Not an exception was made, no matter what reason there might have been for such an exception ; and everything which had a gun-lock on it, whether useful or useless for military purposes -- whether a young man's fowling-piece, with which he was wont to have a few hours' sport, when squirrels and robins abounded, or to have more serious work, when foxes and more formidable marauders poached in the poultry-yards or in the sheep-pastures ; or an old man's worn-out musket, a trusty friend in earlier Wars and, now, only a remembrancer of other days and other hardships--everything was doomed, by that new-formed

5 .Journal of the Committee of Safety, ■' ber 16th, 1775."

' Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Septem-

WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

power, to seizure and, practically, to forfeiture. There was grave reason for increased discontent and excitement. There was ample reason, under the circumstances which then existed, for obstructing the execution of the Committee's Orders -- indeed, there was greater reason for concealing the objects which the military force was expected to seize and " impress," under the provisions of these Orders, than there had been for the concealment of the Bay Colony's military stores, at Concord, when Lieutenant-colonel Smith and Major Bitcairn .were sent to seize them, and for resisting the aggression of the Committee, than there had been for the punishment of the invader, in that instance, after his work had been finished, on the highway, between Concord and Charlestown. 1

It is said that, in Queens-county, " the people " conceal all their Arms that are of any value ; many "declare they know nothing about the Congress, " nor do they care anything for the Orders of the "" Congress, and say that they would sooner lose their " lives than give up their Arms ; and that they would " blow any man's brains out, who should attempt to " take them from them.