TO MESSIEURS DELANCY, WHITE, COLDEN, WATTS, AND COOPER, OF NEW-YORK.

Philadelphia, April 25, 1775.

It appears, from a number of authentick letters from London, that the present hostile preparations against the American Colonies were occasioned by nothing but assurances from you of the defection and submission of the Colony of New-York. It is impossible to unfold the extensive and complicated nature of your crimes. You have defeated the attempts of the Congress to bring about a constitutional reconciliation with Great Britain. You have involved your fellow-subjects in Britain, Ireland, and the West-Indies, in all the distresses which must speedily fall upon them from an interruption of their Trade with America. But you have done more; you have unsheathed the sword of Britain, and pointed it against the bosom of your Country. You have held up a signal for a civil war; and all the calamities of Towns in flames, a desolated Country, butchered fathers, and weeping widows and children now lay entirely at your doors. Go now, ye parricides, to the Press of your associate, James Rivington, and there satiate yourselves with your triumph. But do not presume too much upon the impunity of Bernard, Hutchinson, and other traitors to America. Repeated insults and unparalleled oppressions have reduced the Americans to a state of desperation. Executions of villains in effigy will now no longer gratify their resentment. The blood of your unfortunate British and American fellow-subjects, who have already fallen in Massachusetts-Bay, calls to Heaven for vengeance against you. The injury you have done to your Country cannot admit of a reparation. Fly for your lives, or anticipate your doom by becoming your own executioners.

THREE MILLIONS.

METCALF BOWLER TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Providence, April 25, 1775.

SIR: Your intelligence to the Governour and Company of this Colony, by Edward Rawson, Esquire, was received by the Assembly, who were sitting in Providence to consult and act upon the present distresses into which your Colony and all of New-England are involved. You will see by the enclosed papers what we have done. Notwithstanding an exception of a very few individuals, you may be assured that the Colony are firm and determined, and that a greater unanimity scarce ever prevailed in the Lower House than was found in the great questions before them.

We pray God that he would be graciously pleased to bring to nothing the counsels and designs of wicked men against our lives and liberties, and grant his blessing upon our righteous contest. I am, in behalf of the General Assembly, your and your Colony’s sincere friend and humble servant,

METCALF BOWLER, Speaker.

President of the Provincial Congress in Massachusetts.

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CONNECTICUT.

Providence, April 25, 1775.

SIR: I am directed by the Lower House of Assembly to inform you, that William Bradford, Esquire, and Mr. Nathaniel Greene, two of the Members of this House, are appointed "to wait upon the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, to consult upon measures for a common defence of the four New-England Colonies, and to make report to the next session of Assembly," (which will be next week at Providence,) at our general election.

The Assembly this day have passed an Act to raise fifteen hundred good effective men, for the service of the Colony, and the general cause. Great firmness and resolution for the defence of the common rights of this Country, most certainly prevails in this Colony; and greater unanimity was scarce ever found than was manifested in the Lower House on the great questions which came before them.

We pray God. that he would be graciously pleased to bring to nothing the counsels and designs of wicked men against our lives and liberties, and grant a blessing upon our righteous contest. I am, in behalf of the House, your and your Colony’s sincere friend and humble servant,

METCALF BOWLER, Speaker

Act of RHODE-ISLAND for raising an Army of Observation.

At this very dangerous crisis of American affairs; at a time when we are surrounded with Fleets and Armies, that threaten our immediate destruction; at a time when the fears and anxieties of the people throw them into the utmost distress, and totally prevent them from attending to the common occupations of life—to prevent the mischievous consequences that must necessarily attend such a disordered state, and to restore peace to the minds of the good people of this Colony, it is thought absolutely necessary that a number of men be raised and embodied, properly armed and disciplined, to continue in this Colony, as an Army of Observation; to repel any insults or violence that may be offered to the inhabitants; and also, if it be necessary for the safety and preservation of any of the Colonies, that they be ordered to march out of this Colony, and join and co-operate with the Forces of our neighbouring Colonies.

It Is Voted and Resolved, That fifteen hundred Men be enlisted, raised, and embodied as aforesaid, with all the expedition and despatch that the nature of the thing will admit of.

April 25, 1775.—In the House of Magistrates,

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the afore-written pass as an Act of this Assembly.

By order:

SILAS DOWNER, pro Clerk.

In the Upper House, Read the same day and concurred.

By order:

JAMES CLARKE, D’y Sec’y.

April 25, 1775.—In the House of Magistrates,

Resolved, That the Military Officers throughout this Colony, or any other gentlemen who shall be willing, do forthwith enlist fifteen hundred good and effective Men, for the service of this Colony, and that each Man who shall enlist shall receive a bounty of Four Dollars, and be entitled to the monthly wages of One Pound Sixteen Shillings.

Voted and passed. By order:

SILAS DOWNER, pro Clerk.

In the Upper House, Read the same day and concurred.

By order:

JAS. CLARKE, D’y Sec’y.

April 25th, 1775.—In the Lower House, Resolved, That the Speaker of this House write unto the President of the Provincial Congress in Massachusetts-Bay, and the Speaker of the House of Deputies in the Colony of Connecticut; and that he transmit to the Congress copies of the Resolutions of this House touching the matters contained in the President’s Letter. By order:

SILAS DOWNER, pro Clerk.

In the Upper House, Providence, April 25, 1775.

We, the subscribers, professing true allegiance to His Majesty King George the Third, beg leave to dissent from the Vote of the House of Magistrates for enlisting, raising, and embodying an Army of Observation of fifteen hundred men, to repel any insults or violences that may be offered to the inhabitants, and also, if it be necessary for the safety and preservation of any of the Colonies, to march them out of this Colony to join and co-operate with the Forces of our neighbouring Colonies: because we are of the opinion that such a measure will be attended with the most fatal consequences to our Charter privileges; involve this Colony in all the horrours of a civil war; and, as we conceive, an open violation of the oath of allegiance which we have severally taken upon our admission into the respective offices we hold in the Colony.

JOHN HANCOCK TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Worcester, April 25, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: From a conviction of your disposition to promote the publick good, I take the freedom to request your countenance and good offices in favour of Mr. Edward Crafts, of this place, that he may be appointed to the command of a Company. I know him well; he is capable. I beg your attention to this; it will give great