Sir: ー
Our affairs in this town are got into such confusion that I am tempted to go out of my line and I know not what member of the General Court I can apply to better than yourself. Such is our present dismal situation that unless something is done for us more than we can do for ourselves, we are absolutely undone, and shall too probably, if the war continues six months longer, involve the whole province of Main in our ruin.
What we call the neck is thought by the best Judges Easy to fortify against the land, and not very difficult against the sea. Our harbour is one of the best in the province: perhaps the best of all: it is capacious, accessible & never is froze up. About 2 thirds of the buildings in general, the best, have been laid in ashes by Mowat. He could not have done it if the 60 men in the province pay stationed here had been properly commanded. The company is by your honorable court put under the direction of a committee. The committee were so employed in gettg out their families and effects that they did not assemble to give orders. Individuals of the Committee gave contrary directions to the captain: so that all the opposition made to the landg of men with torches durg the cannonade was by volunteers, without any leader or direction. Last Wednesday [November 1] the Cerberus arrived in our harbour, a hellish name, with an infernal commander, yclep'd John Symons. He returned a letter to the Town, declarg that if the Town or Country adjacent should raise any armed men, abuse the Kings officers, or other peaceably disposed subject, erect military works &c. it would be his indispensable duty to proceed with the most rigorous efforts against the Town. The Militia is call'd in, and they with part of the soldiery, are gog to throw up some breast works this night, so that we expect a cannonade at least to-morrow morng We have cannon that would be able to annoy the ship much if we had ammunition: But we have not half enough for our small arms. Symons has asked for a few cattle and offer'd pay for them and has been refused.
After this detail of particulars, which I know to be true, I leave it to yourself to say whether it is not probable that our enemies will not be disposed to take possession of our neck and fortify it: whether they will not make it a place of rendevous for some of their ships this winter: whether in stead of a Committee it is not the indispensable duty of the General Court to send us some able and experienced officer to be at the head of our companies that are in pay: Whether we out [ought] not to be visited at least by some skilful Engineer, who can shew us what to do, and what we ought not to do: whether it is not necessary to have more men raised here. I think the present number, scattered along the shore of the county mostly in places where they are not at all wanted is 200.
The Town has petition'd Gen. Washington for troops. He has answered that he has no authority to send any. If some were sent, bread must be sent with them: for it is an article that this country could not supply them with. I conjure you Sr by your Zeal for the publick welfare to take our forlorn state into your serious consideration, and be a strenuous advocate for us at the honble Board, and with the members of the house, as you have opportunity. If any of my hints arc good, I am confident you will improve them; if you think anythg better I shall be glad to have them drop into oblivion. But unless you or some other of the Gen: Court shall cause some thg to be done for us I think it probable that in half a year the inhabitants of the County will be either prisoners, or else be driven so far back into the woods that they cannot subsist.
Another affair I would also intreat you to take into consideration. I mean the lamentable state of the poor of Falmouth, who have lost their habitations; many of their movables, their whole employment: and are now livg upon the charity of those whom they will soon reduce to a level with themselves, and all, as far as I can divine must before Spring starve together. We have had a messenger at your court, and some of the members give him encouragement: others fling toryisms at us, and seem disposed that we shd suffer till we are brought to reason. But Sr is starvg the way to convert Tories? If so the mercantile part of them will be converted first, as yy [they] are in general the greatest sufferers: But I fancy they will be the hardest to convert of any. Suppose this Town has not been so forward as they ought in the common cause: ought the province therefore to withhold Christian charity? If thine enemy hunger thou shalt feed him. But the poor have not been wanting in the cause of liberty: and is it right that they should suffer for the aims of their superiours? I believe Charlestown has been as faulty as Falmouth; and I have heard the province has reliev'd its poor. I hope the province is not weary of extendg charity to their destroyed Towns. I think there will not be many more sea port towns destroy'd, unless our enemies should increase amazingly.
It is possible for me at present to tell the number of families that must have charity extended to them to keep them alive till Spring: or rather till they can raise something out of the ground next Summer. I should guess they are the bigger part of a hundred families. Some of the ablest towns in this and York Counties might take them and feed them for the present if the Court shall so order. If our destruction had happened in the Spring, the distress of the poor would not have been comparatively anything.
Relying much upon your wisdom and humanity, I am, dear Sr [&c.]
P.S. Nov 5. The Ship is gone: It is supposed to bring assistance, either to take possession of the neck or to destroy the remainder of the Town.
Endorsement In Council Novr 9th 1775 Read & sent down
Perez Morton Dy Secy.
