but for the sinking of a load of paper money, which, in time, without an exchange for specie, must become of no value? A trade is absolutely necessary to procure clothes, blankets, nails, and even arms and ammunition, and as necessary to enable the planter and farmer to pay off their proportion of the taxes which must, in a few years, be collected; as well as to enable them to pay their mutual debts, and maintain their families. Foreigners ought, therefore, to be immediately invited to trade with us; but this they cannot openly do without engaging in the war against Britain; and it is not worth their while to incur the expense which must attend a war, unless they can be certain that they shall always enjoy the benefit of the trade for which they enter into the war. If they were once assured of this, there is no doubt we should enjoy, not only the benefit of a free and full trade, but should engage in our quarrel powerful allies–allies who are not only able to revenge us of our enemies, but who would do it with pleasure, to gratify their own revenge. England deserves this at our hands: she who, by our assistance, was raised to the highest pitch of glory to which any nation ever arose, has spurned at us; has levied a cruel war against us, calling in to her assistance Russians, Hanoverians, Canadians, Indians, and Negro slaves. I say, she deserves that we should declare ourselves independent of her, and call in to our assistance the French and Spaniards; and if we do this, we shall soon be amply revenged on her for her ingratitude and cruelty, and shall completely humble her pride, and exalt ourselves to a state of eminence and glory, and become the envy and admiration of mankind;

If our trade should be opened to France, Spain, and the Mediterranean, we should not only find a better market for our tobacco and grain of all sorts than we have ever yet met with, but we should readily procure all the necessaries we may want; and the trade would introduce numbers of useful manufacturers and various artists. But, as it has been observed above, this trade cannot be procured without declaring ourselves independent States; nor the war prosecuted effectually without a trade, or, indeed, without a maritime ally. What friend to his country, or even to his family, would scruple a moment to declare for independence? If a powerful fleet and army should suddenly invade our country, and get possession of the lower parts of it, wasting it with fire and sword, and should totally put a stop to our trade, and, at the same time, should supply their armies from hence with provisions of every sort, and enable them to make a complete conquest of some other Colony, we should then wish we had called in the assistance of the French and Spanish fleets; or if, whilst we are most dutifully whining after our mother country, France should choose not to wait any longer for offers from the Congress, but should agree with England to share the plunder of America, what should we say for ourselves? But, God be praised, France has waited with patience; and it is not yet too late to ask assistance of her; and she seems prepared to give it; and, if she does, England must desist from her cruel plan of enslaving the Colonies, and will think herself happy to come in for a share of their extensive trade. So shall peace and harmony be restored to these distracted countries, which will become great and flourishing in commerce, arts, and sciences, and will flourish as long as they enjoy freedom, and practice virtue.

AN AEMERICAN.

March 15, 1776.

G. MASON AND JOHN DALTON TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fairfax County, Virginia, March 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Being employed, by the Committee of Safety for this Colony, to fit out three armed cruisers and two row-galleys, for the protection of Potomack River, we have, in consequence thereof, bought three sloops, the largest of which (called the American Congress) will mount fourteen carriage-guns, six and four-pounders, and be manned with about ninety men. We are now raising the company of Marines, which will be completed in a few days. She has most of her guns mounted. The shot are now casting at a furnace in the neighbourhood; and if we had powder, she would be very soon fit for action. We wrote to our Delegates at the Congress, to purchase for us, in Philadelphia, twenty barrels of powder, and forward it to us by land, to serve until we could get a larger supply; which they promised to do, so soon as it could be procured there; but none has yet come to hand, and we are very uneasy lest some of the enemy’s cutters should come up this river, to destroy our vessels before they are in a posture of defence. As this equipment will be as beneficial to the inhabitants on the north side of the Rotomack as to those on this side, we doubt not the disposition of your Board to promote it; and, under these circumstances, we take the liberty to apply to you for the loan of ten barrels of the powder lately imported for your Province in Captain Conway’s vessel, now in the Eastern Branch of the Potomack, which shall be replaced out of the, first powder we receive from the northward, or elsewhere. If ten barrels cannot be spared, even five or six barrels would be very serviceable, and might answer our purpose until the supply we expect from Philadelphia arrives.

We beg the favour of an immediate answer, and hope that the urgency and importance of the business will excuse the trouble we have taken the liberty to give you.

We are, with much respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

G. MASON,

JOHN DALTON.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

BENJAMIN MACKALL TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Calvert County, March 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I left the mouth of Patuxent on Wednesday, where I saw Captain Thomas, who requested me (as he had no materials then to write with) to inform the Council of Safety that he thought a Virginia Pilot-Boat, which was stopped by our guard some days ago, would be very useful either for conveying the troops from Calvert to St. Mary’s, or taking any small tenders which might come in our river; that the owner was very desirous of selling her; and that he would take a reasonable price, sooner than return to Virginia, as he was apprehensive of being taken. If you should be of opinion that such a vessel will be of any advantage to the Province, hope you will inform me or Captain Thomas by the first opportunity.

The Committee of Observation of this County met on Monday last, in consequence of your last letter, and empowered me to appoint a number, not exceeding one hundred men, to watch our coast; and as the man-of-war and tenders then lay at anchor off the cliffs, I thought it necessary to station a guard of seventy-eight men, exclusive of officers, to prevent their landing. Those men continued under arms till Wednesday, when I discharged all but two Lieutenants and twenty-five privates, who are now stationed at Drum Point, there to remain until Captain Beall’s Company of Regulars comes down. The man-of-war and tenders passed the mouth of Patuxent on Tuesday evening.

I am, with great respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

BENJAMIN MACKALL, 4th.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

JAMES MURRAY TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Cambridge, March 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: From the sudden alarm which the sloop-of-war and her tenders have this week occasioned, it was thought necessary to order the Militia of this County on duty, to guard the frontier on the bay shore, &c, which they cheerfully complied with; but previous thereto, were under the necessity of making application for arms and ammunition. We were in hopes that, when it came to the test, we should find many of them prepared with private property in ammunition; but in this we find we were deceived. There remained with us a barrel of powder and some ball, sent from Newtown last fall by the Council of Safety, which we have distributed, though it appears to be very indifferent, and not such as we think men ought to hazard their lives with. This has gone but a small way in supplying the companies.

The people grow exceedingly clamorous. We have been under a necessity of distributing what little we have of private