the coast, till
the following summer, when, unable any longer to obtain provisions, he
joined the English army under Lord Howe. The cause for his lingering
thus long in the river appears to have been the hope he entertained of
being able to restore the affairs of government in the province. He
had some reasons for entertaining such a hope, for there were many
Virginians averse to the revolution or to its leaders, and who anxiously
desired that the cause of government might prevail. This was clearly
manifested at his departure for the main army at Boston-neck, for many
prepared to follow him by land, convinced that there was no safety for
men who entertained notions of loyalty. The houses, indeed, of all
those who wished to preserve their connection with England, on whatever
principles their wish might be grounded, were burnt to the ground, while
their estates were destroyed and their lives kept in constant danger.

CONDUCT OF CONGRESS TOWARDS NEW YORK, ETC.

Although the province of New York had sent delegates to congress, and
had been among the very first to attack the British settlements in
Canada, yet great uneasiness was felt with respect to that colony. It
was well known that many zealous loyalists lived in the province, and it
was also defenceless and open to the king's troops by sea. Under these
circumstances congress appointed a Committee of Safety, consisting of
some of the most determined of the revolutionists, who were appointed to
take especial charge of this province. General Wooster was also directed
to march into New York, with some regiments of Connecticut men, With
the double object of keeping down the royalists, and preventing,
if possible, the landing of any British troops. The presence of the
Connecticut men, who quartered themselves near Haerlem, five miles from
New York, did more harm, however, to the cause of the revolution than
it did good, for it led to some severe quarrels between them and the New
Yorkers, as well as provoked the naval force in the neighbouring waters.
Congress, in fact, had much difficulty in preserving their cause in New
York. On one occasion they even issued an order that all such arms as
were fit for the use of the troops raised in the colony of New York, and
which should be found in the hands or custody of any person who had not
signed the general association, should be seized for the use of the said
troops. At a later period, congress even went a step further than