HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 299

tion,” by voluntarily contributing the sum of £310 8s. towards the expense of a now battalion, which was being raised about that time by Col. Fanning.

These evidences of returning loyalty were graciously accepted, and the good people of Kings County no doubt felt themselves amply rewarded by the assurance of Lord Germaine, that “His Majesty has observed with great satisfaction the effusions of loyalty and affection which break forth in the addresses of his faithful subjects upon their deliverance from the tyranny and oppression of the rebel committees; and the proof given by the inhabitants of Kings County of their zeal for the success of His Majesty's measures, by so generously contributing towards the expense of raising Col. Fanning's battalion, cannot fail of recommending them to His Majesty's favor.”

At this time, the American prisoners in New York were paroled and billeted on the inhabitants of this county, Congress having agreed to pay two dollars per week for their board. Col. Graydon, who, with the other officers of Col. Shee’s and Col. Magraw’s regiment, was quartered at Flatbush, gives the following humorous sketch of his accommodations, which will answer, we presume, for a portrait of most of the Dutch families at that day: “Though we were, in general, civilly enough received, it cannot be supposed we were very welcome to our Low Dutch hosts, whose habits were extremely parsimonious, and whose winter provision was barely sufficient for themselves. Had they been sure of receiving two dollars per week, Congress or ourselves being looked on as paymasters, it might have reconciled them. They were, however, a people who seemed thoroughly disposed to submit to any power that might be imposed upon them; and whatever might have been their propensities or demonstrations at an earlier stage of the contest, they were now the dutiful and loyal subjects of His Majesty King George III, and entirely obedient to the behests of their military masters in New York. Their houses and beds we found clean, but their living extremely poor. A sorry wash, made up of a sprinkling of bohea and the darkest sugar, on the verge of fluidity, with half

1 Onderdonk’s Kings Co., sec. 830.