Flushing, Jan. 14, 1775. "There was a funeral in this town about a fortnight ago, which afforded three or four of the furious ‘sons of liberty’ an opportunity of selecting as many out of the number who attended the funeral as would suit their purpose, which was twenty-five, one-seventh of the freeholders of the town. Twelve of these were immediately dubbed Committee Men; but by the authority of a single man, who is a friend to order and good government, they were constrained from entering on any business relating to their office,
till the sentiments of all the freeholders were taken upon it; which, when executed, will certainly put an end to their political existence, as it is well known the inhabitants are generally against it."---No. 92, Riv. Gaz.
(10) Poetry picked up in the loyal circle of Queens county:
Could I the abundance of my sorrow show,
I’d write in blood my tale of sympathetic woe;
In blood of villains, who, to show their hate
Of kingly rule, try to unhinge the state,
Tarring and feath’ring is the destined fate
Of every loyal subject of the state;
They’ll advertise each patriot, fix his doom
Then come proscriptions like to ancient Rome,
True sons of Catiline! like his your cause---
Insult the government! despise its laws!
A piteous case! It makes my bosom throb
To hear the mandates of this lawless mob
Sound the loud clarion sound
Tell the Committee all around,
The Quaker’s blood cries "vengeance" from the ground.
Thou Boston too, that’s covered o’er with guilt,
Thy sons shall pay for blood thy impious sires have spilt.
Thy venal priests inflame the people’s breast--
These holy cheats! a nuisance and a pest!
I’ll say no more; but may the Fates engage
To stop the growth of independent rage;
Prevent the projects of such factious brains,
And send them timely where their Leader reigns.
(Signed) NO YANKEE
P.S. I fret, I storm, I spit, I spew
At sound of YANKEE DOODLE DOO.
Jan. 1775.
The New-York Committee, March 16th, 1775, sent circular letters to the different counties in the colony, requesting them to choose deputies to a Provincial Convention, which was to meet, April 20, for the purpose of electing delegates to the Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, May 10.
In Queens county, the election was held by towns.