ous of receiving an account sales of the rice, as also from whom the rice was sent from Georgia, that they may take proper notice of their benevolent, sympathizing brethren there. I am, Sir, your humble servant, Mr. Peter Curtenus, of New York. P. BOYER. MR. HODGDON : ORDER TO JOHN WHITE. Boston, September 26, 1775. Let Mr. John Hoson have bushel meal, bushel rye, 7 lbs. flour, 14 lbs. bread, 4 lbs. pork, 8 lbs. beef, 4 quarts peas, it being donation. [Entered.] JOHN WHITE. for the suffering poor of Boston." A letter dated St. John's Parish, Sept. 2, 1774, states that a subscription in that parish had been opened "for the relief of the unhappy sufferers at Boston," and that this single Parish had already subscribed to the amount of two hundred barrels of rice, which is to be forwarded by the Committee of Correspondence." A letter dated Savannah, December 9, 1774, to a person in Philadelphia, says: "There are large donations of rice for the sufferers in Boston, and had we the means of sending it to them, with very little trouble much more would be collected and sent. Few have subscribed less than ten tierces of rice. If no opportunity offers soon, directly to Boston, it will be sent to your Committee, to be disposed of for them." The Darien Committee, January 12, 1775, resolved, "That the unparalleled moderation, the decent but firm and manly conduct of the loyal and brave people of Boston and of Massachusetts Bay, to preserve their liberty, deserves not only the applause and thanks of all America, but also, the imitation of all mankind." An association entered into by forty-five of the Deputies assembled in Provincial Congress at Savannah, January 18, 1775, resolved, that the profits of all goods imported in violation of the non-importation agreement and sold by order of the Committee of the Provincial Congress, should be applied "towards relieving such poor inhabitants of the town of Boston as are immediate sufferers by the Port Bill." The following letter, addressed to the Committee of Donations, is copied from Force's Archives, vol. ii. 871: Savannah, June 1, 1775. GENTLEMEN:-Although the inhabitants of Georgia have unfortunately drawn on themselves the censure of her sister Colonies, by not adopting those measures which the wisdom of the General Congress have pointed out for the preservation of the liberties of America; yet, we flatter ourselves you will believe there are 35 4TH S.-VOL. IV. LETTER TO SAMUEL HUTTON. Mr. Samuel Hutton. SIR, Boston, Sept. 9th, 1776. The Committee for receiving Donations for the poor of this Town, have directed me to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 16th ult. relating to corn and rye in your hands, which they desire you will sell for the most you can get, as they do not choose to run the risk of your sending it by water. When you are in cash, I doubt not you will send it by some safe hand. The Committee are very much obliged for the trouble you have had in this matter, in whose behalf, I remain, Sir, your most humble servant, PETER BOYER, Of Stamford in Connecticut. many among us who sincerely espouse the great cause contended for by you; and who ardently wish that the noble stand you have made in defence of these rights, to which, as men and British subjects, we are entitled, may be crowned with success. The distresses our brethren must unavoidably experience by enforcement of the late acts of a cruel and vindictive ministry, deeply affect us. The unhappy division amongst us, has hitherto prevented our contributing to their support; but have now the pleasure to transmit you, by the Juliana, Capt. Stringham, bound to New York, a small contribution of sixty-three barrels of rice, and one hundred and twenty-two pounds sterling, in specie, under the care of John Eaton La Conte, Esq., which we desire you will please appropriate towards the relief of those who have lately left the town of Boston. We hope soon to be enabled, by our friends who reside at a distance from Savannah, to send you a further token of our regard for you, and those whom misfortune must increase with the oppressive measures now pursued by administration against America. I have the honor to be, on behalf of the contributors, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, W. JONES. To the Gentlemen of the Committee for receiving Donations for the relief of the distressed inhabitants of Boston. The Boston Gazette of January 16, 1775, has the following paragraph: "From the Southern papers we learn, that agreeable to the recommendation of the Grand Council of America, the several Colonies, as far as Georgia, were continuing their collections for the relief of the poor sufferers by the execrable Port-bill. What can better manifest the union of the Colonies, and their firm affection for and sympathy for each other, than these donations; or place in a more striking point of light, the inhumanity of that parliament which has made such large and distant charities absolutely necessary to preserve thousands of the inhabitants from starving." [ED. NOTE. 141 THE two papers of the Committee of Donations, vindicating their disposition of the contributions, which are so often referred to in the above correspondence, are here copied from the public journals. The first is taken from the Boston Gazette of September 26, 1774. The Committtee (consisting of the following Members, namely, Mr. SAMUEL ADAMS, THOMAS BOYLSTON, Esq. Mr. JOHN WHITE, Mr. JAMES RICHARDSON, Mr. THOMAS CRAFTS, Jun. Mr. HENRY HILL, Mr. JOSHUA HENSHAW, Jun. appointed by the town of Boston to receive Donations for the charitable purpose of relieving and employing the poor, suffering by means of the Act of Parliament, commonly called the Boston Port Bill, would gratefully acknowledge the receipt of many generous collections made in several of our sympathizing sister Colonies, as well as charitable donations from many Towns in this Province, and private friends to this cruelly oppressed and patient people. The Committee consider themselves at all times answerable to their constituents, and as peculiarly accountable to their munificent benefactors, who ought ever to have all reasonable satisfaction touching the disposition of their charities. The trust reposed in the Committee is important, and its discharge extremely arduous. And when the powers and dispositions of those who trouble us are properly considered, so far from receiving support and aid in the relief of this distressed Town, it must be obvious that many unnecessary difficulties and embarrassments would be thrown in the way. Many are the public works (to which large grants and subscriptions would cheerfully be made by persons who would be peculiarly benefitted thereby) such as the building of a bridge over Charles river, and another over to Dorchester neck, the erecting of hospitals and other large and much wanted public edifices, which might be carried on to the imme, diate and great relief of the poor, if the Province was now blessed with a constitutional and patriotic Legislature existing within it. Miserable is the state of that community who have the forms, but not the powers, of good government: but much more miserable are they who have neither. Whoever, therefore, fully considers the difficulties of every sort with which the Committee have to engage, will view all their actions with an eye of charity and candor, and will be far from hastily giving credit to the malicious whispers and slanderous sarcasms of our public enemies. Surely better evidence than this ought to be given, before Americans should entertain jealousies, and doubt the integrity, of distant brethren. In order for the regular conduct of business, for the satisfaction of candid inquirers, as well as the silencing slanderous reports, the Committee very early opened a complete set of books, which have been kept in the most regular manIn them are entered all the donations, as they are received, and from whom ; together with a fair record of all matters which come before the Committee and their proceedings thereupon. These books are open every day for the inspection of all persons. ner. The Committee, having set several days, and by themselves and their subcommittees, had various consultations, notified the inhabitants, that they should attend every afternoon for ten days (Lord's day excepted) for all classes of people suffering by the Port- Bill, to lay their circumstances before the committee, that the distressed might (if possible) be employed in their several occupations. Accordingly, great numbers of various classes applied, especially mechanics and laborers: of the latter the circumstances of much the greater part called for immediate relief. In this exigency, several plans were proposed, but they all required time to be further considered and better digested, before they could be carried into practice. The only proposal, therefore, which could be carried into execution, with the speed necessary to give bread and employ to the most indigent laborers, was the repair and pavement of some of our public streets. This, therefore, it was thought most eligible to adopt. Accordingly it was proposed to the selectmen of the Town, (who are surveyors of the streets,) that if they would engage in repairing those parts of the Town which most wanted it, that the Committee of Donations, &c., would contribute towards the payment of the laborers out of the donations made for employing the poor. The selectmen acceding to this eligible way of giving immediate employ and sustenance to necessitous laborers, numbers of our most indigent inhabitants were by this plan kept from the dangers of idleness, and enabled to earn bread for their present support. Immediate relief being thus afforded to the indigent, the next consideration of the Committee was for a method to employ the poor and pay them out of the donations in such a manner, as that returns might be made into the common stock, which might serve for their future employ and maintenance. The best plan of this sort, in the opinion of the Committee, was the erecting a brick yard on part of the Town's land, well adapted for such a purpose. Accordingly application was forthwith made, and leave obtained from the Town, for the laying out such a yard on the Neck; and the making of bricks therein now employs upwards of an hundred poor every day. These bricks, when burnt, the Committee intend to sell at the best price they can obtain, and the money arising from the sale will be again improved in some way the most likely to keep the poor from the distresses of hunger and the temptations of idleness. The Committee have agreed to build a house for sale, as soon as materials can be collected, (which however is extremely difficult, considering the tenor and mode of putting in execution the Boston Port-Act,) and several vessels will be set up as soon as the common stock shall be sufficient for the work. In order to make the employment of the poor as universal as possible, the Committee have purchased wool, flax and cotton, to be distributed to spinners and knitters in the Town, and looms are erecting for weaving baizes, cotton and linen. The Committee also distribute leather to the shoemakers and take their manufacture in pay and with them also pay day laborers. The Committee are in expectation of nail rods and other raw materials, with which they hope to employ the blacksmiths and some other tradesmen, in the severities of the winter. The Committee have given the above account of their doings, for the satisfaction of the public, and flatter themselves it will meet with the approbation of the generous benefactors to this grievously oppressed and suffering people. The Committee attend every day upon the business of their appointment; almost the whole of their time is taken up in the discharge of their trust. They have no motive to encourage them in their labors, but the hopes of doing good in this day of their country's trial and calamity. They shall consider themselves as happy if they answer the end of their appointment. That they may attain this end, they ask the advice of the wise and good, and shall ever consider the counsel of friends to the common cause as deserving their thanks and most mature consideration. The Committee take this opportunity to inform the world and especially their munificent benefactors, that the House of Representatives, at their last session, having recommended to the Province to make collections for the poor of Boston and Charlestown, suffering by occasion of the before-mentioned Act, the Town of Boston early passed a vote, that seven per cent. of all donations transmitted to this town should be delivered to our brethren of Charlestown, who are mutually supposed injured in that proportion by the Boston Port-Act. The regular Overseers of the Poor of this Town still continue their usual care and supply of the town poor, while this Committee confine (as much as possible) their attention and relief to such as are reduced to severe sufferings by the measures of the present administration of Britain, and the grievous mode of carrying those measures into execution. Boston, January 13. The printers in this and the other American Colonies are requested to insert the following in their several News Papers. TO THE PUBLIC. The Committee appointed by the Town of Boston, to receive and distribute donations for the charitable purpose of relieving and employing the sufferers by means of the Act of Parliament commonly called the Boston Port-Bill, from a due regard to their own characters, and that of the Town under whose appointment they act, as well as for the sake of the said sufferers, who depend upon the continual beneficence of their friends for necessary relief; think themselves obliged, in this public manner, to contradict a slanderous report raised by evil minded persons, spread in divers parts of this Province, and perhaps more extensively through the continent. The report is, that "each Member of the Committee is allowed six shillings, and, as some say, half a guinea, for every day's attendance; besides a commission upon all the donations received, and other emoluments for their trouble." The Committee, therefore, thus openly declare, that the above mentioned report is in every part of it groundless and false; and that they have hitherto attended and acted in their office, and still continue so to do, without any intention, hope, or desire, of receiving any other reward in this life, but the pleasure which results from a consciousness of having done good.— So satisfied are they of their own disinterested motives and conduct in this regard, that they can safely appeal to the Omniscient Being for their sincerity in this declaration. And whereas the Committee have this evening been informed, by a letter from the country, of another report equally injurious, viz. that "the Committee have |