ERRATA befide thofe at the End of the Volume.

Page 95, line 14, read clear off by the friends of congrefs. P. 127, 1. 28, read which laft. P. 193, 1. 55 read so as to carry. P. 205,

1. 4, read American.

P. 260, 1. 10, 11, read croffed from the

inland to Longueil on the continent, in his way. P. 397, 1. z, read took in all 918.

To prevent an omiffion, let me begin with men

Apr.

4.

tioning, that when governor Martin met the ge- 1775neral affembly of North Carolina at Newbern, he made a fpeech to them in a high governmental ftrain; and expreffed his expectation, that they would oppose fo dangerous a step, as the unwarrantable measure of appointing delegates to attend a congress in Philadelphia. He also told them, that they were moft peculiarly called upon to oppofe a meeting of delegates, which the people had been invited to choofe, and who were appointed to affemble at that very time and place, in the face of the legislature. The affembly in their anfwer justified the meeting of the people, and faid, "Be it far from us even to wish to prevent the operations of the convention, now held at Newbern." They also took the opportunity, the firft that had been given them, to exprefs

their warm attachment to their fifter colonies in general, and their heart-felt compaffion for the deplorable state of the town of Bofton; and to declare the fixed refolution of the colony, to unite with the other colonies in every effort to retain their juft rights and liberties.

Let me now enter upon the narration of the effects of the Lexington engagement out of the Maffachusetts colony. The news of it flew with the utmoft rapidity; and influenced the minds of all people, anfwerable to their various apprehensions and attachments.

Col. Putnam ferved with the Connecticut troops, under gen. Amherst the last war. By his courage and conduct he fecured to himself a good fhare of reputation. When peace commenced, he returned to the civil line of life. Of late he has occupied a tavern with a farm annexed to it. Such a junction is frequent in New England, and the occupation not at all inconfiftent with a Roman character. The Lexington news was brought him while working in a leathern frock and apron, at a ftone wall, with which to fence in his land. This was about eleven o'clock in the morning. After giving his men fome direction how to proceed, he went home, got his horse, and rode to the neighbouring towns, to acquaint the militia officers and others with what had taken place. As he was returning, he found fome hundreds mustered, who informed him that they had appointed him their general, and were determined to march off immediately. He faid that he was not ready, had no money about him, and must go and get fome. They fupplied him from among themselves; on which he gave proper orders for their marching after him, and went forward in his check fhirt, upon the fame beast, and got to

Concord the next morning by fun rife, having rode, as he supposed, from eleven o'clock of the preceding morning, not lefs than a hundred miles, within the eighteen hours. The militia that followed him, marched with a quick step till they reached the place of deftination.

Mr. Benedict Arnold of New Haven, had been chofen captain of a volunteer company, by the inhabitants, when they began to prepare for whatever might happen. No fooner did the Lexington news reach him, than he called his company together, and asked them whether they would march off with him the next morning for the neighbourhood of Boston, diftant 150 miles. They agreed; and at the proper time paraded before the tavern where a committee was fitting. He applied to the gentlemen for powder, and ball; they demurred fupplying him, as he was not duly authorized. The captain, in hafte to fly to the help of his fuffering brethren, propofed procuring the supply by force if needful, to which the volunteers confented. He then fent to the committee, and informed them what he was determined upon. Colonel Woofter came out, and would have per fuaded him to wait till he had received proper orders; to which capt. Arnold answered, "None but God Almighty

ર

fball prevent my marching." The committee perceiving his fixed refolution, supplied him; and he marched off inftantly, and with his company reached the American head quarters by the 29th of April.

The news reached New York on the Lord's day, 23. On hearing it, capt. Sears conceived the defign of stopping all veffels going to Quebec, Newfoundland, Georgia and Bofton; feveral were about to fail. He

5.

confulted Mr. Lamb, who joined in the measure. They then wrote a letter to the committee of Philadelphia, affuring them that all veffels would be ftopt at New York, and figned it with their names, that fo the affurance might be relied upon. The exprefs being sent off, they contrived to affemble the people, without its being known upon what bufinefs; and when they were met, it was concluded upon to shut up the custom house. The officer was waited on, who, confidering the expediency of a compliance, ordered the keys to be delivered up to capt. Sears. The merchants whofe veffels were cleared out, dared not to admit of their failing. The Philadelphia committee, relying upon the affurance that had been given them, fo managed as that it was -agreed, to fhut up their port alfo against all veffels going to the beforementioned places.

The hoftilities in the Maffachusetts threw the city of -New York into such a state of tumult, that it was judged expedient, with a view of restoring tranquillity and good -order, to appoint a general committee of a hundred for the city and county of New York, which anfwered. May This committee addreffed a letter to the lord-mayor, aldermen and common-council of the city of London, which was figned by feventy-feven of them. In it they declared, that "The difpofal of their own property with perfect fpontaniety, and in a manner wholly divefted of every appearance of conftraint, is their indefeasible birth-right. This exalted bleffing they are refolutely determined to defend with their blood, and to transfer uncontaminated to their pofterity." They profeffed their readiness to fubmit cheerfully to a regulation of commerce, by the legislature of the parent state, excluding,