SENTIMENTS OF A GENTLEMAN OF EMINENCE, UPON THE OCCASION OF THE BURNING OF FALMOUTH.

1st. The inconsistency of fitting out privateers, at a great expense, to intercept ships laden with provisions for the enemy, and at the same time recommending it to each particular sea-port Town to furnish, at least not to prevent them from furnishing, the men of war with all provisions and necessaries, is so manifest that it would be idle to dwell upon it.

2d. If it he said that it is prudent by this act of compliance to save the Towns from cannonade, it may be answered, the men of war will certainly make further demands, and on the same principles their demands must be complied with.

3d. Is it not reasonable to suppose, when the Ministerial instruments reap such fruits from their menaces, that they will point out to their masters the weak parts of America, and consequently that they will be encouraged to persist in their plan?

4th. Is it not probable, or almost certain, if one Town bids them defiance, that the rest would be ashamed not to follow the example? And vice versa, if the sanction of the Congress is given to any degree of compliance and submission to their terms, is it not probable that some one Town will avail itself of the sanction, and extend their complacency in proportion to the magnitude of their threats? That another and another will plead precedent, and thus ultimately the enemy will be enabled, by our own assistance, to continue the war to our destruction?

5th. Is it not certain, that if once the spirit prevails of denying every kind of refreshment to the ships of war, they cannot possibly keep their station; that diseases and desertions of the crews would in a short time unman the fleet, and consequently the distresses of America be brought to a speedy issue? But if it becomes an established rule to furnish the ships with necessaries, may not the war and distresses of America be prolonged ad infinitum?

6th. Is it in fact a clear case that ships of war can, with so great facility, destroy sea-port Towns? If indeed they have force sufficient to land, they may effect this destruction;* but those who suppose it can be done by dint of cannonade, must be very little acquainted with the effects of cannon.† Cannon make a formidable noise to ears unused to the sound, but Towns will receive inconsiderable damage from the utmost fury of any ships of war which can come into our harbours.

But, in our present circumstances, (taking it for granted that ships and cannon can work all this mischief, ) is it not necessary to inculcate the principles of making partial sacrifices for the general good? For if this principle is not established, could a poor defenceless Town be censured for submission to any terms which their lords may choose to dictate?

Would any circumstance so effectually reduce the Ministry to despair, as showing an indifference about the existence or destruction of our Towns?

ACCOUNT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWN OF FALMOUTH, OCTOBER 18, 1775.

Falmouth, January 15, 1776.

Last March, one Captain Coulson, who had been for two or three years an inhabitant and trader in this Town, imported from Great Britain a quantity of sails and rigging; he immediately applied to the Committee of Inspection for leave to use them, in preparing a ship he had launched for her voyage to England. The Committee judged it would be a breach of the Continental Association, and refused to give him liberty, though they thought the case was hard, and would gladly have construed the Association in his favour: but he grew angry, and bade defiance to Committees and Congresses. However, under the pretence of going to the Provincial Congress for leave to rig, he went and obtained the Canceau, Captain Mowat, which arrived about the beginning of April, and under her protection rigged his new ship.

On the ninth day of May, Captain Mowat fell into the hands of Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson and Company, who had lain in wait for him; but, by the earnest solicitation of some gentlemen among us, as the Navy of Britain had not then commenced any hostilities against any part of the Continent, and as we expected several provision vessels to arrive soon, which we stood in great need of, he was persuaded to set him at liberty, the said Mowat promising to deliver himself up the next day, which promise he did not think proper to fulfil. A day or two after, without any affront or injury being offered him by the Town, Captain Mowat sent us a letter, threatening to fire upon the Town, if we would not by force expel Colonel Thompson and his Company. Instead of regarding it, the Town treated Colonel Thompson with civility, and his men were victualled at the expense of persons in this Town, as long as they pleased to tarry with us; the Town expecting as a consequence of it, for two or three days, to be cannonaded; in which time the inhabitants were at great expense and trouble in removing themselves and effects into the back settlements.

Soon after this, one Mr. Crandell was taken into custody by Admiral Graves; and after he was liberated, reported, that the Admiral inquired of him whether Captain Coulson had loaded. To which he answered in the negative; and that the Admiral then said, if that Town prevents his loading, I will lay it in ashes, or to that purpose. This report was but little attended to at the time, as the said Mr. Crandell was but little known in this place. But since the conflagration we have obtained from him the following deposition :

“I, Philip Crandell, of Harpswell, in the County of Cumberland, and Province of Massachusetts-Bay, being of lawful age, do testify and say: that some time in the month of June last I sailed from Harpswell, for Salem, and upon my passage there, I, the deponent, was forcibly taken by an armed vessel, and carried into Boston; and being in the presence of Admiral Graves, he asked me if such a man of war (he named her, but I forgot her name) had arrived at Falmouth. I answered that I heard she had. He then asked me if I thought she would be opposed by the people. I replied, I could not tell. He then asked me if Captain Coulson was loading at Falmouth. I answered, that I had heard he met with such opposition from the people as to prevent it. Upon which the Admiral said, you may tell them, if they will not let him load, that I will send a ship or ships, and beat the Town down about their ears. I then told the Admiral that Captain Coulson’s being prevented loading was not owing to the inhabitants of Falmouth-Neck, but to the country people. I do not remember that the Admiral made any reply, or said anything further relative to Falmouth or Captain Coulson. And further I, the deponent, say not.

“PHILIP CRANDELL.”

“CUMBERLAND, ss. Harpswell, January 1, A. D., 1776:

“Then the above named Philip Crandell personally appeared and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed, before me,

“WM, SYLVESTER, Just. Pacis.”

Mr. Crandell’s mistake in thinking Captain Coulson’s being prevented loading was not owing to the inhabitants of Falmouth-Neck will appear by and by. Captain Mowat, despairing, as we suppose, of being able to protect Captain Coulson, went away with him to Portsmouth. Captain Coulson returned the 7th day of June, in his ship, together with the Senegal, Captain Duddingston. The same day, or the day following, a party of the inhabitants of the Neck, by the direction of the Town’s Committee, and in compliance with a resolve of the Provincial Congress, to prevent Tories carrying their effects out of the Country, seized a number of masts, which the said Coulson was just ready to take in, and towed them up a river, to a place where neither Coulson nor Duddingston dared to go after them.

Nothing further happened, that we can recollect, that has any connection with the destruction of the Town, excepting our generally obeying the authority of Congresses, until Monday, the 16th clay of October last, when Captain Mowat, in the Canceau, with another larger ship, called the Cat, a large schooner, and a small sloop, all armed vessels, arrived in our harbour, and anchored down by the

*They effected the burning of Falmouth, a wooden Town, partly by landing marines.

†This is demonstrated by the little damage generally sustained by Cities during a siego, and the small proportion of buildings burnt when the siege is over.