as a Commissary to provide for the Troops now raising in the defence of the Colony. I sincerely thank the Assembly for this mark of respect. I have the interest of the Colony, its rights and privileges, at heart, as much, I believe, as any man. But as there has been for some time past an unhappy dispute in this Town, and by which we have, in some measure, been thrown into parties; and as one party has made (as I am told) an unfair representation against me, I think it my duty, when the interest of my Country is at stake, to sacrifice private interest to the publick good. Upon that principle, sir, I have to inform you that I am willing to resign the office of Commissary, and I conceive it will conduce to the peace of the Town to have.; Mr. Jonathan Fitch appointed. He may; perhaps, reconcile all parties, which is the desire of, Sir, your humble servant,

THOMAS HOWELL.

SHEFFIELD (MASSACHUSETTS) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation for the Town of Sheffield, on Tuesday, the ninth day of May, 1775:

Complaint Being made to this Committee that John Westover, Job Westover, and Noah Westover, had, in various instances, contravened, the doings and Resolutions of the General and Provincial Congresses; and that the said John, Job, and Noah, were enemies of American liberty; it was thereupon ordered, that the Clerk cause the said John, Job, and Noah, to be notified to attend before this Committee on Friday next, at one o’clock, afternoon, at the house of Mr. Daniel Dewey, in this Town, to answer to the aforementioned complaint.

Voted, To adjourn this meeting till Friday next at one o’clock in the afternoon, then to meet at the house of Mr. Daniel Dewey.

Friday, May 12, 1775.

The Committee met according to adjournment.

John Westover and Job Westover appeared before the Committee; Noah Westover not being to be found, has not been notified, The Committee took into consideration the complaint against the said John and Job; and Captain Daniel Lawrence, his wife, Messrs. Jonathan Westover and Joseph Kingman, being adduced as witnesses, it appeared from their evidence (among many other matters) that the said John hath affirmed that the late Continental Congress, in their doings, were guilty of rebellion against the King; and that the said Job hath affirmed that the Parliament of Great Britain had a right to tax the Americans; and that each of them had said many things disrespectful of the said Congress, and the Provincial Congresses. The following question being, during the course of the examination, put to the said John and Job, viz: “If an engagement should unfortunately happen between the British and American Armies, which they would choose should prevail?” the said John answered, that the question was so difficult the could not give a direct answer. The said Job, in answer to said question, said that he supposed the consequences of a victory on the side of the American Army would be more prejudicial to this Country than the contrary. During the time the several matters aforesaid were under the consideration of the Committee, and before any resolution was had thereon, the said John voluntarily and solemnly engaged, that at no time hereafter will he do any thing detrimental to the cause now contended for by this Country; and that so far as he understands the true intent and meaning of the doings of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, he will not violate the same in any particular.

The following motion was then made and seconded, Whether the foregoing declaration of the said John is satisfactory to this Committee? It passed in the affirmative.

The following motion was then made and seconded, Whether the said Job is an enemy of American liberty? It passed in the affirmative unanimously. Therefore,

Resolved, unanimously, That the said Job Westover is an enemy of American liberty, and that it is the duty of all those who wish well to the cause of freedom, from henceforth to break off all dealings with the said Job.

Voted, That the Clerk do procure the foregoing proceedings with regard to said John and Job Westover, to be inserted in the American Oracle of Liberty.

A GENTLEMAN AT PITTSFIELD, IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, TO AN OFFICER IN CAMBRIDGE.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts May 9, 1775.

In my last I wrote to you of the Northern Expedition; before this week ends, we are in raised hopes here of hearing that Ticonderoga and Crown Point are in our hands. Solomons, the Indian King of Stockbridge, was lately at Colonel Easton’s of this Town, and said there that the Mohawks had not only given liberty to the Stockbridge Indians to join us, but had sent them a belt, denoting that they would hold five hundred men in readiness to join us immediately on the first notice; and that the said Solomons holds an Indian post in actual readiness to run with the news as soon as they shall be wanted. Those Indians would be of great service to you should the King’s Troops march out of Boston, as some think they undoubtedly will upon the arrival of their recruits, and give us battle. Our Militia this way, Sir, are vigorously preparing for actual readiness Adjacent Towns and this Town are buying arms and ammunition. There is a plenty of arms to he sold at Albany as yet; but we hear; by order of the Mayor, &c., no powder is at present to be sold there. The spirit of liberty runs high there, as you have doubtless heard by their post to our Head Quarters. I have exerted myself to disseminate the same spirit in King’s District, which has of late taken surprising effect. The poor Tories of Kinderhook are mortified and grieved, and are wheeling about, and begin to take the quick step. New-York Government begins to be alive in the glorious cause, and to act with great vigour.

I fervently pray, Sir, that our Council of War may be inspired with wisdom from above, to direct the warlike enterprise with prudence, discretion, and vigour. O! may your councils and deliberations be under the guidance and blessing of Heaven! Since I began to write, an intelligent person, who left Ticonderoga, Saturday before last, informs me, that having went through there and Crown Point about three weeks ago, all were secure: but on his return, he found they were alarmed with our expedition, and would not admit him into the Fort; that there were twelve soldiers at Crown Point, and he judged near two hundred at Ticonderoga; that those Forts were out of repair, and much in ruins; that it was his opinion our men would undoubtedly be able to take them; and that he met our men last Thursday, who were well furnished with cattle, and wagons laden with provisions, and in good spirits, who he supposed would arrive there last Sabbath day, and he doubted not but this week they would be in possession of those Forts. He informed them where they might obtain a plenty of ball; and there are cannon enough at Crown Point, which they cannot secure from us. That he saw the Old Sow, brought from Cape Breton, and a number of good brass cannon, at Ticonderoga. Should this expedition succeed, and should the Council of War send up their orders for the people this way to transport by land twenty or thirty of the best of the cannon to Head Quarters, I doubt not but the people in this country would do it with all expedition. We could easily collect a thousand yoke of cattle for the business.

COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF LYNN TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY

Lynn, May 10, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Captain Barker, will bring before your Honour Mr. Josiah Martin, as a person whom we have considered to have acted as an enemy to the Province, and have sent the evidences that appeared against him

JOHN MANSFIELD, Chairman.

Evidences names: Harthorn Ramsdell, John Bancroft; William French, James Bancroft.

JOSIAH MARTIN TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Cambridge, May 11, 1775.

Gentlemen of the Committee of Safety:

I was sent from Lynn by a guard of soldiers to be examined, and am sorry that myself or any other faithful and loyal subject to his Country should be treated as I am. Methinks it would give a check to the spirit of an Alexander. Humanity is the least we may expect of one another. Your true and loyal Whig,

JOSIAH MARTIN.