injury of this City in particular, or of the Continent in general, we shall be studious to prevent, if possible, from falling into the hands of our enemies. In sympathizing with you for the unhappy Town of Boston, we shall do every thing in our power to prevent this City from being reduced to the same deplorable situation, and shall watchfully attend to every means of defence which our present or future circumstances may enable us to improve.

We are, gentlemen and brethren, with great respect and sincere affection, your most obedient humble servants,

P. V. B. LIVINGSTON, President.

To Joseph Warren, Esquire, and the Committee of Safety for the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.

DONALD McLEOD TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE.

To the Honourable Gentlemen of the Committee for the City and County of NEW-YORK, in Assembly or body convened: The Petition of DONALD MCLEOD, Esq., late from SCOTLAND, humbly sheweth:

That your petitioner, from a deep sense of the favours conferred on himself, as well as those shown to many of his countrymen when in great distress after their arrival into this once happy City, is moved by a voluntary spirit of liberty to offer himself in the manner and form following, viz:

That your said petitioner understands that a great many Companies are now on foot to be raised for the defence of our liberties in this once happy land, which he thinks to be a very proper maxim for the furtherance of our rights and liberty; that your said petitioner (although he has nothing to recommend himself but the vanity of calling himself a Highlander, from North-Britain) flatters himself that if this honourable Committee were to grant him a commission, under their hand and seal, that he could, without difficulty, raise one hundred Scotch Highlanders in this City and the neighbouring Provinces, provided they were to be put in the Highland dress, and under pay during their service in defence of our liberties. Therefore, may it please your Honours to take this petition under your serious consideration; and should your Honours think proper to confer the honour upon him as to have the command of a Highland Company, under the circumstances proposed, your petitioner assures you that no person shall or will be more willing to accept of the offer than your humble petitioner.

DONALD MCLEOD.

New-York, June 7, 1775.

BENJAMIN LINDSAY TO NEW-FORK COMMITTEE.

New-York, June 7, 1775.

Captain Benjamin Lindsay acquaints the gentlemen of the Committee that he arrived here yesterday from Providence, and has brought with him a letter to the Committee, and informs them that application has been made to him by the Committee and people of that Town to bring back with him a load of flour and other necessaries, of which they stand much in need, and of the former are at present much necessitated, owing to the uncommon large supplies that Town has contributed to the Provincial Army. And Captain Lindsay can assure the Committee, from repeated trials, he can go and come from that place through the back part of Narragansett, so as entirely to evade the vigilance of the men-of-war stationed at Newport, besides his being well manned and completely armed and able to resist any attacks from their boats, or otherwise. He therefore requests the concurrence of the Committee, as also to take on board a parcel of flour and other necessaries that Mr. Curtenius informs him he has in care for the poor of Boston, and which may easily be forwarded by land to the Provincial Camp, Mr. Curtenius having applied to him for that purpose.

BENJAMIN LINDSAY TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, June 11, 1775.

Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress:

I am very sorry that any difficulties should arise from the flour that was to be shipped by Captain Coffin. As Mr. Cook and I came from Providence together, and as I found that I could not take all the flour on board my own vessel, so we agreed that he should procure another vessel, and Mr. Cook applied to Mr. Vixson to procure the flour for us; and when Mr. Vixson understood how matters were circumstanced, he provided the effects, and we were to sail together. Gentlemen, if you will take it into consideration, and, believe me, it is for the same purpose as mine is, for the Committee of Providence, and to supply our camp, or rather called Provincial Camp. This I certify and declare to, with my hand, that there is no other intent in this matter.

BENJAMIN LINDSAY.

SELECTMEN OF LANCASTER TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress now holden at WATERTOWN, in the Province of the MASSACHUSETTS- BAY:

We, the subscribers, do request and desire that you would be pleased to direct or inform this Province in general, or the Town of Lancaster in particular, what is best to be done with the estates of those men who are gone from their estates to General Gage, and are now with him in Boston; and who shall take possession of such houses and lands as belong to such men as are with General Gage, and to whose use they shall improve them, whether for the Province or the Town where said estate is.

Lancaster, June 7, 1775.

COMMITTEE OF BELFAST, ETC., TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Penobscot, June 7, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We, the subscribers, being duly appointed a Committee by the inhabitants settled on Penobscot River, the inhabitants of Belfast, Majabigwaduce, and Benjamin’s River, to make a representation to you of the difficulties and distress the said inhabitants are under in respect to the scarcity of corn and ammunition, occasioned by the interruption of vessels which they depended upon for their supplies, and also the impediments in the exportation from the seaport Towns from different Committees, after the said articles have been purchased: We accordingly herewith send you the votes of said inhabitants, passed by them at a general meeting, on Tuesday, the 6th day of June instant, which we are to pray your consideration of, being encouraged thereto from the many instances of favour and assistance which the Province have heretofore afforded to this infant settlement; and without some at this time, we have real cause to apprehend that these promising settlements may be broken up. We are further to assure you that the said inhabitants are ready, with their lives and all they have, to support the cause which this Country is engaged in, in defence of their liberties and privileges, and will hold themselves in readiness for that purpose. The said Committee are also to inform you that it was represented at the said meeting that the establishment of Fort Pownall is nearly expired; that the commander of the said fort, in obedience to the commands of the Governour, delivered to his order the artillery and some arms belonging to the said fort; that he also delivered to our own inhabitants in the different parts of this vicinity, upon their application, some arms and ammunition, reserving only a small quantity of each for the use of the soldiers belonging to said garrison, which occasions the said fort at this time to be very bare in those respects. We are also to represent to you that the Town of Belfast is in want of about one dozen stands of arms, which is not practicable to be got here. All which we are enjoined to lay before you, gentlemen, who represent the Province in this unhappy time, and to pray you to take the same into your consideration, and give them such relief as, upon mature deliberation, you judge expedient.

We are, in behalf of the said inhabitants, gentlemen, your most humble servants,

To the Honourable Gentlemen assembled at Cambridge in Provincial Congress.