HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 245

“After duly considering the unjust plunder and inhuman carnage committed on the property and persons of our brethren in the Massachusetts, who, with the other N. England Colonies, are now deemed by the Mother Country to be in a state of actual rebellion, by which declaration England hath put it beyond her own power to treat with New England, or to propose or receive any terms of reconciliation, until those Colonies shall submit as a conquered country. The first effort to effect which was by military and naval force; the next attempt is, to bring a famine among them, by depriving them of both their natural and acquired right of fishing. Further, contemplating the very unhappy situation to which the powers at home, by oppressive measures, have driven all the other Protestant Provinces, we have all evils in their power to fear, as they have already declared all the Provinces aiders and abettors of rebellion: Therefore,

“1st, Resolved, That Henry Williams and Jer. Remsen, Esqrs., be now elected Deputies for this Township, to meet, May 22, with other Deputies in Provincial Convention in N. Y., and there to consider, determine and do, all prudential and necessary business.

“2d, Resolved, That we, confiding in the wisdom and equity of said Con. vention, do agree to observe all warrantable acts, associations and orders, as said Congress shall direct.
Signed by order of the Town Meeting,
"Leffert Lefferts, Clerk.”1

Delegates were similarly appointed by the other Kings County towns; but their zeal was lukewarm, and their subsequent attendance so irregular, that in February, 1776, the Convention were obliged to request their more regular appearance! It is probable that they but reflected the spirit of their constituency; for, during the previous winter of 1775-6, many portions of the province, especially on Long Island, had given such evident signs of dissatisfaction to the American cause as raised the brightest hopes of the loyalist leaders, and excited the apprehensions of the

1 Onderdonk, see. 771.

2 It is to the credit of Brooklyn that the names of her delegates do not appear among those who are recorded am having complied with this pointed rebuke from the Convention. It may be fairly presumed, therefore, that they had regularly attended to their duties. (See Onderdonk, Rev. Inc. Kings County, sections 772, 784.)