20. If it should be discovered next fall that a Declaration of Independence this spring would have terminated the war, or removed it from our borders, what will be the feelings of those men who oppose it by Provincial Instructions?

21. Will their factious zeal then be called patriotism, or will their avarice, ambition, and servility, then be characterized by the Courtly phrases of timidity, or weak nerves?

22. Does not the fate of the fugitive or deserted Tories in Boston and New-York furnish a useful lesson to all rulers not to oppose the tide of popular prejudices, and to rely no more upon the protection of British Arms?

23. Considering the perfidy and obstinacy of the King, is not a Declaration of Independence of the Crown as just a measure now, as a Declaration of an Independence upon the Parliament was some years ago?

24. Is it not now equally necessary to our security and happiness?

25. Will it not be just, therefore, hereafter to confound the folly and fate of those who oppose the former, with those who have opposed the latter?

New-York, April 25, 1776.

TO THE FRIENDS OF OUR AMERICAN NAVY.

An exact list of the number of men employed in the Provincial Ships and Privateers during the last war, in America:

Besides these, many of the Merchantmen who were letters of marque, carried from fifteen to forty sailors.

When we add to these the number of American sailors who were pressed in the beginning of the war, to man the English fleet, the proportion of sailors belonging to the Continent would not amount to less than twelve or fourteen thousand. The trade of America at the commencement of the present war with Great Britain being one-third at least greater than it was at the conclusion of the last war with France, the number of sailors in America must have increased in the same proportion. It is true, many of the men who manned our privateers were landsmen; but as the same objects, (namely, prizes.) are held out at present as were in the last war, and as there is now added to these the glory of establishing the freedom of the Colonies, there is reason to presume a greater proportion of landsmen will embark in the present war by sea, than in any former one. Twenty thousand men, employed in ships of suitable force would be sufficient to guard our coasts and trade against all the Navy that Britain could spare from her harbours and foreign dominions to molest us. And America can spare that number of men for the purpose, without impoverishing her land forces, or without putting a check to her agriculture or manufactures.

New-York, April 25, 1776.

ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN BIDDLE.

Ship Alfred, at New-London, April 25, 1776.

SIR: You are to make what despatch you can to clean your brig, and you may take the ballast out of the bomb-brig; and what more you want you must make up with stores. You must apply to Mr. Shaw for whatever you may find necessary. When you get ready I desire you may take care of the merchant vessels, and convoy them clear of the land, if the coast is so clear that you can do it with safety to them; and make whatever despatch you can to Providence for further directions, as 1 intend to be there as soon as possible.

To Nicholas Biddle, Esq., Commander of the Andrew Doria.

ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, April 25, 1776.

SIR: The bearer, Governour Browne, requests me to use my influence with your Honour, that he may have leave sometimes, on parole, to go as far as where he can go to church. And as he is a gentleman of character, I make no doubt you will give him as much liberty as is consistent with the publick safety; and further he cannot expect.

I am, with great respect, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

ESECK HOPKINS.

To the Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governour of the Colony of Connecticut, at Lebanon.

SAMUEL TUFTS TO BENJAMIN GREENLEAF.

Newburyport, April 25, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: We took the freedom of addressing you by letter the 23d instant by Mr. Noble. For fear of that letter not coming to your hands in season, we would request the favour of you to communicate to the honourable General Court, that we have, agreeable to their order, received and paid for twenty-eight hundred and forty-seven pounds weight of saltpetre, and twenty-one pounds since the 23d. We should esteem it a favour if they would give order for the same. Many persons are now waiting to deliver, and, from good information, four or five thousand pounds weight will be presented in a few days, from the towns around and to the eastward. We should esteem it a favour of the honourable Court to order such sums of money as will enable us to fulfill the trust reposed in us.

We are, with respect, (by order, and in the absence of Captain Edward Sawyer, I subscribe,)

SAMUEL TUFTS.

To the Honourable Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq.

PELHAM (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) COMMITTEE.

Whereas, Hugh Tallant, of Pelham, in the Colony of New-Hampshire, did, on or about the first of May last, act the part of an enemy to his country in many respects: Said acts being proved before the Committee of Inspection for Pelham, in the Colony aforesaid, the Committee laid him under a restriction, viz: that he should not be found off from his own farm, on the peril of his life; which he deliberately and willingly signed; yet soon broke over that obligation and insulted the Committee to the utmost that words could express, which he still continues to do; and applied by a petition to the honourable Provincial Congress for a new hearing, which was granted, to be before the Committee of three towns, in conjunction, finally to determine the case. Being assembled, and the case tried, they found said Tallant guilty; and set up the judgment of the former Committee, and resolved that said Tallant should be confined to his farm by two sufficient bondsmen, and pay the cost that had been, from time to time, or be committed to close jail.

And whereas, one Samuel Little, Esq., of Hampstead, did pass his word to bring said Tallant to the Committee, at twelve o’clock the next day, he was allowed to have the care of him that night by the influence of one of the Committee, who passed his word for said Little’s fidelity. But it plainly appeared that the said Little had agreed with the said Tallant to let him get away and make his escape, and pretended (though falsely) that he could not help it; then the said Little gave to the Committee a forfeiture bond to bring the said Tallant within twenty days from that time, but hath not brought him, though requested; by which it appears, that the said Little is an abetter and upholder of the said Tallant’s villany and inimicalness, and a rescuer and deliverer of a Tory in his villany, &c. Therefore, this is to caution all persons not to have any dealings with either of the aforesaid enemies to truth and liberty, (which are inseparably connected,) as they would in so doing incur the displeasure of all that are true friends to the American cause, &c.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GENERAL HOWE TO LORD GEORGE GERMAINE, DATED HALIFAX, APRIL 25, 1776.

By the arrival of the Milford, in Nantasket-Road, on the 26th March, I was honoured with your Lordship’s despatches of the 5th of January, with a copy of his Majesty’s instructions for Major-General Clinton’s conduct to the