to enable us to secure a pass of the greatest importance to our common interest, and which the enemy will certainly possess themselves of as soon as their reinforcement arrive; and if they once get possession, it will cost us much blood and treasure to dislodge them, but may now be secured by us if we had a force sufficient, without any danger. Therefore we earnestly repeat our request for three or four thousand men for the present purpose, with all possible despatch, and supported with all necessary stores of ammunition and provision; and would beg that they may be forwarded in Companies or Regiments, as fast as they can be got ready. This will make it easier to the Troops, and to the country through which they may pass, and may probably be of more essential service to our common cause. We are, &c.

MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO THE NEW-YORK COMMITTEE.

Cambridge, May 4, 1775.

It is with the highest satisfaction this Committee received your letter of the 2d instant, expressive of your tender care and sympathy with this Colony under our alarming situation. All we can write on this occasion is, that the exigency of our affairs requires all the assistance which your better judgment shall dictate. We rest assured that your zeal for the common safety will inspire you to do every thing that is proper for the safety and preservation of the unalienable rights of America. We are, &c.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN PITTSFIELD TO AN OFFICER AT CAMBRIDGE, DATED MAY 4, 1775.

I have the pleasure to acquaint you that a number of gentlemen from Connecticut went from this place last Tuesday morning, having been joined by Colonel Easton, Captain Dickinson, and Mr. Brown, with forty soldiers, on an expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, expecting to be reinforced by a thousand men from the Grants above here, a post having previously taken his departure to inform Colonel Ethan Allen of the design, and desiring him to hold his Green-Mountain boys in actual readiness. The expedition has been carried on with the utmost, secrecy, as they are in hopes of taking those forts by surprise. We expect they will reach those forts by Saturday next, or Lord’s day at farthest. The plan was concerted at Hartford last Saturday, by the Governour and Council; Colonel Hancock, and Mr. Adams, and others from our Province being present. Three hundred Pounds were drawn immediately out of the Treasury for the aforesaid purpose, and committed to those gentlemen that were here. We earnestly pray for success to this important expedition, as the taking those places would afford us a key to all Canada. Should success attend this expedition, we expect a strong reinforcement will be sent from the western part of Connecticut to keep those forts, and to repair and fortify them well.

We have had much work here of late with the Tories; a dark plot has been discovered of sending names down to General Gage; in consequence of which, and the critical situation of this Town, we have been obliged to act with vigour, and have sent Mr. Jones and Mr. Graves to Northampton Jail, where they now lie in close confinement, and have sent a hue and cry after Major Stoddard and Mr. Little, who have fled to New-York for shelter. We hope it will not be long before they are taken into custody and committed to close confinement. Our Tories are the worst in the Province; all the effect the late and present operations have had upon them is, they are mute and pensive, and secretly wish for more prosperous days to toryism.

As to your important operations, sir, you have the fervent prayers of all good men that success may attend them. I hope God will inspire you with wisdom from above in all your deliberations, and your soldiers with courage and fortitude, and that Boston will be speedily delivered into your hands, the General thereof, and all the King’s Troops, that the den of thieves, that nest of robbers, that asylum for traitors and murderers, may be broke up, and never another red coat from England set foot on these shores.

SELECTMEN OF TOPSHAM, IN LISCOLN COUNTY, TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Topsham, May 4, 1775.

This is to inform the Honourable Congress that the Town of Topsham is almost destitute of powder and flints; and we desire that your honourable body would direct Mr. Prince Rose, the man we have sent for powder, to some place where he can get about sixty or seventy weight of powder, and you will oblige the inhabitants of Topsham, who are true friends to liberty and friends to our Country.

In behalf of the inhabitants of Topsham:

JOHN FULTON, JAMES BEVERIDGE,

}

Selectmen.

COLONEL THOMAS GILBERT TO HIS SONS.

Boston, May 4, 1775.

On the 27th of April, I left the Ship, took passage on board a packet sloop on the first instant, in health arrived here, where I expect to stay till the Rebels are subdued, which I believe will not be long first, as the Ships and Troops are daily expected. My greatest fears are, you will be seduced or compelled to take arms with those deluded people. Dear sons, if those wicked sinners, the Rebels, entice you believe them not, but die by the sword rather than be hanged as Rebels, which will certainly be your fate sooner or later if you join them, or be killed in battle, and will be no more than you deserve. I wish you in Boston, and all the friends to Government. The Rebels have proclaimed that those friends may have liberty, and come in; but as all their declarations have hitherto proved, I fear, false, this may be so. Let Ruggles know his father wants him here. You may come by water from Newport. If here the King will give you provisions and pay you wages; but by experience you know neither your persons nor estates are safe in the country, for as soon as you have raised any thing, they will rob you of it, as they are more savage and cruel than heathens, or any other creatures, and, it is generally thought, than devils. You will put yourselves out of their power as soon as possible. This is from your affectionate father,

THOS. GILBERT.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN LONDON TO HIS FRIEND IN NEW-YORK, DATED MAY 5, 1775.

It has been long the object of Administration to traduce your Province, representing it as inimical to the system of opposition to their measures, so universally adopted in the other Colonies. To obviate this calumny, the friends of America have had little opportunity of vindicating you, because the intelligence from New-York comes here generally to persons absolutely devoted to the mandates of a very wicked Administration. The mercantile connections of New-York, as far as my knowledge extends, are as little friendly to American liberty as any I know. I wish it was in my power to point out your friends, for I do not mean to expose your enemies, who make themselves conspicuous enough.

The Troops from Ireland, destined to shackle the Bostonians, and with them every American, are about sailing. The three Generals, Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne, have sailed. Howe is well known in America; Clinton is the son of one of your former Governours; these are both men of character—they go on this business with much reluctance; but they were told, you must do this or starve. As to Burgoyne, I am not master of language enough to express the horrible blackness of his character. Refer to the letters of Junius to the Duke of Grafton, to which I will add but one anecdote, for the truth of which you may be assured; that he (Burgoyne) declared, when those letters were published, if he could find out the author, he would assassinate him. Governour Tryon goes off in a day or two to strengthen the ministerial party with you, and has the command of money to bribe. A word to the wise. Major Skene has deceived the Ministry, in persuading them that he can bribe all the Members of the Continental Congress, for which purpose he has been sent off to Philadelphia.

The ministerial plan is undoubtedly to reduce every American to the most degraded state of absolute bondage and servitude. The two modes by which they hope to accomplish their end, are, using force and violence in New-England;