wonder that the Colonists should be so unhappily seduced from their duty, as to act repugnant to those laws and that sovereign power which have so long protected them in the enjoyment of all they are possessed of.

Impressed, as we are, with a lively sense of your Majesty’s great wisdom and goodness, and of your constant attention to the interest and happiness of your people, we have entire confidence that your Majesty will exert the power intrusted to you by the Constitution, in convincing the disobedient and obstinate of their errors, and in punishing those who shall be found the instigators of a rebellion, which portends such mischief to your Majesty’s faithful subjects.

And we are persuaded, as it essentially concerns the honour and dignity of this Country to maintain the just rights of your Majesty over all your subjects in your extensive Dominions, so we trust that all your loyal subjects at home will concur and cheerfully unite in enabling your Majesty to maintain the authority of your Parliament over the Colonies, as the most effectual way, in our apprehensions, to secure their dutiful allegiance to their King, and proper subordination to the Parent State. And, to obtain these desirable ends, we, on our parts, profess ourselves ready, to the utmost of our abilities, to support your Majesty in all such measures as, in your great wisdom, you shall judge expedient; not doubting that when our fellow-subjects in America shall become sensible of their error, and return to their duty, your Majesty, from the benevolence of your mind, will graciously extend your clemency to them.

That the supreme disposer of all events may give success to your Majesty’s Councils, and disappoint the secret designs of your enemies, both at home and abroad; and that your Majesty, the great guardian of our laws and liberties, may long reign over a happy and united people; and may the crown of these realms flourish in your royal offspring, to the latest posterity, is the ardent wish and prayer of, may it please your Majesty, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects.

COMMITTEE OF NORTHAMPTON (VIRGINIA) TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read December 2, 1775.]

Northampton County, Virginia, November 25, 1775.

SIR: The Committee of this County have transmitted an exact copy of the enclosed to the Committee of Safety at Williamsburgh; but as there is some risk of our boats being intercepted and our despatches destroyed, we thought it prudent to acquaint you of our situation immediately, without loss of time.

I am, by order and in behalf of the Committee, your obedient humble servant,

SAMUEL S. MCCROSKEY.

To the Honourable John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress.

Northampton County, Virginia, November 25, 1775.

SIR: The following information, being gathered from intercepted letters and other authentick testimony, we beg leave to lay the same before you, and hope you will judge it deserving the most serious attention, and lay the same before the Congress:

That Lord Dunmore, on the 14th instant, with a party of Regulars and a number of volunteers, inhabitants of Norfolk, had attacked a party of Provincials near Kemp’s Landing, when the latter retreated with the loss of a few men killed and taken, amongst whom is Colonel Joseph Hatchings, made prisoner; that his Lordship had erected the King’s standard in Norfolk, and proclaimed all slaves free who would join him and take up arms; that a number of about two hundred slaves immediately joined him, and were furnished with arms and — crowding to him, when the advice came from thence; that the inhabitants of Norfolk and Princess Anne had every one appeared, and taken an oath, of which the enclosed paper (No. 1) is a copy; insomuch, says the writer, that "treason had not one abetter in the extensive County of Princess Anne;" that on the 18th, forty volunteers and forty soldiers set off to take possession of the Great Bridge, and that one hundred men were to join them from Princess Anne, headed by Colonel Jacob Ellgood; that Colonel Willoughby had ordered in all the Princess Anne militia; and that the Governour was at the head of twelve hundred men, and it was expected in a few days would have at least two thousand, all determined to guard the passes to Norfolk and Princess Anne Counties.

This intelligence has exceedingly alarmed the Committee, as we have reason to believe Lord Dunmore will soon pay us a visit here, where we are totally unprepared at present to receive him. Our County forms a peninsula, bounded on the east by the sea, and on the west by Chesapeake Bay, with a number of rivers and navigable creeks for large tenders; our coast eighty miles in extent; our slaves numerous, being more than double the number of whites; our militia not exceeding four hundred men; our people with few arms and less ammunition, for which reason we fear few of them would attempt any resistance; and we even have reason to think, that if Lord Dunmore was to demand our persons, that the people around us would deliver us up, rather than be exposed to the fury of his soldiers and our slaves. A people acting upon such principles certainly deserve but little assistance from the publick; but we beg leave to represent to you in what manner the possession of this place would affect the common cause, and increase his Lordship’s influence. Should his Lordship land any troops here, we can have no assistance from the western shore of Virginia, while the coast is guarded by his tenders; and after making himself master of this place, he, no doubt, as he has done in Princess Anne, would compel the people to take up arms, and lead them against the adjacent Counties. In the mean time, the slaves would crowd to his standard, and his Army become formidable in number; and, what we conceive to be most material, he would have possession of near half a million of bushels of grain, by which means he might open exports to the West-Indies and the Army at Boston. In such a situation, those who have manifested their attachment to the American cause would first be exposed to his Lordship’s resentment; and we fear the more numerous body of the people would stand censured by their Country, and at a future day be exposed to its vengeance.

In this critical situation, we think it our bounden duty to inform you of our danger, and the danger to which the common interest is exposed, and to pray such immediate assistance and direction as you, in your great wisdom, shall think the importance of the case requires, to encourage the friends of America, and keep the disaffected in awe.

At the last Convention held in this Colony, a number of Minute Companies were directed to be raised in this District, but have never been completed; people in general being averse to the minute service. None of our people have ever been in actual service, and therefore have no officers of experience, on whom they can rely. Great pains have been taken to debauch their minds, and to keep them totally pacifick. Lord Dunmore’s tenders have frequently come upon our coast, and have insinuated to our fishermen, and all the lower class of people, that they had nothing to fear, that no harm was intended against them, that they never would injure any other than their Committee men and other principal people, and persuaded many, by these means, that those who advise them to take up arms are their greatest enemies; and perhaps, if matters should soon come to an extremity, we should be exposed to the fury of the people. Many gentlemen here, in short, almost every man of considerable property, is well affected to the American cause; but many forbear openly to declare their sentiments, or take an active part, till they cap see some force ready to assist them, and afford a reasonable expectation of succeeding. In such a case, we have reason

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