***** The State of my mission is much the same as I informed you in my last only greatly troubled on account of Vol. III. 0.2

333 PAPERS RELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY.

their political Sentiments which are strictly loyal & peaceable. Last week a number of Troops by order of the Continental Congress disarmed this Township & Hempstead & carried off about twenty of the principal persons of M"" Cutting's & my congregation prisoners to Philadelphia they being accused of opposing the present measures.

I am Eeyd Sir &c &<=

Joshua Bloomer.

* REV^^ M^ BLOOMEU TO THE SECRETARY

Jamaica April 9 1777

Revd Sir

* * * * I feel myself happy in having it in my power at tliis time to write to you from a land restored from anarchy & confusion to the blessings of Order & good Government. The arrival of the kings troops & their success on this Island has rendered every loyal subject of which there are a great number here, happy, previous to that event the Rebel Army which were quartered at New York had assumed the whole power and their Government was in the highest degree arbitrary & tyrannical loyalty to our Sovereign was in their judgment the worst of crimes & was frequently punished with great severity. The principal members of my Congregation who conscientiously refused to join in their measures, excited their highest resentment their houses were plundered, their persons seized, some were committed to prison & others sent under a strong guard to the distant parts of Conn' where they were detained as prisoners for several months 'till after repeated solicitations to the Governor & Assembly of that Province tliey were permitted to return to their Families. The service of the Church also gave great offence the Prayers for the King & Royal Family being directly repugnant to their independent Scheme, they bitterly inveighed & frequently by threats endeavored to intimidate the Ministers & cause them to omit those parts of the Liturgy.