lately absconded, to join, it is apprehended, His Majesty’s enemies, assembled in open rebellion, I do, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested by His Majesty, forbid any person or persons whatever, not belonging to the Navy, to pass from hence, by water or otherwise, from the date hereof, without my order or permission, given in writing. Any person or persons detected in the attempt, or who may be retaken, upon sufficient proof thereof, shall be liable to military execution; and those who escape shall be treated as traitors, by seizure of their goods and effects. All masters of transports or other vessels, sailing from hence, unless under the immediate order of Samuel Graves, Esq., Vice-Admiral of the White, &c., &c., &c., or officer commanding His Majesty’s ships of war on this service for the time being, are hereby strictly forbidden to receive any person or persons on board, without my order or permission, in Writing. Any master or others, detected in disobeying this Proclamation, shall be liable to such fine and imprisonment as may be adjudged.

Given at Head-Quarters, in Boston, the 28th day of October, 1775.

By his Excellency WILLIAM HOWE, &c., &c., &c.

Whereas there is reason to believe that many persons, leaving this Town by permission, have, contrary to orders, conveyed away large sums in specie, to the great inconvenience of this garrison, and detriment of His Majesty’s service in general, I do hereby give notice, that any person, having leave to depart from hence, by water or otherwise, who shall be detected in an attempt to carry away more than five Pounds in specie, as heretofore allowed, without first obtaining my particular permission for so doing, shall forfeit the whole sum discovered, and suffer such other fine and imprisonment as may be adjudged, according to the degree of offence. And for the more effectual discovery of those who shall presume to act contrary to this Proclamation, I do hereby order, that one-half of the moneys duly detected, on information, be given to the informer.

Given at Head-Quarters, in Boston, October 28, 1775.

By his Excellency WILLIAM HOWE, &c., &c., &c.

Whereas it is become the indispensable duty of every loyal and faithful citizen to contribute all in his power for the preservation of order and good government within the Town of Boston, I do hereby recommend that the inhabitants do immediately associate themselves, to be formed into Companies, under proper officers, selected by me from among the associators, to be solely employed within the precincts of the Town, and for the purposes above mentioned.

That this association be opened in the Council Chamber, under the direction of the Hon. Peter Oliver, Foster Hutchinson, and William Brown, Esquires, on Monday, the 30th day of October, 1775, and continued for four days following, that no one may plead ignorance of the same.

Out of the number of persons voluntarily entering into the association, all such as are able to discharge the duty required of them shall be properly armed, and an allowance of fuel and provisions be made to those requiring the same, equal to what is issued to His Majesty’s troops within the garrison.

Given at Head-Quarters, at Boston, October 28, 1775.

An Association proposed to the loyal Citizens, agreeable to the Proclamation issued by his Excellency the Honourable Major-General WILLIAM HOWE, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces, &c., &c., &c.

We, His Majesty’s loyal subjects of the Town of Boston, being sensible of the duty incumbent on us, “to do every thing in our power to support order and good government, as well as to contribute our aid to the internal security of the Town,” now take this opportunity to profess our firm allegiance to His Majesty, and entire obedience to his Government and laws. From a disposition to continue quiet and obedient subjects, we have generally neglected the use of arms, while those of different characters and sentiments have been diligently endeavouring to improve themselves in that art. Upon these principles, we have remained in or fled to this Town; neither do we wish or design to leave it.

We consider it as our strongest duty to contribute our aid in promoting the peace, order, and security of the Town, and are willing to be employed to these good purposes, in the ways and means suited to our capacities. To that end, we cheerfully accept the offers of his Excellency, and now voluntarily associate for the purposes mentioned in his Proclamation; hereby promising, that such of us as he shall think proper or able to perform the duties therein required will be formed into Companies, as therein mentioned, and will, to the utmost of our power, faithfully perform those services, and punctually discharge the trust reposed in us; and that such as are not able to go through those duties will freely contribute our proportions, according to our abilities, to raise a sum of money for promoting this salutary purpose, to be applied to the use of those who are able, in such manner as the General, or those he may appoint, may think proper.

SAMUEL ADAMS TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.

Philadelphia, October 29, 1775.

MY DEAR SIR: I wrote to you a few days ago, by young Mr. Brown, and then acknowledged your favour of the 9th instant.

You tell me that a Committee of both Houses of Assembly is appointed, to bring in a Militia bill. I am of your opinion, that this matter requires great attention; and I wish, with you, to see our Militia formed not only into Battalions, but also Brigades. But should we not be cautious of putting them under the direction of the Generals of the Continent, at least until such a Legislative shall be established over all America, as every Colony shall consent to?

The Continental Army is very properly under the direction of the Continental Congress. Possibly, if ever such a Legislative should be formed, it may be proper that the whole military power, in every Colony, should be under its absolute direction. Bo that as it may, will it not till then be prudent that the Militia of each Colony should be and remain under the sole direction of its own Legislative, which is and ought to be the sovereign and uncontrollable power within its own limits or territory? I hope our Militia will always be prepared to aid the forces of the Continent in this righteous opposition to tyranny; but this ought to be done upon an application to the Government of the Colony. Your Militia is your natural strength, which ought, under your own direction, to be employed for your own safety and protection. It is a misfortune to a Colony to become the seat of war. It is always dangerous to the liberties of the people to have an army stationed among them, over which they have no control. There is at present a necessity for it; the Continental Army is kept up within our Colony, most evidently, for our immediate security. But it should be remembered that history affords abundant instances of established armies making themselves the masters of those Countries which they were designed to protect. There may be no danger of this at present, but it should be a caution not to trust the whole military strength of a Colony in the hands of commanders independent of its established Legislative.

It is now in the power of our Assembly to establish many wholesome laws and regulations, which could not be done under the former administration of Government. Corrupt men may be kept out of places of publick trust; the ulmost circumspection, I hope, will be used in the choice of men for publick officers. It is to be expected that some, who are void of the least regard to the publick, will put on the appearance, and even speak boldly the language of patriots, with the sole purpose of gaining the confidence of the publick, and securing the loaves and fishes for themselves, or their sons, or other connexions. Men who stand candidates for publick posts should be critically traced in their views and pretensions; and though we would despise mean and base suspicion, there is a degree of jealousy which is absolutely necessary, in this degenerate state of mankind, and is indeed at all times to be considered as a political virtue. It is in your power, also, to prevent a plurality of places, incompatible with each other, being vested in the same persons. This our patriots have loudly and very justly