Williams, between three and four hundred bushels of rye and Indian corn, which we have ordered to be delivered to yourself, as per advice of Mr. Cooper in his letter to us, which we wish safe to hand, and to satisfaction; and would also further inform, that we have the subscription still open, and expect, after harvest, to ship you a much larger quantity. As our people are open and generous, firm, steady, and resolute in the common cause of Liberty, hope the people of Boston remain firm and steady. An answer would be extreme[ly] agreeable.

With esteem, Sir, I remain your most obedient, humble servant. Per order and in behalf of the Commitee.

To John Barrett, Esq., Merchant in Boston.

FISHER GAY.

REPLY TO FARMINGTON.

SIR,

Boston, July 29th, 1774.

I am desired by the Committee of the Town of Boston, appointed to receive the Donations made by our sympathizing brethren, for the employment or relief of such inhabitants of this Town as are more immediate sufferers by the cruel act of Parliament for shutting up this harbor, to acquaint you that our friend, Mr. Barrett, has communicated to them your letter of the 25th instant, advising that you have shipped, per Captain Israel Williams, between three and four hundred bushels of rye and Indian corn for the above mentioned purpose, and that you have the subscriptions still open, and expect after harvest to ship a much larger quantity. Mr. Barrett tells us, that upon the arrival of Captain Williams, he will endorse his bill of lading or receipt to us.

The Committee have a very grateful sense of the gener osity of their friends in Farmington, who may depend upon their donations being applied agreeable to their benevolent intention, as it is a great satisfaction to the Committee to find the Continent so united in opinion. The Town of

IF

Boston is now suffering for the common liberties of America, and while they are aided and supported by their friends, I am persuaded they will struggle through the conflict, firm and steady.

I am, with very great regard, Gentlemen,
Your friend and countryman,

SAMUEL ADAMS.

To Fisher Gay, Esq., and the rest of the
Committee in Farmington, Connecticut.

SIR,

Boston, August 4th, 1774.

Your favor of 25th July, directed to John Barrett, Esq., has been laid before the Committee to receive and distribute Donations, and has been answered, July 29th, which [we] trust you will duly receive. Since which Capt. Williams has arrived and delivered to the Committee's Treasurer, one hundred and sixteen and half bushels of rye, and one hundred and ninety bushels of Indian corn, of as a donation from our generous, patriotic friends in Farrmington. This Committee, in the name of the Town, reof turn you and our other friends their most grateful acknowluffe edgments, and assure [you we] shall do our utmost to har distribute it, agreeable to the benevolent intentions of the ma contributors. As Capt. Williams brought us no letter, nor ing had any particular directions about the freight of the grain, bee the Committee immediately agreed to pay the same, and offered it to Capt. Williams, but he chose rather to suspend the the receiving of it until further day. You may be assured that the friends of Liberty and a righteous government are firm and steady to the common cause of American rights. bill We are in hopes to keep our poor from murmuring, and that, by the blessing of Heaven, we shall shortly be confirmed in that freedom for which our ancestors entered the wilds of America.

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With the greatest respect we are, Sir, your friends and fellow-countrymen. By order of the Committee appointed

to receive Donations for the employment or relief of the sufferers by the Boston Port Bill.

To Fisher Gay, Esq., Farmington.

SAM. ADAMS, Chairman.

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GENTLEMEN,

LETTER FROM WETHERSFIELD.1

Wethersfield, 25th July, 1774.

We being sometime since, at a Town Meeting held in this place, appointed a Committee to take in a subscription for the Town of Boston; and having the most tender sympathy with the inhabitants of your worthy and very respect

The Colony of Connecticut, by its Legislature, recommended three times a general subscription for the relief of the poor of Boston. The public sympathy is indicated in the following paragraph from the Boston Gazette of June 20:

“The first of June, when the Boston Port Bill took place, was observed by the inhabitants of Hartford, in Connecticut, as a day of mourning. The bells began to toll early in the morning, and continued till evening; the town house was hung with black, and the Edict affixed thereto; the shops were all shut, and their windows covered with black, and other ensigns of distress."

The Connecticut Committee of Correspondence, in a letter dated Hartford, June 3, 1774, addressed to the Boston Committee of Correspondence, say :— "The situation of the Town of Boston, particularly of the poor, and such as must now be deprived of employ, and reduced to straits, was considered by both Houses of Assembly, and a resolution come into to contribute to their relief, which passed both Houses."-Force's Archives, vol. i. 305. A letter in the Essex Gazette of June 14, states that the Assembly voted to raise contributions in the several religious congregations. The same journal, of August 16, has a letter dated Hartford, July 26, which reads:-"The Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Hartford, met yesterday, and opened subscriptions according to the direction of the inhabitants at their late meeting, for the relief of the industrious poor of the Town of Boston, and it is not in the least doubted but that it will meet with very general encouragement." The Gazette of September 27, under the head of Boston, September 26, has the following::-"We hear the Town of Hartford in Connecticut, have contributed 1,400 bushels of grain; Middletown about the same quantity; Kensington, 600; Middle Haddam, 600; and other towns in that Colony are doing the same for the relief of the poor in this town.”

The Connecticut House of Representatives, October 20, 1774, unanimously "Resolved, That contributions from all the towns in this Colony, for supplying the necessities and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require."

At a legal meeting of the Town of Danbury, Connecticut, on the 12th of December, the fifth declaration was: "As we look upon the Town of Boston to be suffering in the common cause of American liberty, we would manifest our hearty sympathy with them, in their present calamitous state, and readiness to

able metropolis, under their present severe and unparalleled sufferings in the common cause of American liberty, from the cruel and oppressive edicts of a British Parliament, most cheerfully undertook the trust, and have been (agreeable to the sense of the Town) endeavoring to collect in grain, (as was proposed,) a proportion among the inhabitants, as nearly as might be to the value of 1d. on the pound on the list of the polls and rateable estates, &c. But as many people have expended almost or quite all their old stores, and have none they can now spare, have not raised so much as we flattered ourselves we should have; but supposing what we could now send before harvest, might be more acceptable than after, when we trust many other towns round about us will be sending, have now forwarded

administer to the relief of their suffering poor, according to our abilities; and do accordingly recommend to the inhabitants of this town to contribute liberally of money or provisions. For this purpose we have appointed Captain Daniel Starr, Messrs. John McLean, Zadock Benedict, and Andrew Comstock, a Committee to receive such donations, and transmit the same to the Committee appointed to receive them in the Town of Boston. Our being so late in contributing to their relief hath not arisen from our having been unconcerned spectators of their disOUSE tressed situation; but hearing of the laudable zeal of others, we were ready to stat conclude there was a sufficient present supply, and that our donations would be more needed, and more acceptable at some future time."

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The Boston Gazette of March 27, 1775, has the following preamble and resolution passed on the 8th of March, 1775, by the House of Representatives of Connecticut :

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Whereas, our brethren of the Town of Boston, have long suffered, and are yet suffering under the hand of oppression, grievous and unparalleled hardships and distresses, in consequence of their resolution to support the great principles of constitutional liberty; and having endured and yet enduring those sufferings in the common cause of America, with most exemplary fortitude and magnanimity, the principles of humanity and justice to ourselves and them, require that they should not be left to sink under the weight of burdens which, without assistance, may become absolutely insupportable :

"And although many donations have been made them, by this and the other Colonies, yet upon authentic intelligence, it appears they are inadequate to the real distresses, in which thousands of their innocent and virtuous inhabitants are involved by means as aforesaid:

"This House taking the matters aforesaid into their serious consideration, do Resolve, That it be, and it is hereby earnestly recommended to the several towns nanin in this Colony, to continue cheerfully and liberally to contribute to the relief of Sup their suffering brethren in said Town, according to the several abilities, which divine Providence has given them, esteeming it an incumbent duty, and an acuire. ceptable service in the sight of God and their country.

by Captain Israel Williams, (who went last Saturday down the river,) as you will see by his receipt enclosed, viz., 343 bushels wheat, 248 of rye, and 390 of Indian corn, which small mite, we hope (through the great indulgence of the commander of your fleets and armies) may be carried in with safety, and for which we shall pay him the freight, at one halfpenny per bushel, less than customary, for which he was so kind as (besides putting in his proportion) to agree to transport it. The whole, as proposed by the Town, would amount to the value of twenty or thirty pounds more, which we hope, after harvest, to be able to collect and send, and if need be, much more. Earnestly wishing you may have prudence, wisdom and fortitude, (much of which is needed,) so to conduct under the many more insults which we expect will be offered, as to prevent the dreadful conse quences of a civil war, and disappoint those at home who, we verily believe, wish to have verified, those lies that they have so industriously reported and spread among the people there that America is in an actual state of rebellion-and in confidence you will never give up the glorious cause in which you have hitherto stood foremost, and for which you are now only foremost in suffering, unless some measures be come into, which we doubt not but may, and hope and trust will be, in the General Congress, (which we rejoice to find is likely soon to take place,) that shall confound the enemies of Boston, America and Great Britain, and bring about a happy issue of the present glorious struggle for Liberty; and we trust, notwithstanding the many cruel invectives thrown out by the common enemy, the Bostonians will be remembered with everlasting honor.

We are, Gentlemen, touched with the most tender sense of your really distressed situation, your sincere friends in the common cause, and hearty well-wishers,

P. S. We have directed-in conformity to the vote of the Town appointing us, &c.-To the Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor in Boston, but have subscribed this to John Barrett, Esq., as we understand Farmington were directed to do, in case they sent any grain, some of which they pro posed, is now on board Capt. [

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