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Our Assembly met on the 2d of March. The two first days were chiefly employed in examination of the conduct of Captain Glover and the Representatives of Ridgfield, which Town had very freely declared against adopting the Congress' s measures. A Committee was appointed to superintend this business, and make a report at the next May session. The debates of a week' s duration upon the matters cost the Colony One Hundred and Seventy-Five Pounds. In the next place, many long and learned arguments
"That a Major General and two Brigadier Generals be appointed; that ten thousand bushels of Wheat, two thousand barrels of Pork, three thousand stands of Arms with Bayonets, be provided; and the Assembly emit Bills to the amount of Thirty Thousand Pounds, lawful money."
This was craftily concerted; for had the Bill succeeded, of course a subsequent one must have passed to raise a number of Troops to eat the provisions. But Heaven be praised, by this time the eyes of the most respectable Members were opened; they saw that all the old firebrands were the promoters of these destructive measures; and to the eternal honour of many Members who spoke and acted on behalf of the Constitution, a majority of the House was roused, and they then proceeded to vote by paragraph upon the Bill. They allowed the creation of General Officers, but all the rest were thrown out of the House; and, instead of the destructive measure concerted by the Cromwellites, a vote was passed by a great majority to petition his Majesty for a redress of such American grievances as should be enumerated by a Committee then appointed by the House to compose and report it for their approbation.
This Assembly was a special one, called for the express purpose of raising, &c˙, six thousand men. And notwithstanding the Secretary and Squire Wyllys, who went to Cambridge to consult the Provincial Congress, assured the House that the Congress then met at Cambridge, on mature deliberation, wanted not assistance from this Colony, they being sufficiently able to fight all the Troops General Gage had then at Boston, our warm sons of — insisted on raising an Army in this Province, and, at any rate, drive the King' s General out of this religious land.
A Letter, carrying with it, in effect, a Petition, was sent down to the Lower House from the Upper House, addressed to Lord Dartmouth. The Wasp immediately seized, and clumsily attacked those parts of it which were calculated to conciliate and restore harmony between Great Britain and America; but he was overruled, and returned home grievously disappointed.
Extract of a Letter from Connecticut to Mr. Rivington, New-York, Dated March 13, 1775
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were produced by the old leaven, the Republicans, urging the necessity of an Army to be immediately raised. The matter was recommended to a Committee, consisting of the most inflammatory and the truest malignant men, who openly declare for independence. After two days they produced a Report, as follows: