May 18, 1775

The Inhabitants of this Country on the Sea Coast, are for the most part infected with the ill spirit that prevails in the adjacent Provinces of Virginia and South Carolina, whose extravagancies they are copying by arming men, electing officers and so forth. In this little Town they are now actually endeavouring to form what they call independant Companies under my nose, & Civil Government becomes more and more prostrate every day.

Source: Letter from Josiah Martin to William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth