The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
NEW YORK IN THE REVOLUTION.
A Remarkable Lack or Public Spirit EviDced
by some Residents.


During the Revolutionary war FOR American
Independence New York was generally under
the control OF hostile forces, and the number
of local Tories sympathizins with the home
Government as IL was then called, was large
larger than wa the case after many of these
Tories bad emierated to Nova Scotia at the
close of hostilities. Tho retidents OF New
York at that time seem, many of them. to have
been lacking in what would now be called pub
lie spirit, and it was found necessary BY procla-
nation, bulletins, appeals, and military orders
! 10 opGow them with some notion OF their re-
/, sponsibiii. les. soIuo OF these pa'.rs appear
! curious ut this time, particularly L,!s one. id
dressed by the public authorities to the ciu-
zeuy oi New York on May "a, l776:
.To the ,corthy inhabftunts OF the city and county Of
NeiU ior&:
"Wherens, Several members Of your Gen
eral Committee for TN. eify S ana county enira aG.
binary attention 10 the private interests of
their families, find 1t announcement ut this time
to g!,e constant attendance to the busihe6s OF
the public; and rs there never was a season
when,,:this city and county had stood IN more
at present, we beg leave earnestly to RECON-
mend it TO You to meet At The Giy haif or on
noon and elect there by ballot twenty more
members of your committee
Tery little attention was paid to this request,
and there WIS no general response TO 1t. One
month iu;er, however; there was q large a.,
tendance OF New Workers at inc City nan III
response 10 the following communication sent
out on placards by David Phillips 10 the pub
"Uhersas. The Committee Of Inspection
have thought IL proper 10 discourage the u.
c~ulation Of printed six penny promissory no!ei
these who POSSESS any OF then that they car
have the value of them BY applying. TO me sub
scribcr, who had them struck on for ms OWL
conyeniency; nor docs no mean that any OF theI
shall circulate any longer than IN small chans'
Ii provided Tor the public. ID. PHILIPPE:
1t appears that ID. Phillips was conducting
a sOrt of currency OF his own IN the FORM u
promissory no o. struck oil for his own con
might be called the Philips currency, WheI
no announced that those hearing his naln'
v oNld no redeemed 1t the city Hal the map
ilaIits OF New York rct pnricd enthusias'lchIl
when IL had been proposed II month preyion'
to add to the membership OF the General ON
III. ce OF the city aid county. III August, lLto
the inhabitants OF the city were lnIorined ina
and Gen. Washington sent a communication
TO the New York authorities In which he uSe'
these wordS' -u,
"When l consider the city OF New York viii
in all human probability, very soon be the seen
Of a bloody conflict, | cannot but view the Rrea
number Of women, children, and infrm pei
sous remaining in II with the most mcihnchoi,
concern. Can no method be devised FOR liei
r.niovalf"
|, Tic representative OF the city met in Hal
! lem and COMPLIED with Gen. Washington
euKgestion 10 the extent OF agreeing 70 pay III
expenses incident to tho removal OF such PEI
soils AS said mmi shall think IN such "
/. move and subsist them selves" From 8 to !
O'Clock on a day naaced. four, commitLeeine
. gave to proper obJScts, ; as they were callet
permits allowing them 10 leave the CITY OF Ne
York on ships thatswould agreo 10 Take them