| Title: | Extract of a Letter from Wilmington, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| ID | 3871 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | 1771-80/21 |
| Year | 1775 |
| Sender | unknown |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Wilmington, Penn., USA |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | unknown |
| Relationship | re colonists in North America |
| Source | The Belfast News-Letter, Friday 10 to Tuesday 14 March, 1775 |
| Archive | The Central Library, Belfast |
| Doc. No. | 1200300 |
| Date | 10/03/1775 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 19:12:00. |
| Word Count | 314 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | BELFAST. Extract of a Letter from Wilmington, Newcastle County, in the Province of Pennsylvania, dated February 4, 1775. " The public affairs in America are much the same now as when you sailed; the spirit of liberty, and opposition to the unconstitutional supremacy of Parliament grows daily more general, so that the whole continent appears individually interested in the event, and cooly determined to risk their lives and property in defence of their privileges: and lest the pacific mode of redress recommended by the late Continental Congress, should prove ineffectual, nor the voice of justice and humanity be regarded, the Colonies are forming themselves into a regular militia, and have already began to train; and no doubt but in a very short space of time a large army, composed of gentlemen and freemen, well disciplined and armed, will be ready and willing to act on any emergency; and I am firmly of opinion, that unless a speedy reconciliation between the Mother Country and the Colonies takes place, or if the plan concerted for enslaving America be persisted in or attempted to be enforced, that a civil war, however dreadful, will inevitably be the consequence. The Bostonians, by their mild and moderate conduct, gain credit every day; and liberal donations are continually transmitted to them to support them in their distress. All exports from America will take place early next Fall, and be strictly adhered to, as is the resolves of the late Congress, which are so religiously observed, that the least indulgence is not given or toleration allowed. The war between Virginia and the Indians was lately finally concluded upon, and Hostages given. By the Eastern Mail we hear, that more men of war are arrived at Boston with troops from England, and that some are expected, to come up this river to stop up the ports. America is now reduced to the alternative of either becoming slaves or continuing freemen, if the former, despotism will ensue, and if the latter, independence." |
