pendence. Do any instructions of any one of the Provinces to their Representatives or Delegates, furnish the least ground for this suspicion? On the contrary, do they not all breathe the strongest attachment and filial piety for their parent country? But if she discards all the natural tenderness of a mother, and acts the part of a cruel step-dame, it must naturally be expected that their affections cease; the Ministry leave them no alternative—aut servire, aut alienari jubent. It is in human nature—it is a moral obligation, to adopt the latter. But the fatal separation has not yet taken place, and yourself, your single self, my friend, may perhaps prevent it. Upon the Ministry I am afraid you can make no impression. To repeat a hackneyed quotation,

"They are in blood,

Steep'd in so far, that should they wade no more,

To return would be as tedious as to go o'er."

But if you will at once break off all connections with these pernicious men—If you will waive all consideration but the salvation of your country, Great Britain may stand as much indebted to General Burgoyne as Rome was to her Camillus. Do not, I entreat you, my dear sir, think this the mad rhapsody of an enthusiast, nor the cant of a factious, designing man, for in these colours I am told I am frequently painted. I swear by all that's sacred, as I hope for comfort and honour in this world, and to avoid misery in the next, that I most earnestly and devoutly love my native country; that I wish the same happy relation to subsist for ages, betwixt her and her children, which has raised the wide arch of her empire to so stupendous and enviable a height; but at the same time I avow, that if the Parliament and people should be depraved enough to support any longer the present Ministry in their infernal scheme, my zeal and reverence for the rights of humanity are so much greater than my fondness for any particular spot, even the place of my nativity, that had I any influence in the councils of America, I would advise not to hesitate a single instant, but decisively to cut the Gordian knot now besmeared with civil blood.

This, I know, is strong, emphatick language, and might pass, with men who are strangers to the flame which the love of liberty is capable of lighting up in the human breast, for a proof of my insanity; but you, sir, you, unless I have mistaken you from the beginning, well conceive that a man in his sober senses may possess such feelings. In my sober senses, therefore, permit me, once more, most earnestly to entreat and conjure you to exert your whole force, energy, and talents, to stop the Ministry in this their headlong career. If you labour in vain, (as I must repeat I think will be the case,) address yourself to the people at large. By adopting this method, I am so sanguine as to assure myself of your success; and your publick character will be as illustrious as your personal qualities are amiable, to all who intimately know you. By your means, the Colonists will long continue the farmers, planters, and ship-wrights of Great Britain; but if the present course is persisted in, an eternal divorce must inevitably take place. As to the idea of subduing them into servitude, and indemnifying yourselves for the expense, you must be convinced, long before this, of its absurdity.

I should not, perhaps, be extravagant, if I advanced that all the ships of the world would be too few to transport force sufficient to conquer three millions of people, unanimously determined to sacrifice every thing to liberty. But if it were possible, the victory would be not less ruinous than the defeat. You would only destroy your own strength. No revenue can possibly be extracted out of this country. The army of placemen might be increased, but her circuitous commerce, founded on perfect freedom, which alone can furnish riches to the metropolis, would fall to the grounds But the dignity of Great Britain, it seems, is at stake! Would you, sir, if in the heat of passion you had struck a ample drummer of your regiment, and afterwards discovered that you had done it unjustly, think it any forfeiture of your dignity to acknowledge the wrong? No, (I am well acquainted with your disposition,) you would ask him pardon at the head of your regiment.

I shall now conclude (if you will excuse the pedantry) with a sentence of Latin: "Justum est bellum quibus necessarium, et pia arma quibus nulla, nisi in armis, relinquitur spes."

I most sincerely wish yon a quick and prosperous voyage, and that your happiness and glory may be equal to the idea I have of your merits, as I am, with the greatest truth and affection, yours, &c.,

C. LEE.

To General Burgoyne.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO COLONEL WENTWORTH

Cambridge, December 1, 1775.

SIR: Your favour of the 27th came safe to hand, at a time when we were all flushed with the agreeable account of Captain Manly's having taken a prize of the utmost consequence, which made us look over the potatoes and turnips of Captain Adams; but now, being a little cool, I assure you I do not think Adams's bon fortune so despicable. Though of little value to us, it is depriving the enemy of what to them would be of consequence. As to the prisoners, I wish you had kept or discharged them. In future you will please to let the Committee examine such as in these circumstances may fall into your hands, and they will judge of the best method of disposing of them. The money you advance must be a charge against the capture. I doubt not of Captain Adams's frugality and attention; you will therefore supply him with what necessaries he calls for. You will please to dispose of the cargo by the Rainbow, and lay up the schooner until further orders; though, if a reasonable price can be got for her, you may dispose of her. This is left to your better judgment. I have supplied Benjamin ten dollars towards defraying his expense back. This must also become a charge upon the capture. I hope Adams will soon take such a prize as Manly has. I really believe the cargo could not cost short of £10,000 sterling. To us it is invaluable.

Adieu, my dear sir. Believe me your assured friend,

S. MOYLAN.

Colonel Joshua Wentworth, Portsmouth.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO WILLIAM WATSON.

Cambridge, December 1, 1775.

Sir: Your favours of the 23d and 29th ultimo are come to hand. Captain Coifs lieutenant has been here, and gives an account of his schooner being so old and crazy as to be unfit for the service he is employed in. If there was a possibility of fitting a better vessel out in six or eight days, and removing the guns, &c., from on board the schooner, his Excellency would be glad it could be done, as there are store-ships and transports expected all this month. But that mutinous spirit which reigns through the marines and sailors, makes the General despair of your being able to effect this to any purpose; so that I believe it is best to give the affair up, and not put the publick to an unnecessary expense. You must be the proper judge in this matter. To you his Excellency leaves it, adverting that if the vessel cannot be fitted, and men willing to go in her in the abovementioned time, you are to lay the schooner up, have the ammunition, stores, and every thing on board carefully secured, a proper inventory taken of them, signed by the proper officers, and transmitted to headquarters by the first good conveyance. Should this be necessary, you will please to inform Captain Coit that it is his Excellency's orders that he make what despatch he can to camp, with the men under his command.

As to Captain Martindale's people, it is his Excellency's orders that all such as are unwilling to proceed to cruise with him, be immediately sent to camp to join their respective regiments, under the care of an officer; and if Captain Martindale can, with your assistance, get people to go with him, they shall receive forty shillings lawful money per month, and one-third of all prizes they may have the good luck to make, divided agreeably to the instructions given to the captain. Indeed, the shares, I believe, will be on a better plan than therein mentioned, as it is now under consideration of Congress to allow one-third of all vessels and cargoes to the captors. Should you and Captain Martindale find it impossible to get men on these terms in a seasonable time, I must only say, that the deficiency of public spirit in this country is much more than I could posssibly have an idea of.

His Excellency has been abroad whilst I wrote the fore-