began the rebellion, and they have the best title to reward. Do you think that the other Colonies cannot furnish as artful demagogues as this Province can? Do not imagine that we are the men that wisdom is to die with. We shall be cantoned out into petty States; we shall be involved in perpetual wars for an inch or two of ground; our fertile fields will be deluged with blood; our wives and children be involved in the horrid scene; foreign Powers will step in and share in the plunder that remains, and those who are left to tell the story will be reduced to a more abject slavery than that which you now dread. The Colonies are too jealous of each other to remain long in a state of friendship.

I will now, my fellow-citizens, change the scene to a more eligible view for your interest, and suppose it possible, though you don’t think it so, that Great Britain can conquer you, and that, instead of being victors, you may be subjects again. You will then have the mildest Government to live under; a Government to be envied by the rest of mankind, and whose only unhappiness is, that it is too apt to abuse that liberty which God and the Constitution hath blessed it with. She hath been loth to call you conquered; she hath, like an over-fond parent, indulged your peevishness, and withheld her resentment, until she hath felt the smart of her indulgence; she is now roused, but her resentment is tempered with mildness. He whom you formerly acknowledged for your Sovereign drops the tear of pity for you, in his late speech from the throne; a speech so attempered with paternal pity, royal firmness of mind, and sentiment of dignity, as distinguishes the speaker as the father of his Country and the ornament of human nature. Clemency he is distinguished for; he is revered for his humanity; but his soul is impressed with too much magnanimity, to suffer his laws and the rights of his subjects to be trampled under the foot of rebellion; he holds out the sceptre of mercy, that bright gem of his royal dignity, for you to embrace; but if you choose to kiss the rod of his justice, be you yourselves witnesses that it is not his choice. Remember that Heaven punishes but to save. The God of Heaven hath repeatedly checked rebellion, and our own history confirms its defeats. Rebellion is so odious in the eyes of all rational beings, that it is for the universal good that it should be suppressed. It saps the foundation of moral virtue, and therefore it is for the general interest that all nature should rise in arms against it; and I have not the least doubt that Providence will arrest it in its career. When that time comes, complain not that you were not forewarned, and bear your own punishment without murmuring.

That you may seriously reflect on your own impending fate, and the fate of your wives and innocent children, before you take the deadly plunge, and that you may immediately retire from the precipice of ruin, is the friendly wish of your fellow-citizen,

Z. Z.

NEW-YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Minutes of the Proceedings during the recess of the Provincial Congress, by their adjournment on the 4th of NOVEMBER, 1775, until a sufficient number of the newly elected Delegates attended to represent a majority of the Counties and form a Congress, on the 6th of DECEMber, 1775.*

A Letter from the Honourable John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was received by express, after the Provincial Congress had adjourned, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Philadelphia, November 9, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Your several letters, lately received, have been laid before the Congress. Those that respect the fort in the Highlands have been acted upon, and I here enclose you the resolutions of Congress thereupon, which you will please put in immediate execution. As soon as Congress have determined upon the other matters mentioned in your letters, the result shall be communicated to you, as I am directed to forward immediately, by express, the enclosed.

“I have not time to add but that I am, with respect, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.

“To the Members of the Convention of New-York.”

The Resolutions of the Continental Congress of the 8th of November, enclosed in said Letter, are as follows, viz:

“In Congress, November 8, 1775.

“Resolved, That a Commander, with the rank of a Colonel, be appointed to take command of the Fortifications or Fortresses on Hudson’s River, in the Highlands.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New-York, to empower the said Commander to call together and command two hundred men of the Militia of Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties, and one Company of Artillery from the City of New-York, who shall be stationed in the Highlands until relieved by the Company of Artillery directed by this Congress to be raised in the City of New-York, and such other Continental troops as may hereafter be directed to take possession of the same.

“Resolved, That the Minute-Men or Militia, while on service, be maintained and paid at the same rate as the rest of the Continental forces.

“Resolved, That a number of the Militia of the Counties of Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster, be formed into Independent Companies, under the direction of the Commander of the said fortresses, and, in case of alarm, be directed to repair to the several stations in the Highlands, which, in order to prevent confusion, should be immediately assigned them.

“Resolved, That the troops which shall at any time hereafter be directed to garrison the fortresses in the Highlands be put under the direction of the Commander of the fortresses, except when headed by a General Officer.

“Resolved, That the Deputy Commissary-General be directed to provide sufficient provision for one thousand men for one month, and keep that quantity in stock.

“Resolved, That the Powder sent from this place to General Schuyler be remanded, if it can be any way spared, and left at the fortresses in the Highlands.

“Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to furnish the Colony of New-York with five hundred pounds of Powder, and forward the same immediately to Dobbs’s Ferry; that the Convention of New-York give order to receive it there, and send it as soon as possible to the fortresses in the Highlands.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New-York, if they have not already sent forward a sufficient number of Cannon for the defence of the fortresses erecting in the Highlands, that they immediately send forward to those fortresses so many of the Cannon at Kings-bridge, of the best quality and largest bore, as they may think necessary for that purpose.”

The Provincial Congress having adjourned to the 14th of November, when the new elected members are to meet, such of the members of the new Congress as were present in New-York forwarded copies of said Resolutions to the Committees of Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties, enclosed in a Letter in the words following, to wit:

New-York, November 13, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: You will see, by the enclosed copy of sundry resolutions, received by express from the honourable Continental Congress, that your County, together with the other two Counties therein mentioned, are to furnish immediately two hundred men to the fortifications on Hudson’s River, to be maintained and paid in the same manner as the Continental troops, and to remain there until relieved. That you are also to form a number of your militia into Companies, to be ready, in case of alarm, to proceed to any post on the river, and perform duty, at a minute’s warning.

We conceive that you will think it your duty to furnish immediately at least one-third of the number required, to wit, a Company of sixty-seven men, including officers, properly armed, accoutred, and equipped, to proceed without delay to the said fortifications, and remain there till relieved by order of the Continental Congress. If you shall

* The new Congress were to have met on the 14th of November, they were elected on the 7th of November, according to the ordinance of the 27th of October.