* * * "The New-England e.xploit is much talked of, and conjec- " turefl are numerous as to the part the Convention will tuke relative to " it ; some consider it as an ill compliment to the Government of the " Province, and prophesy that you have too much Christian meekness " to take any notice of it. For my own part, I uon't approve of the " feat ; and I think it neither argues much w sdom or much bravery ; at " any rate, if it was to have been done, I wish our own people, and not " strangers, had taken the liberty of doing it.

" I confess I am a little jealous of tlie honour of the Province, and " am jiersuaded that its reputation can not be maintained without some " little spirit being mingled with its prudence."

* Minutes of the General Committee of the City and County of Neu> York, " Tuesday evening, December 5, 1775."

The record is in these words :

" A Draft of a Petition to the honourable the Provincial Congress for " the Province of New-York, was read, and is as follows, viz. :

" ' To THE Hoxouhable the Provi.n'cial Co.\gre.ss for the Prov- ' ' INCE of New- York.

" ' The Petition of the General Committee for the City and County of "' New-York, humbly shewcth :

"'That a body of troops,* from a neighbouring Colony, did lately

* It is evident, from these words, that it was, then, supposed to have I