conducted on the part of our enemies, have been denounced against the Mother Country by its rebellious sons, who, by resolutions of non-importation, have endeavoured to cut off the sources of our wealth, and by the dread of famine, to stimulate the industrious manufacturers of this Kingdom to oppose that power which has been their constant support. But, thanks be to God, the flourishing condition of our trade, the quick circulation of wealth, the state of pub-lick credit, and the amazing increase of buildings and mercantile improvements which present themselves to our eyes in every part of this Country, are evident proofs of the futility of all such attempts, as they are of the flourishing state of the Kingdom in general.

With very little attention to the merits of the dispute, and without being able to controvert that fundamental principle of civil society, that protection and allegiance are reciprocal, the Colonies in rebellion resist the payment of taxes which their preservation has made necessary, founding their pretended exemption, not on reason, equity, or natural justice, but upon the construction of those grants to which the, Colonies owe their political existence.

The rights, whatever they are, which the Americans claim, are founded in Charters from time to time granted by your Majesty’s royal predecessors, under proper limitations and restrictions. With the greatest professions of zeal for liberty, do these infatuated people exalt the regal into arbitrary power, and from principles of law and logick, which are. are for the first time advanced, contend that the acts of the aggregate legislative body are of less force to bind the subject than those of an integral part thereof; and with all the insidious arts of adulation, your Majesty is courted to accept of that absolute power which you have uniformly disclaimed, as well by the whole tenour of your conduct, as by referring the means of preserving the supremacy of this Country over the Colonies, to the great council of the Nation.

For this singular instance of moderation, as for every other benefit which we derive from your Majesty’s paternal care and. watchful regard for our interests, receive, most gracious Sovereign, the sincere and humble acknowledgments of us, your Majesty’s faithful and loyal subjects; and as the merciful forbearance hitherto shown to the Colonies in rebellion, would, if farther extended, be injurious to the interests of the whole British Empire, accept, also, this tender of every assistance which we are capable of rendering towards establishing the authority of the British Legislature over its Colonies and dependencies; while, with unfeigned zeal, we supplicate the Supreme Disposer of all events for prosperity on those wise and lenient, but steady councils which have been resolved on, and we doubt not will be pursued, for effectuating this important and necessary purpose,

JOHN HUNTER HOLT TO THE PUBLICK.

Norfolk, October 12, 1775.

The subscriber having been prevented from continuing his business, by a most unjustifiable stretch of arbitrary power, begs leave to inform the publick that he has some expectations of procuring a new set of materials, which, if he should be so fortunate as to succeed in, will enable him once more to apprize his countrymen of the danger they may be in from the machinations and black designs of their common enemy. The particular place where the office will be erected, is not yet fixed, but it will be so near Norfolk as to give him an opportunity of receiving the earliest and most authentick information of the proceedings of the gentlemen of the Army and Navy, and of sounding the alarm whenever danger approaches. As his paper has hitherto been free and open to all parties, he intends to observe the same caution and impartiality in his future publications, and cannot but flatter himself that his conduct has been such as will entitle him to the future en-couragement of his subscribers and the publick.

JOHN HUNTER HOLT.

THOMAS ROBINSON TO MESSRS. WILLIAM AND THOMAS BRADFORD.

Sussex County, October 12, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: A paper appeared in your Journal, No. 1712, said to be published by order of the Committee of the proposed new County in the Delaware Government, holding me out to the publick as an enemy to my Country. As that publication was made without my having an opportunity to controvert the charge made against me, though it has failed of answering the private election purposes for which it was made, in the County where I live; yet it may have some effect upon those who do not know me, and who, from their distance, cannot be acquainted with the true state of the matter. I therefore beg you will do me the justice to insert in your next paper the enclosed certificate, signed by five members of the Committee of Inspection, which is all I can yet procure. I also beg of the publick in general to suspend their opinion until the Committee have examined the matter, and are prepared to lay a full state of it before the publick. I shall avoid saying any thing about the charge, except that it is wholly groundless, not doubting but that I shall be honourably acquitted by the Committee.

I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c.,

THOMAS ROBINSON.

Messrs. William and Thomas Bradford.

We, the subscribers, being appointed to represent the character of Thomas Robinson, Esq., in that point of view in which it appeared to the Committee of that District lately annexed to the County of Sussex, do certify, that we have not as yet had it in our power to enter into a full discussion of the matter; but, in the mean time, beg leave to offer to the publick a resolution of a majority of a very full Committee, on the 16th day of August last:

“On motion, resolved by this Committee, that the proceeding of the Committee of Correspondence, of the 27th of July last, in regard to Thomas Robinson, Esq., is illegal, it being drawn up and sent to the press by only four of said Committee, when there should have been seven of that body at least to have done the same.”

And from any circumstance that has yet appeared to us on the inquiry that we have been able to make, the charge against the said Thomas Robinson is altogether without foundation. The publick is therefore desired to suspend their opinion in regard to said Robinson, until he is heard by the General Committee.

ISAAC MINSHALL, Chairman,
JOSEPH TURPIN,
ISAAC BRADLEY,
JOHN LAWS,
ALEX. LAWS.

NATHANIEL WOODHULL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

New-York, October 12, 1775.

SIR: Captain Thompson, lately arrived from London, was examined before the Provincial Congress here; some parts of the information he gave are important, and may not be fully known to you. therefore take liberty to enclose you notes of Mr. Thompson’s information, and have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and esteem, most respectfully, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President.

His Excellency General Washington.

New York, October 10, 1775.

Captain William Thompson informs that be left London the 13th of August, and left Torbay on the 19th; that it was generally reported in England that troops were to go from Ireland to Boston; that five Regiments were the number mentioned; that transports had actually sailed to take in those troops; that it was supposed the troops were ready, as they had been collecting from April last; that a train of artillery was shipping, and in part shipped for America; and that four Companies of Artillery are coming out therewith from London; that a brigantine was at Tor-bay, with artillery, arms, and ammunition, and that the officer who bad the care of the artillery, &c., told him that they were destined for Quebeck, and had on board ten thousand muskets, three hundred barrels of gunpowder,