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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 aiwpiww w.w i w m tm i' •r-^ — MINUTES CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE UBRRTIES OF AMERICA. Pl)ilabcl^lliii ! O H N CAMPBELL. MDCCCLXV. c / 1 A ' l," I - 1- ,.iUi||II.U UtiHW Wi / 1 PREFACE. SHOULD the learned reader find thefe pages crude, trite and meagre, it is hoped he may ftay his *' vengeful hand," when he is told they were compiled by a mere apprentice in the field of knowledge, and amidft avocations far removed from the paths of litera- ture. Should ir, again, be objedted that accufations fuch as contained in the pamphlet here republilhed had better have been left unrecorded, it is humbly Cubmitted, that he who writes hiftory (liould write it truly, and that the perfedl ftatue gives a better idea of the fubjedt than a baflb-relievo. w. ■^(f^ l(c t INTRODUCTION. ONGRESS, I doubt not, will have heard of the plot that was forming among many difafFefted perfons in this city and government for aiding the King's troops upon their arrival. No regular plan feems to have been digefted ; but feveral perfons have been enlifted and fworn to join them. The matter, I am in hopes, by a timely difcovery, will be lupprefled and put a ftop to. Many citizens and others, among whom is the mayor, aie now in con- finement. The matter has been traced up to Governor Tryon ; and the mayor appears to have been a princi- pal agent between him and the perfons concerned in it. The plot had been communicated to fome of the army, and part of my guard engaged in it. Thomas Hickey, one of them, has been tried, and by the unanimous ( vi ) unanimous opinion of a court-martial, is fentenced to die, having enlifted himfeif, and engaged others. The fentehce, by the order of the whole council of general officers, will be put in execution to-day at eleven o'clock. The others are not tried. I am hopeful this example will produce many falutary confequences, and deter others from entering into the like traitorous praftices." ' So, on the 28th June, 1776, wrote Wafhington to the Prefident of the Congrefs, then fitting at Phila- delphia, refpeding a confpiracy, whofe ftory is thus related by the lateft of his biographers : "The wildeft reports," fays Wafhington Irving, " were in circulation concerning it. Some of the Tories were to break down King's Bridge, others were to blow up the magazines, fpike the guns, and maflacre all the field-officers. Wafhington was to be killed or delivered up to the enemy. Some of his own body- guard were faid to be in the plot. Several publicans in the city were pointed out, as having aided or abetted the plot. One was landlord of the Highlander, at the corner of Beaver Street and Broadway. Another difpenfed liquor under the fign of Robin Hood. Another named Lowry, defcribed as t .- ' Sparks's Wnjl'mgtin, \\\, 140-I. iP^iiV .- ( vii ) as a " fat man in a blue coat," kept tavern in a low houfe oppofite the Ofwego market. Another, James Houlding, kept a beer houfe in Tryon Row, oppofite the gates of the upper barracks. It would feem as if a net work of corruption and treachery had been woven throughout the city by means of thefe liquor dealers. One of the moft noted, however, was Corbie, whofe tavern was faid to be " to the fouth-eaft of General Wafliington's houfe, to the weftward of Bayard's Woods, and north of Lifpenard's Meadows," from which it would appear that, at that time, the general was quartered at what was formerly called Richmond Hill; a manfion furrounded by trees, at a fliort diftance from the city, in rather an ifolated fitua- tion. A committee of the New York Congrefs, of which John Jay was chairman, traced the plot up to Gov- ernor Tryon, who, from his fafe retreat on Ihip- board, afted through agents on fhore. The moft im- portant of thefe was David Matthews, the tory mayor of the city. He was accufed of difburfing money to enlift men, purchafe arms, and corrupt the foldiery. WaOiington was authorized and requefted by the committee to caufe the mayor to be apprehended, and all his papers fecured. Matthews was at that time refiding ( viii ) refiding at Flatbudi, on Long Ifland, at no great dif- tance from General Greene's encampment. Wafhing- ton tranfmitted the warrant of the committee to the general on the 21ft, with direftions that it fhould " be executed with precifion, and exadlly by one o'clock of the enfuing morning, by a careful officer." Precifely at the hour of one, a detachment from Greene's brigade furrounded the houfe of the mayor, and fecured his perfon ; but no papers were found, though diligent fearch was made. Numerous other arrefts took place, arid among the number fonie of Wafliington's body-guard. A great difmay fell upon the tories. Some of thofe on Long Ifland, who had proceeded to arm themfelves, finding the plot difcovered, fought refuge in woods and mo- rafles. Wafliington direded that thofe arrefted, who belonged to the army, fliould be tried by a court- martial, and the reft handed over to the fecular power. According toftatements made before the committee, five guineas bounty was offered by Governor Tryon to each man who ftiould enter the King's fervice ; with a promife of two hundred acres of land for himfelf, one hundred for his wife, and fifty for each child. The men thus recruited were to aft on fliore, in co- operation with the King's troops when they came. Corbie's i ( ix ) Corbie's tavern, near Wartiington's quarters, was a kind of re.idezvous of the confpirators. There one Gilbert Forbes, a gunfmith, "a ftiort, thick man, with a white coat," enlifted men, gave them money, and "fwore them on the book to fecrecy." Ftom this houfe a correfpondence was kept up with Governor Tryon on (hipboard, through a "mulatto-colored negro, drefled in blue clothes." At this tavern it as fuppofed Wafhington's body-guards were tampered with. Thomas Hickey, one of the guards, a dark- complexioned man, five feet fix inches high, and well set, was faid not only to be enlifted, but to have aided in corrupting his comrades ; among others, Greene the drummei, and Johnfon the fifer. It was further teftified before the committee, that one Sergeant Graham, an old foldier, formerly of the royal artillery, had been employed by Governor Tryon to prowl around and furvey the grounds and works about the city, and on Long Ifiand, and that, on information thus procured, a plan of operations had been concerted. On the arrival of the fleet, a man-of-war fliould cannonade the battery at Red Hook ; while that was doing, a detachment of the army ftiould land below with cannon, and by a circuit- ous march furprife and ftorm the works on Long- B Ifland. Ifland. The (hipping, then, with the remainder of the army, were to divide, one part to run up the Hudfon the Oi;her up the Eaft River; troops were to land above New York, fecure the pafs at King's Bridge, and cut ofFai' communication between the city and country.' Much cf the evidence given was of a dubious kind. It was certain that perfons had fecretly been enlifted, and fworn to hoilile operations, but Waftiington did not think that any regular plan had been digefted by the confpirators. "The matter," wrote he, "I am in hopes, by a timely difcovery, will be supprefled.* According to the mayor's own admifllon before the committee, he had been cognizant of attempts to enlift tories and corrupt Waftiington's guards, though he declared that he had difcountenanced them- He had on one occafion, alfo, at the requeft of Governor Tryon, paid money for him to Gilbert Forbes, the gunfmith, for rifles and round bored guns which he had already furnilhed, and for others wiilch he was t make. He had done fo, however (according to hi3 account), with great -eluftance, and after much hefita- tion and delay, warning the gunf nith thit he would be hanged if found out. The mayor with a number of others, w^ie detained in prifon to awaii a trial. Thomas ' Am. Arch. 4ih scries, vi, 1177. * WaHiinf.ion to the Frcfident of Congrefs, June 28. \ I n M (xi) Thomas Hickey, the individual of Waftiington's guard, was tried before a court-martial. He was an Irifliman, and had been a deferter from the Britifh army. The court-martial found him guilty of mutiny and fedition, and treacherous correfpondence with the enemy, and fentenced him to be hanged. The fentence was approved by Wafhington, and was carried promptly into effedt, in the moft folemn and impreflive manner, to ferve as a warning and ex- ample in this time of treachery and danger. On the morning of the 28th, all the officers and men off duty, belcpging to the brigades of Heath, Spencer, Stirling and Scott, aflembled under arms at their refpeftive parades at 10 o'clock, and marched thence to the ground. Twenty men from each brigade, with bayo- nets fixed, guarded the prifoner to the place of execu- tion, which was a field near the Bowery Lane. There he was hanged in the prefence, we are told, of near twenty thoufand perfons. While the city was ftill brooding over this doleful fpedacle, four ftiips of war, portentous vifitants, ap- appeared off the Hook, flood quietly in at the Nar- rows, and dropped anchor in the bay. In his orderly book, Wafhington exprefled a hope that the unhappy fate of Thomas Hickey, executed that ( xii ) that day for mutiny, fedition and treachery, would be a warning to every foldier in the line, to avoid the crimes for which he fuffered." Mr. Irving then adds the following note: "As a fpecimcn of the reports which circulated throughout the country, concerning this confpiracy, we give an extraft from a letter, written from Wethersfield, in Connedlicut, 9th of July, 1766, by the Reverend John Marfh. "You have heard of the infernal plot that has been difcovered. About ten days before any of the con- fpirators were taken up, a woman went to the general and defired a private audience. He granted it to her, and fhe let him know that his life was in danger, and gave him fuch an account of the confpiracy as gained his confidence. He opened the matter to a few friends, on whom he could depend. A ftrift watch was kept night and day, until a favorable opportunity occurred; when the general went to bed as ufual, arofe about two o'clock, told his lady he was a going, with fome'of the Provincial Congrefs, to order fome tories feized — defired file would make herfelf eafy, and go to fieep. He went ofl^ without any of his aides-de- camp, except the captain of his life guard, was joined by a number of chofen men, with lanterns, and proper inftruments ( xiii ) inftruments to break open houfes, and before fix o'clock next morning, had forty men under guard at the City Hall, among whom was the mayor of the city, feveral merchants, and five or fix of his own life-guard. Upon examination, one Forbes confefled that the plan was to aflaffinate the general, and aS many of the fuperior officers as they could, and to blow up the magazine upon the appearance of the enemy's fleet, and to go ofl^ in boats prepared for that purpofe to join the enemy. Thos. Hickey, who has been executed, went from this place. He came from Ireland a few years ago. What will be done with the mayor is uncertain. He can't be tried by court- martial, and it is faid, there is no law of that colony by which he can be condemned. May he have his deferts." ' Under date of July 4th, 1776, Chriftopher Marlhall records: "Accounts from New York are, that, Friday laft, one of General Walhington's guard was executed in a field near that city for mutiny and con- . fpiracy, he being one of thofe who had formed a plot to afi-aflinate the ftafl^ officers, blowing up the magazines and fecuring the papers of the town on the arrival of the Tyrant George the Third's fleet before this city." The *Irving's Waniington, li, 242, 247. ( xiv ) The reader may alfo confult Thatcher, Gordon, Wat- {bn and Force's Archives ; from the latter of which, however, copious extracts may be found in the notes' appended. Refpefting the charge againft the morality of Wafh- ington — often aflerted by his cotemporaries — whether true or not, and we fliould be loathe to believe it, it muft be recolleifted, that at that day a laxnefs' of focial virtue was not vifited with fo fevere a cenfure as it is in our own time — and that fome of the promi- nent men of the age were not proof againft tempta- tion, we know from the confeflions of Hamilton and the intrigues of Burr. ■■i (i MINUTES OF THE TRIAL AND EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN PERSONS, IN THE Province of NEW YORK, CHARGED WITH BEING ENGAGED IN A CONSPIRACY againft the Author itv, of the CONGRESS, AND The LIBERTIES of AMERICA. LONDON: Printed for J. BEW, No. 28, Pater-noster-Row. M DCC LXXXVI. [ Price One Shilling. ] J ERRATA. Page ;. line 12, for infiduous, read itijtdious. P. 12. 1. 15. (ot difclve r. difdol'e. P. 6. 1. 10, for ever, r. ^w». P. 8, 1. 11, for Diflrefs County, r. Dutcbefs County. P. 8, I. 20, after brewhoufe dele the ; and read etie o'clock in the morning. h 1 m i^TTi-mrr 1 1 --i.^.tri*itfMnliin,>,nta.,%rWtt.1imiiri ■•1 PREFACE. T"X THILE the city of New- York was '^ " in the pofleflion of the American army, great numbers of the inhabit- ants were feized, accufed of being con- cerned in a confpiracy, and fent prifoners into Connedicut. Some were brought to a trial, found guilty, and condemned as traitors. Great difcoveries, it was faid, were made of plots againft the congrefs. But the trial of the culprits was managed with fo much fecrecy that nothing of con- fequence tranfpired ; fo that many were induced C (iv) induced to believe, that it was an artful fcheme of the congrefs and committee to punifh their internal enemies, or prevent them from doing mifchief, without alarm- ing the body of the people. The following minutes throw much light on the affair. They were difcovered (on the late capture of New- York by the Britifh troops) among the papers of a perfon who appears to have been fecretary to the committee. Yhey ^m furnifh entertainment to thofe who wifli to know the particulars of this myfterious tranf- adion. MI- ''^ { ■ ) MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE, &c ll^ILLlAM COLLIER (waiter at the Serjeant's » V Arms Tavern, kept by Alexander Sinclair, near the old Barracks) waited upon Jofeph Smith, Efq., in the city, and informed him, that he had fome affairs of great importance to communicate to him if he could depend upon being fecured himfelf from danger. Upon which Mr. Smith gave him all poffible aflurances, that fo far from being punifhed, he Ihould be confiderably rewarded if his difcoveries were of any importance. Encouraged by this, he faid, that a number of the inhabitants of the city had met for many months at the houfe aforefaid, that having heard them during his attendance fpeak very often difrefped- ful of the congrefs, and perceiving them very much engaged in writing letters, and remarking that they always fufpended their converfation or fpoke refervedly when he was prefent, his fufpicions were excited that they did not meet merely for entertainment. On which 1)! which he concealed himfelf in ,„ j- • • "gagemeat which had been entered il ■ u '" were diftributed anion. ^^ ■ "'^^''^^'°"' ^^at arms »„erponde„ee .TZI^ Z^l,;:^ *"' '••"y, and that they had formed Vnr , "" been kept up between fh ? P^'P"*^ ''^'^ Briti/h fervid to T u' ""^ ""''" P^'-^°"« ■" ^he «ate o/r;:^:' :: j rarr'^r"-:^ ''- ceived council and nfoney fo'th [ " '"^'^ ^" their defigns Mr Sm I . ""■ '^""''°" °f the namef of t^e r '^"'"'""^'^ '^'"^ -"«--g XI- "UJK.C, ana bebring, were thf r^^a adli/eperfons The n^^ • • i ^ """^ •his inL..ti;n flZ'Tirr' 1 "''"'-' to proceed with the ut^oft Zl„ I 'T™'"'" of men tU ■ . caution, ordered a party ot me, the next night to feize Mr. Gilbert FoLl ^:.r:;tt-rr:-jnd^^-^^^ proceeded about two in the n, P ^^^^"^^^ Mr. Forbes in the R ^ "'"^ '° '^' '^""^^ °^ his ( 3 ) his efcape, the Captain knocked at the front door, and demanded admittance, on its being opened, and find- ing the culprit was in an upper room in bed, rufhed up ftairs, broke open the door, and feized him before he could meditate an efcape. They then required his keys, which, after fome hefitation, he delivered upon being told that what they did was by the order of the provincial congrefs ; they then conveyed him to an apartment in the New Goal, where he was properly fecured. His papers were delivered to the provincial congrefs, which met the next day, among which were many letters and minutes which threw great light on the defigns of the confpirators. The following among many other interefting ones were read at the board: Copy of an A[fociation entered into on the \T,tb of May, 1776. ift. "We the underwritten being firmly attached to the glorious conftitution of Great Britain, loyal fubjefts of our gracious Sovereign, King George the Third, and deeply fenfible of the miferies brought on this devoted country, by the wicked artifices cf an ambi- tious fadion, do heartily and fincerely covenant and agree and pledge ourfelves to each other by every thing that is honourable and facred, that we will dili- gently and faithfully endeavour to reftore the conftitu- tional government of thefe colonies, Knd the happy connexion that once fubfirted between Great Britain and America. ad. <• ( + ) 2d, •' That for this purpofe we will zealoufly put in praftice every honeft method to inculcate loyalty in the minds of the people, to reprefent in their true colours the oppreflions, infiduous machinations, and cruel perfecutions of an illegal and arbitrary congrefs, and that we will feize every opportunity to diflblve their councils, and fruftrate their operations : That every member of this aflbciation binds himfelf in the moft folemn and facred manner to be faithful to the common caufe, and to retain with the utmod caution the fecrets committed to him. jd. "That a committee be appointed for the tranf- adion of bufinefs, and for carrying on acorrefpondence with the members of this fociety refiding in any of the counties of this or neighboring provinces; that the members as many as can, will meet once a week for management of our common affairs. 4th. " That no perfon fhall be admitted a member except he has paffed an examination with the com- mittee. 5th. "Should any member of this affociation fall under a fufpicion, be taken prifoner, or even puniflied with death by our enemies, he fhall look upon himfelf as bound in honour and confcience not to betray any of his aflbciates, or to communicate any of the fecrets of this fociety." The following letters, with the fuperfcriptions and fignatures erafed, were alfo read at the board. "My I (5 ) " My dear Friend, " Our good caufe thrives moft wonderfully and pro- videntially hereabouts. We have great hopes that the tyranny of our cruel taflc-mafters will foon be ended. The little finger of thefe defpots is heavier than the loins of the moft arbitrary miniftry. They ftiew their fuperiority only by their cruelty. The people groan under their oppreflions, and comparing their prefent mifery with their former happinefs and tranquility, long to throw off the yoke. They plunder our barns, enter our houfes, and forcibly take from us what we have fweated and toiled for; giving us in return nothing but their paltry paper. If we are to be flaves, let us be fo to the lion, and not to the loufy dirty vermin of New England. We have had many meetings lately, and fo many are defirous of aflbciati.,g with us, that we are afraid leaft the fecret might tranfpire by being communicated to too great a number; we have already two hundred aflbciators in this county who have bound themfelves by the moft folemn afleverations to fidelity ; we are much at a lofs to know how to aft about the oath of allegiance to the congrefs, which 'tis faid they intend foon to impofe on us. Heaven fend us a fpeedy deliverance. We are well fupplied with arms, which every man keeps hid, to ufe when occafion permits, but we are in great want of powder. The drubbing which they had in Canada works wonderfully, and if General Howe ftiould give them one found thraftiing, numbers will be ready to fly to his proteftion ; depend upon our conftancy and fidelity ( 6 ) fidelity. Let us know all yor.i^ motions that we may co-operate together. This goes by Edward i»taggs, a faft friend to our iiitcreft. God blefs the ^'!f\ , Amen." Dijirefs County, May 15, 1776." Numb. II. "Sir," "We hope that according to your promife you will have the rifle guns ready by Saturday night, as we fliall fend a boat down under the diredion of James Clavering, to lie ofl^the old battery, near George Har- nfon'sbrewhoufe; about ten o'clock in the morning he will fend his negroe man Cufl^, to acquaint you with his coming, fo that if you can get any of our alTociates who are under arms to conceal them in fome houfe nigh, we may be able to carry them off. By all means take care and ufe great precautions, for if we fliould be blown up, we fhould meet no mercy. Lt. Steele would be the mort proper perfon to be employed on this fervice. My love to your wife and children, and to all true hearts under the rofe. Your's, ever M Numb. Ill, "Sir, "Embracing this good opportunity, I give you much joy of the death of that arch rebel and firebrand Montgomery, ( 7 ) Montgomery, and hope e'er long it will be the fate of many more. I can't help laughing to fee the long faces of many of my neighbours on this occafion ; had I my wiih their necks fhouid be as long as their faces: by all accounts it has kicked up a devil of an uproar at Carpenters hall, and I fuppofe we fliall very foon have anotherrfaft — faft of the fleHi I mean, for their pious paftors take care to give the faints on fuch oc- cafions a fpiritual feajl of treafon and rebellion. My neighbor Voorhuys fays there muft have been treachery in the cafe, and thinks that Donald Campbell is a very good hand at a retreat. Things go very bravely on with us. The old farmers (bake their heads, and fay, this is not the thing, we long to fee fome more Englifh guineas among us. Jabez Fifher and I have taken occafion to go much among them, and tell them the defigns of the congrefs are all impofition, that they never fuffered any thing from England, and that we (hal! never be happy till the old times are reftored, that old John Bull is rouzed at laft, and that what they thought fear or weaknefs was nothing but mercy and gentlenefs. We now meet frequently at each others houfes, drink the King on our marrow-bones, and confufion to the congrefs ; we have fifty names now down on our aflbciation paper, all (launch hearty fellows, only waiting an opportunity to (hew our loyalty. I had an affray lately with one of their offi- cers, a Capt. Lefferts, who was quartered in our neigh- bourhood. He fent a foldier the other day to purchafe fome of my poultry, I told him I could not fpare rny ; D on (8 ) on which the villain had the impudence to tell me he came by the order of his captain, and would have them. My choler got the hetter of my prudence, and I pufhed him out of my houfe, and (hut the door upon him. The captain waited on me the next day, and afked me how I dared to treat one of the congrefs's foldiers and his fervant in fo audacious a manner. I told him the property was mine, and would ufe it as I pleafed ; he made no anfwer, but went away in a pafllon, and foon returned with a party of his myrmidons, who inlulted me in the grofTeft manner, took away my poultry, and broke my windows; I have (ince applied to the committee for redrefs, but could not obtain a hearing, as I fuppofe they partook of the plunder. Such is our glorious liberty, or rather the liberty, which thefe mifcreants take with us. I hope, how- ever, we /hall foon have fatisfadtion of thefe rafcals. Honeft Savage is here, and fends his compliments to you. Kifs Betfey for me ; my fpoufe defires to be remembered'to you both. I am. Your friend and fervant, Poughkeepfey, 1776. The provincial congrefs having taken the above letters under confideration, and finding from other circumftances, that a moft wicked and dangerous con- fpiracy (9 ) fpiracy was formed againft the liberties of America, judged proper to appoint a committee of enquiry, with powers to examine into the nature of it, and to fit in judgment in bringing to condign punifhment fuch perfon or perfons as they fhould find concerned in it. The following perfons were appointed a com- mittee for the purpofe. President. Peter R. Livingfton. J. M. Scott, Peter Curtenius, Marinus Willett, John Abeel, Alex. M'Dougal, Corn. Byvank, John Berrian, John Stoutenburgh, Here. Mulligen, James Weflels, Gerftiom Mott, John Crimfhire. Gilbert Smith, Secretary. June 23. The committee met at the houfe of Mr. Jafper Drake, and proceeded upon bufinefs ; Mr. Abraham Livingfton attending, informed the com- mittee, that the night before he waited upon Mr. Gilbert Forbes, at his apartment in the New Goal, and laying before him in the ftrongeft colours the danger of his fituation, and that there was no other way for him to obtain mercy but by making a full confeflion. The prifoner fignified to him, that if fecurity fliould be given him for his own perfonal fafety, he would difclofe matters of great importance : the i ( lo ) the committee taking into ferious confideration this information, ordered the prifoner to be brought before them under a proper guard. Mr. Forbes being brought into their prefence, dif- covered great figns of confternation and guilt, and with a faultering voice begged the committee would allow him fome time to compofe his mind, and permit him to have council to affift him in his defence, as he was entirely unprepared to anfwer any queftions, and might prejudice himfelf by his ignorance of the forms ufually pradifed in fuch cafes. Prefidc.t. Sir, we (liall /hew you all the candour and juftice you can expedt. The queftions we fhall put to you are only concerning matters of faft, and if you wifh for time only to be better able to prevaricate and evade, I inform you that your requeft cannot be granted. Sir, the crime you are charged with is of a moft heinous nature, and you are little entitled even to the formality of a trial, neverthelefs, Mr. Forbes, as we have been informed, you are difpofed to ftiew 'the fincerity of your repentance by making an ample dif- covery, a.id wiping off your guilt againft your country, by enabling us to deted and avert the mifchiefs you intended againft it, fuch conduft may recommend you to the clemency and mercy of this court. Prifoner. I beg, gentlemen, you will not be harfti and hafty with me. I am fure I never meant any harm againft my country, but minded the bufinefs of my ftiop; I have been treated very cruelly, torn out of my bed at the dead of lught, my fick wife and family K'igagW.i'.s. s s : ( ■• ) family alarmed, my papers feized, and my houfe ran- facked, without my knowing why or wherefore, and thrown into a prifon, denied the council or afliftance of any friend or acquaintance. Mr. Mulligen. Sir, Sir ! I am furprifed you have the boldne s to fpeak in this manner before the com- mittee, after what you have been guilty of We do not fit here to hear you criminate, neither will fuch language avail you. Sir, we have authentic evidence of your having been concerned in a hellifli confpiracy, and we were informed that you was defirous of obtain- ing mercy, by making an honeft and full confeiTion ; as a frieiui, I advife you to conceal nothing, as you hope for pardon. Mr. Curtenius. Then you know nothing, fir, of an aflociation ? you never have received any letters from the country containing treafonable matters.'' you never met 1 fuppofe at the Serjeant's Arms ? Prifoner. Indeed, gentlemen, I am entirely innocent, I beg you will allow me time to prepare for my de- fence. Mr. M'Dougal. Gentlemen, I would recommend that if the prifoner continues obftinate, he fi^ould be remanded to prifon ; we have no time for delay; delays are dangerous, gentlemen, the villainous defigns of our enemies muft be averted by fome fpeedy examples, no punifliment can be too fevere for men who have confpired the ruin of us all. Prefident. I would advife you, Mr. Forbes, ferioufly to weigh your critical fituation, and to plead guilty, for I I ( 12 ) for we are in no want of proof fufficient to juftify us in condemning you to the mofl ignominious punifti- ment; if your confeflion is candid and clear, you may in fome degree repair the mifchiefs you have occa- fioned, and in the name of this committee I promife you a full and free pardon, if you will difclofe the whole without referve. Prijoner. Ho\y, Sir, would you have me to confefs, when I know nothing that I am guilty of againft my country. I have afked you for time and to he tried by a jury of my neighbours, which you refufe me. Mr. Livingjlon. You are not, I would have you to know, to diftate to the court, we are here to try and judge you by the authority of the congrefs. You will not prefume to difpute, I hope, its authority. Ser- jeant call in Mr. Collier. Collier being fworn, he depofed what he told to Mr. Smith, of his having met at the tavern with Mr. Child, Roberts, Abrams, &c. &c. that Mr. Forbes was generally there, and a very aftive member. The following letter, among others, which were taken at Mr. Forbe's houfe, was read. " Gentlemen, " I have been thinking about our fkeam, and I do think that we cannot take too much care, that the Wigs do not finde us oute, what we are about, as they have two many on there fide of the queftione, and may take us up. I propofe then for us to meet on Satorday alone by hourfelves in the wud near King- bridge on the left hande fide of the rode from Yorke, and ' *'*^^ i u S8w jiiiaMB ,M. ( 13 ) and that cache man (hud bring a piftal or cutlarti with him in order to defende hourfelf, if needfuUe. My boye is to bringe me your anfwer, and he knowes nothinge whiche I have wrote, I am, Gentlemen, your hum. farvant in Affiftione." Preftdent. Do you know thefe letters ? Prijoner. They were left with me by a friend among fome other papers ; they were not directed to me, and are none of my concern. Preftdent. Do you know the writers of them ? Prijoner. They were not fent to me — I am entirely unprepared — I cannot give anfwers to fuch queftions. (The court having taken into view the obftinacy of the prifoner, remanded him into clofe confinement.) Jacobus Lawrence was then brought into court, by Mr. Livingfton, who faid he could give fome informa- tion on the bufinefs of the committee. Jacobus Lawrence fworn. Court. You keep a tavern at Hempftead, on Long Ifland? Lawrence. Yes, Sir. Court. Pray, Mr. Lawrence, do you know the names of the perfons, I think they were fix in number, that dined at your houfe on Sunday the 9th of June laft, and do you remember to have heard any of their converfation upon public matters ? Lawrence. „e, for the good of the public, and no time ffiould be loft in coming at the bottom of this horrid affair. Court. It would be but juftice to the General, as he is fome way affedted by the laft witneffes to apprize him of it, and confult with him, in the mean time the other fufpefted persons (hould be feized as fpeedily as poffible. The court accordingly adjourned till the 26th. During this interval the committee had many confer- ences on the fubjcft with General Wa(hington, and many other officers. They had alfo private examina- tions of the prifoncrs. Orders were ilTued to fcize the perfons of John Wiley, Norman Ptolomy. I otten and Crofsfield ; and information being given that a number of the confpirators were concealed at and near Jamaica, ( 23 ) Jamaica, Long Ifland, a party of horfe were ordered to take them, under the command of Capt. Willett. When they reached Jaii aica, they found the confpira- tors, to the number of eighteen, had retired to a wood on the top of a hill, determined to defend themfelves. Captain Willett got a fmall reinforcement, and then furrounded the eminence where they were ported; a brifk fire enfued as our people approached, and they obftinatcly continued to refift, till having loft one man, and others being dangeroufly wounded and difabled, they thought proper to furrender, and were brought prifoners to New York. June 29. The congrefs taking into ferious confidera- tion the number of difafFefted perfons in the province, and the danger of keeping them in the city, thought fit to fend two hundred of them into Connediicut, to be kept in the different prifons till they could be brought conveniently to trial. It having appeared from ftrong evidence and many circumftances, that David Matthews, Efq., Mayor of the City, was an aider and abetter of the confpiracy, and alfo the principal manager of an illegal correfpond- ence, he was feized by order of the provincial congrefs, and committed to the New Goal ; on the 3d of July, the committee again met, and ordered James Clayford to be brought before them. The prifoner being at the bar and fworn, Mr. Mott told him, by order of this committee, I inform you that we have the cleareft evidence of your F having ( 24- ) having been treacheroufly concerned, in obtaining in- formation and papers relating to public affairs, which you delivered to certain perfons to be conveyed to the e.iemy; that in privacy and covenant with Mary G.bbons, you felonioufly and fecretly copied writings of the commander in chief, which were afterwards fent to be communicated to the foes of America; that you .n your heart conceived and propofed a plan to feize on the perfon of General Washington, and carry him off as a pnfoner to the mercenary army. What have you to anfwer to thefe charges, or to fay why you niould not be made an example of? Pri/oner. I labour under every difadvantage. hav- ing no one to fpeak for me. and not being tried by a jury, but I have confidence in the humanity of th,s court- Do not be fevere with me. gentle- men, nor /bed the blood of an innocent man. I beg that I may hear the evidences againft me examined before my face. Mr. Mulli,en. You do not defervt fuch a favor we are well fatisfied of your guilt, and that you ough; long ago to have fuffered your deferts Mr. Abed. I think it will not take much time to re-exam,ne the witneffes. not that I have any doubt of h.s gu, t. but to give him no caufe of complaint at our proceedings. The committee agreed to it, and James Myer. Thomas Lefferts. and Peter Goff were fworn. TheJ depofed what has been before related, that theprifoner often attended the meeting of the confpirators, at the Serjeant's ( 25 ) Serjeant's Arms, and that he ufed frequently to boaft of his amours with Mrs. Gibbons ; that he propofed with ;his woman's afTiftance to feize General Wafhing- ton's perfon, and carry him off; that he frequently brought papers and letters of the General's to the fo- ciety, which were copied and fent away. Prifoner. Remember, Mr. Goff, you are upon oath, and that my life depends on it. As to my conneftion with Mrs. Gibbons I do not deny it, but never was concerned in any confpiracy. You muft know, Mr. Goff, that I only faid at the fociety, that fuch a thing as feizing General Wafhington might be done, but I never agreed to or thought of doing it, nor did any perfon prefent propofe or advife it. Goff. Yes ; you often propofed it, and offered your fervice, and faid Mrs. Gibbons would affift ; and they applauded it, and drank your health. Mr. Byvank. Have you nothing farther to fay in your defence ? Prifoner. I have been treated cruelly, tried without judge or jury ; it's nothing but a fcheme to punilh the innocent, and get clear of honeft people. Court. It is our opinion that you are guilty, and you are to be re-manded to the goal from whence you came, and we recommend to you to prepare for that death you deferve, and to which you are condemned by the authority of your country. The prifoner was then very abufive, calling the court tyrants and murderers, but the guard hurried him away. July ■m f: I I I > 'i ( 26 ) >/y 6 The congrcfs received an account from Albany, that a body of Tories were detect ■' I-. ^ .... . %" of finng the town, and blowing up tl • Z and that feme of the principal perfons ,n ,„ nuurv were concerned in it. U appears that they have a correfpondence through the whole province and neigh- bour.ng colon.es, and propofed to rife and make them- felves mafters of the fortrefTbs. and dif.rn, their ene- mies Many of them were feized in Albany, but they would make no confeHion, and were thrown into goal Scouts and parties were fent out in every countV to watch and fecure the infurgents, about ninety have been taken in Albany and its neighborhood, 'jtan- pearecl that a body of hYty Tories rofc at Poug - keepfey. a.ul attempted to di(lu-m our friends, but after an obft.nate engagement, in which five of them were k.lled, the reft were taken prifoners, and fent t Ruigefield. The congrefs tak.ng thefe tlungs into mature del.beration. refolved that fome ex^.mplcs fl;ou d be made, and accordingly ordered that James Clayford under condemnation, ft^ould be fpcedily executed. t^^uuy 7«fy 7- The committee met, and ordered Da\ id Mathews. late Mayor of the city to be brought before Mr. Mathews being brought in, caft a look of con- tempt on the court, and afferted to treat it with deri- lion. Present. We fit here by the authority of the peo- ple to enquire into a moft horrid confpiracy, with powers ( 27 ) powers to acquit or punifli, as evidence (hall appear. You are charged, Sir, with being a principal advifer and abettor of fchenies againft your country ; we have evidence of your having attended an unlawful meet- ing, aflbciated for the purpofe of overturning the pre- fent conftitution, and introducing the old tyranny. It appears that you have kept up a correfpondence with men adjudged enemies to this country, and have diftri- buted money in order to procure intelligence for them. If you have anything to fay, we are ready to hear it. Prifoner. This is a new mode of trial to hurry a man to prifon without letting him know his crime, to fei/e his papers and put armed men into his houfe, and then examine him in a private manner, without a jury of his peers, or giving him any information of his accufers, or allowing him to prepare for his de- fence. I fcorn your mercy, and am ready to fufFer for my King and country. — If I am to undergo the formality of a trial, let it be in the accuftomed manner, by a jury. Mr. Mac Dougal. Sir, we are ready to do you all the juilice you can afk ; but we exped not to be bullied and cavaliered in this manner. We have told you the authority by which we ad:, and if you chufe to ex- amine any witneiTes, or make a defence we are ready to hear it. Prifoner. I am fenfible all defence will be vain with men thirfting after blood. How many fathers have you already torn from their families and thrown into prifon, if fl II! ■f ( 28 ) prifon, only for difference of fentiment ? If my prin- ciples are my crime, I never made a fecret of being a friend to the King and conftitution. You know yourfelves that the confpiracy you talk of is a mere pretence to punifh. The people you have thrown into pnfon were guilty of no other mifdeeds than meeting in a focal manner, and expreffing their wifhes for the reftorafon of the old conftitution ; they could not hurt you, when you are furrounded with fo formidable an army m your fervice : they never were mad enough to attempt fo wild a project. All they have done is to declare their opinions freely, during the opennefs of focab.l.ty and wine. I am fenfible of no other proceedings of the fociety, and am privy to no fcheme of fo mad and improbable a nature. You muft therefore ufe your pleafure, for I cannot in my con- fcence admit of any authority in this body, to try and confine, or punilh any fubjedl of England. Court Call in the evidences; if Mr. Matthews does chufe to afk them any queftions, the court will hear them again and give him a full opportunity. Peter Goff, were fworn-They depofed that they had often feen the prifoner very adtive at the meeting of theconlp.rators; that the papers given to the fociety by Clayford, were put into his hands to be communi- cated to the enemy. That he often diftributed money among the members, and encouraged them in their oppofitionto the congrefs : that thev heard him on the 20th of May fay, that the day wa; not far diftant when ( 29 ) when the bodies of the congrefs would be food for crows, that he often called the congrefs tyrants, and exhorted the members to union, patience, and fidelity. Pri/cner. I would not be underftood to acknow- lege the authority of this committee, but I muft not even here, for I would no where elfe, fufFer an aft of charity to be perverted. I attended thefe meetings, I do not deny, out of affedlion to the conftitution, but never had any notion fo abfurd as a confpiracy, to be managed and conduced at a tavern, in the hearing of waiters and promifcuous company : the money I diftri- buted was only out of benevolence, and in pity for the diftrefs of many of the members, who are honeft men ruined by the times. I hope the congrefs will not call this treafon. I hope they wilt not call it treafon for us to meet and confult together for the fupport of our families, this is all the treafon we have meant, to auin. each other, to contribute and comfort thofe friends to government who were in want . (Here the court interrupted him. Court. If you have nothing more worthy of our attention to offer but fuch abufe and bare-faced falla- cies, we muft order you back to the place from whence you came. We are convinced of your guilt, and re- commend you to make a confeffion and repent of your crimes. Your confeffion may entitle you not only to mercy, but if you difcover fincerify in your reformation, a perfon of your ftation and influence, may exped every favour from your country. Prijoner. I can receive no favour on any fuch difhonourable ^1 ! :| (30) diflionourable conditions. I avow my principles, and (hall never fwerve from them-, but I would entreat you to have fome pity (not on me) but on the num- berlefs helplefs families that you expofe to ruin, by carrying away their innocent fathers, huftiands, and brothers. I only a(k you for myfelf to give me an interview with General Washington, from him I may expedl the treatment of a gentleman. Court. You have been ufed with juftice and civility. If you have nothing f t-ther to fay, let the guards convey him into fafe cuftody, and give him every thing convenient. July 8th. The provincial congrefs having received the report of the committee, came to a refolution that David Matthews, late mayor of the city, having been fully convidled, and proved guilty of treafonable praaices, tending to the fubverfion of our prefent happy government, deferves no longer to live, and is therefore fentenced to fuffer death as a common male- faftor, on the 25th day of Auguft next. Auguft I. The congrefs in full meeting refolved to poftpone the execution of the fentence pafied on David Matthews, Efq.,>«^ die, and ordered him to be carried into Connefticut, there to be kept imprifoned 'till further orders. The trial of the other prifoners was alfo deferred, and ftrict commands given to deteft, and purfue fuch as were ftill concealed, that they might be preferved in fafe cuftody till ti.e times would render it conve- nient to bring them to trial. FINIS. NOTES t m NOTES. Page 5. Loufy, dirty, vermin of New England. 1 ; I HI'" antipathy prevailing between the Southern and Eaftern troops, had been the caufe of a court-martial, of which I was a member, upon the conduft of Lieutenant Stewart of Smallwood's regiment, better known by his fubfequent title of Major Jack "Stewart. He had been arrclled by General Silliman, on account of fome alleged difrefpcft or difobedience to that officer. As the majority of the court were Southern men, it was not at all wonderful that Stewart was foon acqui'.ted with honor. In lb contemptible a light were the New- England men regarded, that it was fcarcely held poffible to conceive a cafe, which could be conilrucd into a reprchcnfibic difrefpcft of them. Thinking fo highly as I now do of the gentlemen 01 tins country, the recolledlion is painful, but the faft mull not be diflembled. Even the celebrated General Putnam, riding with a hanger belted acrofs his brawney fliouli!';rs, over a waiUcoat without fleeves (his summer collume), was deemed much litter to head a band of ficklemen or ditchers, than mufket- cers. He might be brave, and had ccrtanly an honeft manlinefs about him ; but it was thought, and perhaps with realbn, that he was not what the time required. We had a regular army to oppofc and this could only be done by dil'cipline and regular foldierlhip." — Graydtn, 178-9, ed. 1846. " However, msm ( 34 ) > i M ! "However, as they [Provincials] (efpeciallv the Connefticut foldiers. whom feme pronounce the dirtieft people on the Continent) are not particularly attentive to cleanlinefs, the owners of the houfes where they ■arc quartered, if they ever get podbflion of thcni. mull be years in dcar- mg them, unlefs they get new floors, and new plallcr the walls." " The particular jealoufics and prejudices of the continental troops from the different ftates, led them frequently to throw out reflcdions tending to irritate each other and injure the common caufe j fo that the commander- m-chief interpofed his influence to fupprcfs it by general orders [Aug. i, 1776]." " A brigadier writes concerning the animofity in the Amcricaii arn,y above noticed. ' It has already rifcn to fuch a height, that the Pcnnlylvania and New-England troops would as foon fight each other as the c.cmy. Oflicers of all ranks arc indifcriminately treated in a moft contemptible manner, and whole colonies traduced and vilified as cheats, knaves, cowards, poltroons, hypocrites, and every term of reproach, for no other reafon. but becaufe they are fiiuated eaft of New-York. Every honor is paid to the merit of good men from thcfcuth; the merit, if fuch be poflible. from the north is uot acknowledged; but if too apparent to be blalled with falfehood. is carefully buried in oblivion. The cowardice or mi.Vhaviour of the (outh is carefully covered over, the leart mifcondua in the gcnilemcn of the north is publiflicd with Lrgc comments and aggravations.' "—G/rtr)' Rtveluthn, 1, 186. (35 ) " On the Death of General Montgomery. BY BRYAN EDWARDS. Montgomery falls ! let no fond bread repine That Hampden's glorioui death, brave chief, was thine. With his (hall Freedom confecrate thy name — Shall date her rifing glories from thy fame — Shall build her throne of empire on thy grave — What nobler fate can patriot virtues crave ! '* — New Foundling Hojpitalfir Wit, ed. 1786, vol. vi, p. 7. Page 7. Carpenter'"! Hall. ^^y HERE the congreis was fitting in Philadelphia. Page 7. Donald Campbell, WAS Quarterinafter General to the army of the north, and with Montgomery at (;)uebcc ; upon that general's death, he afllimed command, and ordered a retreat, leaving behind him fifteen dead bodies of the detachment, among whom was that of Montgomery himfelf. His condiift was " anathematized in unmeafured terms," and all afcribed to him the failure of an expedition well planned, and which certainly, by one portion of the army, had been efficiently executed. — Lamb'i Me- Page 20. General IFaJhington, TO the following ftanza from " God Save the King I " by Stanf- bury, and to be found in the " Loyai Verfes of Stanjbury and Qdeli, Albany, i860. "That admirable fcholar, the editor, Mr. Win- throp Sargent, has appended a note fo comprchcnfive, that it is given almoll entire, herewith. " Time f! (36 ) * I " Time was, in defence ol' his King and the Right, We applauded brave Walhington forenioll in tight; On the banl