who were the first in promoting it. I expect ere long to write thee of some important changes in our measures here, not that I by any means wish or shall promote them, but so I believe it will be. I mentioned to thee sometime past that I had withdrawn myself from the Committee, which step upon due deliberation I am not dissatisfied with." 4 mo. 29, 1770.-"I have heretofore mentioned to thee the restlessness and dissatisfaction of many of the Importers under the present Agreement; the pretexts for such uneasiness have been, that the burthen was unequally borne. While the importers of Wines, Molasses etc. were pursuing their trade to considerable advantage and paying large sums into the Treasury for revenues raised out of those articles, the Importers of British Goods were standing still and sacrificing all for the public good. That our Agreement subjected us in many instances to hardships, which the other Colonies had in their Agreement wisely guarded against. At Boston Baize for their Fisherman was an excepted article. Maryland imports all coarse Woollens at or under 8/ stg. p. yard, and are running away with our trade for Indian goods and all others which that price will comprehend. Albany continues importing for their Indian Trade; our Indians must be properly and seasonably supplied with Cloathing and other necessaries, which in our present circumstances, the Traders must apply for to Maryland or Albany. That in the Agreement formed on the 10 March 1769, a great number of persons signed, who were not Importers, yet these by the tenor of the Agreement, are to determine as to our Trade and property, and have a vote in the altering, releasing or annulling the same. It is further urged that so far as we have tried the experiment, it has proved grievous to many, and that a number of Shopkeepers and Importers who have but small capitals, must sink under it if continued another season. If these facts as are here stated (which I must own, don't appear to me wide of the mark) there appears to be some reason for the uneasiness which has latterly prevailed. But thou wilt be astonished when I tell thee that the men who feel the present stagnation the most severely, whose support, with that of their families is deeply concerned therein-these are not the Complainants, but among the foremost the wealthy appear W. W... J. S . . -J. F. ... J. W ... G. E.. etc. About the middle of last week they made it a point to get all the Committee together, tho. J. Reynell, Tench Francis, J. Warder, myself and some others had not attended for some months. We met and were applied to by a number of the Importers to call a General Meeting of the subscribers to the Non-importation Agreement, that their present sentiments might be known as to the expediency of continuing said Agreement as it now stands, or to consider if some alterations ought not to be made. In conformity with this application a printed notice was left at each subscriber's house desiring their attendance at the Coffee House at 3 o'clock on 3d. day afternoon the first of next mo. without expressing the business, but that it was at the desire of a number of the Subscribers to that Agreement. In the meantime a number of the Dry Goods Importers concluded to meet together at Davenports last evening and consider of measures previous to a general meeting, deeming themselves to be the persons materially interested. I had concluded to avoid both of the Meetings proposed, as I found myself under a Streight; on the one hand I felt for and pitied the situation of Shopkeepers and others who were much distressed by being thus put out of the common course of their Trade-on the other hand I could not think of deserting a measure we had deliberately gone into for the securing and supporting our Liberties and valuable Rights, drawing on ourselves at once the contempt and indignation of the other Colonies, not to say the exultation and derision of the Mother Country-and this at a time when we were hourly expecting such accounts from England as would either save our Credit or lastingly determine what we ought to depend on from Parliament. In these sentiments J. Reynell called upon me and urged the necessity of attending, that we might if possible delay the general meeting; this I cheerfully agreed to, and had the satisfac tion to observe a pretty general and cheerful acquiescence in about 100 Importers met, that the General Meeting proposed to be on the 1st. of next month, should be posponed to the 15th.-they had an eye to our ship Chalkley's* conveying their orders and determinations, and therefore regulated the General Meeting to be within a day or two of the time she may probably sail." 5 mo. 16, 1770.-" By thy manner of treating my situation on the present state of affairs, and the uneasiness of people under the Non-importation Agreement, it seems to me that the long acquaintance we have had with each other has enabled thee to form a pretty certain Judgement of my natural disposition, which indeed is, to be drawn out into publick life as little as may be, for in all my cool reflecting moments, it appears to me inconsistent with my love of peace and real happiness. On 2d. day last Joshua Howell was elected Treasurer to the Corporation for the relief of the Poor etc., and William Fisher a manager in lieu of Joseph Fox, so that I am clear of one burthen, and in October next shall cease to be a Street Commissioner. And tho. several of my friends and acquaintances have pressingly urged me to be nominated to another and more important seat, yet I have and shall in future steadily refuse any countenance thereto, or to any other publick office. To thee I can be free without fear of being suspected of vanity or ostentation, for indeed every step I have taken in the road to popularity etc., has been accompanied with too much pain to be long continued." 5 mo. 26, 1770.-" Since my last respecting the state of our Non-importation Agreement, the face of things has altered much, notwithstanding the little dirty Colony of Rhode Island has shamefully broken faith with the others, and has imported a ship load of goods as usual, put their Committee to defiance, and are proceeding in the Sales without regard to their suffering neighbors; yet this flagrant violation and breach of their plighted honour has not * A second ship of the name, built for the firm, was launched 22 June, staggered the merchants of New York or this place, but rather left them more determined than ever to persevere untill the Revenue on Tea is removed. Doct Franklin's letter to Charles Thomson and particularly to J. Galloway has had wonderful effects and plainly shows the great respect and regard a large part of the people here pay to the advice and opinions of that truly great Man. A few days past in consequence of printed notices, were convened together a very great number of our respectable Tradesmen, Artificers and Mechanics, when it was unanimously resolved to strengthen the hands of all Merchants who were for supporting and continuing the Agreement as it now stands; and not to purchase of, but by all lawful and prudent means to discourage and discountenance any that may depart from said Agreement, so that little doubt remains, but on the 5th of next mo. when a General Meeting of the Subscribers to the Agreement is to be held, it will be carried without much difficulty, to continue the present plan without adding a single article. Pray remember me kindly to the worthy Doct' Franklin." NOTES ON THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. [The London Chronicle of September 17-19, 1778, under the heading "Authentic Intelligence from America," publishes a letter from Boston, dated July 23, describing the battle of Monmouth, from which we make some extracts. We also append a biographical sketch of Lieutenant-Colonel Monckton, who was killed in the action, taken from the issue of September 19-22.-ED. PENNA. MAG.] "The 18th of June, when the rear of the British army attacked the rebel army on the heights of Freehold, the spirited charge of the light-horse will ever do them honor: attacking the front of their first line, covered by a battery of six pieces of cannon, playing alternately round and grape shot. The first battalion of British guards, while covering the charge of the light cavalry, received the fire from the ambuscade on their right from the wood at twenty yards distance; being then ordered through the wood in the line of fire, with bayonets, the light-horse proceeded with their wonted ardor till the rear battalions came up to their support. The incessant and alert fire of the British artillery, cannot be too much commended the day of the action at Freehold. The battalion guns of the guards, with the two 12-pounders, covered the troops after the charge throughout the wood, morass and field in front of the second wood, where they were ordered to halt, spent with heat, thirst, and fatigue. The fire was so well kept up, that they expended from eighty to ninety rounds in a short period, while the remains of the advanced corps of the enemy were falling back on their second line. Several of the first battalion of guards, and the two companies of British grenadiers of the first battalion that made the charge with bayonets through the wood at Freehold, had narrow escapes from the enemy's riflemen that lurked in the underwood; throughout the wood scarce a bush that had not a fellow under it, whose fire directed the British bayonet to prevent the further |