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sacred altar;* at which, when I beheld a right honourable communicant, with his livery servants on his right hand and left, my soul was raised almost to the third heaven, and my spirits filled with evangelical love; for not many mighty, not many noble, are truly godly. As your Lordship's condescension was so laudable, honourable, and scriptural, as to appear a professor of Christianity, a witness for God, and the truly humble soul, I trust and firmly believe that "the most fine gold is not yet become dim." To whom, then, shall I write or speak, in behalf of the miserable convulsed empire; for your Lordship, hath, I trust, eternal life at heart, and everlasting felicity, by faith, in full view,
The Parliament of Great Britain say, that they have a right to tax or bind the Americans in all cases whatsoever; to which they answer, "As they were born free, free they will be or die." And upon many of their hats there is this motto: "Freedom or death;" upon others, "God and our rights."
Since the battle of Lexington, I have been twice in eight of the thirteen United Colonies, namely: Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New- York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Neiccastle, &c.,† and Maryland; all which, except New-York, are almost unanimous in the voice of liberty. Indeed, none (save a few officers under the Crown) are willing to be bound by the British Parliament in all cases whatsoever. The Americans declare, a master can lay no greater burden on a slave than to bind him in all cases whatsoever. These things the United Colonies have imbibed) and before this can reach your Lordship, Canada will, in all human probability, be added to the thirteen; for St. John's and Montreal have, upon capitulation, surrendered, and the rest of the Province, in every other respect, bids fair for a general surrender, or subjection to the American side. In New-York City and Province, although there are, I verily believe, more friends to Government, as they call themselves, than all the rest of the Colonies together can produce, yet in the City and Province there is on the other side of the question a majority large enough to subdue them at any time; for instance, a few weeks ago, some of these friends appeared in the Province in opposition to the American voice, whereon a small party went out immediately, who subdued and disarmed them. These friends, my Lord, are not worthy of the appellation; they are only sycophants. They flatter with their lips and pens, and deceive, I fear, your Lordship and others in Administration, from packet to packet. They have repeatedly in sinuated that the New-England Governments have nothing else in view but independence. It is totally repugnant to truth. Before the sword was drawn, there could not possibly be greater loyalists. In the year 1769, I arrived first in America, and they daily manifested what loving subjects they were; and the dissenting clergy, also, in every opportunity, were particularly anxious to invoke the great Jehovah in behalf of their dread sovereign, of whom they speak in terms the most pathetick; also for all Governours and officers, as well as for others, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, might still be and flourish under his sceptre. Add to this, I justly may, the several conversations I have had with, and the private prayers I have heard by those gentlemen, concerning His Majesty, his crown and dignity; with all which every loyalist could but be perfectly well pleased. To these facts, ray Lord, I have not only been an ear-witness in one Colony, but in many; nay, even in Massachusetts-Bay and her capital.
Now, my Lord, for Christ's sake attend faithfully.
About two months ago, I viewed the camps, Roxbury and Cambridge. The lines of both are impregnable; with forts (many of which are bomb-proof) and redoubts, supposing them to be all in a direction, are about twenty miles; the breastworks of a proper height, and in many places seventeen feet in thickness; the trenches wide and deep in proportion, before which lay forked impediments; and many of the forts, in every respect, are perfectly ready for battle. The whole, in a word, an admiration to every spectator; for verily their fortifications appear to be the works of seven years, instead of about as many months. At these camps are about twenty thousand men, well disciplined. The Generals and other officers, in all their military under takings, solid, discreet, and courageous; the men daily raving for action, and seemingly void of fear. There are many floating batteries, and also batteaus in abundance; besides this strength, ten thousand militia are ordered in that Government to appear on the first summons. Provisions and money there are very plenty, and the soldiers faithfully paid. The army in great order, and very healthy, and about six weeks ago lodged in comfortable barracks. Chaplains constantly attend the camps, morning and night; prayers as often offered up for peace and reconciliation, and the soldiers very attentive. The roads, at the time I viewed the camps, were almost lined with spectators, and thousands with me can declare the above, respecting the camps, to be a just description. But, my Lord, I have more facts to mention.
A Continental and Provincial currencies, to facilitate this great undertaking, are emitted, which circulate freely, and are daily exchanged for silver and gold. Their harbours by the spring will swarm with privateers. An Admiral is appointed, a court established, and the 3d instant, the Continental flag on board the Black Prince, opposite Philadelphia, was hoisted. Many of the Captains of those vessels, in the last war, proved their intrepidity to the world by their prizes, and some of them have already taken many valuable prizes which Government had ordered to Boston, and thereby must have much distressed the troops; all which the prints will particularize.
The appointment of the Continental and Provincial Congresses and Committees, your Lordship, without doubt, be fore now must be fully acquainted with. These sets of gentlemen, by virtue of the great privileges with which the Colonies have entrusted them, claim now the following prerogatives over the United Colonies: The Continental Congress is over all, under the King; the Provincials over the Committees, and the Committees over the Counties, The Congresses and Committees have so raised and regulated the militia and minute-men, whom they have raised almost in every County, that they make in every city and town the most warlike appearance. Saltpetre is made in abundance, and powder-mills constantly employed in many Provinces, and many believe that there is now in the pos session of the Americans powder enough for three years. This, to me, is very obvious. Soon after General Gage collected the troops from the several Provinces into one body at Boston, the Congresses ordered all the shop keepers not to sell their powder to fowlers and hunters, but to keep the same for the use of the Colonies which, in general, was faithfully observed. Before this, a person might get a large quantity of powder almost at every large store or merchant's shop, in every city, town, and county, on the Continent. Now, all this collected together, arid what the mills have made, together with the great quantities taken at St. John's, Montreal, other forts, and on the seas, must make an immense quantity; add to This, the constant employment of the mills, and a great number of privateers faithfully looking out for yours. And, my Lord, how is it possible for all store-ships to escape a fleet so large, which at this lime, I firmly believe, is composed of fifty sail, and by next spring I shall not marvel if their fleet be doubled.
Iron guns of the best quality have been made in America; and as they have plenty of iron and lead mines, they can make what quantity of cannon, shot, and bullets they please. But Administration have lately supplied them with a very valuable assortment of such stores.* Rifles, infinitely better than those imported, are daily made in many places in Pennsylvania, and all the gunsmiths every where constantly employed. In this country, my Lord, the boys, as soon as they can discharge a gun, frequently exercise themselves therewith, some a fowling, and others a hunt ing. The great quantities of game, the many kinds, and the great privileges of killing, make the Americans the best marksmen in the world, and thousands support their families principally by the same, particularly riflemen on the frontiers, whose objects are deer and turkies. In marching through woods, one thousand of these riflemen would cut to pieces ten thousand of your best troops. I don't, my Lord, speak at random, or write partially. I have travelled too much among these men to be insensible of their abili-
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