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oaths of allegiance and remain, or to be sent out of the country. This point is of moment and ought to be ascertained. I much fear that was not the case, for although I entertain a very high opinion of their firmness, yet I doubt whether a people ever existed who possessed, to a man, spirit enough to leave everything dear and plunge themselves and families into a state of inexpressible wretchedness, rather than swear allegiance to a Prince, who held them and their country most completely in his power.
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Mr. Secretary Bulkeley, who was the Secretary to the Province, and I think acting secretary to Governor Lawrence, can best inform you on this head, as he has never quitted the Province, and is in possession of the public papers to which reference may be had.
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I am, sir,
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Your most humble servant,
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BROOK WATSON.
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REV. MR. BROWN,
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Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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REV. HUGH GRAHAM TO REV. DR. BROWN.
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CORNWALLIS, March, 1791.
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MY DEAR SIR,
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The repeated proofs of your friendly attention arose in me the glow of gratitude and the blush of shame. Your indulgent approbation of my slender services should, surely before this, have awakened me to the renewed calls of duty and have exerted me to much more vigorous exertions of friendship, and yet I had but just taken the pen in my hand when I laid it down and that to receive your favor of March 7th, an additional proof of my friends steady and much valued attachment.
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The first particular in my engagement to which I now recur, shall be a detail of some minutes, and yet not altogether such, in the history of the Hon. Brook Watson, Esq.
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He is a native of London. His father was a very considerable merchant in the Hamburg trade. During a certain period of his life he was in very flourishing circumstances; but a few years before his death a reverse of fortune took place, It was in early life, and in adverse circumstances, that Watson lost both his parents by the untimely stroke of death. He was left an orphan at the age of 8 or
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