impressed on this subject. In a council held previous to the new modelling of the army, they had been of opinion that the enlistments might be only for one year.

Very early in January, General Washington received unquestionable intelligence, that an armament was equipping in Boston, to sail under General Clinton, on a secret expedition. From the season of the year, he counted certainly on its being designed for some southern service; and a variety of considerations induced him to believe, that New York was its destination. He thought it of great importance to the enemy to obtain possession of the Hudson, as they would thereby open to themselves the best channel of intercourse with Canada, and would render extremely difficult all communication between the Northern and Southern Colonies. In addition to this, the royal cause had more adherents in New York, especially on Long Island, where a party of tories were said to be embodying themselves, than in any other colony; and this was believed to furnish a motive for taking possession of that country, by no means without its influence.

The same considerations which appeared to render this position so essential to the enemy, made it an object not of less consequence to the American army to maintain it. Whilst deliberating on this subject, and doubting his power, and the propriety

of

of taking such a step without the previous approbation of Congress, he received a letter from General Lee, requesting to be detached, under his authority, to Connecticut, there to collect a body of volunteers, and march them to New York, to be employed both for the security of that place, and the expulsion or suppression of a banditti of tories collecting on Long Island. Though greatly inclined to the adoption of this measure, of the utility of which he felt the most positive conviction, the delicacy which it was necessary for him to observe with the civil authority, produced some suspense of his decision. Mr. John Adams, a member of Congress, and of great influence, was then at Waterton, attending the provincial convention, and with him the General determined to consult, especially respecting the idea of the extent of his powers. That gentleman, who highly approved the proposition of Lee, was decidedly of opinion, that the powers of the Commander in Chief extended to the case; and General Lee was immediately detached, with instructions to raise a body of volunteers from Connecticut, and to call on the battalions of Jersey with those of New York to join him. He was to examine the fortifications of the city, and up the river; to put them in the best possible state of defence, and to disarm and secure all those whose conduct and declarations rendered them justly suspected of designs un

6

friendly

friendly to the views of Congress, especially those on Long Island. All the arms and ammunition found in their possession were to be collected for the use of the army.

Congress had already taken up the subject of disarming and securing the disaffected in Queen's County, on Long Island, where the people had refused to elect members to the provincial convention. They had ordered two battalious to enter the country at its opposite extremities on the same day, and to secure the arms of every individual who had voted against chusing members to the convention. These vigorous orders, however, were soon countermanded, and a regiment raised in Connecticut. for the special purpose, under the command of Colonel Waterbury, was ordered to be discharged. No direct reason has been assigned for this fluctuation in the proceedings of Congress, but it appears that the convention of New York was very much opposed to the commencement of hostilities in that colony, and also claimed for itself the direction of measures to be executed within it. Some apprehensions seem to have been entertained, that so strong a measure might throw into the arms of the enemy all those who were not yet prepared for open war; and that its being executed under the immediate direction of Congress might excite the jealousy of the local authorities. Whatever motives might lead to it, the Commander in Chief

very much regretted this change of system; and, in a letter to General Lee, after expressing that regret, says, "They, I doubt not, had their reasons for it; but to me it appears, that the period is arrived when nothing less than the most decisive and vigorous measures should be pursued. Our enemies from the other side of the Atlantic will be sufficiently numerous-it highly concerns us to have as few internal ones as possible."

In a subsequent letter, after Sir Henry Clinton had sailed from Boston, he stated to General Lee his apprehension, that, on the arrival of the troops. in New York, Governor Tryon would be ready to join them at the head of a great number of the inhabitants, disaffected to the American cause; and therefore he urged the necessity of being decisive and expeditious in his operations. "The tories" (a term designating all those who favoured the enemy,) he said, "should be disarmed, and the principal characters among them secured." He expressed a hope that Governor Tryon would be of the number. But considering General Lee to be under the directions of Congress, to which body that officer had applied for instructions, he only expressed his wishes, that he might be permitted to act in that decisive manner which comported with the opinions of them both.

Congress, however, had now submitted this whole subject to the colonial authorities, with a

recom

recommendation to them to disarm the disaffected, and to secure the most dangerous of them, either by confining them, or obliging them to give security for their good behaviour. To enable the local authorities to comply with this recommendation, they were empowered* to call to their aid

any

Whereas it has been represented to this Congress, that divers well meaning and honest, but uninformed people in these colonies, have, by the art and address of ministerial agents, been deceived and drawn into erroneous opinions respecting the American cause, and the probable issue of the present contest:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the different committees, and other friends to American liberty in the said colo nies, to treat all such persons with kindness and attention; to consider them as the inhabitants of a country determined to be free, and to view their errors as proceeding rather from want of information, than want of virtue or public spirit; to explain to them the origin, nature, and extent of the present controversy; to acquaint them with the fate of the numerous petitions pre sented to his Majesty, as well by assemblies as by Congress, for reconciliation and redress of grievances, and that the last from this Congress, humbly requesting the single favour of being heard, like all others, has proved unsuccessful; to unfold to them the various arts of administration to ensnare and enslave us, and the manner in which we have been cruelly driven to defend by arms those very rights, liberties, and estates, which we and our forefathers had so long enjoyed unmolested in the reigns of his present Majesty's predecessors. And it is hereby recommended to all conventions and assemblies, in these colonies, liberally to distribute among the people the proceedings of this and the former Congress, the late speeches of the great

patriots