Braintree February 19th 1776
[Extract]
May it please your Excellency,
Since the sudden and unexpected burning of the Houses upon Dorchester Neck, I have been repeatedly and earnestly solicited, by my distressed Friends and Neighbours, to make an humble Representation to your Excellency, that, our Habitations are equally exposed to be destroyed by our Enemies, whenever their Malice shall stimulate them to make us feel the Effects, of the unrelenting Vengeance of the "royal Brute of England." Could your Excellency have spared Time to make us happy in a Visit, and taken a View of this Part of our Harbour, you would have been immediately sensible, of the Ease with which an Excursion may be made from the Castle, either upon Squantum Neck, or the Main; where, before a sufficient Force could be collected to repel them, our Enemies might rob us of our Provision, burn our Houses, murder or captivate the Inhabitants, who could not escape, and retreat again to the Castle in less than an Hour, as it is not distant more than a League. Your Excellency would also have seen, two line of Battle Ships, one Frigate, and about 15 large Transports, which have been, above six Weeks past, in Nantasket Road; besides, two or a Dozen arm'd Cruisers, wch are constantly going out in Pursuit of our Privateers, or coming in with their Captures, or expected Transports under their Convoy.
If our Army should take Post upon Dorchester Neck, have we not Reason to apprehend, the Shores will be attacked, from a Spirit of Revenge? Certainly, sir, a Fleet can easily spare, and have Boats enough to transport four or five hundred Men, who may, and when the inevitable Impulses of Hunger, or Thirst for Blood, inspires them with sufficient Courage, I fear will, land and ravage along Shore for Miles; any Force we have, at present, to oppose them notwithstanding.