P. S. We beg you will proclaim in every Township, that all persons desirous of coming into Boston with their effects, may come without molestation; and that we may be authorized immediately to send five or six persons, or gentlemen’s servants, to ride through the different Towns or Parishes, with open letters to the families of such people as are desirous to come to Boston, to give them proper notice. You will favour us with an answer as soon as possible. I am, as above, your most humble servant,

JOHN SCOLLAY.

Town-Meeting, Boston, April 27, 1775.

The Committee waited on his Excellency General Gage, with the Papers containing the account of the Arms delivered to the Selectmen, and the Return made them by the Constables of the Town, relative to the delivery of Arms in their respective Wards. After long conversation on the subject of the inhabitants removing themselves and effects from the Town, his Excellency being obliged to attend to other business, left the affair to be settled with Brigadier General Robertson, who, after further conference, and reporting the substance of it to General Gage, returned to the Committee, and declared to them that General Gage gives liberty to the inhabitants to remove out of the Town, with their effects; and desires that such inhabitants as intend to remove, would give their names to the Selectmen, and signify whether they mean to convey out their effects by land or water, in order that passes may be prepared; for which passes application may be made to General Robertson any time after eight o’clock to-morrow morning; such passes to be had as soon as persons wanting them shall be ready to depart.

DOCTOR JOSEPH WARREN TO ARTHUR LEE.

Cambridge, April 27, 1775.

MY DEAR SIR: Our friend Quincy just lived to come on shore to die in his own Country; he expired yesterday morning. His virtues rendered him dear, and his abilities useful to his Country.

The wicked measures of the Administration have at length brought matters to a crisis. I think it probable that this rage of the people, excited by the most clear view of the cursed designs of the Administration, and the barbarous effusion of the blood of their countrymen, will lead them to attack General Gage, and burn the ships in the harbour.

Lord Chatham and our friends must make up the breach immediately, or never. If any thing terrible takes place, it will not do to talk of calling the Colonies to account for it; but it must be attributed to the true cause—the unheard-of provocation given to this people. They will never talk of accommodation until the present Ministry are entirely removed. You may depend the Colonies will sooner suffer depopulation than come into any measures with them.

The next news from England must be conciliatory, or the connexion between us ends, however fatal the consequences may be. Prudence may yet alleviate the misfortunes, and calm the convulsions into which the Empire is thrown, by the madness of the present Administration. May God Almighty direct you. If any thing is proposed which may be for the honour and safety of Great Britain and these Colonies, my utmost efforts will not be wanting to effect a reconciliation. I am, in the utmost haste, surrounded by fifteen or twenty thousand men, your most obedient servant,

JOS. WARREN.

To Arthur Lee, Esquire, London.

P. S. The Narrative sent to Doctor Franklin contains a true state of facts; but it was difficult to make the people willing that any notice should be taken of the matter by way of narrative, unless the Army and Navy were taken or driven away.

J. W.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM QUEBECK, APRIL 27, 1775.

The Governour’s Commission from the King was read here on Monday, the 24th instant. He has very ample powers; he chooses all the Members of the Council himself, and can discharge them at pleasure; can oblige what number of His Majesty’s subjects in Canada he pleases to march against any enemy, or supposed enemy, when he shall think fit; can build forts, or do any thing else with the people’s money, and demolish them at pleasure. In short, he is possessed of absolute and despotick power, only with this difference, (if it is any,) that the majority of the Council (who hold their seats as before-mentioned) must approve of his measures. The Council consists of twenty-three persons, seven of them Roman Catholicks.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, April 28, 1775.

Yesterday, at about one o’clock, Mann Page, Junior, Esquire, one of the Representatives for Spottsylvania, arrived here in twenty-four hours from Fredericksburgh, being charged by a number of people from different Counties, now assembling there, to inquire whether the gunpowder had been replaced in the publick magazine, the removal of which had spread a general alarm, and greatly exasperated all ranks of people. Expresses had been sent into several Counties, and it was expected that upwards of two thousand men would be assembled in Fredericksburgh by this evening; and the Militia of Caroline were ordered to meet to-morrow at ten o’clock, to be in readiness to join those of the upper Counties. Mr. Page returned again in the evening, and carried, a letter from the Honourable the Speaker, to endeavour to pacify the people; and as that gentleman sets out to-morrow by land to attend the General Congress, we hear he proposes meeting them; and it is hoped, from his great influence, that he will be able to prevail on them to return home, and rest satisfied with the Governour’s promise that the powder shall be given up when there is occasion for it. The independent Companies of Caroline and Spottsylvania, we hear, have determined to escort the Delegates from this Colony to Hooe’s Ferry, on Potomack.

PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOUR FRANKLIN.

Perth-Amboy.

By His Excellency WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Esq., Captain-General, Governour, and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of NEW-JERSEY, and Territories thereon depending, in AMERICA, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral in the same, & c.:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas I have lately received despatches from one of His Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, containing matters of great importance to the Colony, in the present situation of publick affairs, and calculated to restore that harmony between Great Britain and her American Colonies so essential to the interest and happiness of both; and being desirous of communicating the same as early as possible to the General Assembly of this Colony, in order to give them an opportunity of using their best endeavours towards effecting so desirable a purpose; I have, therefore, thought fit, and by and with the advice and consent of His Majesty’s Council, do hereby appoint the said General Assembly to meet at the City of Burlington, on Monday, the 15th day of May next; of which all His Majesty’s subjects concerned therein are required to take notice, and govern themselves accordingly.

Given under my hand and seal at arms, at the City of Perth-Amboy, the twenty-eighth day of April, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, Annoq. Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN.

By His Excellency’s command:

CHARLES PETTIT, D. Secretary.

GOD save the King.

MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS OF PERTH-AMBOY, NEW-JERSEY.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the North Ward of the City of Perth-Amboy, on Friday, the 28th of April, 1775:

Resolved unanimously, That James Parker, Stephen Skinner, and Jonathan Deare, Esquires, or any two of them, be a standing Committee of Correspondence for the North Ward of this City.