We are told," the writer continued, " that the people have been collecting " together, and parading, in sundry places, armed, " and firing their Muskets, by way of bravado. On " the whole, had we the Battalion " [Lasher's} " we " believe we should be able to collect a very cousider- " able number of good Arms and support the honour ol " Congress ; but without it, shall not -- and think that " if the Battalion is sent up, the sooner the better." -'

There are no known records of the doings of Gilbert Drake and Captain William L)ut(dier, in their tours of pillage, among the conservative and peaceful farmers of Westchester-connty ; but there appears, from a brief mention which has been made,

* Doctor Sparks noticed this (►utrage, in tliese words: " Tlie (_'iiniiiiittee " r«.i«oncd but iniiM-rfectiy from the facts of history iiuil the pi inciiilcs of " liiuniLU nature, when tliey stipposed tliat people, witii arms in tlieir " liands, would be tempted to resign them, by such motives as were held "out. They must either he treated as friends or enemies. If friends, "their safety and interest reipiired that the soldiers who were to pni- " tect their property and ilel'end their rights shouM he armed ; and the "call of patriotism would be the loudest that could be mailc to them. " While deaf to this call, Ihey would not he made to listen to the Orders "of a Committee or the Resolves of a Conjcress. If enemies, the sense *'of present danger, operating on the fii"st law of nature, would prompt "them to keep within their power, their only sure means of defem.'-. "In either case, the idea of taking away their arms, by a compulsory " impressment, had little to recommend it, either in policy or prudence." -- {Life of (lonvtnieiir Mnrrix, i., G3.)