at Salisbury in blast, to cast cannon, &c., for use at this important crisis of publick affairs; that the hearth is laying, ore, coal, and every other necessary preparing, workmen provided for every part of the business, and hope to begin to cast cannon in all next month, or early in May. They can with greater ease be transported to New-York (and used where needed) than brought here. In the mean time, fearing our necessity of cannon for use before this work can be effected, and apprehending that a great number of various sizes may be spared from your Colony without injury to the common service, we therefore hope for a compliance with our motion.

This Colony have been exploring lead-mines. One at Middletown is opened, fifty or sixty tons of ore raised, a smelting furnace built there, and expect thirty or forty tons of lead to be run out soon. A Committee appointed by our Assembly in October last to explore and examine a lead-mine at New-Canaan, in your Colony, made report at our session in December last. A copy thereof is enclosed. If worthy of your attention, and ore is raised there, the furnace at Middletown may serve for smelting what is raised at both places. Any service we can render your Colony in that or any other instance, will be done with pleasure.

I am, with great truth and regard, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To the Honourable Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

East-Greenwich, March 22, 1776.

SIR: At the request of the General Assembly now sitting here, I make application to your Excellency for six seamen taken from the enemy, and now your prisoners, to be exchanged for six inhabitants of this Colony, who were taken and are detained by Captain Wallace. Four of these men have families, who are greatly distressed. I send this by express, by reason of the danger of Captain Wallace’s being removed from this station, and carrying these unfortunate people with him; or, if that should not be the case, of his sending them to Britain, to the utter ruin of them and their families. We have but two prisoners in this Colony, both officers, and active enterprising men, whom we should be extremely unwilling to give up.

I beg the favour of your Excellency to give this matter the quickest despatch, and to deliver the seamen to Mr. Burr, the bearer, to be immediately brought into this Colony.

I am, with great truth and respect, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE,

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL WARD TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Camp at Roxbury, March 22, 1776.

SIR: The enemy having abandoned the town of Boston, and as my health declines, I have no prospect of being able to perform the duties of my office in the Army the ensuing campaign, therefore, I must beg leave to resign my command, and sincerely pray that Some gentleman better qualified may be appointed in my place.

Wishing you the Divine smiles and protection, I am, dear sir, your most obedient humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

MAJOR HILDRETH TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Dracut, March 22, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: I am sensible of the honour done me by your Honours’ appointing me a First Major in the Seventh Regiment in the County of Middle-sex; but the consciousness of my being unqualified and unequal to that important post, will, I hope, excuse my declining it. I therefore have enclosed the commission to your Honours, and pray your Honours to appoint some other person in my place.

I remain your Honours’ most obedient humble servant,

WILLIAM HILDRETH.

To the Honourable Council of the Massachusetts-Bay.

Colony of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY.

The major part of the Council of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. In NEW-ENGLAND, to WILLIAM HILDRETH, Esq., greeting:

You being appointed First Major of the Seventh Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex, whereof Simeon Spaulding, Esq., is Colonel, by virtue of the power vested in us, we do by these presents (reposing special trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage, and good conduct) commission you accordingly. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a First Major in leading, ordering, and exercising said regiment in arms, both inferior officers and soldiers, and to keep them in good order and discipline; and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their First Major, and you are yourself to observe and follow such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from the major part of the Council or your superior officers.

Given under our hands and the seal of the said Colony, at Watertown, the 14th day of February, in the sixteenth year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third, Anno Domini 1776.

By the command of the major part of the Council.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

	W. SEVER,	MICHAEL FARLEY,
	W. SPOONER,	J. PALMER,
	J. WINTHROP,	MOSES GILL,
	JEDEDIAH FOSTER,	CALEB CUSHING,
	JOHN WHITCOMB,	SAMUEL HOLTEN,
	T. CUSHING,	JOHN TAYLOR,
	JAMES PRESCOTT,	B. WHITE.
	ELDAD TAYLOR,

ON THE AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

London, March 23, 1776.

The dies are thrown, and the game is lost. The Addressers have won. Whether or not there was foul play, I will not inquire. But can they be so weak to imagine that the calamities of this war will only fall on the Americans?-that they only shall feel the storm, and that we shall remain safe and unhurt? Is it possible that a total stagnation of trade to America should bring no evil upon us? As well might it be asserted, and with as much truth, that causes have ceased to produce their effects. Alas! miseries, accumulated miseries, must come upon us! There is that evil in the cause that must produce them. Thousands will be seen wringing their hands, and crying for bread, whose honest industry used plentifully to supply themselves and families. The affluent merchant, and all who depended upon him for support, must be overwhelmed with misery and wretchedness; and the poor rates must be swelled beyond the ability of the land to support. None of these evils may, indeed, at present be felt by the Addressers-with them all may be plenty, calm, and sunshine; but how long will, or can it remain so? Poison thrown into the natural body does not instantly show its effects. It is not possible that we should yet feel the miseries that lie concealed in the present measures; but they will operate, and, too soon, like poison, discover the fatality of their nature. Let every man, therefore, look to himself.

The Duke of Grafton must be allowed to be well acquainted with the finances and resources of Government. His declaration in the House was very alarming. As a stockholder, it most sensibly affected me. If the resources fail, whence is my interest to arise? Ex nihilo nihil fit. Many, doubtless, see this evil; nor is it possible that so weighty a matter should escape the sagacity of our rulers. Would to God it had acted on them as a preventive, and turned their hearts to peace, instead of war!

If the Americans have drawn on them our resentment, they have certainly, by this time, been amply punished; but if delenda est Carthago, if nothing can appease the wrath risen up against them but their utter ruin, let it be remembered that the tares cannot be plucked up without the wheat suffering with it. David certainly made the wisest choice when he chose to fall into the hands of God, rather than into the hands of man. Man’s mercies are cruelties: intent upon the object of his resentment, he neither sees how he