"Have any of our friends got off the Island with their families, or what must they submit to? Despotism or destruction, I fear, is their fate"

This quote by William Floyd is a reflection of the tight spot dealt with by the people of Long Island during the American Revolution. The quote suggests that individuals of Long Island were facing a challenging option between submitting to the rule of a despot or dealing with destruction. It is clear that Floyd is worried for the fate of his friends and their households, as he is unsure if any of them have actually had the ability to escape the Island with their households. This quote highlights the tight spot dealt with by the individuals of Long Island during the American Revolution, and the difficult options they had to make in order to survive. It is a pointer of the courage and durability of the people of Long Island, who wanted to risk their lives in order to secure their freedom.