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of the Ladies of any Note in the Town was present, and made a very Splendent Appearance, in a Room back from that where they Danc'd, was Several sorts of Wines, Punch, and Sweet Meats, in this Room, those that was not Engag'd in any Dancing Match, might either Employ themselves at Cards, Dice, Back-Gamon, or with a cheerful Glass: the Commissioners amus'd themselves till about 10 O'clock, and then went home to their Lodgings.

The Ladies was so very Agreeable, and seem'd so Intent on Dancing that one might have Imagin'd they had some Design on the Virginians, either Designing to make Tryal of their Strength and Vigour, or to Convince them of their Activity and Sprightliness. After Several smart Engagements, in which no Advantage on either side was Observable, with a Mutual Consent, about 1 of the clock in the Morning, it was agreed to break up, every Gentleman waiting on his Partner home.

Wind at N., and so very cold, that at the close of the Evening it was observ'd to Snow.

ANNAPOLIS, Tuesday, 22d.

This Morning about 7 I got up and with Mr. Bulling my Landlord I took a Walk about two miles out of Town, return'd about 9 and after Breakfast, went to Mr. Jennings's, where I spent the forenoon; a little before 1 O'clock came three more of our Company, and Join'd the Commissioners, then we went to Dine with Charles Carroll,' Esqr., One of the Council of the Province, where we staid till near 5 at which time the Commissioners went according to a former promise to Sup with his Excellency the Governor at his House, but the Young Gentlemen having Engag'd themselves the day before, to wait on some Young Ladies who was to meet at Mr. Ross's House in the Evening, they went to the Governor's and after making their Excuse, for So short a Visit, then Return'd to the Fair Assembly, where the Night was very

Son of Daniel Carroll of King's County, Ireland, Charles Carroll came to Maryland in 1686, and settled at Carrollton. He was the grandfather of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the Signer of the Declaration of Independence. -Biog. of Signers, by L. Carroll Judson, Phila., 1839, p. 132.

agreeably spent with Dancing, Singing, &c., about 11 O'clock the Ball clos'd, and every man with his partner went to conduct her home; but one of the Ladies it seems had ply'd the Artillery of her Eyes so Dextrously, that she had no less than a pair of Gallants to wait upon her Home, but whether the Lovers had been making their Case Known to the Fair, beseeching her to have Compassion on them, and heal the Wounds, which if she was not entirely unacquainted with her own Charms (which very few Women are), she must be very Sensible of what they suffer'd, or if betwixt themselves they were Disputing one Another's Title, my not being present renders me uncapable of Judging, but it is a Strong Proof that one or other was the Truth, since the Lady was obliged to show them that she did not stand in need of a Convoy, and with the help of her heels gave both the Slip, leaving them to grope their way to where they Lodg'd; another of our Gentlemen, after having seen his Miss safe, Steer'd a Course as he thought for his own Port, but either by the Darkness of the Night or with the help of Willis-ovethe-Wisp, I can't say which, but betwixt both, he made a Shift to get into a Swamp, when he made several turns, doubles, and windings, before he got clear, and at last, had like to have been Shipwreck'd among a parcel of Tann-pitts, stumbling into one of them that happily had but very little. Water in it, after he got himself disengag'd of these leather pots, he had the luck to Stumble into the Right path home: he and I Lodging in the same Room, I happen'd to get there a few minutes before him, when I was Surpris'd to see A person come puffing and blowing, like a Grampus before a Storm, and Shaking his Tails, like a Dog coming out of a place where there was as much Mud as Water, it was now after 12, as soon as he entered the Room, while he was uncasing himself from his wet Garments, he gave me the History of his Travelling Adventures, after which we got to bed, where under the Dominion of the Drowsy God, and his leaden Sceptre, we Remain'd Insensible till morning.

(To be continued.)

OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK CITY BY THE BRITISH,

1776.

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF THE MORAVIAN CONGREGATION.

[This record, printed in the “Moravian” during the year 1876, is of sufficient interest to warrant its reproduction in a more permanent form, and we feel assured that it will be read with interest by those who have not had the good fortune to meet with it. The notes and annotations are in most cases those furnished by the present pastor of the New York congregation, the Rev. A. A. Reinke, who prepared them for the columns of the "Moravian;" those furnished by the editor are so designated.-ED.]

These extracts are from the diary of the New York Congregation, for 1776. The principal excerpts have reference to the passage of the Enemy's fleet up and down the Hudson River, the skirmishing on Long Island and Harlem Plains, and the great fire in September. The original diary is in the handwriting of Bro. Shewkirk, the pastor of the congregation.

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As is well known, the City of New York-which in 1776 extended, on the North, but a little beyond the present Post-office-was alternately in possession of the British and Americans. The Rebel" portion of Bro. Shewkirk's flock underwent peculiarly lively experiences. Their names are easily recognizable in the frequent flittings of certain members from the city. The "Royalists"-good and true men none the less for their failure to "discern both time and judgment"-included the pastor and other brethren, mostly of foreign birth and sympathies. The national proclivity of the writer of the diary is apparent in his occasional strictures, &c., on the Rebel army, and on certain members of his congregation. The extracts submitted contain the entire "War" record of the diary of the year; they are given in the style current at the time.

JANUARY, 1776.

Thursday 18th.-Last night and to-day Troops came in from the Jerseys; the troubles begin again.

Monday 29th. The troubles in the town increased. Tenbroeks' moved to Second River on Wednesday. They would have gone on Tuesday, but the weather was too bad.

Published at Bethlehem, Pa.

FEBRUARY.

Sunday 4th.-This afternoon Mr. Lee,' a General of the New English troops came to town; as also the " Mercury," a man of war, with General Clinton. The men of war here took a merchant ship coming in, &c.; all which made many com

motion in the town.3

Monday 5th.-Soldiers came to town both from Connecticut and the Jerseys, and the whole aspect of things grew frightful, and increased so from day to day. The inhabitants began now to move away in a surprising manner. The weather was very cold, and the rivers full of ice, which proved a great obstruction to the People's moving. However, in the middle of the week it thawed fast, which seemed also to answer the prevention of designs against the men of war, the execution of which might have proved very fatal to the city. One could not pass the streets without feeling a great deal; and at last we were obliged to encourage it that our sisters and young People might retreat. At the end of the week about 40 of our People were Moved. Hilah Waldron, Sister Reed, Sister Bouquet, and Sister Shewkirk, to Second River; and likewise Sister Runcey, with Peter and his wife. Mamie and Esther Pell, and Venema to Middle Town Point; Sister Doeling, with her daughter, to Brunswig; Sister Francis to Topan; Jane Groves and her son,

1 Gen. Chas. Lee.

? England.

Accounts of these troubles and of the excitement of the times will be found in Irving's Washington, vol. 2d, p. 167. The arrival of Sir Henry Clinton and Gen. Lee on the same day "threw the whole city," wrote an eye witness, "into such a convulsion as it never knew before. Many of the inhabitants hastened to move their effects into the country, expecting an immediate conflict. All that day and all night, were there carts going and boats loading, and women and children crying, and distressed voices heard in the roads in the dead of the night." Clinton professed to have come only on a short visit to his friend Gov. Tryon. "If it is really so," wrote Lee, "it is the most whimsical piece of civility I ever heard of."

It is reported that Lee said "he would send word on board the men of war, that if they set a house on fire, in consequence of his coming, he would chain a hundred of their friends by the neck and make the house their funeral pile.-ED. • Tappan.

with the Sherbrook's family; John and Samuel Van Vlecks' families to Kipsy1 bay, Sister Vroutje Van Vleck, with her daughters, to a place near Hella Gate on Long Island; John Cargyll's wife and children, Sister Everitt, Sister Ross and her sister, to places on Long Island.

Wednesday 7th.-The discourse in the congregational meeting was on the watch-word of to-day. All the watchwords of next week, which is expected to be a week of troubles in the city, were read; as they are particularly suitable to our present circumstances. A deep emotion prevailed, and we parted not without tears, not knowing how long we may be separated; but His Peace comforted us.

Sunday 11th. This was a gloomy day. The carts went all the day with the goods of the people that are moving; moreover, in the forenoon the Soldiers began to take away all the guns from the Battery and the Fort, and continued till late. This caused an hourly expectation, especially in the afternoon, that the men of war would fire; however they did not. It did not at all look like a Sunday. In some churches they had no service; in others hardly any People. In the forenoon we had a discourse from behind the table, from the yesterday's watch-word; "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment, lest any hurt it," &c. In the afternoon was preaching on Lamentations III. 39-41: "Wherefore doth a living man complain, &c. Let us search and try our ways," &c. Both times we had more hearers than we expected.

Monday 12th.-His Majesty's ship, the "Mercury," with Genl. Clinton, and the "Transport" with the soldiers left the harbour yesterday, to proceed on their voyage southward. The moving out of the town continues.

Saturday 17th.-The whole week those of our people who are yet in town were visited. This morning the "Phoenix" went out of the harbor, down to the watering place and the hook. In the afternoon the "Asia," the ship with the Governor and the two Prices, moved also out of the east river, and when she was opposite the White Hall she was

'Kip's. * See Irving, vol. ii. pp. 170–171. 3 Governor Tryon.-ED.

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