[HUGH GRIFFITH TO] M2 GEORGE FINDLAY, No. 6 ST. MARTINS STREET LEICESTERFIELDS LONDON.

MY DEAR SIR!

In my last I mention'd to you that we were going on a cruise which we performed but without success in the prize way, still cannot call ourselves unlucky as we escaped a very severe scowering in the Equinoxial gale during which we remained at Sandy Hook. Most of the Vessels. that were out in the gale lost Masts & many their Guns. Immediately on our return here we were sent with a Convoy to Rhode Island to evacuate it, & the which we accomplish'd. Its a very pleasant Island and whether the quitting or keeping it is to advantage shall not pretend to say as it was ordained by wiser Heads than mine, only that I hope never to see a sight like it again for to any person of the smallest degree of feeling it was truly affecting, you scarce saw a face but what wore a melancholy aspect. Some who had given up almost their all by way showing their Loyalty, others who were staunch to their King & had declared their sentiments publickly were obliged to leave their property and trust to Providence, others to leave Family property & every thing thats dear to Man to the Mercy of a set of scoundrels who are capable of every Villainy, and others, who had great Families & had not been quite so violent, obliged to stand the brunt and hold a Candle to the Devil, and I can assure you there were some as busily employ'd in preying on those poor peoples misfortunes by amassing every thing the(y) could not carry at a very cheap rate or for nothing (they previously having prepared conveyance for them to York) by which means they have feather'd their nests tolerably well & made the Prov

erb good (Its an ill wind that blows nobody good) On our arrival here we were order'd immediately for Sea & had the pleasure of being inform'd that instead of being commended for the evacuating Rhode Island so well that we had been acting the Comedy All in the Wrong, for the Express being sent in a little Schooner to countermand the same, she unfortunately fell into the Hands of the Rebels (& no duplicate of the same being sent) obstructed our keeping the place, which I believe we might as well have done. Understanding that the Daphne is not as yet sail'd and that she is just on the eve of going away and prefering that opportunity to the Packet will prevent my saying so much as I could wish. Please to make my duty to my Mother and let her know I proposed writing to her by this occasion but shall not have time. Let her know that I am very happy in the Company of my old Friend's young Morris's who are very kind and always desirous of seeing me at their Father's House, who I think looks as well as ever Pray don't forget me to Mr. Morris, remember me to all my friends particularly and believe me to be My Dear Sir,

Your most dutiful son,

HUGH GRIFFITH.

BLONDE, New York, Oct 30th 1779.

Mr. GEORGE FINDLAY.

I can assure you I am ashamed that all my letters should be Hurried and so short but really our time is so here, and for the three last times I have been here, have not been twice on shore, no person being allow'd to go on shore. So goes on this grand hurly burly and to but little purpose.

100

LETTER OF JOHN CHALMERS, LIEUTENANT COLONEL COMMANDANT OF THE MARYLAND LOYALISTS.

DEAR SIR,

NEW YORK, Aug 20th 1780.

On my return from Carolina I was favored with your very obliging letter, I must confess that I received more pain than pleasure from your intelligent communication of the national discords gravesque principum inamicitias. Your just remarks on the national resources & finances are very satisfactory. We have long respected the abilities of Lord North and we cannot deny him firmness. His paying the interest of his late loan, by taxes scarce alarming to luxury is alone sufficient to rank him with the Colberts. His assurance that supplies for the ensuing year altho' more considerable than the present, can be raised with facility has given us great spirits. This declaration is alarming to the Insurgents who assured themselves that the Ministers could not raise the supplies. I think, Sir, you cordially agree with your discerning worthy patriot Pulteney that such opinions do as certainly prolong as they tended to create this unhappy war. Deplorable is your state of the factions; their petitions, associations & meditated Congress. Those demons of discord seem to exert their machinations, proportioned to the national success, conscious that such acts of parricide can only prevent a happy termination of the war. I cannot however suffer myself to believe that the nation is on the brink of rebellion. The unhappy example of America must deter from such flagrant acts of desperation all those who are not phrentic or fitted to fish in muddy streams.

Doubtless you have your Richmonds, Wilkes's, Gordons and many thousand desperadoes up for revolutions; but

surely the majority will scorn, supinely to permit themselves, their Prince and country to be undone by the dregs of human kind. I perceive you have altered your opinion respecting the war in America, which you wish transferred to the West Indies. You seem to think the Revolted Colonies are not to be brought back to their duty; In which sentiment you are almost confirmed by the information of certain officers of rank and particularly by the testimony of Major General Grey. I acknowledge my surprize, as you must have seen Letters to a Nobleman by Mr Galloway which do honor to that gentleman's discernment and patriotism and will constantly remain an indelible proof against the evidence in question. In the sequel I hope Sir to convince you that you are in error and that the relied on testimony founded in misapprehension is generally if not wholly inconclusive. Were I not encouraged by your candor I would apprehend a degree of impropriety in submitting my opinion of public affairs even, Sir, to you. But I trust you will generously remember that I have had opportunities of acquiring information respecting the Colonies and that the existence of my numerous family depending on a happy conclusion of the war, I cannot wilfully mean to mislead or impose on your understanding. I hope you will not censure remarks because they originate from a person whose entire property being in the revolted Colonies may speciously be supposed to contribute his very humble mite to reinstate himself in his possessions even at the expence of Great Britain. I know that faction robed in eloquence has often asserted that the last reason destroys the degree of credit otherwise due to such Informants. This assertion, however, is equally cruel & unjust. An American Loyalist, in our days can have no interest distinct from that of Great Britain. He never can regain his property and consequence in American Independance nor discover new resources in the ruin of England. An Engineer, Commissary, Quarter Master general or other pecula

tor, whose legal appointments do but suffice to subsist him, who nevertheless accumulates immense property, can hardly be said to be disinterested. Such must eminently possess amor patriæ, if not biassed in favor of those patrons from whom their rapid fortunes so recently originated. It is said they generally wish this country separated from G. Britain. No enquiries into their conduct or actions in such case could properly be instituted against them. No one is more assuredly an enthusiast for the honor, for the gallantry, for the humanity of English officers than your informant. But as an empire distracted by party, can we suppose that demon has not in some degree pervaded the Army? Men of fortune and family chiefly attain high rank in the Army. But genius, or even capacity, is not the indiscriminate lot of men of fashion. In quarters it is not impossible that certain of them, may devote their hours to the table and other fashionable agrémens. They generally possess ample fortunes, and accustomed to all the luxuries of Europe, it is imagined they regard America as a Siberia or exilement from their pleasures. It is alleged that such characters possibly may possess a meanness of pride seldom or ever attendant on true genius-a quality ever obnoxious to the attainment of information in America, where equality of manners renders such pride more odious than in any other country. If these men view a Gazette fabricated expressly for them if they see a Livingston most speciously and boldly assuring the world that his militia would certainly endanger, if not destroy the King's Army on their route to Sandy Hook, they seem amazed, and conscious of their native truth, do hardly conceive that men exist who avoid no means however nefarious to effect their purposes. In short you may discover that the first descrip

A gazette containing the terms of the surrender of Savannah was struck off, and sent, via Sandy Hook, to a certain naval officer of high rank, who beyond all doubt is fitter for returning, than for commanding. Had the fleet destined for Charlestown remained two days longer at Sandy Hook, it would, I mean the whole armament, have perished miserably.