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The proceedings of the people, and their manifest dispositions, have alarmed the general, who has thought it necessary for the safety of the troops, as well as to secure the important post of Boston, to fortify the entrance at the Neck, which affords the only communication, except by water, between the town and the continent. His own personal safety, while at his country residence in Danvers, would have been endangered, had not the prudence of Samuel Holten, esq. M. D. a genuine, determined, but considerate son of liberty, cooled and moderated the temper of his neighbors.

William Brattle, esq. frequently an elected counsellor under the charter, having given a hint to the governor to secure the provincial ammunition, he sent two companies of soldiers across the river long before day-break, [Sept. 1.] who possessed themselves of the powder in the arsenal at Charlestown. The news circulated apace, and in the morning the inhabitants of the neighboring towns, to the amount of several thousands, assembled at Cambridge, mostly in arms. They proceeded to the lieutenant governor Oliver's house, and to the house of several of the new counsellors, and of others who they thought had shewn themselves unfriendly to the province. Some of the consellors were obliged to resign, and to declare they would no more act under what are pronounced the arbitrary laws lately enacted-It was with difficulty that the multitude was restrained from marching to Boston, there to demand a delivery of the powder, and, in case of refusal, to attack the troops. This collection of people, and the confusion necessarily attending their transactions, gave rise to a rumor, that the fleet and troops were firing upon the town of Boston, which flew with amazing rapidity through New-England; and in less than 24 hours after, there were between 30 and 40,000 men in arms, some of whom marched from 20 to 30 miles toward Boston before they were undeceived. This report, and the seizure of the powder, roused the inhabitants in the other colonies beyond New-England, so that they immediately began learning the military exercise. The transaction at Cambridge produced such other risings in the colony, as obliged more of the new council to resign or to flee to Boston; whither, by the close of the month, the commissioners, the custom-house officers, and all who have made themselves particularly obnoxious, by taking an active and decided part against the country, repaired for protection. Thus is the seat of government at Salem abandoned, and the apparatus of a customhouse removed to a place, which an act of parliament has proscribed from all trade.

About

About this time the governor's company of cadets, consisting of Boston gentlemen, disbanded themselves, and returned him the standard he presented them upon his arrival. This slight was owing to his taking away the commission from Mr. Hancock, who was colonel of the corps. But Mr. John Murray, a colonel of the militia, having accepted a seat in the new council, twenty-four officers of his regiment resigned their commissions in one day. Such is the prevailing spirit, that all persons accepting offices under the new laws, or preparing to act in conformity to them, are declared enemies to their country, and threatened accordingly.

The seizing of the powder, and the withholding from the legal proprietors what is lodged in the magazine of Boston, and the design carrying into execution of repairing and manning the fortifications at the entrance of the town, have occasioned the holding an assembly of delegates from the several towns and districts in the county of Suffolk, of which Boston is the county town. After a most spirited preamble, they resolved, among other things [Sept. 9.] "That no obedience is due from this province to either or any part of the late acts, but that they be rejected as the attempts of a wicked administration to enslave America that so long as the justices are appointed or hold their places by any other tenure than that which the charter and the laws of the province direct, they must be considered as unconstitutional officers, and as such no regard ought to be paid to them by the people of this country-that if the justices shall sit and act during their present disqualified state, this county will bear harmless all sheriffs, jurors, and other officers, who shall refuse to carry into execution the orders of said courts-that it be recommended to the collectors of taxes and all other officers who have public monies in their hands, to retain the same, and not to make any payment thereof to the provincial county treasurer, until the civil government of the province is placed upon a constitutional foundation, or it shall be otherwise ordered by the proposed provincial congress-that the persons who have accepted seats at the council board, by virtue of a mandamus from the king, have acted in a direct violation of the duty they owe to their country; this county do recommend it to all who have so highly offended, and have not already resigned, to make public resignation on or before the 20th of this instant, September; all refusing so to do, shall, after said day, be considered by this county, as obstinate and incorrigible enemies to this country -that the fortifications begun and now carrying on upon Boston Neck, gives us reason to apprehend some hostile intention against that town-that the late act establishing the Roman Ca

tholic

tholic religion in Quebec, is dangerous in an extreme degree to the Protestant religion, and to the civil rights and liberties of all America-that whereas our enemies have flattered themselves that they shall make an easy prey of this numerous brave people, from an apprehension that they are unacquainted with military discipline; we therefore, for the honor and security of this county and province, advise, that such persons be elected in each town as officers in the militia, as shall be judged of sufficient capacity, and who have evidenced themselves the invincible friends to the rights of the people, and that the inhabitants do use their utmost diligence to acquaint themselves with the art of war, and do for that purpose appear under arms at least once every week -that during the present hostile appearances on the part of Britain, we are determined to act merely upon the defensive so long as such conduct may be vindicated by reason and the principles of self-preservation, but no longer-that as we understand it has been in contemplation to apprehend sundry persons of this county, we do recommend, should such measure be put in prac tice, to seize and keep every servant of the present government throughout the province, until the persons so apprehended be restored uninjured-that we recommend to all persons, not to engage in any routs, riots, or licentious attacks upon the properties of any person whatsoever, as being subversive of all order and government; but by a steady, manly, uniform, and persevering opposition, to convince our enemies, that in a contest so important, in a cause so solemn, our conduct shall be such as to merit the approbation of the wise, and the admiration of the brave and free of every age and of every country." They then drew up an address to the governor, and voted that doctor Joseph Warren (a physician, an amiable gentleman, who wishes for a reconciliation between the colonies and the parent state, upon a redress of grievances, and aims not at independency) with others, be a committee to wait on his excellency, to inform him how the country is alarmed, and to remonstrate against the fortifications making on the Neck, and the repeated insults offered by the soldiery to persons passing and re-passing into Boston, and to confer with him on those subjects. The governor was waited upon to know if he would receive the committee with the address; but desiring a private copy of it, that when he received them he might be ready with a prepared answer, he was furnished with it, and afterwards fixed on Monday the 12th for receiving the committee. The doings of the county delegates, and a copy of the address to the governor have been sent off by express to the general congress, now met at Philadelphia. On the Monday, when the committee had delivered the address of

the

the county, he answered to it, "I have no intention to prevent the free egress and regress of any person to and from the town of Boston. I shall suffer none under my command to injure the person or property of any of his majesty's subjects; but it is my duty to preserve the peace, and to prevent surprise; and no use will be made of the cannon, unless the hostile proceedings of the people shall render it necessary." The patriots are waiting earnestly for the opinion of congress on the Suffolk resolves, in hopes that they will be approved of; and if so, they will go on with greater resolution and courage; for they will consider such approbation as a declaration that the colony will be supported by congress, in case hostilities are necessary for the preservation of its liberties, and is also justifiable in arming and training the militia:

Mr. Quincy is upon the point of sailing for Britain, at the request of several co-patriots. Be so obliging as to pay a proper attention to him; you will be pleased at finding him so intelligent a gentleman, and may rely upon his information. Shall keep the letter open, that if the sense of congress is received time enough, it may be forwarded.

P. S. The sons of liberty are in high spirits. The Suffolk resolves were before congress on Saturday morning, the 17th, and were considered; after which it was resolved unanimously, "That this assembly deeply feels the suffering of their countrymen in the Massachusetts Bay, under the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and oppressive acts of the British parliamentthat they most thoroughly approve the wisdom and fortitude with which opposition to these wicked ministerial measures has hitherto been conducted, and they earnestly recommend to their brethren, a perseverance in the same firm and temperate conduct, as expressed in the resolutions determined upon at a meeting of the delegates for the county of Suffolk, on Tuesday the 6th instant (that was the day of their first meeting, but they did not finish till the 9th) trusting that the effect of the united efforts of North-America in their behalf, will carry such conviction to the British nation, of the unwise, unjust, and ruinous policy of the present administration, as quickly to introduce better men and wiser measures." Resolved unanimously, That contributions from all the colonies, for supplying the necessities and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require." Mr. Quincy sails to-day.

YOL. L

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LETTER

THE

LETTER X.

Roxbury, February 3, 1775.

HE measures pursued by the British ministry, for subjecting America to parliamentary authority in all cases whatever, have united the twelve colonies, from New-Hampshire to South-Carolina, inclusively, into a compact body. Many on the side of government flattered themselves that the event would never exist. They had no small ground for it, considering that several of the colonies clash in their particular interests; have been frequently quarreling about boundaries and other matters; differ greatly in manners, customs, religion and constitutions; and have local prejudices, jealousies, and aversions. But they have been pressed by a common danger, threatening the most valua ble rights of each individual province, so that they have all elected delegates to meet in a general congress, to consult in what way to obtain a redress of grievances, and ward off the impending ruin. The ministerial influence in New-York has not prevailed, as was expected, to keep that colony from joining the others. Great dependance was had upon their monied men; but the cause of liberty was too popular, and the numbers that espoused it too many and too independent, either to be bribed or overawed.

[Sept. 5.] The delegates being arrived at Philadelphia, from all the colonies except North-Carolina, they met in general congress, and proceeded to the choice of a president, when Peyton Randolph, esq. was unanimously elected, and Mr. Charles Thomson was unanimously chosen secretary. They resolved, that "in determining questions, each colony shall have one vote." Before they engaged in any special business, the North-Carolina delegates joined them. The number of the whole, when together, is fifty-two beside the president. The first important service wherein they engaged, you have had an account of in the preceding postscript. In their subsequent resolutions [Oct. 8.] they decla red, "That if the late acts of parliament shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in such case all America ought to support the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay in their opposition-that if it be found absolutely necessary to remove the people of Boston into the country, all America ought to contri-bute toward recompensing them for the injury they may thereby sustain and that every person who shall accept, or act under any commission or authority derived from the act of parliament:

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