Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-23

the pleasing dream of cordial reception,
marked attention, and complimentary gratuity
of golden sovereigns from his distinguished
patron. Subsequent explanations from their
mutual friend relieved his mind, and removed
his erroneous impressions. The time OF his
visit was most unfortunate-the 2Zd OF June,
17T6, q day of excitement and trepldatloh
throughout the American lines in and about
New York, as will be seen by the following
extracts of letters from Col. Henshaw, dated,
"LoNG ISLAND, June %, 1776.
Mr. Thomas Earle promised to send gun,
which he had in hand for the general, and
which l am surprised he has not sent. just
this moment hear a plot has been discovered,
which the tories had laid to seize or kill all
the general officers of the army at one and the
same time, aud blow up the magazines. The
mayor of the city was taken last night on
Long Island"
In another letter of the same date, written
at a later hour of the day, he says
"Last evening conspiracy of tories was
discovered. Their plan was to murder Gen
Washington, seize the persons OF other gen
eral officers, and blow up our magazines at
the same instant of time the kings troops
should land number of our officers rode
last night to Flatbush on this Island, and
seized the mayor of the city, who is now in
9't'S NuotOdS anu ouppOoSu w DS III tut CUu-
spiracy; several others are also taken, and the
names Of others we have, which L hope we
shall soon be able to give a good account of.
This is sent by Mr.. Earle"
word more about the UNDUE muSket
Tradition represents it as corresponding in
design and general features with its prototype
in Leicester, though improved in taste and cost
of finish. This bears the makers name en-
graved on the lock, Thomas Earl, (the final
''e' in Earle omtted,) trigger guarded by
stout silver band halt circle, with braces pro-
Jecting each way, fastened to the stock with
silver headed screws thumb-piece on top,
back of the lock, is a silver plate, inaid, on
which is ingeniously wrought the family coat
ofarms. Another long silver plate, on the left
hand side of the stock, opposite the lock, rep
resenting serpent half cOIled, with mouth
open, and t0rked tongue protruding; silver
loops under the barrel to hold the ramrod, aud
plate Of the same metal on butt end of the
breech. Several curious devices are embossed
or carved on the cherry case.
In all the published memoranda of Wash
ingtons revolutionary relics, including Mr..
Everetfs interesting and valuable Mount
Vernon Papers, l have not found any men.
ton of this article of military furniture. A
hope that some gentleman i'll correspondence
with still living Representatives of the Father
of his Country, may be able to discover its
whereabouts, if in existence, and rescue from
oblivion this antique memorial of Yankee
SKILL to be placed permanently in the archives
of the Ladies Mount Vernon Association, at
Mount Vernon is my apology for this tedious
description.
Mr. Earle lived in the easterly part of
Leicester, where a village has grown up
called Cherry Valley. His house and work
shop, built more than ninety years ago, APP
near If iS said will, t,nir SURROUNDINGS u,unb