REV'D SIR,

REPLY TO BARNSTABLE.

Boston, 24th January, 1775.

Sensible of the many kind favors received from our worthy and generous benefactors of this and the other Provinces, and especially the generous donation (by the hands of Doct. Samuel Savage) of twelve pounds, 10s. 3d., from the respectable inhabitants in the East Parish of Barnstable, demands our sincerest gratitude. Be assured that notwithstanding we are suffering under the severest trials. we are determined to stand firm, relying on the great Parent of the Universe for relief in his own due time When we reflect on the many expressions of tenderness from our worthy brethren on this wide and extensive con tinent, it animates us to be steady, firm, and prudent, and we esteem it an interposition of Providence that the hearts of our brethren are opened for our support, which, withou their aid and assistance we must have fallen a prey to a abandoned a set of men, as are upon the face of the earth But we hope the time is not far distant, when we shall ris superior to their villainous measures to subjugate us, and that we shall enjoy that inestimable blessing (liberty) tha we have been so long contending for, and be able to trans mit it entire to the latest posterity. The cruel and mos barbarous Port Bill, with the many other iniquitous acts must fall on the heads of the vile perpetrators of them, and meet with the just indignation of all good men.

The firmness and unanimity of the continent, (unde Providence,) will prove salutary, and we make no doub that if we firmly adhere to the prudent and legal measure that our worthy Congress have wisely adopted, that w shall render abortive the little, low arts of our enemies who are exulting in the slender prospect of building thei fortunes on our ruin. We must act with the greatest cau tion and circumspection, as they leave no stone unturne to drive us to desperation. But, if the time should come that we can no longer act on the defensive, and are com pelled to defend those rights and privileges at the risk

life, and all that we hold dear, we shall think it our duty so to do, for death is preferable to slavery.

We herewith inclose you a printed copy of our proceedings, as also a vindication of our conduct against the many late cruel attacks on our characters, by our worthless enemies, which we hope will prove satisfactory.

With our best regards to our worthy brethren in your benevolent Parish, we are, Reverend Sir, your sincere and obliged friends and humble servants,

THOS. CRAFTS, Jr., Per order of the Com

To the Rev'd Timo. Hilyard, at Barnstable.

mittee of Donations.

Boston, January 25, 1775.

SIR,

I am directed by the Committee of Donations to acknowledge the receipt of six pounds, 13s. 4d., per the hands of Mr. May, which sum was committed to his care by you as a donation from the inhabitants of the West Parish in Barnstable, for the relief of the sufferers in this Town, occasioned by the Port's being shut up, as also sixteen shillings, being a donation from the Indians, in and about said Parish, for the like benevolent and charitable purposes. These with other donations which we are from time to time receiving, are a great relief to us under our difficulties and distress, especially at this season of the year, when our numbers which call [1 ]yly

increasing amongst us.

1

You [will please, Sir,] to communicate our thankful acknowledgments to our friends and brethren, the inhabitants aforesaid, for their kind and benevolent regards shown to us herein.

with great regard, Sir, your most obliged, hum

ble servants.

Per order of the Com

JNO. SOLEY,mittee of Donations.

To Col. James Otis, at Barnstable.

1 Manuscript torn.

GENTLEMEN,

LETTER FROM KITTERY.

Kittery, January 24th, 1775.

We have some time since promoted a subscription in this Town for our poor suffering brethren in the Town of Boston, who are suffering for and in behalf of all the British inhabitants in North America; and by means of said subscriptions and contributions, we have collected the sum of forty-one pounds, three shillings and five pence, lawful money, which sum we send by Edward Cutt, Esq.; though a small sum, yet freely given according to our ability, and doubt not will be accepted, and applied to that good use for which the donors designed it; the greater part of the donors apprehending it rather paying a just debt, than gift.

We are, Gentlemen, your most humble servants,

To the Committee appointed for receiving the Donations for th suffering Poor in Boston.

SIR,

LETTERS TO MARBLEHEAD.

Boston, 27th Jan., 1775.

The Committee for receiving Donations for the u happy sufferers in this distressed Town, have, in compl ance with your owners and your own request, consente that your vessel may be discharged in Marblehead, and now do, by their order, write to Col. Orne and Mr. Gerr two principal gentlemen in that Town, who will immed ately provide vessels to take in your whole cargo, that yo may have all reasonable dispatch. The Committee wi

cheerfully and punctually settle and pay the freight when they may have the pleasure of seeing you.

I am, in behalf of the Committee, Sir, your very humble servant, JOHN BROWNE. To Capt. Robt. Tompkins, Com'd schooner Dunmore, Marblehead.

GENTLEMEN,

Boston, 27 Jan. 1775.

The Committee of Donations again take the liberty to apply to you, to ask your care of a cargo of grain, now in your harbor, on board the schooner Dunmore, Robert Tompkins, master, being the very generous donation of our worthy, sympathizing brethren in several Counties in Virginia, for the relief and support of the sufferers in this unhappy Town. In compliance with the request of the owner and master, the Committee have consented the vessel may be discharged in Marblehead. I am therefore to beg the favor you would provide proper vessels to take in the whole cargo, to be delivered in this Town. You will please to agree for the freight upon the best terms you may be able, and draw upon the Committee for the same, together with any other charges that may arise.

Gentlemen, I can now with pleasure assure you of the just sense the Committee entertain of your many kind offices, and am, very respectfully, Gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant, JOHN BROWNE.

P. S.-Capt. Tompkins has on board, for the Committee, in the whole, 3,352 bushels grain, including 5 bushels peas, and twenty-three barrels flour.

To Messrs. Azor Orne, and Elbridge Gerry, Marblehead.

LETTER FROM BERWICK.

Berwick, Jan. 30, 1775.

To the Committee of Donations.

GENTLEMEN,

In compliance with the request of the Provincial Congress, the Resolve or recommendation of said Congress

relative to the suffering patriots in the Town of Boston and Charlestown, has been publicly read to the congregation, in the first parish in the Town of Berwick, and the people have cheerfully contributed the small sum of money £11 68 which they have sent by the hands of Mr. Ichabod Good win, Jr. This is sent not as an act of charity, but as an act of justice, and as a token of gratitude to the good peo ple of the aforementioned suffering Towns, for their firmness and resolution in opposing the hand of tyranny, and sacrificing their ease and affluence to preserve the invalua ble rights of the people of this Colony. This is not from men of affluent fortunes, but from the industrious yeomanry of this small parish. The season of the year, which prevents such business as promotes the circulation of cash among us, forbids a larger collection, but we hope our two mites, which we of our penury have cast in, will be as acceptable as what others of their abundance have bestowed. We still depend upon your firmness and resolution as means in the hand of God of preserving the liberty and consequently the happiness of ourselves and posterity. And that you may speedily be delivered from the cruel hand of tyranny and oppression, is the constant and fervent prayer of your humble servants.

JACOB FOSTER, V. D. M., Signed in behalf of the Congrega

tion in the first parish in Berwick.

REPLY TO BERWICK.

Boston, February 6, 1775.

Rev'd Mr. Jacob Foster, at Berwick.

REV. SIR,

Permit us to return you our unfeigned acknowledg ments for your kind favor, attended with a benevolent donation of eleven pounds, six shillings and eight pence for the poor of this Town, oppressed by a most cruel and unjust Act of Parliament, and who must have fallen a pre to an abandoned ministry, had it not been for our kind and sympathizing brethren in this and the other Colonies. A contribution so liberally and so cheerfully bestowed, is expressive of the most endearing friendship and tender re gard, and will not fail of animating us to stand firm, and