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. 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 consider- ". able number of good Arms and support the honour of "Congress ; but without it, shall not -- and think that " if the Battalion is sent up, the sooner the better." 2

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

' Doctor Sparks noticed this outrage, in these words : " The Committee "reasoned but imperfectly from the facts of history and the principles of "human nature, when they supposed that people, with arms in their " hands, would be tempted to resign them, by such motives as were held "out. They must either be treated as friends or enemies. If friends, "their safety and interest required that the soldiers who were to pro- " tect their property and defend their rights should be armed ; and the " call of patriotism would be the loudest that could be made to them.