1776. be run into bullets.

The New York congress have unanimously refolved, that they will at the rifk of their lives and fortunes, join with the other colonies in supporting the declaration; and have authorized their delegates to adopt all fuch meafures as may be conducive to the happiness of the United States.

The New Jersey convention having declared their late governor, William Franklin efq; a virulent enemy to the country, and a perfon who may prove dangerous, and who ought to be confined in fuch place and manner as congrefs may direct; congrefs have ordered himto be fent under guard to governor Trumbull of Connecticut, who is to admit him to his parole; but if he refuses to give it, he is to be fecured the fame as other prifoners. Matters are drawing on to fuch a crifis, that the next letter muft neceffarily contain very interefting intelligence.

LETTER

VI.

Roxbury, Sept. 16, 1776.

Aug.

14.

ORD Dunmore has at length quitted Virginia and joined the British forces. He arrived with lord Campbell and Sir Peter Parker off Staten Island. His lordship continued on the coafts, and in the rivers of Virginia, till the clofenefs and filth of the fmall veffels,

in which the fugitives were crowded, together with the 1776. heat of the weather, the badness and scarcity of water and provifions, produced the peftilential fever, which made great havock, efpecially among the negroes, many. of whom were fwept away. When at length everyplace was fhut against him, and neither water nor provisions were to be obtained, but at the expence of blood, it was found neceffary, toward the beginning of August, to burn feveral of the smaller and leaft valuable veffels, to prevent their falling into the hands of the Americans, and to fend the remainder, amounting to between forty. and fifty, with the exiled friends of government, to feek fhelter in Florida, Bermudas, and the West Indies; a great number of negroes were fent at the fame time to the last of thefe places for fale. The Virginians loft about 1000 of them in the whole, including those who were killed or died while attached to his lordship's fervice. Thus have ended the hopes entertained of fuppreffing the oppofition to government in Virginia by employing the negroes-a measure which being rather invidious than powerful, tended infinitely to inflame the difcontents of the people without adding to the strength. of the royal arms. The New Jersey congrefs were fo irritated by the plot for deftroying the American army, that they used the utmost dispatch in forming their constitution, and finished it by the second of July.

Though they knew that the fubject of independence was before the continental congrefs, and that these were upon the point of declaring the United Colonies independent: and though they had empowered their own delegates to join in the declaration, yet that not being. made at the time, they clofed with faying, " provided

July

2.

1776. be run into bullets.

The New York congrefs have unanimously refolved, that they will at the rifk of their lives and fortunes, join with the other colonies in fupporting the declaration; and have authorized their delegates to adopt all fuch meafures as may be conducive to the happiness of the United States.

The New Jersey convention having declared their late governor, William Franklin efq; a virulent enemy to the country, and a person who may prove dangerous, and who ought to be confined in fuch place and manner as congress may direct; congrefs have ordered him to be fent under guard to governor Trumbull of Connecticut, who is to admit him to his parole; but if he refuses to give it, he is to be fecured the fame as other prifoners. Matters are drawing on to fuch a crifis, that the next letter must neceffarily contain very interesting intelligence.

LETTER VI.

Roxbury, Sept. 16, 1776.

Lo

ORD Dunmore has at length quitted Virginia and joined the British forces. He arrived with lord Aug. 14. Campbell and Sir Peter Parker off Staten Ifland. His lordship continued on the coafts, and in the rivers of Virginia, till the clofenefs and filth of the fmall veffels,

in which the fugitives were crowded, together with the 1776. heat of the weather, the badness and scarcity of water and provifions, produced the peftilential fever, which made great havock, efpecially among the negroes, many. of whom were swept away. When at length every place was fhut against him, and neither water nor provisions were to be obtained, but at the expence of blood, it was found neceffary, toward the beginning of August, to burn feveral of the smaller and leaft valuable veffels, to prevent their falling into the hands of the Americans, and to fend the remainder, amounting to between forty. and fifty, with the exiled friends of government, to feek fhelter in Florida, Bermudas, and the West Indies; a great number of negroes were fent at the fame time to the last of thefe places for fale. The Virginians loft about 1000 of them in the whole, including those who were killed or died while attached to his lordship's fervice. Thus have ended the hopes entertained of fuppreffing the oppofition to government in Virginia by employing the negroes-a meafure which being rather invidious than powerful, tended infinitely to inflame the difcontents of the people without adding to the strength. of the royal arms. The New Jersey congrefs were fo irritated by the plot for deftroying the American army, that they used the utmost dispatch in forming their constitution, and finished it by the second of July.

Though they knew that the fubject of independence was before the continental congrefs, and that these were upon the point of declaring the United Colonies independent: and though they had empowered their own delegates to join in the declaration, yet that not being made at the time, they clofed with faying, " provided

July

2.

1776. be run into bullets.

The New York congrefs have unanimously refolved, that they will at the risk of their lives and fortunes, join with the other colonies in fup-. porting the declaration; and have authorized their delegates to adopt all fuch measures as may be conducive to the happiness of the United States.

The New Jersey convention having declared their late governor, William Franklin efq; a virulent enemy to the country, and a perfon who may prove dangerous, and who ought to be confined in fuch place and manner as congrefs may direct; congrefs have ordered him to be fent under guard to governor Trumbull of Connecticut, who is to admit him to his parole; but if he refuses to give it, he is to be fecured the fame as other prisoners. Matters are drawing on to fuch a crifis, that the next letter muft neceffarily contain very interefting intelligence.

LETTER VI.

Roxbury, Sept. 16, 1776.

Aug.

14.

LOF

ORD Dunmore has at length quitted Virginia and joined the British forces. He arrived with lord Campbell and Sir Peter Parker off Staten Island. His lordship continued on the coafts, and in the rivers of Virginia, till the clofenefs and filth of the fmall veffels,