We are, Gentlemen, with tender feelings for your cruel sufferings in the best and most important cause, its hearty friends, and yours, with great esteem,

P. S.-The doings of our town meeting the 18th of July, in consequence of which our small collection is made, being inserted in the New London Gazette of the next week, we beg leave to refer you [to] that, if it should be thought worthy of your attention.

As you have printed some letters, &c., if any of this I should be thought worthy of notice, (which we don't desire,) and as the issue of things is not absolutely certain, and this town the residence of the Governor, &c., please to let it stand as anonymous, and be entire, ending with "bleed and die together." The remainder you may do with as you please.

To John Scollay, Esq., Hon. John Hancock, Esq., and the rest of the Selectmen of the Town of Boston.

LETTER FROM NORWICH.

GENTLEMEN,

Norwich, August, 1774.

4

We received your kind favor of 11th ult., subscribed by S. Adams, in your behalf, in answer to ours respecting the small donation proposed by the inhabitants of this Town, for the employment or relief of such inhabitants of the Town of Boston as may become sufferers by means of the Boston Port Bill, part of which we now forward you per Messrs. Bishop, Call, Leffingwell, and Bishop, being two hundred and ninety-one sheep, which [we] wish safe to hand. What other collections may be made, shall forward hereafter. We should be glad to know, as nearly as

may be, the true state of affairs with you, (especially) if any thing materially different from what we see published in the weekly papers; and that you would write us per return of the gentlemen who drive the sheep.

We are, with much esteem, Gentlemen, your assured friends and fellow-countrymen, in behalf of the Committee, CHRISTO. LEFFING WELL.

To William Phillips, Esq., Merchant, Boston.

REPLY TO NORWICH.

GENTLEMEN,

Boston, August 27th, 1774.

Your letter, with the two hundred and ninety-one sheep, were received safely, and met with a very hearty welcome. We have good reason to think that our oppres sors begin to see their mistake, and that they will ere long be convinced that Americans are not to be fritted or wheedled out of their rights. The arm of a tyrant is never supported by justice, and therefore must fall. Mr. Gage is executing the late Acts of Parliament, in their several branches, to the best of his ability. He is furnished with a council who will be careful (as their existence depends on the will of his master) to study his inclination, and to act every thing in conformity to his pleasure. We don't expect justice from them, and have no hopes that they will be guided by the laws of equity, or the dictates of conscience. Certainly men who will serve such an adminis tration as the present, and suffer themselves to be promoted at the expense of the charter of their country, must be destitute of every idea of right, and ready instruments to introduce abject slavery. Mr. Gage may issue his precepts, and his council may sanctify them, his juries may give ver dicts, and an unconstitutional and venal bench may pass judgments, but what will this avail, unless the people will acquiesce in them. If the people think them unconstitu tional, of what importance are their determinations. Salus populi suprema lex esto, is a precious old maxim. The ministry have forgot it, but the people are determined to remember it.

We consider a suspension of trade through the continent with Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies, as the grand machine that will deliver us. If this should fail, we must then have recourse to the last resort. As yet we have been preserved from action with the soldiery, and we shall endeavor to avoid it until we see that it is necessary, and a settled plan is fixed on for that purpose. The late Acts of Parliament are such gross infringements on us, that our consciences forbid us to submit to them. We think it is better to put up with some inconvenience, and pursue with patience the plan of commercial opposition, as it will be more for the honor and interest of the continent, as well as more consistent with the principles of humanity and religion.

Mr. Gage finds himself very unequal to the task that is set him, and is at a loss for measures. He sees and is astonished at the spirit of the people. He forbids their town meetings, and they meet in counties. If he prevents county meetings, we must call provincial meetings, and if he forbid these, we trust that our worthy brethren on the continent, and especially of the Town of Norwich, in Connecticut, will lend us their helping arms in time of danger, and will be no less conspicuous for their fortitude than they now are for their generosity.

We have nothing important to inform you of besides what you see in the public papers. Should any thing worthy your notice take place, we shall gladly communicate it to you.

We are, Gentlemen,

Your grateful friends and humble servants,

JOSEPH WARREN,

Per order the Committee of Donations.

To the Gentlemen, the Committee of the Town of Norwich.

LETTER FROM GROTON.

GENTLEMEN,

Groton in Connecticut, 10th August, 1774.

You have here inclosed, the Resolutions of this Town, which were unanimously agreed to. The inhabitants are

truly patriotic, and firmly fixed to assist and support their American brethren against all attacks made on the liberties of our Constitution. We, their Committee of Correspondence, have authority to assure you that the cause in which you are now suffering (under the tyranny of an unprecedented and cruel Act of Parliament) is here considered, universally, as an attack upon us all, though the vengeance of the present ministry is levied particularly at your Port and Province at this time. It gives us particular satisfaction to find so great a majority of true friends to American freedom in your patriotic Town, and that you persevere with such fortitude, under the persecuting hand of tyranny. It must be some alleviation, in your distress, to find your brethren in this and the other sister Colonies contributing to the relief of the indigent with you. We flatter ourselves no Colony will extend their liberality to you to exceed this, and it is with real satisfaction, we have the pleasure to inform you that the worthy inhabitants of this Town have subscribed to pay and deliver to us, sufficient to purchase one hundred and twenty fat sheep, and six fat cattle, to be forwarded to the Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor with you, to be by them distributed as their prudence shall direct. We shall therefore be glad to be informed at what time it will be most convenient for your people to receive said donation, which shall be sent you on advice. We promise ourselves (from many of the characters we see appointed to compose the intended Congress) that the most salutary plan will be recommended, and by us all religiously adhered to, which cannot fail to procure us relief from the oppression we are attacked and threatened with-as some with you, no doubt, would gladly suggest and propagate that Doct. Johnson, not accepting that important trust when he was appointed thereto, was that he disapproved of the method for redress we are pursuing. To give you authority to contradict such evil and illgrounded insinuations, if any, we here inclose you the copy of a Letter one of your Committee lately received from the Clerk of our Colony's Committee of Correspondence, setting that matter in its true light.

The Committee of Correspondence have since appointed the Hon. Roger Sherman, Esq. to supply Doctor Johnson's place, and in case he cannot attend, Joseph Trumbull, Esq.

son of his Honor our Governor. We shall always think Ourselves happy to contribute, to the utmost of our ability, whatever may be of service in the grand cause for which we now contend; and it will give us pleasure to correspond with you thereon.

Being with much esteem, Gentlemen,

Your very obedient, humble servants,

WILLIAM LEDYARD.

THOMAS MUMFORD.

BENADAM GALLUP.

AMOS PRENTICE.

CHARLES ELDRIDGE, JUN'R.

JOHN HURLBUT.

AMOS GEER.

To the Committee of Correspondence at Boston.

REPLY TO GROTON.

GENTLEMEN,

Boston, August 13th, 1774.

The Committee of Correspondence for this Town, handed to us, who are a Committee for receiving Donaions and employing the suffering poor, by means of the Port Bill, your favors of the 10th inst., enclosing Mr. Silas Dean's letter, accounting for Dr. Johnson's declining to attend the Congress, which gives us satisfaction. And also he votes of the Town of Groton, which greatly refresh our spirits, and confirm us in our resolutions not tamely to esign any of the American rights. But it is our particuar department to acknowledge, in behalf of this Town, our great obligations to our friends of Groton, for their generous subscriptions for the relief of our suffering poor, vhose support must otherwise, at this time of general tagnation of business, have fallen extremely heavy upon hose of property among us. We note your purpose to send us one hundred and twenty fat sheep and six fat