tinent, by their representatives, shall, in the most explicit manner, in fact say, that the moment is actually arrived when the scene shall open? No one, I presume, will say, that it will be sound policy for us to enter on hostilities with only some prospects of such donations from the other colonies to support the war as have been made and are making for the support of the poor of Boston. Does it not infinitely import us, to admit these and many more considerations into our minds before we enter upon lasting, most important hostilities? When once the blow is struck it must be followed, and we must conquer, or all is lost forever. If we are not supported, perseveringly supported, by divers other colonies, can we expect any thing else, than, in a short time, to fall a prey to our enemies? May God, make us consider it. Should large numbers of men come voluntary into the province service, unless they should have been regularly raised and proper provision made for their subsistence, and magazines of ammunition provided by the colony from whence they come, will they do any more than just look on us, turn about, and hasten home as fast as they came? In order, therefore, for the necessary establishment of auxiliary troops, as I said before, must not the other colonies assume new forms of government as well as we? Is it to be supposed that all this can be done suddenly? We know, that according to the present respective constitutions, nothing of the sort above mentioned, to wit: the levying, subsisting, and paying of troops, can be done in a governmental way. When we shall have once made the hostile attack, we are, thencefor ward, to look for nothing but fire and sword, until we have conquered or are ourselves vanquished. Therefore, if we, by order of our committee of safety, should begin the attack, and so bring on hostilities before the general express consent of the colonies that hostilities are altogether unavoidable, and that the time to commence them is absolutely arrived, and that we are actually ready, I conceive that there will be infinite hazard that the other governments will say, that we have unnecessarily and madly plunged into war, and therefore, must get out of the scrape as we can, and we shall have no other aid from them, only some warm people who will resort to us in a fit of zeal, and soon return home again as fast as they came, without affording us any real service, but will leave us in a worse state than we should have been if they had never come. I know your concern will be, that if we proceed in this deliberate way, the spirit of our people will evaporate and be lost. But let me assure you, that there is no danger of that. If I can make any judgment, all the danger is, on the other hand, that our people will rashly and headily rush into hostilities before they can be upheld and supported: they will consequently fail of success: the tide will then turn: a very low ebb will succeed the high tide of flood: they will then give all up: and the good cause will be lost forever.

I beg of you, therefore, as you love your country, to use your utmost influence with our committee of safety, that our people be not mustered, and that hostilities be not commenced, until we have the express, categorical decision of the continent, that the time is absolutely come that hostilities ought

to begin, and that they will support us in continuing them. As to the courts, we must embarrass and retard them, by preventing suitors, jurors, witnesses, &c., going into them, by all ways and means, that I have not time now to explain. A sharp eye must be kept on them, that we may fully know the success of the attempts to establish the regulation so far as it respects the courts. Sir, I think it of much importance to do this: as you regard your own life and your usefulness to your country, you should most attentively watch all the steps and proceedings of the court now sitting at Boston. If they get a grand jury, then they will probably obtain indictments of high treason, and indictments will not be procured without a view and respect to arrests and commitments, convictions, hangings, drawings, and quarterings. What your chance will be I need not tell you.

1 am, Sir, with most sincere regard,

Your most obedient humble servant,

Hon. Thomas Cushing.

JOSEPH HAWLEY.

Inhabitants of Montreal to the Committee of Safety.

MONTREAL, APRIL 28, 1775.

GENTLEMEN:-We have received your letter of the 21st of February, by Mr Brown, and see clearly the great injustice that has been done you. We deeply feel the sorrows and afflictions of our suffering brethren; and sincerely wish it was in our power to afford you effectual relief; but alas! we are more the objects of pity and compassion than yourselves, who are now suffering under the heavy hand of power; deprived, as we are, of the common right of the miserable, to complain. You have numbers, strength, and a common cause to support you in your opposition: we are still more divided here, by our interests, than by our religion, language, and manners. The apprehension of evils to come upon us, in a short time, from the unlimited power of the governor, strikes all opposition dead: indeed, few in this colony dare vent their griefs; but groan in silence, and dream of lettres de cachet, confiscations, and imprisonments; offering up their fervent prayers to the throne of grace, to prosper your righteous cause, which alone will free us from those jealous fears and apprehensions that rob us of our peace.

In a word, were the British inhabitants of this widely extended province, united in their sentiments, we have neither numbers nor wealth sufficient to do you any essential service. We must, therefore, cast ourselves into the arms of our sister colonies, relying upon the wisdom, vigor, and firmness of the general Continental Congress for our protection, hoping they will entertain no animosity or resentment against us because we cannot join them in the ensuing general Congress, which, were we to attempt, the Canadians would join with the government to frustrate.

You will please to bear in mind, that not only those who hold the helm of government, but also, all those who make wealth or ambition the chief objects of their pursuit, are professedly your enemies; and would be glad to reduce you to the same abject state, with themselves: nevertheless, the bulk of the people, both English and Canadians, are of quite contrary sentiments; and wish well to your cause; but dare not stir a finger to help you; being of no more estimation in the political machine, than the sailors are, in shaping the course or working the ship in which they sail. They may mutter and swear, but must obey: however, should government handle them too roughly, and arbitrarily attempt to force them upon dangerous and disagreeable service, to which they have already shewn an irreconcilable aversion, they may, perhaps, dearly repent it.

The case is quite different with their noblesse, or gentry. The pre-eminence given to their religion, together with a participation of honors and offices in common with the English, not only flatters their natural pride and vanity, but is regarded by them, as a mark of distinction and merit, that lays open their way to fortune. Of liberty, or law, they have not the least notion.

As to the savages that dwell round about us, doubtless there are some to be found among them, who, for the sake of plunder, would murder, burn, and destroy; but we conceive that their chiefs know their own interests better, than to interfere as a nation, in this family quarrel: for let which side will, prevail, they are sure, in that case, to be the victims.

We desire to know, whether English delegates would be accepted under the above named limitations; namely, without entering into the general association for the non-importation of goods from Great Britain, or the nonexportation of the produce of this colony, and the Indian countries above: and beg to be informed in what manner we can be serviceable to your cause, without bringing down ruin upon our own heads.

It may not be amiss just to hint, that the idea the Canadians seem to have of this colony, at present is, that it is to be a French government, holding under the crown of Great Britain; from which they mean to exclude every Englishman, save the governor and lieutenant governor.

We heartily wish our abilities to serve you were equal to our wills, and pray Heaven to prosper your generous purpose; and are, with the utmost consideration and feeling for your distresses,

P. S. It is our earnest request, that this letter may not be now published,

for fear of bad consequences to the subscribers.

Mrs. Bowdoin to the Committee of Safety.

DORCHESTER, JUNE 4, 1775.

GENTLEMEN:-Mr. Bowdoin has just received the enclosed deposition, and being in a very weak state, desires me to inform you, that for some time past, the Falkland, sloop of war, commanded by Capt. Linzey, has been cruising about the islands called Elizabeth islands, near Martha's Vineyard: that the said sloop's boats have, divers times, landed armed men on the said islands, who have abused the inhabitants, stove their boats, and by force taken away a considerable part of their property, as may more fully appear by the said deposition.

It is humbly apprehended, if about one hundred armed men were properly posted on the said islands, they would be a sufficient force to defend the inhabitants, and protect their stocks of cattle and sheep, which are very considerable, and which have, hitherto, every year, furnished divers parts of this colony with fat sheep and cattle for provisions, and particularly with a large quantity of wool for our home manufactures.

I beg leave to make this representation, that you may take such measures as your wisdom shall dictate; and am, most respectfully, in Mr. Bowdoin's behalf, who is part owner of one of said islands,

Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

To the honorable Committee of Safety.

ELIZABETH BOWDOIN.

Deposition of Elisha Nye.

MAY 31, 1775.

Elisha Nye, innholder, living on one of the Elizabeth islands, commonly called Naushan, and near to Tarpolin Cove, testifieth and saith, that some time about the 5th of May, the sloop of war called the Falkland, commanded by Capt. Linzey, came into the cove, and as soon as the vessel had come to anchor, the captain came on shore with his boat's crew, all armed, and came to the house, and said unto the deponent, "you need not be scared," upon which, he told him it was enough to scare any body to see so many men come on shore armed; and the women were all fled, and to where he knew not; upon which, Capt. Linzey told him to call them in, for he did not mean to hurt any body-upon which promise, I and my family were satisfied. Soon after that, the captain asked me to walk with him; which he complied with; and in the course of the walk, he demanded to know what stock I had, and added, to tell him right, for if I did not, he would take all that he met: upon which, I gave him the account. Then the captain told me, the deponent, if I sold any of them, he would take the remainder by

force upon which, I told him, if he were here when they were fit for market, he might have them, paying the price I used to have. Soon after, he went to Rhode Island, and returned back in a few days; after which, he used to pass and repass the island almost every day, mostly in company with the doctor of the ship, leaving down the fence repeatedly, which let the cattle often mix together, which I told the doctor was a great damage: the doctor's answer was, "then you may put it up yourselves, for I will not ;" and he often talked in an abusive, insulting manner, that he, the doctor, would soon take what he wanted, without any pay.

On the 26th instant, a sloop came into the cove, with about twenty passengers, men, women, and children, in great distress for provisions, and made application to me for supplies. Capt. Linzey knowing that, his boat having boarded her, sent his boat on shore, and forbade my letting them have any. Then I advised them to apply to Capt. Linzey, and see if they could not prevail upon him to let them have some; accordingly they went; afterwards, the captain of the sloop told me, that he absolutely refused them, and said, “damn the dog that would let them have any! and if they were not gone immediately, he would sink them:" upon which, they set sail immediately without any supplies. And further, the deponent declareth, that the doctor came on shore, and said, that the captain's orders were, that 1 should go with him, the said doctor, and destroy all the boats belonging to the island. I told him I could not go upon such business as that; he said he would send me on board the ship if 1 did not go; upon which, I found 1 must comply, and accordingly went with him, and saw him, the doctor, stave three boats.

On the 29th, about eight o'clock, in the evening, he, the said doctor, came on shore, and told me he had come for my sheep, upon which, I told him they were out in the pasture, and I could not get them into the pen it being dark, but would fetch them in as early in the morning as he pleased; the answer from the doctor was, "damn you! what did you turn them out for?" the reason, I told him, was, that they had got out their own sheep, and did not say any thing about when they should want mine, and I thought it best the sheep should be let out to feed; upon which, the said doctor said to me, "damn you! go on board the ship and I'll see what they were turned out for;" I told him, I would not, but would go and try to get the sheep up; he said "well, damn you! make haste!" and swung his sword over my head,— but upon trial I found it so dark, I could not get them in; and, on my return, was informed that he, the doctor, had sent on board for more help to carry me and my brother on board the ship; upon which, with the abuses and threats I had received before, I thought it time to make my escape, which I did, to the main land, and begged the assistance of the people, who readily came to my assistance. When I returned, which was about three o'clock, in the morning, some of my family told me, they had been on shore, armed, and taken all my calves, being seven in number; two of the poorest and smallest, they sent on shore in the morning; the others, with four sheep they had some days before, they carried off without paying any