Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant Governor of New York, to Lord Dartmouth, May 3, 1775

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New York, May 3d 1775

[Extract]

My Lord, The minds of the people in this city were kept in constant agitation, by Riots and attempts to prevent the Transports from loading here, with stores, Provisions &c. for the army. The want of any degree of Resolution in the Magistrates to support the authority of Government in opposition to popular measures, rendered the leaders of the People insolently bold and daring ー The friends of order and Government saw no power either in the exertions of the Magistrates or the feeble aid that could be afforded by the very small body of Troops quartered in the city to protect their persons and property from violence and destruction. Several Incidents combined to depress all legal Authority; and to increase the Terror of the Inhabitants, which seemed to vanquish every thought of Resistance to popular Rage.

In this unfortunate situation of the City, the first accounts of an action between the Kings Troops and People, near Boston, was published with horrid and aggravating circumstances. The moment of consternation and anxiety was seized. The people were assembled, and that scene of disorder and violence begun, which has entirely prostrated the Power of Government and produced an association by which this Province had solemnly united with the others in resisting the Acts of Parliement . . . The pretence given out for the necessity of shutting up the Custom House, was to prevent the exportation of Provisions of which it was said all that was in the place would be wanted for the armies of the Colonies. But it is more probable, My Lord, that the real intention was to strike terror by the boldness of the action. Having effected this purpose and established the absolute Power of the Committee; the Keys of the Custom House have been returnd to Mr [Andrew] Elliott,² but at the same time a declaration [was] published that no vessell shall be suffered to cleador Boston or Halifax

The whole military Force we have in this Province, my Lord, is the Kings Fisher sloop of War and 100 men of the Royal Irish Regiment commanded by Major [Isaac] Hamilton. This small Body of Troops are quartered in the City Barracks without any kind of Protection but in their arms

1. O'Callaghan, ed., Colonial New York, VII, 571, 572.

2. Andrew Elliot wrote a full description of his experiences during the period referred to in Golden's letter. It was contained in what he entitled, "A Short Detail of the Conduct of the Collector of New York from December 1774 to March 1776 when the Intercourse Act took place ー Commencing with the Account of the Seizure of Arms & Published in the Newspapers at New York the 29th December 1774." This document is in the Andrew Elliot Papers; Box 1, Folder 6, NYSL. It reads in part:

Soon after the affair of Lexington (in April 1775) was known in New York, a Meeting of the People was called in the Fields, from which Meeting 300 Men under Arms Marched with a Committee to the Collectors House in the Country where he than was, ー the Gentlemen of the Committee behaved with great Politeness to Mr Elliot and his Family but demanded the Keys of the Custom House, and a Promise from Him that he would Enter or Clear no more Vessels agreeable to the British Acts of Parliament. ー The Collector told them that the Keys to the Custom House were always left with his Deputy Mr Moore who resided at the Office ー that he was under Oath to Perform the Duties of Collector of the Customs at New York, which he was determined to do as long as it was in his Power Upon this the Gentlemen of the Committee told him, he would not be Suffered to Act in character of Collector any longer ー The Collector pointing to the Bayonets at the Doors and Windows of his House, told them they had given him a full view of their power, what use they meant to make of it rested entirely with themselves; After this Conversation the Committee and Armed Men march'd off, and went directly to the Custom House, and finding the Keys in the Doors (the Collector having sent one of his Servants who got to Town before the Committee with orders for that purpose) The Whole Body returned to the Fields with the Keys, The Collector immediately waited upon the Lieutenant Governor, and told him what had hapened, As the Governor had then no Power left, he desired the Collector to act as he should think best. The Collector returned to his House in the Country and never appeared in Town whilst the Custom House was lock'd up and under Guards: but he informed the Captain of the Man of War what had passed, that all outward bound Vessels might be stopped; He declined speaking on the Subject with all the Merchants who called upon him; The greatest part of the Merchants were much alarmed and sent off an Express to Philadelphia; It was soon found out that the heated frolick was a bad one; at Philadelphia it appeared so at once; The Merchants there sent a Committee to New York, when it was soon agreed to send back the Keys; The Committee of Philadelphia Merchants and one of the New York Merchants, sent to desire a Meeting with the Collector, who informed them he did no business in his present situation, and could not till the Custom House was opened, that he wanted no appologies, he only wanted to do his duty; Early next Morning he was informed the Custom House Doors were opened and the Guard withdrawn, upon which at the usual hour he attended Business without taking any Notice of what had passed, as in the Situation Affairs were then in, it appeared to him best to let a Matter drop; that all now disapproved of altho' too many had been concerned in it.

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1775 May 3

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