let old England and the Colonies fight it out; and you, Canadians, stand by and see what an arm of flesh can do. We are apprehensive that the conduct of your people, before complained of, had not a general approbation, and are still confident that your Country, as such, will not wage war with the Colonies, or approve the aforesaid hostile conduct of your people, as we conceive it to be impolitick to the last degree for the Canadians to enter into a bloody war without either a provocation or motive, and when, at the same time, every motive of interest, virtue, and honour, are ready at hand to dissuade you from it. In fine, we conclude Saint Luke, Captain McCoy, and other evil-minded persons, whose interest and inclination it is that the Canadians and the people of those Colonies should cut one another’s throats, have inveigled some of the baser sort of your people to attack our said reconnoitring party. We expect, gentlemen, as to these particulars, you will in good time inform us; and subscribe ourselves your real friends,

ETHAN ALLEN,

At present the principal Commander of the Army.

JAMES EASTON.

A copy of the foregoing letter was this day sent to Mr. Walker, our trusty friend at Montreal, per favour of Mr. Jeffere, whose fidelity is unquestionable; and it is wholly left with Mr. Walker to make its contents the most publick that he possibly can, whether by printing it and translating it into French, &c. We furthermore thought it expedient your Honours should have a copy communicated to you.

Yours at command,

ETHAN ALLEN,
JAMES EASTON.

To the Provincial Congress of New-York.

ELBRIDGE GERRY TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATES IN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Watertown, June 4, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: A publick express for your honourable body gives me opportunity to hand you information of the affairs of this Province. From the confusion in which the engagement at Lexington threw the people, they are now beginning to recover, and I hope, by the speedy assistance of some form of Government, that the measures which will be necessary for defence, will not only be practicable, but executed here with success. The spirit of the people is equal to our wishes, and if they continue as they began, it will be as familiar to fight as to pursue the dangers of the ocean. We want assistance by ammunition and money. A full supply of these would render Lord North and his myrmidons as harmless as they are infamous. We have stripped the seaports of canvass to make tents; and it is of great importance to possess ourselves of about five hundred pieces of ravens duck, to keep the soldiers in health, I should be glad if the bearer could obtain it on the credit of our, vote, as we want all of our specie to send out of the Government for other purposes; but I am doubtful whether you can assist us in this matter, although very important, as the great objects of your attention must take up your whole time.

Government is so essential that it cannot be too soon adopted; and although no argument can be necessary to convince you of so plain a truth, yet it may not be amiss to hint a matter which can only be discovered by being where, it has taken place. The people are fully possessed of their dignity from the frequent delineation of their rights, which have been published to defeat the ministerial party in their attempt to impress them with high notions of Government. They now feel rather too much their own importance, and it requires great skill to produce such subordination as is necessary. This takes place principally in the Army. They have affected to hold the military too high, but the civil must be first supported; and unless an established form of Government is provided, it will be productive of injury. Every day’s delay will make the task more arduous.

We want, also, a regular General to assist us in disciplining the Army, which, in twelve months’ time, and perhaps less, by frequent skirmishes, may be brought to stand against any troops, however formidable they may be with the sounding names of Welsh Fusileers, Grenadiers, &c. And although the pride of our people would prevent their submitting to be led by any General not an American, yet I cannot but think that General Lee might be so established as to render great service by his presence and counsels with our officers. I should heartily rejoice to see this way the beloved Colonel Washington, and do not doubt the Neiv-England Generals would acquiesce in showing to our sister Colony, Virginia, the respect which she has before experienced from the Continent, in making him Generalissimo. This is a matter in which Dr. Warren agrees with me, and we had intended to write you jointly on the affair.

The letter from our Joint Committees and the Generals to the Congress, will come before you, and nothing further is necessary on this head. I remain, gentlemen, with great respect, your obedient servant,

ELBRIDGE GERRY.

To the Honourable Members of the Continental Congress from Massachusetts-Bay.

GEN. WARD AND OTHERS TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Cambridge, June 4, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: We beg leave to represent to you the peculiar distresses of this Colony, being assured that you will, as the wise guardians of the lives, liberties, and properties of the whole of this extensive Continent, attend to the several circumstances of all who, under God, look up to you for protection and deliverance.

Our capital is filled with disciplined troops, thoroughly equipped with every thing necessary to render them formidable. A train of artillery, as complete as can be conceived of; a full supply of arms and ammunition; and an absolute command of the harbour of Boston, which puts it in their power to furnish themselves with whatever they shall think convenient by sea, are such advantages as must render our contest with them in every view extremely difficult.

We suffer at present the greatest inconveniences from a want of a sufficient quantity of powder; without this every attempt to defend ourselves or annoy our enemies, must prove abortive. We have taken every step to avail ourselves of this article, by drawing into outgeneral magazines whatever could be spared from the respective Towns of this Colony; but the frequent skirmishes we have had have greatly diminished our stock, and we are now under the most alarming apprehensions that, notwithstanding the bravery of our troops, (whom we think we can, without boasting, declare are ready to encounter every danger for the preservation of the rights and liberties of America,) we shall, barely for want of the means of defence, fall at last a prey to our enemies.

We, therefore, most earnestly beseech you, that you would warmly recommend it to the other Colonies, to send whatever ammunition they can possibly spare forthwith to our relief. The manner of recommending this matter we submit to your superiour judgment; we only beg leave to suggest, that an immediate supply is of the last importance to us, and that a discovery of our weakness in this particular, before we receive assistance, may be fatal, not to us only, but to the liberties of the whole Continent; whereas, with a full supply of arms and ammunition, we might, with the common blessings of Providence, baffle the designs of our enemies, and be greatly instrumental in bringing our present disputes to a happy issue. We are your Honours’ most obedient servants,

ART. WARD, General of the Massachusetts Forces.
JOS. WARREN, Chairman of the Comm. of Safety.
MOSES GILL, Chairman of the Comm. of Supplie.

P. S. We beg what powder yon can possibly spare may be immediately conveyed to us by land in the way least liable to be suspected by any persons who may correspond with the enemy.

MRS. BOWDOIN TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Dorchester, June 4, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Boivdoin has just received the enclosed depositions, and being in a very weak state, desires me to inform you, that for some time past the Falkland Sloop-of-War,