George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.

[73] abounded in kind offices. The colonies

Chap. V.} 1774. July.

vied with each other in liberality. The record kept at Boston shows that ‘the patriotic and generous people’ of South Carolina were the first to minister to the sufferers, sending early in June two hundred barrels of rice, and promising eight hundred more. At Wilmington, North Carolina, the sum of two thousand pounds currency was raised in a few days; the women of the place gave liberally; Parker Quince offered his vessel to carry a load of provisions freight free, and master and mariners volunteered to navigate her without wages. Lord North had called the American union a rope of sand; ‘it is a rope of sand that will hang him,’ said the people of Wilmington.

Hartford was the first place in Connecticut to pledge its assistance; but the earliest donation received, was of two hundred and fifty-eight sheep from Windham. ‘The taking away of civil liberty will involve the ruin of religious liberty also,’ wrote the ministers of Connecticut to the ministers of Boston, cheering them to bear their heavy load ‘with vigorous Christian fortitude and resolution.’ ‘While we complain to Heaven and earth of the cruel oppression we are under, we ascribe righteousness to God,’ was the answer. ‘The surprising union of the colonies affords encouragement. It is an inexhaustible source of comfort that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.’

The small parish of Brooklyn, in Connecticut, through their committee, of which Israel Putnam was a member, opened a correspondence with Boston. ‘Your zeal in favor of liberty,’ they said, ‘has gained a name that shall perish but with the glorious constellations of Heaven;’ and they made an