[Ex~ract]

:... Sir As the Ships of War now .building in this and the other Colonies for Continental Service will want Commanders, who will I conclude be appointed by Congress, I beg leave to mention to .you a Capt [Gustavus] Fellows, late of Boston, who. was bred to the Sea and is recommended as a very .good Man for a Command[er] and I have been desired to mention hirp to you. He appears to me to be a Man of activity & Spirit, a clear head & an enterprizing genius; he is about forty years old, has used the London trade, West Indies &c. been many years Master of a Ship and successful in his

Business. Perhaps you may know him much better than I do. I have nothing in view but the publ ic Service, and never will reco mmend a Man from any other motive.

I have just been informed that the Congress have given leave to the American Ships of War to make prizes of all British Vessels. I 'take this to be a leading step to Independency, anything short of which is trifling (in my humble opinion) and unworthy of America.

I beg leave to propose a Question for your deep consideration, viz, If the Americans imite in an independent Commonwealth, offer a free trade to all Nations except Britain & her dependences, & make an American Law That no Person or Persons belonging to Britain or to her dependences shall be permitted to have any trade or intercourse with America, until Britaiii has made satisfaction for the injuries & losses sustained by this War ー would she not be finally obliged to comply with this just requisition?;

I conceive that Britain cannot support her superiority over her natural Enemies, at Sea, without a large share of the American commerce, which she ever will have so long as a harmony subsists between the two Countries, if we are a separate State ー and when Britain is convinced, (and time will do it) that her sovereignty & glory on the Seas greatly depends (if not her very being as a Kingdom) ona friendly intercourse with America, she will she must comply with our righteous demands for reparation.

As a Soldier, I ought toask pardon for offering my rude sentiments on politicks to a Senator of America ー but you will' excuse me for turning my thoughts a-few moments from the din of Arms to something more civil. I amSir [&c.]

Joseph Ward 2

P.S. Five Regiments & one Company of the Train of Artillery are to remain here until further orders to fortify the Town & Harbour; all the other remaining Regiments & Companies are to march tomorrow.

Genl Ward is of the opinion that a larger force ought to have been left here, as so great a part of the Army was raised in this Colony. There are now of the Massachusetts eleven Regiments, near a Regiment of the Train, besides Companies of Artificers, &c &c, on their march to assist the other Colonies, with the best Arms, Field pieces &c that have been collected from the several parts of this Colony since the commencement of the War ー besides four Regts are gone to Canada. however I trust we shall be able, by the Smiles of Heaven upon our Arms, to defend our Colony with what is left; and if we should it will reflect honor upon the Massachusetts her sending so formidable an Army to support the United Colonies ー and stretching out a powerful Arm to defend her distant Brethren. It will make us respectable among our Sister Colonies, and through the World; and altho' some are very uneasy on account of so large a part of our force being sent out of the Colony, yet for the sake of the many & great advantages which may result from it, I am willi[n]g to risque defending the Colony with the force we have now.

There are yet remaining in Nantasket Road two of the Enemy's Ships of War, and two or three Transports; we are meditating a plan for their removal. JW