The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-06-23

the doubt and suspicion which prevailed,
and of the summary modes that were re-
sorted to by the patriots to intimidato the
disaffected Tories, by letter written at
the time from New Jersey by a British
officer to a friend in England, which we
find in The Scots Magaeine for 1776. |
"Every thing" he says, "is transacted by
Committee referring to the Committee
of Safety appointed by the Provincial
Congress which is composed of BARRIERS,
tailors. cordwainers, etc., whose pertness
and insolencc would raise any English
mans Indignation, for the better sort en-.
deavor to keep their own necks out of
the halter, and make use Of these fellows
as cat's.paws One Of our friends had
got several thousands in the back country
brought over TO our interests but about
a month ago a mob Of about one hundred
dissolute fellows surrounded his house,
with an intention to tar and feather him
upon which he came out armed and while
he was reasoning with them at the door
he was knocked down with the butt end
Of musket, then laid like calf across
a horse, and tied to tree while yet in.
sensible, and tarred and feathered"
Another instance is related by still
another British correspondent, who quotes
from "rebel newspaper" as follows
"At Quibbletown, in Middlesex county,
New Jersey. Thomas Randolph cooper,
who had publicly proved himself an ene-
my to his country by reviliug aud using
his utmost endcavors to oppose the pro-
cee1ings of the Continental and Provin-
cial conventions and committees 10 de.
fense of their rights and liberties, and he
being Judged person of not consequence
enough for severer punishment, was or.
dercd to be stripped naked, well coated
with tar and feathers, and carried in a
wagon publicly round the town, which
punishment was accordingly inflicted (;
and as he soon became duly sensible of
his offensc, for which he earnestly begged
pardon, and promised to atone for as far
as he was able by contrary behavior for
the future, he was released. and suffered
to return to his house in less than half an
hour. The whole was conducted with
that regularity and decorum that ought
to be observed in all public punshments."
a glimpse is given ofa still different
form of public punishment inflicted by
the indignant patriots on their Tor neigh
bors, is another letter of an officer in the
British army, printed in The Scots Mag.
azine for October, 1776. Under date of
August II, 1776, he writes: 1.-The per-
secutions of the loyalists continue upre.
mitting. Donald Maclean, Thcophilus
Hardenbrook, Young Eeuter. the silver.
smith, and Rem Rappalge have been
cruelty rode on rais-a practice most
painful, dangerous, and peculiar"
Even the boys share the sympathies
and antipathics Of their fathers, forming
themselves into bands for "libelty' on
one side, and tne king on the other,
which re csultcd in innumcrable blackoned
eyes and broken heads. | have heard
my grandfather, the late Jacob Dunham,
NJ. D., Of New Brunswick, New Jersey,
relate that when he was lad of eight or
ten years old, and went to school in that
place, his preceptor, much to the disgust
Of the great body Of the scolars, was a
loyalist, and out spoken in his dsapproval
Oft the irregular'proceediugs ofthe Wings
The buys, ilit~.;as tho spirit Of theiI
elders, determined on Il public punish
ment" suitable to schoo-boy ideas oI
justice. Ovcrawing into silence the fe"
Of their comrades who sympathized with
the "mastor," they prepared large pla
card, on which they printed in large
letters the obnoxious word TORY y
ana seizing the opportunity Of the dis
mssal Of the school at noon, they stealthily
pinued this upon the teachers back, who
unobscrved of the trick, walked down the
street to his house. followed by the ooys
marching in possession behind him at q
safe distance from his cane, and pointing
out to the passers.by the label with which
they had adorned him. The school.boy
trick led to the dismissal of their precep
tor from his position and the breaking W
of the school, to the great satisfaction
doubtless of the youthful patrots.-Frou
"A Glimpse of 'Seventy.Six >" by CHAR
LES D. DE,HLnn. in Harper's Maga-in
for July,