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When Mr. S. Adams faw the inftructions given by 1776. the capital of New Hampshire, he was diffatisfied, and fearful, left, if that colony took a wrong ftep, it should wholly defeat the defign, he owned, he had much at heart. He had been alarmed before in the beginning of the month, when a motion was made in congress to this purpose." Whereas we have been charged with aiming at independency, a committee shall be appointed to explain to the people at large the principles and grounds of our oppofition, &c." It would not do for Mr. S. Adams evidently to interest himself in opposing the motion, though he was apprehensive that they should get themselves on dangerous ground; but fome other delegates prevailed fo far as to have the matter postponed; and yet they could not prevent the affigning of a day to confider it. Some little time before, he had converfed with another gentleman, probably a Virginia delegate, about a confederation; when they agreed it must foon be brought on, and that if all the colonies would not come into it, it had better be done by those that inclined to it. Mr. Adams promifed, he would endeavour to unite the New England colonies in confederation, if none of the rest would join in it: the other approved of it, and faid, that, if Mr. S. Adams fucceeded, he would caft in his lot among them. Many of the principal gentlemen in the Maffachusetts have been long urging their delegates at congrefs to bring forward independency: the more fo, from a perfuafion that, resistance unto blood having been once made against the governmental measures, the British spirit will never be quieted, with any thing fhort of thofe conceffions and fatisfactions, which Americans can never make.

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General Washington has no wifh, that the congress would declare the colonies independent: but many other officers, especially among the New Englanders, are defirous of it; though the fituation of their military affairs could of late afford them no reasonable encouragement. They have been obliged to change their army by a new inlistment under the mouths of their enemy's cannon; and while employed in this operation, had not for fome time men enow to defend their lines, had the British troops commenced an attack. They had to guard an extent of better than a dozen miles, with few more troops than what were in Bofton. Such was the want of muskets, that in order to fupply the new inlifted foldiers, they forcibly detained thofe belonging to the privates whofe time was out, and who refused to serve longer; but not without paying for them.

Gen. Greene wrote from-Profpect-hill, January 4, 1776. "Had the enemy been fully acquainted with our fituation, I cannot pretend to fay what might have been the confequences. I this day manned the lines upon this hill, and feel a degree of pleasure that I have not felt for several days. Our fituation has been critical.

We have no part of the militia on this hill; and the night after the old troops went off, I could not have mustered seven hundred men, notwithstanding the returns of the new inlifted troops amounted to nineteen hundred and upward. I am now strong enough to defend myself against all the force in Boston." Gen. Washington thus expreffed himself on the first of the month: "It is not perhaps in the power of history to furnish a cafe like ours to maintain a poft within musket shot of the enemy for fix months together without

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he avoided inferting the word, left the letter fhould mif- 1776. carry;) and at the fame time to disband one army and recruit another, within that diftance of twenty odd British regiments, is more than probably was ever at→ tempted."

The conduct of the New Yorkers not anfwering the defires of capt. Sears, he had for fome time taken up his abode in Connecticut. Being apprehensive, that gen. Clinton, who was preparing to go upon fome expedition with a body of troops, might poffibly be deftined for New York, and confidering of what importance it was that the city fhould not be poffeffed by him, he came to gen.. Washington, and urged the neceffity of its being fecured by American forces. But the general could spare no troops, every man of them being wanted in the en virons of Boston. Sears propofed that Washington fhould write to gov. Trumbull, preffing him to raise two regiments for the fervice. His application was ftrengthened by a letter of gen. Lee's, who wrote to the com→ Jan mander in chief," New York must be secured, but it 5. will never, I am afraid, be fecured by direct order of congrefs for obvious reafons. I propose, that you should detach me into Connecticut, and lend your name for collecting a body of volunteers. I am affured, that I fhall find no difficulty in affembling a fufficient number for the purpose wanted. This meafure I think abfo lutely neceffary to our falvation; and, if it meets with your approbation, the fooner it is entered upon the bet ter indeed the delay of a fingle day may be fatal." Mr. John Adams being at Watertown with the general Court, gen. Washington defired his opinion on Lee's

1776.

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General Washington has no wifh, that the congress would declare the colonies independent: but many other officers, especially among the New Englanders, are defirous of it; though the fituation of their military affairs could of late afford them no reasonable encouragement. They have been obliged to change their army by a new inlistment under the mouths of their enemy's cannon; and while employed in this operation, had not for fome time men enow to defend their lines, had the British troops commenced an attack. They had to guard an extent of better than a dozen miles, with few more troops than what were in Bofton, Such was the want of muskets, that in order to fupply the new inlifted foldiers, they forcibly detained thofe belonging to the privates whose time was out, and who refused to serve longer; but not without paying for them.

Gen. Greene wrote from-Profpect-hill, January 4, 1776. "Had the enemy been fully acquainted with our fituation, I cannot pretend to fay what might have been the consequences. I this day manned the lines upon this hill, and feel a degree of pleasure that I have not felt for several days. Our fituation has been critical. We have no part of the militia on this hill; and the night after the old troops went off, I could not have mustered seven hundred men, notwithstanding the returns of the new inlifted troops amounted to nineteen hundred and upward. I am now ftrong enough to defend myself against all the force in Boston." Gen. Washington thus expreffed himself on the first of the month: "It is not perhaps in the power of hiftory to furnish a cafe like ours to maintain a poft within mufket shot of the enemy for fix months together without- -(powder,

he avoided inserting the word, left the letter fhould mif- 1776. · carry ;) and at the fame time to disband one army and recruit another, within that diftance of twenty odd British regiments, is more than probably was ever at→ tempted."

The conduct of the New Yorkers not anfwering the defires of capt. Sears, he had for fome time taken up his abode in Connecticut. Being apprehenfive, that gen. Clinton, who was preparing to go upon fome expedition with a body of troops, might poffibly be destined for New York, and confidering of what importance it was that the city fhould not be poffeffed by him, he came to gen. Washington, and urged the neceffity of its being fecured by American forces. But the general could spare no troops, every man of them being wanted in the en virons of Boston. Sears propofed that Washington should write to gov. Trumbull, preffing him to raise two regiments for the fervice. His application was ftrengthened by a letter of gen. Lee's, who wrote to the com→ Jam mander in chief," New York must be secured, but it 5 will never, I am afraid, be fecured by direct order of congrefs for obvious reafons. I propose, that you should detach me into Connecticut, and lend your name for collecting a body of volunteers. I am affured, that I fhall find no difficulty in affembling a fufficient number for the purpose wanted. This meafure I think abfo lutely neceffary to our falvation; and, if it meets with your approbation, the fooner it is entered upon the bet ter indeed the delay of a fingle day may be fatal.” Mr. John Adams being at Watertown with the general Court, gen. Washington defired his opinion on Lee's

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