IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

1.1

IttlM

itt liii i2.2

lU ^

125

IU& no

1^ Ui

|ij25 HU 1 1.6

IS^^S HIII^H^S HnlM^K

Photographic

Sdfflices

Carpcffadoii

•a WIST MAIN STIHT

Wnsni.N.Y. 14SM

(7l«)t72-4S03

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHIVI/ICIVIH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Inatituta fur Hiatorical Microraproductiona / Inatitut Canadian da microraproductiona hiatoriquaa

Technicul and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
Original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

j I Covers damaged/

Couverture endommagie

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurte et/ou pellicula

Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

Coloured maps/

Cartes giographiques en couleur

□ Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or blacic)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/

Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
ReliA avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interiur margin/

La re liure serrt^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge intirieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouttes
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas Att filmAes.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplAmentaires;

Tl
tc

L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a At6 possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger j. n
modification dans la methods normale de filinage
sont indiqute ci-dessous.

I I Coloured pages/

Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagies

Pages restored and/oi

Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculies

Pages discoloured, stained or foxei
Pages dicolordes, tachetdes ou piquAes

Pages detached/
Pages d6tach6es

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of priti

Quality in^gale de I'impression

Includes supplementary materii
Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire

Only edition available/
Seule Mition disponibic

FT] Pages damaged/

I I Pages restored and/or laminated/

FT] Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/

I I Pages detached/

rri Showthrough/

ryi Quality of print varies/

I I Includes supplementary material/

I I Only edition available/

Pages wholly or partially obscursvl bv errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure.
etc., ont M filmies A nouveau de fapon A
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

oi
fil

O
b(
tt
si
ot
fil
si

Tl
si
Tl
w

M
di
er
bi

ril
re
m

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est f iimA au taux de rAduction indiquA ci-dessous.

10X 14X 18X 22X

26X

30X

12X

16X

aox

a4x

28X

32X

ills

differ

r. a
lage

The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

Library of the Public
Archives of Canada

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition end legibility
of the original copy and In keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printcjl paper covers ere filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated Impres-
sion, or the beck cover when epproprlate. Ail
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or Illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol «^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"),
whichever epplies.

L'exemplaire filmA f ut reproduit grAce A la
gtntrositA da:

La bibliothdque des Archives
publiques du Canada

Les Images suivantes ont 6tA reproduites avec le
plus granJ soln, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetA de l'exemplaire film6, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
fllmage.

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est Imprimte sont fiim6s en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par ia
dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'Impresslon ou d'iHustration, soit par le second
plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
origineux sont filmte en commenpant par ia
premlAre pege qui comporte une empreinte
d'Impresslon ou d'lllustration et en terminant par
la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un des symboies suivants apparaftra sur la
dernlAre imege de cheque microfiche, selon le
ces: le symbols -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbols y signifie "FIN".

IMaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too lerge to be
entirely included In one exposure ere filmed
beginning In the upper left hand corner, left to
right end top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams Illustrate the
method:

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre
fllmfo A des taux de reduction diffArents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre
reproduit en un seul clichA, II est filme A partir
do Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite,
et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre
d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mAthode.

ata

ilure.
A

^^ 't.

^f^

4't,

,„Hf

■■r

^*im--"'v

>^:

FREE THOUGHTS

O N T H E

PROCEEDINGS

,f ■

O P T H E

.,-" *t

Congress at Philadelphia, &^c.

^* 4 . ' v^ts ^

■ ',^' J V

4^ ,<

*- -U^

^4*

[Price One Shilling.]

.r > t

%■

^ iM^'f"

:#5

l-.JK .-*^, l^i-l'.^J .J

^■''*f'„,_ t;*--: ^ .

fr-iff ''■•'■

T^rf^mmmmm^^mmmmm^

" .!>

«a_

■/>■

^^^rW'TWv^

■ t„r^ '

FREE THOUGHTS

ON T HE

PROCEEDINGS

O F T H E

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS,

HELD AT

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5, 1774:

WHEREIN

Their ERRORS are EXHIBITED,

THEIR

REASONINGS CONFUTED.

A N D T H E

Fatal Tendency of their N o n-I m p o rtat i on,
NoN-ExPORTATioK, and Non-Consumption
Measures, are laid open to the plaineft Under-
ftandings ;

AND

The ONLY MEANS pointed out for Prcfcrving
and Securing our prefent Happy Constitution :

In a L E T T E R to the Fa R M E R s, arid
other Inhabitants of North America
in general, and to thofe of the Province of N E vv-
Y o R K in particular.

.. ,v ^.

By a

E R.

Hear

7R#,

for

I WILL

fpeak !

NEW-YORK, Printed:

LONDON Reprinted for Richardson and
U R <^u H A R t, at the Royal Exchange. 1 775.

'■■J '

", «.X.?' 1'/:

- i.. „

,«;,, 1^,

..4 , K

— ' - ■■"■■ ■■ "^

FREE THOUGHTS

b N T rt U

I>ROCEEDING9

' . ■♦

O F T H E

*T"

Congress at PhiladelphiAj df^*

ikj' Priends and Countrymen,

PERMIT me to addrefs ydU Upoii k
fubje^t, which; next to your eternal
welfarfe ih a futiirfe world, demslnds
your moft ferious and difpaflionate confide-
ration. The Ameticart Colonies are unhap^*
pily involved in a fcene of confufion and
difcord. The bands of civil fociety aid
broken *, the authority of government weak-
ened, ahd in forjc ihftances taken away *
Individuals aredeprived of their liberty; theit
property is frequently invaded by violence,
iind not a fmgle Magiftrate has had courage
6r virtue enough td interpofe. From this
diftrcflcd fituation it was hoped, that the

--^t— ' Hj yip » -*

■ Wi i l wii Jw i ■ ii« w '**» L^ - ■•'^ — '

t J

I* ♦

wifdotn and prudence of the Congrefs lately
aifembled at Philadelphia, would have de-
livered us. The eyes of all men were tjuirned
to them. We ardently expedted that fome
prudent fcheme of accommodating our un-
happy difputes with the Mother- Country,
would have been adopted and purfued. But
alas ! they are broken up without ever at-
tempting it : they have taken no one ftep
that tended to peace : they have gone on
from bad to worfe, and have either igno-
rantly mifunderftood, carelefsly negle^ed,
or bafely betrayed the interefls of all the
Coloni cs, (

1 (hall in this, and feme future publicdv
tion, fupport this charge againft the Con-
grefs, by inconteftable fads : But my fird
bufinefs (liall be to point out to you fbme of
the confequences that will probably follow
fromtheNon-importation,Non-exportation,
and Non-confumption Agreements, which
they have adopted, and which they have order-^
ed to be enforced in the moft arbitrary man-
ner, and under thefevereft penalties. On this
iubjedl, I choofe to addrefs myfelf princi-
pally to You the Farviers of the Province
of New-York, becaufe I am moft nearly

coane^ed

[3}

^onncftcd with you, being one of your
number, and having no intereft in thecountry
but in common with you ; and alfo, becaufe
the intereft of the farmers in general will be
more fenfibly affefted, and more deeply in-
jured by thefe agreements, than the intered
of any other body of people on the conti-
nent. Another reafon why I chooife to ad-
drcfs myfelf to you is, becaufe the Farmers
are of the greateft benefit to the ftate, of
any people in it : They furnifh food for the
merchant and mechanic ; the raw materials
for mod manufa<5tures, the (laple exports of
the country, are the produce of their in-
duftry : be then convinced of your own im-
portance, and think and a(ft accordingly.

The Non-importation Agreement adopted
by the Congrefs, is to take place the firrt:
of December next j after which no goods^
wares, or merchandize, are to be imported
from Great-Britain or Ireland j no Eaft-
India Tea from any part of the world ; no
molafles, fyrups, paneles, coffee, or pimento,
from our iflands in the Weft-Indies j no
wine from Madeira, or the Weftern Iflands j
no foreign indigo.

B 2

Th«

( 4 ]

The Non-Exportation Agreement is tq
take cfFedt on the tenth day of September
next; after which we are not to export,
dire<5tly or indiredlly, any merchandize or
c:>mmodity whatfoever, to Great-Britain,
. Ireland, or the Weft-Indies, except Rice to
Europe,": — unlefs the feveral adts and parts
of afts of the Britifli Parliament, referred
to by the fourth article of AfTociation, be
repealed.

The Non-confumption Agreement is to
be in force the firft day of March next ;
after which we are not to purchafe or ufe
any Eaft-India Tea whatfoever j nor any
j;oods, wares, or merchandize from Great-
Britain or Ireland, imported after the fufk
of December, nor molafles, &c. from the
Weft-Indies ; nor wine from Madeira, or
the Weftern Iflands, nor foreign indigo.

Let DS now conftder the probable confe-
quences of thefe agreements, fuppofing they
ihould take place, and be exadly adhered to.
The firft I ftiall mention is, clamours, dif-
cord, confufion, mobs, riots, infurredtions,
rebellions, in Great- Britain, Ireland, and
the Wcft-lndies. This confequence does
not indeed imniediatcly affedt You, the
6 Farmers

■ m w^_

«9

)cr

lor
fn,
I to
•ts

[s]

Farmers of New-York ; nor do I think it
a probable ope : But the Congrefs certainly
intended it Ihould happen in fome degree,
or the efFedt ihey propofe from thefe agree-
ments cannot poffibly take place. They in-
tend to diftrefs the manufacturers in Great-
Britain, by depriving them of employment
T-*-to diflrefs the inhabitants of Ireland, by
depriving them of flax- feed, and of a vent
for their linens, to diftrefs the Weft-In-
dia people, by with-holding provifions and
lumber from them, and by ftopping the
market for their produce. And they hope,
by thefe means, to force them all to join
their clamours with ours, to get the zCta
complained of, repealed. This was the un-
doubted defign of the Congrefs when thefe
agreements were framed; and this is the
avowed defign of their warm fupporters and
partisans, in common converfation.

But where is the juftice, where is the
policy of this procedure ? The manufactur-
ers of Great-Britain, the inhabitants of
Ireland, and of the Weft-Indies, have done
us no injury. They have been no ways
inftrumental in bringing our diftrefles upon
^8. Shall we then revenge ourfelves upon

them ?

a -i

III

r. 1

1*1

[ 6 ]

ibem ? Shall we endeavour to flarve them
into a compliance with our humouirs ? Shall;
we, without any provocation, tempt or force
them into riots and infurre^ions^ which,
mud be attended with the ruin of many— »
pFobaJbly with the death of fome of them ?
Shall we attempt to unfettle the whole
BritiQi Government--i-to throw all into^
confufion, becaufe our fdf-will is not com^
plied with ? Becaufe the ill-projedted, ill-
conduded, abominable fcheme of fome of
the colonics, to form; a republiiran govern* -
nient independent of Great-Britain, cannot
Qtherwife fucceed ?— (Good God! caa we
look forward to the ruin, deilrudtion, and
defolation of the whole British Empire,
witfaouit one relenting thought ? Can we
contemplate it with pieafure ; and promote
h with all our might and vigour, and at the
fame time call ourfelvea bis Majejiy's moji^'
dutiful and loyal fuhjeSls ? Whatever the
Gentlemen of ^he Congrefs may think of
the matter, the fpirit that di<5tated fuch a
meafure, was not the fpirit of huma-
nity. ......

Next let us confider the policy, or rather
impolicy of this meafure. Inflead; of con.-.

ciliating,

t7l

Ciliating, It will alienate the affcdlions of the.
people of Great- Britain. Of friends St will
make them our enemies ; it will excite the
rcfcntment of the government at home a-
gainft us ; and their refentment will do tis
no good, but, on the contrary, much harm.

Can we think to threaten, and bully,
and frighten the fupreme government of the
nation into a compliance with our demands?
Can wc expedl to force a fubmiflion to our
peevifh and petulant humours, by exciting
clamours and riots in England ? We oupht
to know the temper and fpirit, the poweV
and ftrength of the nation better. A fingle
campaign, fliould (he exert her force,
would ruin us effcdually. But (hould fhe
choofe lefs violent means, fhe has it in her
power to humble us without hurting her-
fclf. She might raife irnmenfe revenues, by
laying duties in England, Ireland, and the
Weft-I.idies, and we could have no remedy
lefts for this non- importation fcheme can-
not laft for ever. She can embarrafs our
trade in the Mediterranean with Spain,
Holland, &c. nor can we help ourfelves ;
for whatever regulations fhe fhould make,
would effedually be enforced, by the fame

Navy

t,'i

• I

U 1

Navy that (he keeps in readinefs to proieft
her own trade> , ' ^

We {hall alfo, probably, raife the refcrit-
mcnt of the Iri{h and Weft-Indians. The
padions of human nature are much the
fame in all countries. If they find us dif-
pofed wantonly to diftrefs them, to ferve
our own purpofes, will they not look out
for fome method to do without us ? Will
they not feek elfewhere for a fupply of
thofe articles, which they ufed to take from
us ? They would deferve to be defpifed £clt
their meannefs, did they not.

Holland, the Baltic, and the river St
Lawrence, would afford the Irifh a fufH-
cient fupply of flax-feed. If they look out
in time they cannot be difappointed. Ca-
nada produces no inconfiderable quantity
already.

I have been well informed, that many
bufhels have been bought up there at a
low price, brought to New- York, and fold
to the Irifh fadtors at a great advance. Are
the Irifh fuch novices in navigation, that
they cannot find the way to Quebec ? Or

are

. mam mM <■,>,# .^^^

i<iMK.1tlV«»-V^^4«> .

to proieA

he refeiit-
ns. The
nuch the
d us dif-
to fervc
look out
IS? Will
upply of
ake from
fpifed fyr

river St
a fufH-
look out
d. Ca-
quantity

t many
re at a
Etnd fold
te. Are
n, that
jc? Or
are

r9]

are they fo blind to their own intereft, as
to continue giving a high price for fla[x-
fced at New-York, when they might have
a confiderable fupply from Canada, at a
inoch more reafonable rate ?

You will fay, that as foon as the Irifii
fend their (hips to Quebec for feed, the
price will rife till it comes to an equality
with ours. I know it. I know alfo, that
the more the price rifes, the more Cana-
dians will be encouraged to raife it. I
know alfo, that the more they raife and
fell, the lefs demand there will be for ours,
and the lefs price it will fetch at mar-
Jcet.

Nor (hould we diftrefs the inhabitants of
the Weft- Indies fo much as at firft fight we
may imagine. Thofe iflands produce now
many of the necciliiries of life. The quan-
tity may eafily be increafed. Canada would
furnidi them with many articles they now
take from us i flour, lumber, horfes, &c.
Georgia^ the Floridas, and the MiflifTippi
abound in lumber; Nova-Scotia in fifli.
All thefe countries would be enriched by our
folly, and would laugh at it.

C When

I. I

[ 10 ]

When a trading people carelefly neglcd^,i
or wilfully give up any branch of their trade,
it is feldom in their power to recover it.
Should the Irifti turn their trade for flax-
feed to Quebec, and the Weft-Indians get
their flour, horfes, bcc. from thence, or
pther places, the lofs to the farmers of this
province would be immenfe. The laft non-
importation fcheme turned the Indian trade
from New-York down the river St. Law-
rence; we are now repeating, with regard
to our flour and flax-feed, the fanie blun-
der we then committed with regard to thq
Indian trade. The confcquence, however,
will be much worfe. The lofs of the Jn-
dim trade, was a lofs to the merchants
only ; but the lofs of the flax-feed trade,
will be a lofs to every farmer in the province!
and a lofs which he will feverely feel.

You know, my Friends, that the fale of
your feed not only pays your taxes, but fur-
niflies you with many of the little conve-
niencies, and comforts of life j the lofs of
it for one year would be of more damage
to you, than paying the three-penny duty
on tea for twenty. Let us compare mat-
'■•"'' ters

:!:•

[ «« ]

ters a little. It was incoriverilent for ih6
this year to fow niore than one buflicl of
feed. I have threfhed and cleaned up ele-
ven bufhcls. The common price now is
at leaft ten (hillings * ; my feed then will
fetch me five pounds, ten (hillings. But t
will throw in the ten (hillings for expences.
There remain five pounds : in five pounds
arc foiir hundred ihree-pences; four hun-
dred thrfee-pences currency, will pay the
duty upon two hundred pounds of tea> even
reckoning the exchange with London at 200
percent, that is; reckoning 100 1. (terling,
to be equal to 200 1. currency ; whereas in
fad it is only equal to 175 or 180I. at the
moft. I ufe in my family about fix pounds
of tea : few farmers in my neighbourhood
iife To much : but I hate to (lint my wife
and daughters, or my friendly neighbours
when they come to fee me. Befidcs, I like
a di(h of tea too, efpecially after a little
more than ordinary fatigue in hot weather.
Now 200 pounds of tea, at (ix pounds a
year, will lift juft 33 years, and eight
months. So that in order to pay this mon-

* Since this piece was written, the price of flax-
feed in fil'cu to thirteen, (hillings per bufhtl.

c ?.

ftrous

'•?57"i^;i*»a;.i*c-.«..

"• t. f •,, *■-,

• •-- •*;.*

♦ >••

* «.. •

1 12]

Arous duty upon tea, which has raifed all
this confounded combuftion in the country^
I have only to fell the produce of a buihel
of flax-feed once in thirty-three years.
Ridiculous !

;,!

But, to leave jefting. The lofs of the
fale of your feed only for one year, would
be a condderable damage to you. And yet
the Congrefs have been fo inattentive to
your interefts, that they have laid you un-
der, almoil, an abfolute neceflity of lofing
it the next year. They have decreed, and
proclaimed a non-exportation, to commence
in September next. The Irilh will be a-
larmed. They will look out fome where
elfe. Or fliould they determine to fend
their (hips the earlier, we cannot, without
the utmoft intonvenience, get our feed to
market by that time i efpecially, not from
the remoter parts of the province. The
confequence will be, that we mud; fell our
feed at the oil -mills in New- York, juft at
the price the nianufa(fturers fhall pleafe to
give us.

Upon the whole then, it is highly impro-
bable that we ihall fucceed in diflrefiing
6 tl^e

''.'■.-i-.^.r*— ".f-** ' «&Nfc ,<■» *— rsr* ' "— ^- *.

« '^.^•m cST^A ,<»,

[ '3 1

the people of Great -Britain, Ireland, and th«
Weft-Indies, (o far as to oblie*! them ,tp
join with us in getting the a(5ts ot Parliament
which we complain of, repealed. The firft
diftrefs will fall on ourfelves : it will be
more fevereiy felt by us, than by any part
of all his Majefty's dominions; and it will
affedt us the longeft. The fleets of Great-
Britain command refped throughout the
globe. Her influence extends to every part
of the earth. Her manufa(5tures are equal
to any, fuperior to moft in the world. Her
wealth is great. Her people enterprizing,
and perfevering in their attempts to extend
and enlarge, and proted her trade. The
total lofs of our trade would be felt only for
a time. Her merchants would turn their
attention another way. New fources of
trade and wealth would be opened : new
fchemes purfued. She would foon find a
vent for all her maaufadtures in fpite of all
we could do. Our malice would hurt our-
felves only. Should our fchemes diftrefs
fome branches of her trade, it could be
only for a time ; and there is ability and
humanity enough iii the nation to relieve
thofe that are diftreflled by us, and to put

them

•/

■ \

i:'

[ H ]

tticm in fome other way of getting thclf
living.

The cafe is very different with us. Wc
have no trade but under the protedtion of
Great-Britain. Wc can trade no where but
where (he pleafes. We have no influence
abroadi no ambadadors, no confuls, no fleet
to prot^ ^ our (hips in pafling the feas, nor
our merchants and people in foreign coun-
tries. Should our mad fchemes take place,
our Tailors, fliip -carpenters, carmen, fail-
makers, riggers, miners, fmelters, forge-
men, and workers in bar-iron, &c. would
be immediately out of employ; and we
ihould have twenty inobs and riots in our
own country, before one would happen in
Britain or Ireland. - Want of food will make
thefe people mad, and they will come iri
troops upon our farms, arid take that by
force which they have not money to pur-
chafe. And who could blame them ? Juf-
tice, indeed, might hang them; but the:
fympathetic eye would drop the tear of
humanity on their grave;

The next thing I fhall take notice of, is
the advanced prices of goods, which will,

not

■-~-'\j-^i

A •• .^swtcSSr:'

ng thcif

us, Wc
e£iion of
I'here but

influence
no fleet

feas, nor
gn coun-

ke place,
nen, fail-
s, forge-
c. would

and we
ts in our
iappen in
vill make

come iri
; that by
^ to pur-
:nrj? Juf-

but thei
! tear of

tJee of, is
lich will,

not

^i;

I IS 1

pQt only probably, but necefTarily, fblIow«
as foon as the non-importation from Great-
Britain, &:c. (hail take effedt. This is a
confequence that moft nearly concerns you;
nor can you prevent it. You are obliged
to buy many articles of clothing. You
cannot make them yourfelves ; or you can-
not niake them ib cheap as you can buy
them. You want Woollens for your win-
ter clothing. Few of you have wool
enough to anfwer the purpofe. For not-
withflanding the boafts of fome ignorant,
hot-headed men, there is not wool enough
on the continent, taking all the colonies
together* to fupply the inhabitants with
blockings. Notwithftanding all the home-
fpun you can make, many of you find it
difficult, at the year's end, to pay the {hop-
keeper for what the neceffities of your fa-
milies have obliged you to take up. What
will you do when the prices of goods are
advanced a quarter, for inflance, or an
half? To fay that the prices of goods will
not be raifed, betrays your ignorance and
folly. The price of any commodity always
rifes in proportion to the demand for it;
and the demand always increafes in propor-
tion to its fcarcity. As foon as the impor-
tation

-"-—■ ■- =-. .M\

; r

' i

■h

[ 16 ]

lation ccafes in KcW-York, the quantity of
goods will be daily lelTertcd, by daily con-
fumption ; an-d the prices will gradually rife
in proportion. " But the merchants of
" New- York have declared, that they will
•* demand only a reafonable profit." Who
is to judge what a reafonable profit is ?
Why, the merchants. * Will they expofe
their invoices, and the fecrets of iheir trade
to you, that you miy judge whether their
profits are reafonable or not ? Certainly
they will not ; and if they did, you can-
not undes Hand them j and, confequently,
can fc>rin no judgment about them. You
have therefore nothing to truft to in this
cafe but the honour of the merchants. Let
us then confider how far we have rcafon
to truil to their honour. •

Not to rnife the price of a commodity
when it is fcarce, and in demand, is con-
trary to the principles and pracftice of mer-
chants. Their maxim is, to buy as cheap,
and fell as dear, as they can. Will they
let you have a piece of goods for twenty
(hillings, which will fetch them twenty-
five ? When the (lores and (hops are full,
and a price is demanded which you think

unrea-

.smsfrSSr'Z^-it,.,

t »7l

tinfeafonable, you will afk an abatement*
^f you are refufed, you will took etfewhcre.
But when there arc few goods and many
buyers, no abatement can be expedted. If
iou won't give the price, your neigh1)0ur
perhaps is in greater necelfity, and muji
^ive it. Betides, the merchant knows that
no more goods can be imported. He knows
that the necetTities of the country are in-i
creating, and that what you refufe now at
twenty (hillings, you will be obliged Co
take, by and by, at twenty-tive.

But no argument is like matter of fadb.
You have had one trial of a hon* impor-
tation agreement fome years ago. Pray
how did you like it ? Were the prices of
goods raifcd Oh you then ? You know they
were. What remedy had you? A good
Chritiian remedy indeed, but a hard one-
patience — and patience only. The honour
of the merchants gave you no reliefs-con-
found their honour — it obliged me — it
obliged many of you, to take old moth-
eaten clothes that had lain rotting in the.
iliops for years, and to pay a monArous
price for them.

Some,

tiSl

iomcr indeed, I confefs it with gratitude^
had honour enough to attempt to regulate
the price of Tea, at that time. Did thef
fucceed? No. There was not honour
enough in the body of merchants to bring
it to efFcd. Mcflrs. * '

declared at
the CofFee-Houfe, that they wouM be bound
by no regulations. They would have their
own price for their tea. They had it.
And common bohea tea was ibid at the
enormous price of nine (hillings the pound.
Will you again truft to the honour of tbefe
men ? You had better truft to the mcrcv
of a Turk.

Indulge me in a few fentences more upofi<
this fame fubjcdt of Tea. It is well known
that little or no tea has been entered at the
Cuftom-Houfe for feveral years. All that
is imported is fmuggled from Holhnd, and-
the Dutch lilands in the Weft-Indies. In
this trade the laWs of our country are
Irampled upon. The nation fs defrauded'
of its revenues. The facrednefs of an oath^
the grand fccurity of the liberty, and pro-
perty, and lives of EnglKhmen, is profti-

tuted'

"s .V

( 19 1

tttted to the vile purpofes of private gain.
Perjury and falfe fwearing are encouraged
by thofe very merchants, to whofe honoi^r
we are now to truft^ that they will not de*
inand an unrcafbnabk profit on their goods.

Let the guilty alone take this to them*
felveSi I mean no reiledtions on the fair
trader. But never will I believe that the
n^an who can co(^ly s^nd deliberately en-
courage perjury or falfe fwearing — who can
calnr^y lay fchemes, and repeatedly execute
them, in order tp defraud his country of
her revenues, would ever heiitate one mo-
ment, whether he (hould not proflitute his
honour, and cheat me too, could he do it
with ccjual fecurity.

T\kt poor culprit, who perhaps forced by
necefiity, turns informer, is branded with
ignominy^-— is treated as an out-cafl from
focietyt but the lordly merchant, who,
wallowing in wealth, can plead no necefli-
ty, tramples on the mod facred obligations,
and yet holds up his head, and boails him-
ielf a man of honour. O (hame ! (han^e !

D 2

[iro]

i' !|

1 ?

■' 5'

I know not how it happens, hut not only
the merchants, but the generality of citi-
zens, treat us countrymen with very unde-
ierved contempt. They a6t as though they
thought, that all wifdom, all knowledge,
all underilanding and fenfe, centered ip
themfclves ; and that we farn^ers were ut-
terly ignorant of every thing, but juft to
drive our oxen, and tP follow the plough.
We are never confulted, but when they
cannot do without us: and then, all the
plans are laid in the ^ity^ before they are of-
fered to us. Be tl^e potion they prepare for
us ever fo naufeous, we muft fw; .low i^
down, as well as we caii. It is not many
years fince the Mayor, Aldermen, and Tom-
monalty pf the city (hewed their contep)pt
of us, in the ipofl' infulting manner. They
pailed a law to regulate the priced of our
produce; and, inftead of proteaing us in
their markets, we were expofed to' conti-
nual abufe and infults. ' "We could not carry

a* quart of milk, a duck, a chicken 1

think not an egg— I am furc not a cjuail
or Jhipe, to market, iii peace. If ihey were
fcarce, we durft not afk an advanced price ;
for jf we did, a fine— s^r imprifonment,

was

[ ai 3
was pur portion.— rD^d they allBs fix th^
price oi Jhop' goods? Catch them at tha^
and I will humbly afk their pardon.-r-r-
Where was honour at this time ? Troth {
cannot tell : but, were it neceifary, I could
eafiiy tell where (he was not>

I may, perhaps, at another time, tell yoii
a little mpre of my mind upon this matter :
at prefent* let i;s attend to another circum-
ilance, which I think renders the honour
of the New-York merchants a l^ttfe fufpi«
cious, and convinces me, that we have no
fufficient ground to truft to it. Common
fenfe cannot utterly have (][u|tted the city ;
there mud be fome merchants who are fen*
fible of the evil tendency of this Non-con-
fumption, Non-importat^n> and Non-ex-
portation agreement. But where is the man
who has had honour enough to avow his
fentiments, and oppofe it? Shew him to
ipe, anQ I will reverence him as '* The no-
"« bleft work of God." 5ix honeft mer-.
chants, who had honour, virtue, and cou-
rage enough openly to avow their fcnti-
ments, and adl accordingly, would yet iavc
you anu their country from win.

But

i ,

I* )

*'■ V ;

■!■■

I \

^u| the cDnjudl of the merchants pre-
fcnts ^ very 4iff<?C«nt profpedt. Whatever
iheir particojar fentin^entfi may be, they all
appear to ac^uiefc^ in this fa^al determina-
tion of oar deluded Con^rcfs. They feem
to have expeded it ; for it is faid, that they
have imported vn,\l(ih rnpre largely than
uftral: this mattes W^ ftifpe^, that this
bijftle abpMtNon-ifX]^pprt^tiop,&c.hasits rife,
fiot from Patr ietiiffl;!, b.^t' fe|fi{hnefs. I hav^
heard that mercl^ants foinetHnes make gn
artificial f<?arcily, by $:ngr<>ifing particular
commodities in 9 f(^w h^nd^, that they may
;ay^tl th^rp(elve$ of $h« ueceflity of the buyer,
and, get a gp^ prif ^. We Countrymen ar(;
in tliis fifu^tipi^. Np (Tiq'6 gopd^ ^an bq
importeii ^ the mf ftbaots have us at theic
mercy i Ipt thqia (let $heir prjqp 9Ver (o fiighi^
ne<je^^ty wiJl oblige us to cop^p tp t^^ir
^criDs, • .,., -. ., .V , . .._ ^-..., •. -■.

Cgnfider the matter in another ligh^, and
ftill it will appear^ tbat thi^ Noi)-import9tipR
fchenie will and mud raife thf prices of
goods J not only now, b»t probably for foa^q
years locome^ j , '. - ,

,', '.

There

U
U

C ^3 I

^nts pre-
Vhaiever

they all
lermina-
ley fecm
;hat they
ely than
hat this
as its rife,
I hav^
nake ^n
•articular
hey may
le buyer,
'men arq
i ^an bq

at theii;
<p|iigh^
tP tb9Jr

fort9tiQR
ric:,c8 of

There

ITherc arc in New- York many merdiant^
with larg^ ciipitals, andof irery excenfive
credit : thefc probably have laid in a larg^
fupply of goods, enough to lad as long aa
the Non-importation continues. At lcaft»
when their ftores are like to become empty, ^
llhey wiW have weig^^t enough to breslk up
the agreement. There are many othei- mer-
chants whofc capitals afc fmall, and theii
credit confined : thefe probably can have
laid in no great ftock. If the Nonwimpor-
tatiOn agreement cbntinucs any Ifength of
time, the w^ihy merchant will growenor-
mOu% I4ch, <he merch&nt with a fmaW ca-
pital will probably fail. For confider-^*— the
imall merchant mud fell his goods as fbon
as polTible, that he may Aspport his^mily;.
and his credit, by making timely remit-
tances. The wealthy tnerchant can wait
till the fmall ftores are exhaufted, and then
he may comnwnd a double profit. In the
mean time the inferior merchant is out of
bufinefs ; his goods are all fold, and fo ' at
a fmall profttj he cfannot import j he mufl:
live on his fmall capital. As foon as the
wealthy merchant finds his ftore near emp-
ty, he will have influence enough to break

the

'/If.

> *

ii '

I t

?i; r

[Hi

iiie agreement, and money and credit enougn
to import largely again. Biit the infdHor
merchant is ruined : he has lived on his car-
pital i it is gohe i if he is not in Mt, ht has
nothing to begin trade with ; and he ttidd
bcGbme a clerk to his wealthy neighbour.

Thefe inferior merchants are of great
confequence to the community. They keep
down the price of goods, and [yrevent its
becoming exceflive ; they mud make quick
Tales, that they may make their remittances
in due feafon: they mud therefore tak6
what their goods wiU fetch. But the weal-»
thy merchant can wait for a better price,
without hurting his eftate or credit; or elfe
he muft be content with the fame advance
with the merchant of (mail capital.

Another argument to prove that the prices
of goods will increafe is, that they are already
increAfed, even before thu fatal day fixed fbr
the commencement of the Non-importation
Agreement. Several persons, whom I take
to be good judges, have afTured me, that the
prices of woollens, linens, &c. are very per-
ceptibly incrcafed in the (hops in New- York.
And I was told, by a very credible man from

Ncw-

-l

lit

t enoiigU
infdHor
A his est-
ht hafs
he moft
ibour.

of great
ley keep
event its
ce quick
littances
£>re tak6
he weaI-»
IT price,
; or elfe
advance

be prices
5 already
fixed ibr
»ortation
a I take
that the
ery per-
jr-York.
an from
New-

! »5 3

ffe^-Yprk, that the price of gun-powdor
Was raifed from 9 or lo 1. to 17 or j 8 l.per
hutldred. I know you'll flare, and wi£h to
koaWy what cqM fi> enormoufly advance
tfie article of Gun-powder ;■ I'll tell you.
It was the great and fudden demand for it,
when the Patmans and Co. of New-Eng^
landi were in fucb a violent hurry to
divert themfelves with fighting the King's
troops : and fhould thefe heroes take it ini^
. their heads to divert themfeJves with pufh-
pin, I fuppofe the price of pins would rife
in the fame proportion.

I come now to the confideration of anotti6r
probable conicquence of a Non- importation
agreerhent, which is. That it will excite the
fefentmentof thegovernmentathomeagairift
us, and induce the Parliament to block up
6ur ports and prevent our trade entirely.
it would certainly be good policy in the
government to do to. Few Colonics are
fettled but ^y a trading people, and by them
chiefly for the benefit of trade. The grand
defigh of England in fettling the American
Colonies, was to extend her trade— to open
a new vent for her manufa<^urcs. If then
we ftop our imports, the benefit of our

^ trade

§'.

fipi

t^6)

trad^ is ii^ a mstaner loft to her, and 2he
would iind but little additional disadvantage,
fhottld file ftop our trade with all the world.

-■.-..' * ■ . ■ . ^ ■

. ' , . t " »■ . . .-

But Aiould the goirernment parfue milder
meafures^— though we indeed have no right
to expeft it will — -yet the Congrefs have
determined the expediency of our (lopping
our own trade, after a limited time» viz.
ten months. In either ca(e the confequence
will be much the fame; and it matters but
little whether the government blocks up our
ports, or whether we ourfelves voluntarily
put an end to our exports, as well as. im-
ports ; after the tenth of September next
we are to have but little trade, except with
our neighbouring Coldnies.

Confider the confequence. Should the
government interpofe, we (hall have no trade
at all, and confequently no vent for the pro-
duce of our farms. Such part of our wheat,
flax-feed, corn, beef, pork, butter, checfc,
as was not con fumed in the province, mud
be left to rot and flink upon our hands.

Should the government leave us to our-
felves, the little trade that would be o» ^n,

N id

and mc
vantage,
e world.

e milder
no right
efs have
[lopping
Tie, viz.
fequence
ters but
16 up our
luntarity
[ as.im-
»cr next
spt with

}uld the
no trade
the pro-
irwheaty
, cheefe,
:e» mufi
mds.

to our-

be o» '*tip

V d

■^t,

[ ^7 1
would never keep thefe articles at fuch «
price, as to make it wqrtb v^hile to raifc
more of them than yft w^nt for our owa
confuinption.

(.ook well to yourfelves, I befeech ygu.
From the day that the exports from this
province are (lopped> the farmers may date
the commencement of their r uin . Can you
live without money ? Will the (hop-keeper
give you bis goods ? Will the weaver, flioe-
maker, blackfmith, carpenter, work for you
without pay ? If they will» it is more than
they will do for me. And unlefs you can
fell your produce, how are you to get money P
Nor will the cafe be better, if you are
obliged to fell your produce at an under*
rate j for then it will not pay you for the
labour and expcnce of raifing it. But this
is the leaft part, of the diflrefs that will comp
upon you.

Unhappily, many of you are in debt, and
obliged to pay the enormous intereft of
ieven pounds on the hundred, forconfider-
able fums. It matters not whether your
debts have been contradtcd through ncceffity,
or careleiTncfe ; you muft pay them, at leafl

E 2 t&

-■ ^ '-.^x^'--

V i\

) -

C«8]

Ac intereft, punctually ; the ufurer will not
wait long; indeed you cannot exped he
fhould : you have had his money, and are
obliged, in judice, to pay him the principal
and intereft, according to agreemen^f But
without felling your produce, you can'neither
pay the one, nor the other ; the confequence
will be, that after a while, a procefs of law
will be commenced againft you, and your
farms muft be fold by execution ; and then
you will have to pay not only principal and
intereft, hut Sheriffs fees. Lawyers fees*
and a long lift of Gf cepteras»

Now, under thefecircumftances, will your
farms fetch half what they coft you. What
is a farm good for, the produce of which
cannot be fold ? Had matters continued in
their old courfe, fome one of your neigh-
bours, who knew the value of your farm,
fnight have been willing and able to h^ve
given you a reafonable price for it, had you
been difpofed, or obliged to fell ; but he has
more wit than to buy a farm, when he can-
not fell its produce. Your creditor then,
or fome rich merchant, or ufurer, muft take
it at their own price : to you it is of no
confequence who takes it -, for you are ruin-

:*?.

Rrillnot
ed he
and are
rincipal
U But
neither
equence
of law
d your
nd then
ipal and
;rs feet*

vill your
What
f which
inued in
neigh-
ur farm,
to have
had you
it he has
1 he can-
or then»
nuft take
is of no,
ire ruin-
ed.

■vSe

[29]

^, Gripped of your farnif and very pro*
(Kibly of the means of fubfiftence for your-
ielf and family. Glorious effect of Non«
«xportation ! Think a little, and then tell
me— ^whentheCongrefs adopted thiscurfed
jfeheme, did they in the leaft confider your
inteieft ? No, impofiible ! they ignorantly
mifunderfloQd, carelefsly negledled^ or bafely
betrayed you.

But, it is faid, that all legal procefTes are
to be flopped, except in criminal cafes.——
That is to fay — the lower clafs of people are
to be deprived of their daily bread, by being
thrown out of employment by the Non«
Exportation agreement ; to prevent ftarving»
many of them will be tempted to fteal i if
they (leal, they are to be hanged. The dif-
honeft fellow, who owes money, may, by
refuting payment, ruin his creditor; but
there is no remedy, no procefs is to be ifTued
againft him. This may be juftice, but it
looks fo much like cruelty, that a man of a
humane heart would be more apt to call it
by the latter, than the former name.

But pray, by whofe authority are the
courts of Juftice to be ihut up, in all civil

cafes ?

[30],

cj^»?.,p^Who QfiHl DARE to ilop th^
Courts of Jiiftko^-^-^A very pretty ftocf
indeed ^ I l>uy & cow of my poor neighbour^
siQd I proixiifo to pay him at Chriftmaa : ho
wants thflj money to pay hia (hoe-maker»
taylor, &c. my rafcally neighbour, on tho
other fide, owqs m« ten pounds i I depend
upon this mone^ to pay for the cqw : b«
refufes payment : the Courts of JuAice are
(hut up : I cannot fue him, nor can I pay
my debt for want of the money.

My neighbour pick Stiibbs has a farrii
which he rents to Peter Doubtful for 2o 1.
a year. Pick is an hQ;)eft, good Tort of a
man, but rather negligent, and depend) upon
thi^ 20 1. to enable htm to n>ake both endi
of the year, meet, as we fay. There is one
Tim Twiftwcll, a RaTcal from New-Engr
land, who lays claim to Stubbs's farm, tho'
he has no more right to it than the Popf
of Rom^. He knows his right is good for
nothing, and has never dared to proieouie
it, though be has money enough, and hr^s
been harping upon it. thefe fevcii y;^ars.
But he has lately made feveral attempts to
corrupt Poubtful the tenant. Should he

fuccccd*

^'%

• ;»■■

t3'1

fecceed, and get fofleifioo of tlie ^ihii^ how
is Stubbs to recover his right, vthtil cbe
courts of juftice are (hut up ? You may fay
that he mdft wait till the courts aKe bpNied«
and then he may profecnte his cliiim. It
may be k>. But temdmber, that the fame
violence which nowihnts the courts of juf-
tice, may keep them fhat, tiJl poor Stiibbs
is abfolutely ruined.

Rouze, my Friends, rouze from you ftu-
pid lethargy. Mark the m«n who fhall
dare to impede the courfe of juftice ; brand
^hem as the infamous betrayers of the rights
of their country. The grand i^Curity of
fhe property, the liberty, the Hres of En-
gli(hmen, confifts in the due adminiftrsition
of juftice : while the courts are duly at-
tended to, and fairly conducted, our pro-
perty is fafe ; as fuon as they are fhut, every
thing is precarious : for neither property nor
liberty have any foundation to ftand u^on.

Tell me hot of Deleg^Mes, Congtcffes,
Committees, Riots, Mobs, fnftirr%dtions»
Affociatidns, — a plague on them all.— Give
me the fteady, uniform, Uhbiafled infliience
of the Courts of Juftic«. I have been hap-

py under their protedion, slnd I traft M
JQod I (hall be ib again.

But after all, fome of you, t fear, lobfe
forward with pleafure to thofe halcyon dayd
of fecurity, when the Courts (hall be (hut.
Undifturbed by the clamours of creditors^
tmdifmayed by the fight of the Sheriff, you
think to pafs your lives in quietnefs and
peace !-*-But ah ! my friends ! truft not the
fatal, the ill-judged fecurity. You would
not, I hope, be (o diChontd as not to do
your utmod endeavour to pay your debts ;
befides, while the Courts of Juftice are (hut,
you will be apt to be carelefsj you will
ncgleft paying your intereft, your debts
will accumulate, your creditors will be ir-
ritated; and, as foon as a legal prtcefs can
be commenced, you will be ruined before
you can look about you*

Some of yoo are indebted to the loa;^-
office. You have your money, it is true,
at albw rate ; you pay only five per centum >
but, if you cannot fell your produce, you
can no more pay five per cent, than feven.
The (hutting up of the Courts of Judice
can here give you no relief. By virtue of

the

[33]

the aft which rcgu^us the Loan-Office,
your farms, if you faij to pay the int?reft,
will be fold in a limited time, without any
Judicial procefs at all.

Some of you, alfo, are tenanjts at will j
and if you fail in paying your rents, you
may be turned oft, with little or no warn-

H' , . ■ ■ .. ....1. .

Confider now the fituation you will be
in, if Great- Britain, provoked by your
Npn-importation Agreement, fhould ihut
Up our ports; or ihould the Non-exporta-
tion agreed to by the Congrefs, take effed:.
In that cafe you will not be able to fell
your produce ; you cannot pay even the in-
tereft of the money ypu are indebted for :
ypur farms muil be fold, and you and your
families turned out, to beggary and wretch-
ccinefs. — Blcffcd fruits of Non-importation
and Ngn-exportation ! The farmer that is
in debt, will be ruined; the farmer that is
clear in the world, will be obliged to run
in debt, to fupport his family : and while
the proud merchant, and the forfworn fmug-
gler, riot in their ill-gotten Wealth, the la-
borious farmers, the grand fopport of every

F well-

» ) HI

■>k

I '

[3+1

^ell-regulated countfy, muft all go to the
dogs together.— Vile ! Shameful ! Diaboli-
cal Device!

Let us attend a little to the Non-con-
fumption Agreement, which the Congrefs,
in their AiTociation, have impofed upon us.
After the firft of March we are not to pur*-
chafe or ufe any Eaft-India Tea whatfoever ;
nor any goods, wares,, or merchandize from
G.ea't-3ritain or Ireland, imported after the
£rft day of December next i r^or any r/io-
i^des, fyrups, &c. from the Britiih planta-
tions in the Weil-Indies, or from Dommi-
ca ; nor wine from Madeira, or the Weftern
Iflands ; nor foreign indigo.

Win you fubmit to this flavifh regu^-
tion ? — You muft.-^Ouc fovereign Lbrds and
Mafters, tlie High and Mighty Delegates,
in Grand Continental Congrefs aiTembled*
have ordered and directed it. They have
direded the Committees in the refpedlive
colonies, to eftabliih fuch further reguhtions
as they may think proper, for carrying their
aiTociatjon, of which this Non-confumption
agreement is a part, into execution. Mr.
***** *** of New- York, under the autho-

nty

■*.* . ■>'-

[ 35 ]

rity of their High-Mightinefles, the Dele-
gates, by and with the advice of his Privy-
Council, the Committee of New- York,
hath iflued his mandate^ bearing date No-
vember 7, i774t recommending it to the
freeholders and freemen of New-York, to
^emble on the 18th of November, to
chooljb eight peribns out of every ward, to
be a Commit:ee, to carry the AfTociation
of the Congrcfs irto execution.— The bufi-
nefs of the Committee fo chofen is to be, to
infpei^ the condudl of the inhabitants, and
fee whether they violate the Aflbciation. —
Among other things. Whether they drink
any Tea or wine in their families, after the
firft of March ; or wear ^ny Britiih or Irifli
manufadlures ; or ufe any Englifh molaffes,
&c. imported after the firft day of Decem-
ber next. If they do, their names are to
be publifhed in the Gazette, that they
may be puhUckly known, a.^d unwerfally con^
temned, as foes to the Rights of Britijh A^
meriea, and enemies of American liberty.-^
And then the parties of the faid AJfociation
will reJpeSlively break off all dealings with
him or her. — In plain Englilh, — They fliall
be confidered as Outlaws, unworthy of the
proleftion of civil fociety, and delivered

F 2 over

. [ 36 ]

over to the vengeance of a lawlefs, outra-
geous mob, to be tarred^ feathered, hanged,
drawn f quartered, and burnt, — O rare A-
merican Freedoni !

7 i

ui^

r, W

i '

1 ?

6
f \

Probably, as foon as this point is fettled
in New-York, the faid Mr. ***** **♦ iri
the plenitude of his power, by and with
the advice of his Privy- Council aforefaid,
will iflue his Mandate to the fupervifors in
the feveral counties, as he did about the
choice of Delegates, and diredl them to
have Committees chofen in their refpedive
diftrids, for the fame jaudable pgrpofe.

Will you be inftrumental in bringing the
moft abjedt flavery on yourfelves ? Will you
choofe fuch Committees ? Will you fubmit
to them, (hould they be chofen by the weak,
foolifli, turbulent part of the country peo-
ple ? — Do as you pleafe v but, by him tha(
made me, I will not. — No, if I muft be
enflaved, let it be by a K i n o at Iea(V, and
not by a parcel of lawlefs upftart Commit-
tee-men. If I muft be devoured, let me
be devoured by the jaws of a lion, and not
gnawed to death by rats and vermin.

Did

pid you choofe your fupervifors for tac
purpofe of inflaving you ? What right have
they to fix up advertifements to call you
together, for a very different purpofe from
that for which they were elected ? Are our

fupervifors our mafters ? And fhould half

a dozen foolifli people meet together again,
in confequence of thejr advertifements, and
choofe themfelves to be a Committee, as they
did in many diftridls, in the affair of choof-
ing Delegates, are we obliged to fubmit to

fuch a Committee? You ought, my

friends, to alfert your own freedom. Should
fuch another attempt be made upon you,
affemble yourfelves together ; tell your
fupervifor, that he has exceeded his com-

mifiion: That you will have no fuch

Committees : That you are Englifhmen,

and will maintain your rights and privi-
leges, and will eat, and drink, and wear,
whatever the public laws of your country
permit, without afking leave of any ille-
gal, tyrannical Congrefs or Committee on
earth.

But however, as I faid before, do as you
pleafe : if you like it better, choofe your

Com-

>'!*!

'-i

[ 38]

Committee, or fufFer it to be chofen by
half a dozen Fools ia your neighbour hpod,

— i-Qpen your doors to them, ^let them

examine your tea-canifters, and mplafTes^
jugs, and your wives and daughters petti-
coats,-- — bo\v> and cringe* and tremble,
and quake,— -^fali down and worship our
fovcreign lord the Mob. — But I repeat it,
by H ' " . n , 1 will not,— No, my houfe
is my caflle : as fuch I will confider it, as
(iich I will defend it, whilp I have breath.
No King'^ officer (hall enter it without my
. ''nifl)on, unlefs fupported by a v^arrant
froin a magiftrate.—— And (ball ipy houfc
be entered, and n)y ippde of living en-
quired into, by a domineering Committee*
man ? Before / fqbmit, I will die : livp p^^
and be (laves.

Do, I fay^ as you pleafe : but (hould ^ny
pragmatical Committee- gentleman con^e to
my houfe, and give himfelf airs, I (hall
(hew him the door, and if he do^s not
foon take himfelf away^ a good hiccory
cudgel (hall teach him better manners.

There is one article more of the A(roda*
tion, which exhibits fuch 9- Ariking iniUnce

ki -1

f 39 1

(^ thie tgnorftAct, Dt Inatiention of the Con«
gttfs to tht FarnMrs intereft, that I muft
take notiee of it to you $ efpecially fts it
vtrill givit tne an op^wtunity of mientioning
as drlkittg ait fttftatice of the arbitrary, il-
legal, atid tyraAhical procedure bf the Com-
mittee of Correfpondence in New- York.

Thd ^Icle I ftican, is the fcventh, rela-
tive to ^e iftcreafing of the number and
imptOving of the breed of (http. N'o (heep
of any^kifid are to be exported to the Weft-
lAdSelv or «lfewbcrc. Why, for God's
{dkti ^t.vt noHetkef-s inckided in this pro*
hibliroin t Will ^eithtrs increafe th<emim<-
ber, or improvie the breed of (heep ? I wiih
the Gefttkmtn of the Congrefe, and the
Cotamitt*e*i«cil tsi New-York^ would try
the exp^inftent. I4t them buy a fcore of
weflfilher^v and feed^ ahd nuife them for a
t\VetT€fmOnth $ arvd tben publiih an account
of th^ number of lambs they have pro-
ddced, their €<normou« tispe, with the quan^
tity and fii^enei(^ of their wool ; )that we
may knoW id wh^t manner the namber
and b^eed of (hebp may be increafed, and
impro^^ed, by keeping weathers. But let
this sfccoont be under oath, or I 'fiiall not

believe

If I ,

if. f

w m

[40 1

believe that they have fucceeded, either hi
increaiiiig the number,.. or improving the
breed. I folcmnly declare! never, had ono
lamb produced from a weather in my whole
life ; and have always been fo ignorant^
that I {hould no more eXpedt a lamb frpm '
a weather, tlian a calf fcom an o%,ir, -ymi

But it may be faid, that weathers m\\
produce wool, and. that it is for ihe Jal^r
of the wool that their exportation ip. pre-
vented. I readily own that weathers will .
produce wool, though. not lambs. . But let
me aik you, my brother farmers, which of
you would keep a flock of {heep\b^cly lor
the fake of their woof * Not on^of you.
If you cannot fell youk heep to. ad vantage
at a certain age, you cannot keep them to
any profit. An < ewe (hould not be kept
after (he is fix years old^ nor a weather ^ter
he is four : few of you choofc tp keep them
fo long. What now muft be done with ,
our (heep when they become fo old that wr »
can keep them no longer . with advantage ? .
We are ordered to ktll ibem Sparingly : a
queer phrafe; however, let it pafs. If it
is not ciqfical, it is congreffional ; and that's ^
enough. And after having killed them j^<z-
: ringly,

• i 4« i

h'^giy, if we have any to /pare, we muft
/pare them to our poor neighbours. But
fuppofing that after killing them fpciringlyi
and /paring as many to my poor neighbours
as they want, I fliould, by reafon of killing
themjparingly, have ftill more to fpdre — -
what fhall I dd with them ? Exported they
muft not be. Why ! fat them well, and
fell them to the New-Yofkers : The deucd
take them for a fett of gundy-gutted fel-
lows will they let us export nothing ?

Do they intend to eat all our wheat, and
rye, and corn, and beef, and pork, and
mutton, and butter, and cheefe, and tur-
keys, and geefc, and ducks, and fowls,
and chickens, and eggs, &c. ? the devil is
in't if their bellies are not filled. And yet
fee their ill-nature and malice agalnft ui
farmers. — ►After having furniftied them
with all this good chear, which they mufl
have at their own price too, they will not
in return let us have a diQi of tea to pleafc
our wives, nor a glafs of Madeira to chear
our fpirits, nor even a fpoonful of Molaffes
to fwceten our butter-milk. To be feri-
ous

Had

I-

i( i' *

I 42 ]

Had the Congrefs attended in the leart
to the fanners intereft, they never would
have prohibited the exportation of (heep,
after they came 10 a certain age. It is the
exportation that keeps up the price of
(heepi it is the advantageous price that en-
courages the farmer to feed them : take
away the profit of felling them, and the
farmer will keep but very few. For they
are not, and I am confident never will be
in this country, worth keeping for their
v/oul only.

However, right or wrong, the Congrefs
have pafled the decree, ^hou jlmlt not ex~
port fieept was pronounced at Philadelphia;
and, right or wrong, the Committee of
New- York are determined to put it in exe-
cution : And t'hou foak not export Jhcep, is
, echoed back from New-Yoik.

How this decree is to be fupported in
New-York, may be learned from the fol-
lowing affair. A Gentleman, an officer ia
the King's fcrvice, had purchafed a num-
ber of flieep to carry with him to St. Vin-
cent's : Mr. Gaine's news-paper fays

eighteen.

[43]

eighteen. The New-Yorkers, prohabJy
afraid that they (hould lofe their rtiare of the
mutton, aflembled on the dock, fent for
the Committee, and in open violation of
the laws of their country, obliged the mer-
chant to whom the vefTcl had been con-
figned, to have the (heep landed ; the fheep
were comrnitted to fjife durance till tlie
veil'd rai)ed, and then were delivered to the

proprietor 1 fuppofe to the perfon who

had fold the to the officer: though how
he could be the proprietor after he had
fold them, 1 cannot fee. Had I been the
perfon, I would have had nothing to do
with themi the Committee migKt have
done what they pleafed with them — killed
them fparingly^ or /pared them to their poor
neighbours. But had there been law or
juftice in the government, I would have
been paid for them : though, now I think
of it, I would have made a prefent of them
to the Committee, upon condition that they
(hould make the experiment how far the
number and breed of flieep can be increafed
and improved by keeping weathers; f ; r I
have been pofitively alTured, that thefe fime
Iheep, which made all this buftle, were
nothing more.

G 2 Ihr

■:jm

kij^

— T

ClJ»«J.*tf

m «

[44]

'If:

If'

■ i'

Here now, my friends, Is a flagrant in-
fiance of injuftice and cruelty committed
by a riotous mob j — for a number of people,
be they Committee-men, or who you pleafc,
affcmbled to do an unlawful ailion, cfpe-
cially in the night, dcferve no better name,
— againft both the buyer and feller of the
iheep, in open violation of the laws of the
goVcrnrnent-in which we live, and of the
rights of the city in which it was perpetrat-
ed i and not a fingle magiftrate had virtue or
courage enough to interpofe. O Hiame to
humanity I Hold up your heads, ye Com-
mittee-men of New- York ! Deny the
charge if ye can. But remember, the
inftan^ ye deny it, ye forfeit all preienfions
to truth or confcience.

Think me not too fevere. Anarchy and
Confufion, Violence and Oppreflion, diftrefs
my country ; and I muft, and wiJ/ fpeak.
Though the open violator of the laws may
efcape punidiment, through the pufillani-
mity of the magiftrates, he {ball feel the
lafli of my pen : and he fhall feel it again
and again, till remorfe fhall lling his guilty
confcience, and ihame cover his opprobri-
ous head.

But

\.....

[4Sl

But perhaps you will fay, that thele men
are contending for our rights; that they
are defending our liberties ; and though
they a£t againfl: law, yet that the necefTity
of the times will juftify them. Let me fee.
I fell A number of (heep. I drive them to
New- York, and deliver them to the pur-
chafer. A mob interpofes, and obliges me
to take my (heep again, and drive them
home for my pains, or fell them for juft
what they pleafe to give me. Are thefe
the rights, is this the liberty, thefe men are
contending for ? It is vile, abjedt flavery,
and I will have none of it. Thefe men de-
fend our rights and liberties, who a<5t in
ppen defiance of the laws ? No. They are
piaking us the mo(^ abjed flaves that ever
exifted. The neceflity of the times juftify
them in violating the firft principles of civil
fqcicty ! Who induced this neceflity ? Who
involved the pre «nce in difcord, anarchy
and confufion ? Thefe very men. They
created that neceflity, which they now plead
in their own J unification.

<.\

Let me intreat you, my Friends, to have
pothing to do with thefe men, or with any

I'' t

[46 ]

of the fame (lamp. Ptace and q^ietnefs
(u'lt you bed. Confufion, and Difcord, and
Violence, and War, are fure deftrudion to
tht farmer. Without peace he cannot till
his lands j unlefs protedled by the laws, he
cannot carry his produce to market. Peace
indeed is departed from us for the prefcnt,
and the protedlion of the laws has ceafed.
But I truft in God, there is yet one method
left, which by prudent management, will
free us from all our difficulties j reftore peace
again to our dwellings, and give us the firm
fecr ity of the laws for our protedlion.
Renounce all dependence on CongrclTcs, and
Committees. They have negledled, or be-
trayed your interefts. Turn then your eyes
to your conjlitutiojml reprefentatives. The*'
are the true, and legal, and have be
hitherto, the faithful defenders of your
right?, and liberties ; and you have no rea-
ion to think hut they will ever be fo. They
will probably foon meet in General Affembly.
Addrefs yourfelves to them. They are the
proper perfons to obtain redrefs of any
grievances that you can juftly complain of.
You can trull their wifdom and prudence,
that they will ufe the mofi: reafonable, con-
flitutioiial, and effectual methods of re-

ftoring

[47]

Aorisig that peace and harmony, betvreea
Great-Britain and thia province, which is
fo earneftly wifher^ for by all good men, and
which is fo abfolutely neceflary for the hap-
pinefs of us all. Prefent a petition to them,
intreating them to lake the matter into their
own hands, and to labour earneftly to ac-
complifh fo bleffcd a purpofe. But beware
of giving them any directions how to pro-
ceed. Asifoon as ever you attempt to inJJruSi
them, you lay yourfelves open to be duped
and fooled by defigning men, in the drawing
of your inftrudions. Some will inftruA
them to do one thing, and fome another,
and you will embarrafs, but not help forward
their deliberations.

YourREPRESENTATivES know perfectly
the ftate of the unhappy breach between
our mother country and us. They want no
information in this point. The more you
truft them at this time, the more you will
put it in their power to ferve you j and the
greater obligation you will lay them under
to ferve y ou faith fully ^ and effcSlually. Only
befeech them to heal this unnatural breach ;
to fettle this deftrudtive contention; that
peace and quietnefb, and the firm proiedion

l^W

E: ! ,1

I 48]

of law, and good go^ eminent/ niay agdirl
be our happy lot. Would the feveral coun-
ties, or towns in the province, condudlinem-
lelves in this manner, God, I am confident^
would hlefs, and give a profperous ilTue to
fo good a work.

And whatever you may be taught by de-
figning men, to think of the Government
at home, they, I am certain, would em-
braced us with the arms of friend0iip ; they
would prefs us to their bofoms, to their
hearts, would we give them a fairopportunity^
This opportunity our AJfmbly alone can give
them. And this opportunity, I truft, they
will give them, unlefs we prevent all pofli-
bility of accommodation, by our own per-
verfenefs, and ill conduit. And then, God
only knows where our diftreffes may tcr-

mm^ite. -

K • * -

.^ Kovmher 16, 1774.

•■•.> 1

. z\. W. Farmer*

' t ' '

POST-

[49 ]

^m^

POSTSCRIPT.

Tyr U C H ftrefs has been laid, it feems,
^'^ upon the unanimity of the Delegates,
and it has been urged, that all the Inhabit
tants of the continent (hould think thcm-
fclves in honour obliged to abide paffi'vely by
their decifions, be they what they may, as
they were their Repr.fentatlves, — But I
would juft obferve, that not one per/on in an
hundred (to fpeak much within bounds)
throughout this province at Icaft, gave his
vote for their ekSllon : and as to the unani-
mity which was fuppofed to prevail amongft
them, it is now pretty generally underftood,
and it is an undoubted fadt, that not only
fKoJl or a/l of the New-Tork members, but
many others, of the moft refpeSlabie cha-
raBers amongft them, warmly oppofed their
condudt in a multitude of inftances;
though they had unhappily agreed, before
their entrance upon bufinefs, that neither
froteji nor d{ffent ihould appear upon their

l\ minutes.

■»«

>,*

..'iHJ-W!.

■f

5 165' '.

[ 5°]

minutes. The arts smd^ratagems ufed on
this and fome 0/i6^r occafions, during the
feilion of the Congrefs, together with the
caballing out of doors, and the unfair
DEALINGS within, will fill up more pages,
than are comprehended in the prefent Letter
IP my Fellow'Farmers,

FINIS,

*ed on
g the
h the

[FAIR

pages.
Letter