James Beekman to Pierce & Brown, Merchants of Bristol, England, May 6, 1775

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[New York] May 6, 1775

[Extract]
Per Captain Jones

I wrote you 21st March last since which have Received yours of 25th February . . . Captain John Walker, who is now going on the same Voyage, the freight of which shall be paid you, my Brother and Self intended to have loaded our Brigg on our own Account had it not ben for the unhappy Situation of our Public Affairs, for which reason we have not thought proper to export any Provisions; I make no doubt that before this reaches your hands, you must have heard of the Action that happened near Boston between the regulars and the Provincials . . . the General Committees of this City and Philadelphia have agreed not to supply the Army or Navy with any Provisions, whilst there is the least appearance of Hostilities in our Borders. There seems to be almost total Stagnation of every kind of Business, at this alarming period, all Ranks of people are preparing against a similar attack, and for this purpose are providing themselves with arms &c. and are consulting the means of our common safety . . .

I expected to have made you full Remittance in due time, but fear I shall be prevented, the Commerce of the Northern Colonies being now at a Stand, and as the Grand Continental Congress are to Meet at Philadelphia the 10th Instant it is imagined that they will put a total stop to all foreign Trade, which will disenable our Merchants to make any Remittances Home, untill we receive Restitution of our former just and unalienable Rights and Privileges which is the ardent desire of all. and of none more than [myself].

1. White, ed., Beekman Papers, II, 898. Letters of the same date expressing similar sentiments were written to Fludyer, Marsh, Hudson and Streatfield and Cooke & Ralph, British merchants, and on May 30 to B. Pomeroy & Sons, London. Ibid., 698, 699, 756-758, 948. Beekman in his letter to Fludyer, et al., wrote

". . . the General Committees of this City and Philadelphia have come under an Agreement not to supply the Army or Navy with any Provisions or Stores, whilst there is even an Appearance of Hostilities in our Borders. Which we sincerely wish may be speedily removed, and Peace, Harmony, and a good Understanding may take place on equitable, permanent Foundations, and may ever distinguish Britain and America, and thus continue 'til Time has run his Round.

"Upon calm Deliberation, and serious dispassionate Reflection, it is really distressing that from the hasty Resolves of the Majority of the British Parliament, without hearing the Petitions from North America (as the Lords Protest sets forth) should be the Occasion of all such fatal Consequences as have happened and are likely to happen between us; and unless seasonably redressed may prove the Ruin of the whole Empire. Who would have imagined that this Contest would have so soon terminated into an unnatural Civil War, and caused the Effusion of so much Blood? The Prospect. is truly melancholy, when the Brother takes away the Brothers Life. And yet such times America now secs and feels! Tho' sure I am, that his Majesty has not more firm and loyal Subjects than in his Dominions in North America, who will support his Crown and Dignity in a constitutional manner at the Risque of their Lives and Fortunes. But it is impossible that freeborn Englishmen, as we arc, (instead of being taxed by our legal Representatives as formerly) should now submit to Parliamentary Taxations, without giving up our Title to Freedom, and becoming Vassals and Slaves. Nothingmore is necessary for a happy Accommodation, but a Revival of the good old English Constitution, which has always produced such mutual Blessings."

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1775 May 6

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