provided your Honours should think it expedient to grant commissions, and thus regulate and put the same under pay. Probably your Honours may think this an impertinent proposal; it is truly the first favour I ever asked of the Government, and if it be granted, I shall be zealously ambitious to conduct for the best good of my Country and the honour of the Government.

I subscribe myself, gentlemen, with due respect, your Honours’ most obedient humble servant,

ETHAN ALLEN.

P. S. In the narrative contained in the enclosed was too materially omitted the valour and intrepidity of Colonel James Easton, and forty-six veteran soldiers from the Massachusetts-Bay, who assisted in taking of Ticonderoga. Colonel Easton is just returned from the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay to this place, and expects he will soon have the command of a Regiment from that Province. Yours, &c.

E. A.

ADDRESS OF THE NEW-YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS TO THE INHABITANTS OF QUEBECK.

In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 2, 1775.

Friends and Countrymen:

The Parent of the universe has divided this earth among the children of men, and drawn out the line of their habitations. The great God having ordained that all our joys and sorrows here below should proceed from the effect of human actions upon human beings, our situation has drawn together this great bond of natural dependance, and enabled us to deal out injuries and kindness to each other. We consider you as our friends, and we feel for you the affection of brothers.

The great question between Britain and her Colonies is, whether they are subjects, or whether they are slaves. The rights delivered down to us from our forefathers, the venerable laws of our Country, have subjected our own property to our own disposal, nor hath any earthly power a right to take it away. Mankind ought to be governed by the dictates of justice, not by the hand of oppression. The peaceable enjoyment of what we yet call our own, and that liberty which confers on every man the right of adoring his God in the manner which he humbly thinks most agreeable to the Divine nature—these are the objects of all our labours and all our cares. Ministerial tyranny hath endeavoured, throughout all these Colonies, to rend from us the dearest rights of humanity; and in the defence of those rights some persons have taken certain forts in this Colony, which are near your frontiers. We have heard that other have made an attack upon the post of St. John’s, an attempt without our counsel or participation. And although we have taken measures for the defence of our own fortresses, yet our only intention is to prevent any hostile incursions upon us by the troops of your Province. Confident that the enemies of our King and his people will take every opportunity to excite jealousies and discord amongst us, we beseech you not to be imposed on by their artifices, but call to your remembrance the complicated horrours of a barbarous war. Avoid those measures which must plunge us both into distress, and instead of consenting to become miserable slaves, generously dare to participate with your fellow-subjects in the sweets of that security which is the glorious lot of freedom. We are, with sincere affection, your brethren and friends.

P. V. B. LIVINGSTON, President.

To the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebeck.

GENERAL GREENE TO JACOB GREENE, ESQ.

Rhode-Island Camp, June 2, 1775.

I arrived in camp on Saturday last, and found it in great commotion. A few days longer in the state of excitement in which I found our Troops, would have proved fatal to our campaign. The want of government, and of a certainty of supplies, had thrown every thing into disorder. Several Companies had clubbed their muskets in order to march home. I have made several regulations for introducing order and composing their murmurs; but it is very difficult to limit people who have had so much latitude, without throwing them into disorder. The Commissaries had, been beaten off at my arrival, and were about returning home the next day. I believe there never was a person more welcome, who was so little deserving, as myself. I wish you would forward Colonel Varnum’s Regiment; he will be a welcome guest in camp. I expect much from his and his troops’ example.

WILLIAM LITHGOW TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress now assembled at WATERTOWN, &c., the humble Petition of WILLIAM LITHGOW shews to your Honours:

That he is an inhabitant of Georgetown, on Kennebeck River, and comes in behalf and at the request of said Town, to let your Honours know that we are in daily expectation of being plundered by cutters or armed vessels, and thus exposed to our enemy’s insults; therefore humbly pray that your Honours would grant us one or two barrels or half barrels of powder, or such a quantity as in your wisdom may seem meet, as our town stock of powder, upon due examination, is found not to exceed thirty pounds. And, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

WM. LITHGOW.

Watertown, June 2, 1775.

COL. RICHARD GRIDLEY TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Cambridge, June 2, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I am very sensible you are engaged in a multiplicity of business of consequence, but I shall think myself blameable in my duty if I do not urge, in the strongest terms, the necessity there is of providing an establishment for an ordnance store-keeper, conductors, and clerks, to take care to keep accounts of the stores as they receive them and deliver them, and also to make an establishment for a company of artificers to make beds for mortars, and carriages for guns, and platforms, and mending wheelbarrows, and keeping tools in repair, &c.

The want of such establishments hinders greatly the progress of the works, which I think is of great importance, and beg you will please to use your interest with the Congress, that such establishments be made immediately, if you think proper.

I am, gentlemen, with respect, your most obedient servant,

RICHARD GRIDLEY.

In Committee of Safety, Cambridge, June 2, 1775.

The above not being within the department of this Committee, they refer the same to the honourable Congress of the Colony.

BENJ. WHITE, Chairman.

NATHANIEL SHAW TO THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE CONGRESS.

New-London, June 2, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Mr. John Stale, applied to me for a quantity of powder for the use of your Province, but am sorry to inform you that article is very scarce in this Colony, and not to be purchased. What I have imported is on Government account, and by letters from New-York I have lately received, it is not to be had in that Province, neither in Rhode-Island. I expect a large quantity, but from its not arriving, I begin to suspect that either the cruisers in the channel, or the negotiation between Great Britain and the States, has prevented it. If I should have a larger quantity arrive than should be wanted in this Colony on Government account, I will give you the offer of it; but at the same time I would recommend to you that you make no dependance on having any from me.

I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

NATH’L SHAW, JR.

To Matthew Thornton, President of the Provincial Convention of New-Hampshire.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE CONGRESS TO THEIR DELEGATES IN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Exeter, June 2, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Enclosed we send you an address to your Congress, relating to their order for the demolition of the fort at Ticonderoga. The taking that garrison by the Colonists, and hopes of keeping it, have very much encouraged the frontiers of this and the neighbouring Colonies. The