The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from a member of the
Provincial Congress of North Carolina,
to col. Howe, dated at Halifax, Febru-
ary 24, 1776.

"A gentleman of the name of Smith has
just now lodged seven of the leaders of the Re-
gulators in Halifax jail, among whom are four
of the Fields. The names of the others I
do not know, but neither Hunter nor Piles
are amongst them. He informs me, that the
insurrection is entirely suppressed with respect
to the Regulators, and says he thinks the
Highlanders are dispersed before now. I do
not give implicit credit to this last mentioned
conjecture, because we have later accounts
than mr. Smith's (who was only as low
down, I believe, as Chatham courthouse)
which contradict it. However, it is clear to
me that there will not be a gun fired upon
this occasion: for the number of our troops
(not less, perhaps, than 5000) will undoubt-
edly awe the Highlanders into submission,
if they are not already dispersed. Gover-
nour Martin, it seems, had kept up a cor-
respondence with the disaffected in the western
part of this province, had formed a plan of
insurrection, issued colonels commissions to
many counties for this purpose, and ordered
that such men as should take arms should re-
pair to the royal standard, at Brunswick,
by the 15th of this month, promising that
they should be then and there supported by
5000 regulars.

Your mind being relieved from all anxiety
for us you will be at full liberty to exert all
your powers for the good of Virginia; and I
flatter myself that your conduct will bring
credit to your country, and honour to your-
self."