I am, Sir, your humble servant,

ROBERT H. HARRISON, Aid-de-Camp.

To Jonathan Glover, Esq., Marblehead.

[The same to William Bartlelt, Esq., Beverly; to Colonel Joshua Went worth, Portsmouth; and to William Watson, Esq., Plymouth.]

WILLIAM BARTLETT TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Beverly, November 9, 1775.

SIR: These are to inform your Excellency that yesterday a small boat, with about fifteen men, went out of this harbour, and took a schooner, from Ireland, loaded with beef, pork, butter, &c. As your Excellency approved of my conduct with regard to the other prize, the North-Briton, I thought it my duty to proceed in the same manner; therefore, when she came in, I made a demand of the papers, &c., but the people refused me. As I am willing and desirous to live in peace with all men, should be extremely glad if your Excellency would give me some particular directions with regard to such vessels; for if I have no power to make such demands, I make myself appear ridiculous to the eye of the world, which is far from being my desire.

I shall forward to your Excellency, as soon as possible, the goods found on board the North-Briton; and am your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

WILLIAM BARTLETT.

To General Washington.

ADDRESS OF THE NOBLEMEN, ETC., OF THE COUNTY OF
FIFE.

Address of the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of the County of Fife, transmitted to the Earl of Suffolk, one of His Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, and presented to His Majesty.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of the County of FIFE.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of the County of Fife, humbly beg leave to approach the throne, with the strongest assurances of our firm attachment and warmest affection to your Majesty’s royal person and family, and of our zeal for the honour of your crown and the dignity of Great Britain.

Sensible of the many blessings which your Majesty’s mild and auspicious Government has diffused over every part of your Dominions, it is with the greatest concern we observe the conduct of your Colonies in America, who are now engaged in the most open acts of rebellion against your Majesty’s Government, as well as of these turbulent and factious men, who have endeavoured to alienate the minds of your subjects from their just and true allegiance, and by whose means this rebellion has been chiefly promoted and encouraged. We therefore beg leave, in the most dutiful manner, to assure your Majesty that we will, to the utmost of our power, be ready to support your Majesty, the honour and dignity of your crown, and the authority of the British Legislature, in defence of our valuable Constitution.

While we lament the folly of your Majesty’s deluded subjects in the Colonies, we cannot but admire the gracious declaration your Majesty was pleased to make from the throne, of your being willing to receive them with tenderness and mercy, when they become sensible of their errour; and express our most fervent wishes that they may soon avail themselves of your Majesty’s clemency, so that peace and tranquillity may be restored to all your Dominions.

That your Majesty’s reign may be long and prosperous, over a free, a happy, and a grateful people, sensible of the many blessings they enjoy under the Government of the best of Sovereigns, is the earnest wish and prayer of us, your Majesty’s most dutiful and affectionate subjects.

Signed in our name, and at our appointment, by

LEVEN, Præses.

Cupar, November 10, 1775.

ADDRESS OF THE HIGH SHERIFF, ETC., OF THE COUNTY
OF DUBLIN.

Address of the High Sheriff and Grand Jury of the County of Dublin, transmitted by his Excellency the Earl Harcourt, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Weymouth, one of His Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, and presented to His Majesty.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the High Sheriff and Grand, Jury
of the County of DUBLIN.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the High Sheriff and Grand Jury of the County of Dublin, sensible of the many blessings we enjoy under your Majesty’s mild and just Government, feel ourselves, at this time, indispensably called upon to express our abhorrence of the unnatural rebellion existing in a part of your American Dominions, and our highest indignation at the ungrateful revolt, by which the Government of the best of Kings hath been for some time disturbed in your Majesty’s Colonies.

With the utmost sincerity and zeal, we beg leave to assure your Majesty of our inviolable attachment to your sacred person and Government, which we are determined to support, at the hazard of our lives, against all hostility to your royal crown and dignity, and to the violated rights of the British Empire.

We cannot sufficiently admire the temper with which your Majesty has acted, from your paternal anxiety to prevent, as long as possible, the calamities which are inseparable from a stale of war; and we, with equal concern and regret, observe that the resolutions of the British Parliament, breathing moderation and forbearance, have produced no other effect on the deluded minds of the disobedient part of your American subjects, than usurpation and rebellion.

We find that the rebellious war, now levied in America, hath not been confined in its objects to Great Britain; for it appears, in several of the American Resolutions, that their resentments are also directed to the trade of this Kingdom; and we glory in being considered, even by those who injure us, as united with Great Britain, against all the universe, and as devoted to your Majesty against every enemy upon earth.

By your Majesty’s arms was preserved the very existence of this ungrateful people; by the courage and discipline of your troops were they saved from the impending danger of a powerful, and, till then, victorious foe. Ireland shared in that triumph; and we trust Ireland fervently wishes to see accomplished the glorious task of restoring to the Americans that liberty which is consistent with the laws of the Empire, and those comforts of life which interested and desperate agitators, with merciless perseverance, instigate them to forfeit.

’Tis indeed to be lamented they should still listen to these restless deluders, who, whilst they affect to deprecate the effusion of blood, call for the shedding of it; and who, by efforts as unavailing as unwarrantable, urge on the destruction of those whom the whole power of your Majesty’s insulted Dominions are happily combined to subdue.

We acknowledge, with gratitude, your Majesty’s concern for our commercial advancement, upon which our prosperity and happiness so exceedingly depend; and we trust to your Majesty’s distinguished firmness and wisdom, to support the dignity, maintain the rights, uphold the Constitution, and restore the tranquillity of the British Empire.