Gentlemenー

We understand that you have desird our Select Men to send the Town stock of Powder to Cambridge, saving only one pound for each Man ー You, perhaps are not aware that we have lately deliverd four half Barls to the Order of the [Provincial] Congress & six more, to that, of the Comtee of Supplies; part of which, we were encouragd to hope shod. soon have been replaced ー We have likewise furnished our Men who have joined the Army, and three large Parties, who were Volunteers on the several Alarms that have been made, with Cartridges sufficient for their Purpose; a considerable part whereof were never return'd: by these Means, our Stock is so much reduc'd as to occasion us great Uneasiness; inasmuch as it must prevent our executing some Plans, We had meditated for the public good: besides, many of our Inhabitants are apprehensive of Danger from Cutters & other armed Vessells; the Admiral having, as it is said, given out some Threats ー We have been at considerable Expence in preparing some light Cannon for Action, and We are now about erecting a small Battery or Breast-Work with 3 or 4 heavier Cannon which can be procurd, to defend ourselves against any Attacks by Water: But all that we have yet done & are about to do, will be to no purpose unless we can have a few Barrells of Powder ready at hand  We are therefore very loth to part with the little we have, unless the public Cause makes it absolutely necessary; in which case we shall readily give up the last Ounce, the Destruction of this Town being a trivial Matter, in our Estimation, when compard with a final Defeat of the Army ー however as it can at any Time be conveyd to Cambridge in 8 or 9 hours from the Time of our having Notice, We hope it may be agreeable to let it remain here for the present, that so we may have the priviledge of using it in our own Defence, if there shod be Occasion, before it is wanted in the Army ー By Order of the Committee of the Town I am Gentn [&c.]