the enemy from Dorchester Hills; and we imagine they never discovered our party there till eight o’clock in the morning, by which time they were well covered. We expected an attack yesterday, at twelve o’clock, and were prepared for it—our floating-batteries, boats, &c., all ready to carry four thousand men into the town, if they had made a vigorous sally against our Dorchester party; but we were disappointed.

Last night we had a most violent gale of wind at south, by which the enemy’s ships have suffered much, (the particulars not known,) and this day the weather is fresh. It has not been in their power to attack us. By to-morrow, we shall be so well prepared for them at Dorchester, that they may come if they please. If they do not, we shall soon move forward upon Nook’s Point; and then, if we can get powder, we shall endeavour to warm their den.

We have not had a deserter or prisoner, nor an inhabitant escaped from town, to give us any information from thence. I dare say we have done great mischief among them. I was on Lechmere’s Point on Saturday night. The thirteen-inch mortar was directed at the Province-House, and the shells went very near it, I believe.

We have had two men killed: one on Lechmere’s Point, by the bursting of a shell; the other at Roxbury, by a cannon-ball. No more killed. Colonel Mason, of the Train, slightly wounded by the bursting of a mortar; and a few others; none badly.

The Militia, and owners of teams in this neighbourhood, have behaved admirably on this occasion. A fine spirit prevails in general. I wish I could say the like spirit, and activity, and ability, were universal.

I am extremely sorry to hear of the danger of Mr. Lynch . I revere his character, and most sincerely wish his recovery.

Colonel Dyer writes me that he saw you, and that you were gone on rejoicing. I hope ere this you are, safe in Philadelphia, which I shall be glad to be ascertained of from yourself.

I am, with respect and esteem, dear Sir, your most humble servant,

JOSEPH TRUMBULL.

To the Hon. William Hooper, Esq., in Continental Congress, Philadelphia.

P. S. Colonel Mifflin is pretty well recovered, and sends his compliments, in which Mrs. Mifflin likewise joins him.

Philadelphia, March 13, 1776.

Americans! Remember the Stamp Act, by which immense sums were to be yearly extorted from you.

Remember the Declaratory Act, by which a power was assumed of binding you, in all cases whatsoever, without your consent.

Remember the broken promise of the Ministry, * never again to attempt a tax on America.

Remember the Duty Act.

Remember the massacre of Boston, by British soldiers.

Remember the ruin of that once flourishing city, by their means.

Remember, the massacre at Lexington.

Remember the burning of Charlestown.

Remember General Gage’s infamous breach of faith with the people of Boston.

Remember the cannonading, bombarding, and burning of Falmouth.

Remember the shrieks and cries of the women and children.

Remember the cannonading of Stonington and Bristol.

Remember the burning of Jamestown, Rhode-Island.

Remember the frequent insults of Newport.

Remember the broken Charters.

Remember the cannonade of Hampton.

Remember the Act for screening and encouraging your murderers.

Remember the cannonade of New-York.

Remember the altering your established Jury Laws.

Remember the hiring foreign Troops against you.

Remember the rejecting of Lord Chatham’s, Mr. Hartley’s, and Mr. Burke’s plans of conciliation.

Remember the rejecting all your numerous humble Petitions.

* In Lord Hillsborough’s Circular Letter.

Remember the contempt with which they spoke of you in both Houses.

Remember the cowardly endeavour to prevent foreign nations supplying you with arms and ammunition, when they themselves knew they intended coming to cut your throats.

Remember their hiring Savages to murder your farmers, with their families.

Remember the bribing Negro slaves to assassinate their masters.

Remember the burning of Norfolk. *

Remember their obliging you to pay treble duties, when you came to trade with the countries you had helped them to conquer.†

Remember their depriving you of all trade in the fisheries you had, equally with them, spent your blood and treasure to acquire.

Remember their old restrictions on your woollen manufactures; your hat-making; your iron and steel forges and furnaces.

Remember their arbitrary Admiralty Courts.

Remember the inhuman treatment of the brave Colonel Allen, and the irons he was sent in to England.

Remember the long, habitual, base venality of British Parliaments.

Remember the corrupt, putrefied state of that nation, and the virtuous, sound, healthy state of your own young constitution.

Remember the tyranny of Mezentius, who bound living men face to face with dead ones, and the effect of it.‡

Remember the obduracy and unforgiving spirit of the tyrant, evident in the treatment of his own brothers.

Remember that an honourable death is preferable to an ignominious life; and never forget what you owe to yourselves, your families, and your posterity.

LORD STIRLING TO THE COMMITTEES OF ESSEX, ETC., NEW-JERSEY.

New-York, March 13, 1776.

By intelligence received from General Washington, the King’s Army at Boston is actually embarked, and there is the highest reason to believe that they are destined for this place. I must, therefore, request that the County of Essex will immediately assemble their Militia, and pick out three or four hundred of their best men, and send them here to assist in fortifying and defending this place.

Be pleased to forward the enclosed to the Committee of Morris County.

I am your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

(To Chairmen of the Committees of the Counties of Essex, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Hunterdon .)

LORD STIRLING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read March 15, 1776.]

New-York, March 13, 1776.—Two o’clock, P. M.

DEAR SIR: The express, which will deliver this to you, a few minutes ago brought me despatches from General Washington, containing the very important intelligence which will be communicated to you. I have laid these letters before the Congress of this Province, and have requested them to appoint a Committee instantly to confer, with me on the steps necessary to be taken for the defence of this city and Long-Island . I propose to employ all the inhabitants, and every person in town, immediately, in assisting at the works; to call in three or four hundred men from each of the Counties of this Province and New-Jersey; to order the Third Battalion of New-Jersey Troops, and six companies of the Second Battalion of Pennsylvania, to stop here till further orders, which will not much retard their march to Canada, as they can go from hence to Albany by water. I shall do everything else that I can think of for the safety of this place.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the President of Congress.

* This, and all the before-mentioned, were open, defenceless towns, which, by the laws of war, should always be spared.

† An Act of Parliament, 14 George 3d, laying a duty of three pence per gallon on all spirits imported into Canada from Britain; and nine pence it from any of the North American Colonies.

‡ The corruption of the one poisoned the other

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