chains in the dungeons of these unprincipled men whom they have created. They are torpid and unmoved at the sufferings, poverty, exilement and death of thousands of their virtuous fellow subjects. Indeed such is the arrogance & cruel refinement of Faction, that they upbraid these very unhappy men as pensioned mercenaries eager to combat alternately as interest dictates.

Nevertheless they have too much patriotism and magnanimity to derive the least consolation in the cruel reflection, that even many of their enemies soon must be involved in equal misery, from the certain catastrophe awaiting the Constitution, if America is lost, which can only happen in consequence of a continuation of their criminal conduct. Anxiously, my dear Sir, expecting to hear from you, I ever remain with the utmost sincerity and respect

Your obedient

humble Servant

NEW YORK, Aug. 23a 1780.

JE CHALMERS
Lt Col Comd' Maryland Loyalists.

[H. GRIFFITHS] TO MR. GEORGE FINDLAY, NO. 6 ST. MARTINS STREET, LEICESTERFIELDS, LONDON.

MY DEAR SIR,

I did myself the pleasure of enquiring after your health and my Mothers the latter end of last Month. We have had odd Work here. General Arnold the Rebel Chief has joined us openly. He has been inimical to the American cause sometime. He corresponded with Gen! Clinton for a long while. One of the deepest schemes ever known was laid between them, which by the most unhappy accident was discovered within a few hours of its crisis, that would

have been the overthrowing of the revolted States. The French having a Fleet and Troops at Rhode Island, an Expedition was embarked and wisper'd destined for that Place. Washington got scent of it, and knowing the weakness of the French, was on the eve of Marching to their reinforcement leaving Arnold with the Command of the North River where their chief Magazines are, and when Washington had got a proper distance, the Transports were to push up the River with Troops on whose approach Arnold was to Surrender the Garrison & Forts &c. [by which means we should cut off the communication between the Northern & Southern Provinces, opened one for ourselves through Albany into Canada.] Gen' Clinton, to make the matter more compleat, sent out a Flag by a very Trusty Officer (& one of an unblemished Character) who, it was reported, went to settle the Exchange of Prisoners, but by the bye to spy the Market. He had a conference with G. A. from whom he procured a pass and being rather too Sanguine for the wellfare of his Country disguised himself and exceeded the Gen's intention, but accomplished his own by making himself acquainted with the Strength of their Camp, through which he passed & made minutes of every thing he thought requisite, but unfortunately within a few miles of his return, he was discovered & searched and the minutes with other Papers found on him, by this unlucky accident the Plot was blown. Arnold made his escape from them, the Light Horse was just ten minutes too late after him. Poor Major Andrie who was the Officer sent was try'd and being above telling a Lye when his Life was at stake frankly owned that he came out as a Flag but when taken was a Spy, his Eloquence had such an effect on many of the Court that when his sentence was pronounced they shed tears lamenting the fate of so great a Man which the laws of war had condemned to die. His Oratory & steadfastness (its reported) late years have not seen before and is to be equalled only

by some old Roman Stories we read of. Every method was taken to procure his existance; Gen' Robertson the Commandant with the Principal of the Council went out with a Flag, but to no effect, nothing but his forfeit life would serve. He has died a sacrifice to his Country, & tho' an Ignominious Death, an Honor to it & his Connections, loved & esteemed by those who knew him and admired by those that did not. Thus ends the Life of a great Man. Gen' Arnold is made a Brigd in our service. He has published a Memorial to his Countrymen in behalf of the step he has taken. It is very long or I would send it you. We are going on a expedition, I believe, to the Southward. The Troops are embarked who vow Revenge with Vengeance on those who fall into their Hands for Andrie's Death. The first news you hear of the expedition expect a great Carnage. When the account arrived at York the Soldiers lips vibrated Andrie Andrie & the street reechoed Vengeance with the Bayonet to the sons of Rebellion. I must now conclude, with my Duty to my Mother & beg you to except of the same from

My dear Sir

Your Most dutiful son

JOHN HUGH GRIFFITH.

BLONDE NEW YORK 11 Oct: 1780

Our first Lieutenant Mr Doun is going home, a worthy Man who has been very Civil to me, not only as a mess mate, but a friend, in advising me at my first embarking. On my giving your address he has promised to call on my mother when he goes to London, which I suppose will be some time after his arrival, as he resides in the Country & has not seen his family for near 4 years. He says he will let you know how I go on.

Let me intreat you Sir to use all your Int'rest for me in behalf of an Adjutancy, as I know you are my friend & wish to serve and this is the time or never.

CAPTAIN WEST CAMPBELL TO

SIR,

Agreeable to your request of knowing how I was treated when taken prisoner at Moots house. After being obliged to surrender at discreation, owing to the houses being set on fire when I ordered the Chamaud to be beat a Continentall officer with a file of men mounted the parepet one of them mad (e) a push at me with his bagnet (sic) which I paried of and sprung over the works when I was meet by Doctor Irven of Lee's Lejon (sic) who behaved with all manner of politness to me and the rest of the British and Hessian officers who had the misfortune to be taken prisoners at the same time. Doctor Irven asked for my sword, But on my expressing a wish to deliver it to Lieu! Col. Lee I was conducted to that Gentleman who I acquainted that I was his prisoner and had reserved my sword from Doctor Irven as I wished to deliver it to him and that I expected to be treated as an officer and a person who had don his duty. He adressed me in a very unpolite manner, told me to deliver my sword to a Serg of his on which I threw the sword from me. He then told me that the insolence of the British could not be put up with and desired that I should prepare myself to be mad an imediate example of and asigned for his reason that I was guiltie of insolence and obstinacy in not giving up the post sooner I told him I had only don my duty and that my Country would revenge insult offer'd me or any other British officer his prisoner on which I was ordered to be conveyed of by Doctor Irven who behaved to me with his usual politness - I remained two hours in Confinment every minute expecting my fate when Col! Lee sent for Lieut McPherson and myself. We remained one hour and a half at his door

when he came out and Informed us that he would at present forgive us but if ever we would exceed our duty (as he pretended we had don) that we might expect to receive the execution of the threat that he formerly threatned us with-from that time we were treated with the greatest politness by all the Continentall officers and by Gen' Green in particular.

It gives me particular uneasiness to find from a Corprall of my Comp that two of the Militia were hanged without any reason being asigned for it, but their being well affected to goverment. I remonstrated with Col! Lee on the subject he blamed Gen! Marian, I was afterwards informed that Gen1 Marian threw all the blame on him for I had no opertunity of seeing Gen! Marian afterwards.

STATEMENT OF CHARTERS TO PLYMOUTH AND TO CAPTAIN JOHN MASON.

Nov. 3 1620 King James y° 1st Grants to ye Council of Plimouth all ye Lands in New England between Forty & Forty eight degrees of Northerly Latitude in Breadth & from ye Atlantick Sea on y° East part to y° South Sea on ye West part in Length.

2. The latter end of ye same year or in ye next (for ye accounts differ) the Council grants to Capt. John Mason that Tract of Land beginning at y mouth of Salem River & up sa River to the head thereof & then from y mouth