which, when attacked, you dared openly to assert and vindicate, and stand foremost in the glorious cause of Liberty, in which you are contending not only for your own, but ours and the common rights of every American. When we reflect that it is this for which you are suffering such horrid cruelties, for which your streets have been stained with blood, and for which you now feel the horrors of a military government, we [are] overwhelmed with a conflict of tumultuous passions, and filled with that manly ardor which bids us join you hand in hand, and suffer with you in the common cause; nay, even, if the sad exigence of affairs should ever require it, to determine, in defence of every thing for which life is worth enjoying, to meet that death which will be glorious, and infinitely preferable to a life dragged on in that low, servile state, which is evidently planned for us, and which nothing less than the most heroic fortitude, and the highest exertions of every civil and Christian virtue can prevent. Give us leave, therefore, Gentlemen, to entreat, to beg, to conjure you, by every thing that is dear, by every thing that is sacred, by the venerable names of our pious forefathers, who suffered, who bled in the defence of Liberty, not to desert the cause at this trying crisis, but to use your utmost influence in pursuing and persevering in every measure, which may have a tendency to produce the desired effect.

Gentlemen, we hereby assure you that, to the utmost of our power, we will assist you in every measure necessary for the common safety, not regarding our own private views and interests, when in competition with the public good.

This Town is very sensible of the obligations we, and with us, all British America, are under to the Town of Boston, who have been, and still are, the generous defenders of our common rights and liberties. We know you suffer, and feel for you. As a testimony of our commiseration of your misfortunes, the Town, on the 23d instant, at a legal and very full meeting, unanimously chose a Committee to procure subscriptions for your present relief. Accordingly, we have procured a small flock of sheep, which at this season are not so good as we could wish, but are the best we had, and the people of this Town were almost unanimous in contributing to this purpose.

This small present, Gentlemen, we beg you would accept, and apply to the relief of those honest, industrious poor, who are most distressed by the late arbitrary and oppressive Acts. And rest assured that if Parliament does not soon afford you relief, and there should in future be any need of our assistance, we shall, with the utmost cheerfulness, exert our influence to that purpose.

We are, Gentlemen, with great respect,

Your most obedient and very humble servants,

N. B. We have inclosed herewith a copy of the doings of the Town for your amusement, which may serve for a specimen of our sentiments.

To the Selectmen of the Town of Boston.1

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GENTLEMEN,

LETTER FROM GROTON.

Groton, June 28th, 1774.

The inhabitants of the Town of Groton, in general, are deeply affected with a sense of our public calamities, Be and more especially the distresses of our brethren in the lers Capital of the Province, as we esteem the act of blocking r, up the harbor of Boston replete with injustice and cruelty, yo and evidently designed to compel the inhabitants thereof to a submission of taxes imposed upon them without their conto present, and threatens the total destruction of the liberties of all British America. We ardently desire a happy union with Great Britain and the Colonies, and shall gladly adopt

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This letter was printed in the journals; but no reply to it is recorded. Boston Gazette, of July 4, says: "Last week were driven to the neighboring town of Roxbury, two hundred and fifty-eight sheep, a generous contribution of

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every measure consistent with the dignity and safety of British subjects for that purpose.

In full confidence that the inhabitants of the Town of Boston will, in general, exhibit examples of patience, fortitude and perseverance, while they are called to endure this oppression for the preservation of the liberties of their country, and in token of our willingness to afford all suit able relief to them in our power, a number of the inhabitants of this Town have subscribed, and this day sent forty bushels of grain, part rye and part Indian corn, to be deliv ered to the Overseers of the Poor of said Town of Boston, not doubting but the same will be suitably applied for that purpose; and we earnestly desire you will use your utmost endeavor to prevent and avoid all mobs, riots, and tumults. and the insulting of private persons and property. And while the farmers are cheerfully resigning part of their substance for your relief, we trust the merchants will not oppress them by raising upon the goods which they have now on hand and heretofore purchased. And may God prosper every undertaking which tends to the salvation of the people.

We are, Gentlemen, your friends and fellow-countrymen. In the name and by order of the Committee of Correspond ence for the Town of Groton.

OLIVER PRESCOTT, Clerk.

To the Overseers of the Town of Boston.

our sympathizing brethren of the town of Windham, in the colony of Connecticut to be distributed for the employment or relief of those who may be sufferers by means of the act of Parliament called the Boston Port Bill."

The town acknowledged this contribution by a special vote, passed July 4, in the following terms: "Upon a motion made and seconded, Voted, unanimously That the thanks of the town be, and hereby are given to our worthy friends, the inhabitants of the town of Windham, in the colony of Connecticut, for the kind and generous assistance they have granted this town, under its present distress and calamity, in voluntarily sending two hundred and fifty-eight sheep, as a present for the relief of the poor, industrious inhabitants of this place, who, by a late oppressive and cruel act of Parliament for blocking up the harbor of Bos ton, are prevented getting subsistence for themselves and families.

"Voted, That the Town Clerk be directed to transmit an attested copy of the above vote of thanks to the town of Windham."

The Boston Gazette, of the 11th of July, says: "The tories give out that the present of sheep sent from the generous town of Windham, came only in conse quence of money sent to bring them. How weak, how false, how little and how low!"-ED.

-IR,

REPLY TO GROTON.1

Boston, July 5th, 1774.

Your obliging letter directed to the Overseers of the Poor of this Town, together with a generous present from number of the inhabitants of the Town of Groton, for he relief of such inhabitants of this Town as may be ufferers by the Port Bill, is come to hand. In behalf of he Committee of this Town, appointed for the reception f such kind donations, I am now to return to you and the est of our benefactors the most sincere thanks. The gentlemen may be assured their donations will be applied o the purpose they intend. We are much obliged to you for the wise cautions given in your letter, and we shall use our best endeavors that the inhabitants of this Town may endure their sufferings with dignity, that the glorious cause or which they suffer may not be reproached. We trust

1 Before the Port Bill went into effect, letters containing assurances of symathy and support from other Colonies were printed in the Boston journals. The Boston Gazette of May 23, 1774, contains letters from New-York, Westerly, and Portsmouth, and the proceedings of a legal town meeting held in Newport, all expressing the determination to consider "the attack upon the town of Boston," 'not as an attempt made on that town singly, but upon the whole continent." The Gazette of this date has the following article: "We cannot but gratefully cknowledge the generous and brotherly interposition of our brethren of the other Colonies on the present desperate attack of the British Parliament on the Town of Boston. Among our warmest friends we are happy to enumerate the espectable inhabitants of the towns of New-York, Hartford, Newport, Portsnouth and Westerly, who have thus early assured us of their readiness to unite n every measure of self-denial and hazard to extricate themselves as well as us rom impending slavery."

The Gazette announced the commencement of the operation of the Port Bill, on the 6th of June, in the following terms: "Tell it in Gath, publish it in Askeon, that the Boston Port Bill, in all its parts, is now carrying into execution, and that Boston is thereby got into greater distress, and is more insulted by an English armament than she ever was by a French or Spanish fleet in the hottest war, when left without one British ship for her protection. The town is become a spectacle to angels and men. God grant that it may not be intimidated by the present horrors to make a surrender of the rights of America; or in any respect to dishonor herself at this day of trial or perplexity."

The Gazette, on the 7th of July, thus describes public sentiment after the Port Bill had been one month in force. "There is not a town of any consequence, on the continent of North America, but is justly alarmed with the proceedings of the British Parliament, and are taking necessary steps to strengthen the Union of the Colonies, and thereby defeat the cruel designs of arbitrary power."-ED.

every measure consistent with the dignity and safety of British subjects for that purpose.

In full confidence that the inhabitants of the Town of Boston will, in general, exhibit examples of patience, fortitude and perseverance, while they are called to endure this oppression for the preservation of the liberties of their country, and in token of our willingness to afford all suitable relief to them in our power, a number of the inhabitants of this Town have subscribed, and this day sent forty bushels of grain, part rye and part Indian corn, to be deliv ered to the Overseers of the Poor of said Town of Boston, not doubting but the same will be suitably applied for that purpose; and we earnestly desire you will use your utmost endeavor to prevent and avoid all mobs, riots, and tumults, and the insulting of private persons and property. And while the farmers are cheerfully resigning part of their substance for your relief, we trust the merchants will not oppress them by raising upon the goods which they have now on hand and heretofore purchased. And may God prosper every undertaking which tends to the salvation of the people.

We are, Gentlemen, your friends and fellow-countrymen. In the name and by order of the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Groton.

OLIVER PRESCOTT, Clerk.

To the Overseers of the Town of Boston.

our sympathizing brethren of the town of Windham, in the colony of Connecticut; to be distributed for the employment or relief of those who may be sufferers by means of the act of Parliament called the Boston Port Bill."

The town acknowledged this contribution by a special vote, passed July 4, in the following terms: "Upon a motion made and seconded, Voted, unanimously, That the thanks of the town be, and hereby are given to our worthy friends, the inhabitants of the town of Windham, in the colony of Connecticut, for the kind and generous assistance they have granted this town, under its present distress and calamity, in voluntarily sending two hundred and fifty-eight sheep, as a present for the relief of the poor, industrious inhabitants of this place, who, by a late oppressive and cruel act of Parliament for blocking up the harbor of Boston, are prevented getting subsistence for themselves and families.

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Voted, That the Town Clerk be directed to transmit an attested copy of the above vote of thanks to the town of Windham."

The Boston Gazette, of the 11th of July, says: "The tories give out that the present of sheep sent from the generous town of Windham, came only in consequence of money sent to bring them. How weak, how false, how little and how low!"-ED.