you neglect us, we are ruined. Save, dear Sirs, one of your most flourishing settlements from famine and all its horrours. We ask not for charity; we ask for a supply to be put into the hands of Messrs. Smith and Stillman, or any other person or persons your wisdom may point out, who shall obligate themselves to pay the whole amount in lumber, the only staple of our country.

That God may long preserve you, and make you happily instrumental in his hand, in restoring all the sweets of peace and liberty to this much injured Country, and even to Great Britain herself, is the constant and fervent prayer of, gentlemen, your most humble petitioners.

COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

To the Honourable the Representatives of the several Towns in said Colony, in General Congress assembled:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: We, the Committees of Correspondence of the several Towns in said County, beg leave to represent to your Honours the circumstances of this County in this day of struggle and danger. In the first place we confess our Towns have, in general, heretofore, been negligent in providing arms and ammunition according to law, until distress came upon us from our mother Country, and then were debarred from having them from thence where we were wont to purchase them; since which we have not been able to furnish ourselves. And in the next place we are in a distressed situation with respect to provision for our people to subsist upon till their new crops come in, owing, in part, to their last year’s crops being cut short by the drought, and so many of our people not being farmers, but lumbering sailors, &c., together with the difficulty and danger there now is of getting any from the Southern Governments, owing to their carefulness to keep a sufficient supply for their own people in this day of expense, and the hazard of having it taken by the men-of-war and tenders, could we procure any of them; and where to fly for relief, but to your Honours, we know not. Notwithstanding these difficulties, we can with pleasure say that the people of this country almost universally are zealous in the cause of constitutional liberty, and have exerted themselves in complying with the recommendations of the Congresses, and particularly in raising a Regiment of hardy and spirited men for the service of the Colony, who have been exercising every day, as we understand, for some time past, and expected to be sent for to the Army; till lately we have the satisfaction to hear the Army is like to be complete without them. We would likewise represent to your Honours, that we are exposed to our enemies by sea and land; by sea, our sheep and cattle on the islands and shores are exposed to be ravaged by every little tender that may be sent to get fresh meat for their fleet and army; and by land, we may be alarmed by the inroads of our old enemies, the Indians and French, though we hope better things from them.

Wherefore we pray your Honours to take our plain and just representation into consideration, and, if possible, find out some way whereby we may be supplied with some arms, ammunition, and provisions, and that the Regiment enlisted here may be stationed among us, and subsisted at the charge of the publick, for our defence, until they shall be more wanted elsewhere, (in which case they will be ready to march on the first notice,) and while here, to be employed in such a manner as may be most for our safety and advantage, and that they may pass muster here by some person who may be appointed for that purpose. Your Honours’ favourable answer to our request will much oblige this County in whose behalf we are your Honours’ most obedient humble servants,

JEDEDIAH PREBLE, Chairman.

THOMAS BARNARD TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY FOR SALEM.

Salem, May 25, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: A suspicion of being inimical to those with whom we are connected in society, and whom we esteem and love, cannot but give severe pain to a generous mind.

Unhappily I have been viewed by my countrymen in a light so disagreeable. The Address which I signed to Governour Hutchinson, upon his leaving this Province, I signed with no party views; with no design whatever of injuring that Country, with the prosperity of which my dearest human interests are closely connected; but with strong hopes of promoting the lasting peace and welfare of my native land. But I own my fond expectations arising therefrom have been disappointed. The cause of America I look upon as capable of full defence by the voice of justice and the British Constitution, and shall be ever ready to support it in that way which the united wisdom of the Continent shall dictate.

Such are my sentiments, and upon the strength of them I would request of my countrymen to throw the veil of charity and forgiveness over any incautious action of mine, which may have led them to think unfavourably of me, and to grant me a place in their esteem, which I shall ever think myself happy in deserving.

THOMAS BARNARD, JR.

In Committee of Safety, Salem, May 25, 1775.

Resolved unanimously, That the foregoing declaration of the Reverend Thomas Barnard, Jr., now laid before the Committee, is fully satisfactory, and we hope will remove any ill impressions that may have been made on the minds of the good people of this Province in consequence of his addressing Governour Hutchinson, and cause them to look upon him as a friend to his Country.

RICHARD DERBY, JR., Chairman.

Charlestown, S. C., May 26, 1775.

We are informed that the inhabitants of this Town lately presented a memorial to the General Committee, setting forth the dearness and alarming scarcity of grain; and that the Committee, after having made a full inquiry into the facts, have resolved that it is their opinion that no Indian corn should be exported from this Province, except by persons who may have plantations in Georgia, for their own immediate use upon such plantations; nor any rice, except to complete the lading of such vessels as had actually taken on board part of their intended cargoes of rice before the twenty-fourth instant, until the General Assembly, or the Provincial Congress, shall take the matter under their consideration, and come to some determination thereupon.

We are also informed that the General Committee having been applied to by Captain Heslope, of the Brigantine Hannah, lately arrived from Liverpool with about eight thousand bushels of salt, for permission to cast the said cargo of salt overboard into Hog-Island Creek, as if it was only common ballast, and not merchandise; after having duly considered every circumstance, and being fully satisfied that the said cargo was shipped at Liverpool as merchandise, with an intent to put the American Association at defiance, and putting the virtue of the inhabitants of this Colony to the test, have resolved that it was their opinion that the said cargo “ought to be forthwith sent back;” and we hear that Captain Heslope, finding too late the effects of his owner’s folly and presumption, is preparing to return to Liverpool with their full cargo.

LOUDOUN COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Loudoun County, held at Leesburgh on Friday, May 26, 1775. Present: Francis Peyton, Esq., Josias Clapham, Thomas Lewis, Anthony Russell, John Thomas, George Johnston, Thomas Shore,

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