this Province had chosen so many of the worst men in said Province, and they had studied to do mischief, they could not have done more mischief than the Continental Congress had done, and that the Continental Congress assumed more prerogative power than the British Parliament had done. Further saith not.

JONATHAN LINNEL, 3d.

BARNSTABLE, ss., June 16, 1775:

Then Jonathan Linnel, the 3d, after being carefully examined and cautioned to tell the whole truth, made solemn Oath to the truth of the above deposition, by him subscribed to, taken at the desire of several inhabitants of the Town of Eastham, to be used in their behalf at the Provincial Congress now sitting at Watertown; the adverse party, Mr. Amos Knowles, Junior, being at Watertown aforesaid, not notified nor present at the taking this deposition.

Before me:

JOHN GREENOUGH, Justice of the Peace.

Report of a Committee of the Provincial Congress on the Complaint against AMOS KNOWLES.

The Committee appointed to consider the petition of Thomas Twining, in behalf of himself and the Association of Eastham, praying that Mr. Amos Knowles, Junior, a member of this Congress, may be expelled his seat, after due notice given, have heard the parties and the allegations.

It appears to this Committee, by depositions, and by the evidence of persons present, that Mr. Knowles has, at sundry times and at divers places, expressed himself against the Continental and Provincial Congresses, and has been one of the heads of a large party in said Eastham, which party have been esteemed by the other part of the people in that Town, and by people in other Towns in that County, unfriendly to the publick measures taken by the people of this Congress for the defence of their just rights and liberties.

Mr. Knowles, in his defence, says, he has always been friendly to his Country, but has differed in sentiments from the people in his Town of the other party, who call themselves Whigs, as to the mode of redress. That there has been an unhappy party spirit prevailing there for some time, appears.

And Mr. Knowles says, there is prejudice in the minds of his opposers arising from thence, and desires he may have opportunity of clearing his character nearer home, where, he says, he can produce a plenty of evidence in his favour.

This Committee are therefore of the opinion, that Mr. Knowles leave his seat in this House, and have opportunity to procure the evidence he desires in his favour.

And as it appears the Town of Eastham are nearly divided into parties, which may tend to the utter subversion of peace and good order there, unless means may be found for a happy settlement among them, this Committee therefore are further of the opinion, that the most likely method for accomplishing that desired effect is, that all the good people of Eastham, by their agents, chosen by themselves for each party respectively, attend the next meeting of the Committees of Correspondence for the County of Barnstable, with such evidence as they shall think proper, and endeavour a friendly settlement; and that it be recommended to the said Committee of Correspondence, that they use their best endeavours for the same; and that the present dispute respecting Mr. Knowles’s right to a seat, in the mean while subside.

(Not accepted.)

REV. SAMUEL WEBSTER TO THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Temple, June 21, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I mentioned to you Mr. Isaac Howe, of New-Ipswich, as a person I imagined suitable to be appointed Quartermaster of Colonel Read’s Regiment. I have since seen Mr. Howe, and find he is willing to take the place, which I was doubtful of when I found that the wages was only three pounds per month. If you have not appointed one before this reaches you, I hope you will bear him in mind; he is, I think, a person of very good capacity and property, has been in the Army, and has, as he tells me, the approbation of Colonel Read. He is of fair character, and much used to publick business. I have said enough for me, and I trust you will do right. Pray, gentlemen, don’t forget or neglect to give directions to the Committee of Supplies to get ready, as soon as possible, five hundred or one thousand bayonets. It is barbarous to let men be obliged to oppose bayonets with only gun-barrels, and perhaps no ammunition. If many are provided, they will suit somewhere; an armourer will soon fix the sight. Enough may be found to make them, if they are set to work. A man that was in the engagement on Saturday, tells me they suffered egregiously for the want of bayonets, as well as powder and bull. It was a pretty feint in the Regulars to tell of attacking Dorchester, designing another course. I find stories are spread that reflect on the vigilance and even fidelity of those that led; I hope they were not disputing about rank. However this were, we learn that some brave officers and men, as well as some few cowards, have found their rank by death, a universal leveller. I can scarce forbear being very serious and very long; but as you are, or ought to be, I am sensible, very busy, I have done, with only wishing that you may do always right, and that God will reward you, and pity and save our distressed Country. With respect,

SAMUEL WEBSTER.

To the Committee of Safety.

P. S. The drought is hardly so severe here as at Exeter, but it is not thought there will be half a crop of hay.

Resolved, That all Absentees holding estates in this Colony, except the sick, those above sixty, and those under twenty-one years of age, ought forthwith to return to this Colony.

Resolved, That no persons holding estates in this Colony ought to withdraw from its service, without giving good and sufficient reasons for so doing to this Congress, or, during its recess, to the General Committee.

Ordered, That the two foregoing Resolutions be printed and made publick.

PETER TIMOTHY, Secretary.

TO THE PEOPLE OF HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

Friends and Fellow-Sufferers:

The threatened force of ministerial vengeance having been at length exerted, the bloody standard erected, and the sword reeking hot with the blood of your brethren in the Massachusetts, threatening you with the same fate, unless you prepare to repel its efforts; there cannot want any inducement for your making the most vigorous exertions for that purpose. And I am sure there needs no argument to picture to you the horrours in which you may be involved, if, by a fatal indifference, you should neglect to provide against the machinations of your enemies, whether external or internal. The justice of the great and common cause of America has been so fully and ably stated, so universally allowed, and so feebly denied, that I cannot suppose any of you ignorant thereof; and in that belief shall not now take up any time in observing upon that head any other than the natural rights of all mankind, in the free enjoyment of personal security, personal liberty, and private property, together with the free disposal of the last mentioned right, which are totally subverted by the assuming power of the British Parliament, are motives sufficient to justify opposition. I have for some time past observed the conduct of a few among you; and though their conduct has not yet had the evil tendency of influencing that of others, yet as the notoriety thereof may probably have a bad effect unless guarded against in time, this has been one inducement for my addressing you upon that head, strengthened by considering the bad policy of reposing publick confidence in such men. And it is to your indifference upon that head that I would guard you against, being sensible you have hitherto left nothing undone whereby to preserve in common your rights and liberties; and it is to such men, and