already here in command of General Gage, (who have shown so much bravery as to suffer a single cowardly American or two, to enter into the Army and cut off the ears of a soldier that had fallen in battle,) will be sufficient to frighten all the inhabitants out of America, whereby your Lordship, and the rest of the junto, will have an opportunity of amply serving your faithful friends, in the glorious cause of despotism and arbitrary power, by granting to them the lands and estates of these refugees. In doing which, I should not forget to remind your Lordship to remember your faithful, humble servant,

AN EXPECTANT.

COLONEL GEORGE WASHINGTON TO GEORGE WILLIAM FAIRFAX, ENGLAND.

Philadelphia, May 31, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Before this letter will come to hand, you must undoubtedly have received an account of the engagement in the Massachusetts-Bay, between the Ministerial Troops (for we do not, nor can we yet prevail upon ourselves to call them the King’s Troops) and the Provincials of that Government. But as you may not have heard how that affair began, I enclose you the several affidavits which were taken after the action.

General Gage acknowledges that the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was sent out to destroy private property; or, in other words, to destroy a magazine, which self-preservation obliged the inhabitants to establish. And he also confesses, in effect at least, that his men made a very precipitate retreat from Concord, notwithstanding the re-enforcement under Lord Percy; the last of which may serve to convince Lord Sandwich, and others of the same sentiment, that the Americans will fight for their liberties and property, however pusillanimous in his Lordship’s eyes they may appear in other respects.

From the best accounts I have been able to collect of that affair, indeed from every one, I believe the fact, stripped of all colouring, to be plainly this: that if the retreat had not been as precipitate as it was, (and God knows it could not well have been more so,) the Ministerial Troops must have surrendered or been totally cut off; for they had not arrived in Charlestown, under cover of their ships, half an hour, before a powerful body of men from Marblehead and Salem was at their heels, and must, if they had happened to be up one hour sooner, inevitably have intercepted their retreat to Charlestown. Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother’s sword has been sheathed in a brother’s breast, and that the once happy and peaceful plains of America are either to be drenched with blood, or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?

I am, with sincere regard and affectionate compliments to Mrs. Fairfax, dear Sir, yours, &c.

WORCESTER (MASSACHUSETTS) CONVENTION.

May 31, 1775.

The Convention met according to adjournment, at the Court House in Worcester.

Mr. William Young was elected Chairman pro tempore, and Jeduthan Baldwin Clerk pro tempore.

Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Chaplain be desired to open this Convention with prayer.

Voted, To pass over counting the votes for County Treasurer.

Voted, That Colonel Hezekiah Ward, Mr. Padleford, and Mr. Joshua Bigelow, be a Committee to draw up a Remonstrance to the Provincial Congress, that no man be allowed to have a seat therein who does not vote away his own money for publick purposes, in common with the other members, and with his constituents.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to take into consideration the subject of allowing those who are inimical to the Country, to exercise the right of voting in Town meetings.

Resolved, That the erecting of a Paper-Mill in this County would be of great publick advantage; and if any person or persons will undertake the erecting of such Mill, and the manufacture of Paper, that it be recommended to the people of the County to encourage the undertaking by generous contributions and subscriptions.

REPRESENTATION OF ROBERT TEMPLE TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Plymouth, May 31, 1775.

I, Robert Temple, of Ten Hills, near Charlestown, New-England, do declare, that I have received no injury to my property, nor have I been under any apprehensions of danger to either my person or property from the Troops that are under the command of General Ward; but it is a fact that I have been so threatened, searched for, attacked by the name of tory, an enemy to this Country, and treated in such a manner, that not only my own judgment, but that of my friends, and of almost the whole of the Town where I lived, made it necessary or prudent for me to fly from my home. I am confident that this is owing to the wickedness of a few, very few, who have prejudiced some short-sighted people against me, who live too far from my abode to be acquainted with my proper character. I am confirmed in this opinion from the kind protection that my wife and family have received, and continue to receive from General Ward, as well as from the sentiments which the Committee of Safety have been pleased to entertain of me.

R. TEMPLE.

STEPHEN NYE TO NATHANIEL FREEMAN.

Sandwich, May 31, 1775.

SIR: I would give you a relation of Captain Linsey’s proceeding at the islands since your going from here. On Sunday he received a re-enforcement by a schooner from Boston, and proceeded from thence to the west end of the island, where they took off about two hundred sheep, chiefly from Tucker’s Island, which belonged to John Wing; from thence they came down to the cove, and ordered the sheep there to be yarded, which was accordingly done, but it being near night they concluded to leave them in the yard till morning. They rudely insulted, abused, and threatened the people for their backwardness in assisting them. In the night, word was brought off to Falmouth of the above proceeding, by Nye, who went immediately back to take care of his family, on which a number of men, well equipped, immediately went on the island. Before their arrival at the cove the sheep were turned out of the yard into the woods. The people from the ship had been on shore, and on finding the sheep were gone, were still more enraged, and took all the arms they could find, six calves and the hogs, and carried them off. When the people from Falmouth got to the cove, which was before day, they placed themselves in the bushes, and lay undiscovered. In the morning the boat came on shore with the doctor, boatswain, &c., whom they might have taken had they not expected the captain ashore soon; however, the boat soon went back without going to the house, and both vessels immediately weighed anchor and went down to Holmes’s Hole, where they lay last night at anchor. Captain Bassett is now on the island, with about fifty men, and will tarry to guard the stock until we have the advice of the Congress what method is best to take. By the best account, there is not less than four thousand sheep, and between two and three hundred horned cattle, and a number of horses, on the Island of Naushan, and perhaps nigh as many on the other islands. It is generally judged that fifty or sixty men, placed on the island at Tarpaulin Cove, would guard the above stock. It is certainly impracticable to bring it off; and it must most certainly either be destroyed where it is, or fall into the hands of our enemies;, which is best, the Congress must judge. Their determination we should be glad of as soon as possible, for we fear the men now there will be impatient to come off unless they are put under pay. Captain Bassett is perhaps the best officer that can be placed there; his courage and conduct have been heretofore well approved, and he is moreover well acquainted with the ground on the island, which must certainly be of great advantage. There went a number of men from this town, some of whom are, we conclude, now on the island. We hope the Congress will let us have their advice and determination as soon as possible, and pray that in all their determinations they will be counselled by the Supreme Counsellor; and are, Sir, your humble servants,

STEPHEN NYE.

To Colonel Nathaniel Freeman, to be communicated to Congress.