Had News from England of the Resolutions of the Ministry to enforce their Measures the ensueing Summer by the Help of 25,000 New Troops from England & 20,000 Hessians, Hanoverians, Brunswickers, &c., from Germany, 12,000 of whom are destined for this place, 12,000 for Boston, 10,000 for Quebeck, & 11,000 for the Southern Provinces. These Forces are also to bring with them 27 Commissioners to grant Pardons, & to delude the People of England with a Pretence that Peaceable & honorable Terms of Accommodation are offered, but that we would not accept. Would it not have been more honourable for them, if they had any Intentions of an Accommodation, to have lain hold of the opportunity offered in the last Petition of the Congress? But this would not serve their Turn! But George must meanly beg the assistance of his Brother Robbers & Cuthroats, & by cringing & fawning to all Europe he hath been able to procure 20,000 Men, & these, with the Whole Armament of England, are to assist the Commissioners to treat with America for Peace. In the Mean Time America, seeing yt her Terms were slighted & discovering their Intentions, hath been busied in putting herself in the best Posture of Defence that the Nature of her Circumstances would admit. The affections of her Inhabitants (which before were strongly attached to Brittain, so that the People would have taken up satisfied with almost any Terms) have been more and more aliened from Brittain, that we are now upon the Eve of declaring ourselves independent of G. Brittain, & seting up an Empire for ourselves. What will be the Consequences of this God only Knows!
In the Afternoon I visited a very agreable Young Ladie of this City, Miss ——— ——— with whom I had before had a small acquaintance, as I had, while on Guard, shewn this young Ladie & the Company with her the Civility due to Persons of their appearance, Viz., of shewing them the Works, &c. She, in her Turn, was not so ungratefull as to take no Notice of me, but as I accidentally passed the House for several Times, I observed that she seemed to Compliment me with more respect than is usual, or than I deserved; but as I was bashfull, I no more than returned the Compliment, & passed by till at length I made bold to enter the House with the Gentleman that was with me; but as he was in a great Hurry I could not tarry long, but was obliged to depart, bitterly against my will; however I gave her Intimation that I should again call in, & as I could not discover but that it would be agreable, I took this opportunity to spend an Afternoon with her. I found playing upon her Spinet, upon which she performed to admiration; her Musick, joined to an agreeable Person, gave me very favourable Ideas of my New Acquaintance. I spent the After Noon with her in her own Apartment, Reading & Chatting, &c., till about 5 o'clock, when her Mother came and asked us to Tea. The Father was Absent, but her Mother was an agreable Woman, plainly dressed. They were Germans, who soon after they were married came into this Country. I know not whether they have an Estate or not. After Tea we spent About an Hour in the same Manner as before, when I was obliged to Attend Duty & took my leave, but Not till I had provided myself with some entertainin Books from her Library.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 32-4
