General Howe very well said, after experience had taught him the facts, "Much might be said upon the state of loyalty and the principles "of loyalty, in America. Some are loyal from principle ; mam/ from in- "terest ; many from resentment; many wish for peace, but are indiffor- " out which side prevails ; and there are others who wish success to Great "Britain, from a recollection of the happiness they enjoyed under her "government.' 1 (Observations upon a pampldet entitled Letters to a Nobleman, 39.)
Although there may have been individuals among the farmers of Westchester-county who, under this classification, were "loyal from " principlo " or from " interest " or- from " resentment," there can be very little doubt that the mass of those farmers were loyal, as far as they were loyal in any degree, because of their desire for peace, no matter from whom it might como, and because of their recollection of the happiness they had enjoyed under the Colonial Government.
They practically illustrated the theory of the party of the Opposition to the Homo Government, with whom they had been, generally, in harmony -- "Let us alone."
4 General Washington to John Augustine Washington, " New York, 22 "July, 1770."
There is t not known to have been any communication between the Westchester-county bank of the river and the ships, while the latter remained on their lower anchorage-ground, except thoBe referred to on page 208, ante ; but, subsequently, while the ships were off the Cortlandt Manor, their boats as we shall see, were very active, during every night ; and it is known the ships were visited by some of the neighboring inhabitants. The guards were less vigilaut, in the upper part of the County, than they had been, near Tarrytown.