Indeed, the extent and character of the sympathy with the Rebellion, as a matter of principle, which prevailed among the Colonists, generally, may be seen, very clearly defined, in their hesitation ti take the field in support of it, even where no enemy was and where none was expected, 10 and in their precision of movements, homeward, when the terms of service of those who had been induced to enlist had expired. There appears to have been a foundation in fact for what Governor Tryon wrote to the Home Government, that " was it not from the awe of the inhabit- " ants of the neighboring Colonies and the controul- " ing influence of the Continental Congress I am per- " suaded there would be an immediate End, in this ''province, to all Committees and Congresses.""

As the period of time which is now under review [November 4, 1775, until May 14, 1776,] included the later Autumn, the Winter, and the Spring, the farmers of Westchester-county, as far as they were permitted to do so, undoubtedly pursued their usual vocations, with their usual diligence and quietness -- they certainly harvested their various agricultural productions, and marketed the surplus of their crops, 12

9 " With many, the principal inducement to enlist arises from the "hopes of Cash." -- Abraham Yates, Junior, Chairman, to tlie Committee of Safety, " Albany Committee Chamber, 11th April, 1776."

10 In Orange-county, "none but the lowerclass of mankind will enlist; "and these were conceived not to be the men to be depended on," (Elihu Marvin, Chairman, to the Provincial Congress, "In County Com- "mittee, Oxford, Feb. 15, 1776.") In Duchess-county, enlistments could be made only on the stipulation that the men thus enlisted should not be required to do service outside of the Colony of New-York, (Zepheniah Piatt, Chairman, to the Provincial Congress, "Poughkeepsie, Feb. 9, "1776.") Iu Albany-county, the recruiting-officers " found great diffi- "culties for want of money," (The Albany Committee to the Committee of Safety, "Albany, 2 April, 1776.") The enlistments were so few in number, in Queens-county, that the recruiting-officers abandoned the undertaking, (Journal of tlte Committee of Safety, " Die Mercurii, 10 ho., " A.M., May 8, 1776.") In the City of New York, the success was so small that the recruiting-officers were dismissed, "with great reluctance," and their several recruits consolidated, (Journal of the Provincial Congress, " Die Jovis, 9 ho., A.M., May 9, 1776.")