At VIII o'Clock this morning an Express arrived in Town from Providence, with the following Lettersー

Providence April 19th 1775               
10 o'Clock at Night

           Sir

Having received Intelligence that our Breth[ern] in Mass: Bay are attacked by a body of regular Troops and that many of our Friends are slain. ー These are to request your Honor that you will be pleased to call the Genl. Assembly of this Colony to meet together as soon as possible (by Monday next at furthest) that they may make such necessary preparations for the comon Defence as shall be thot necessary ー We are your Honors Obed. Servts.

P.S. There are two Gentlemen here from the Prov. Cong. now waiting to confer with the Assembly. We beg your Honors Answer ー Copyー

N.B. The foregoing is directed to Gov. [Joseph] Wanton and is signed by 26 of the principal Inhabitants of Providence.

Sir  This Evening Intelligence hath been rec'd that about Twelve hundred of the Regulars have proceeded from Boston towards Concord, and having fired upon and killed a number of the Inhabitants of Lexington are now actually engaged in butchering and destroying our Brethern there in the most inhuman manner, that the Inhabitants oppose them with zeal and courage and numbers have already fallen on both sides ー Reinforcements were at Ten o'clock under Motion from Boston, and the Provincials were alarmed and mustering as fast as possible, it appears necessary therefore that we immediately make some provision for their assistance, and his Honor the Lieutenant General desires your immediate Attendance to advise and order in that behalf. His being very ill occasions my writing in his Behalf ー We shall impatiently wait your Arrival, as Numbers are ready and wait only Orders to proceedー

The Countrys Friend and Yours

S[tephen] Hopkins

           Providence, Wednesday night Ten o'Clock
           To Major General [Stephen] Potter.

Upon Receipt of this news the Town was thrown into Alarm, and all went into preparation ー The Govr. issued Warrants for calling the Assembly to meet at Providence next Saturday. Gen. Potter (who lives at Brtistol) set off this morning with numbers from Bristol and Warren. None have marched from Newport to day, tho' Col. Dayton tells me this afternoon that there are five hundred armed and ready to march, waiting only the Governors Orders. The Tories have, in order to intimidate, circulated thro' the Town that Capt. [James] Wallace of the Rose Man o' War, insolently says he will fire upon the Town, and lay it in ashes, if any march from hence ー This intimidates some people. They are training, exercising and preparing all day; It is said that the Regulars coming up with about 30 minute men exercising at Lexington, ordered them to lay down their arms ー that upon Refusal, the Regulars dastardly fired upon them and killed six ー that the others returned the fire and killed some of the Regulars ー But of this there is no certainty ー Gov. Hopkins does not inform the basis of his Intelligence ー dont even date his letter ー And it is not known whether the Troops marched to Lexington Yesterday Morning, or before. It is probable the whole Country is thrown into the same alarm as last September.² The good Lord direct and overrule all for his glory, and the good of his Chosen ー It is happy that the Troops have given the first blow ー the way is open and clear now for the Americans. If they will but tarry out of Boston a few days, I doubt not the Americans will give a good Account of them. But I fear their cowardice has made them instantly return to Boston. All that I rely upon in this News is that they have marched to Lexington, and killed a few men. I am not a little apprehensive that it may prove only another false alarm designedly excited by our people to prevent the Troops from marching out of Boston into the Countryー