Gentlemen,

While the British Ministry are taking every Step, that Cruelty and Ravage can dictate, for the Destruction of American Liberty, it is incumbent on these United Colonies to exert their utmost Efforts to defeat them. Happily for our Country, their military Operations have not been attended with the Success which they so sanguinely expected. This Circumstance however, far from abating their Rage, has had the Effect constantly produced by disappointed Passions. It has roused them to make new Exertions of

Power against us: and we now behold American Property, by a late Act of Parliament, made legal Plunder. Such a Strain of Rapine and Violence, can be equalled only by the Spirit, with which it is likely to be executed.

Having authorized the Seizure of Vessels belonging to these Colonies wherever found upon the High Seas, there is too much Reason to apprehend the Execution of the Edict, {which we may expect in its greatest Extent) will, for a Time, prove a severe Clog to the Trade of America. Under these Circumstances, the Congress in Hopes of checking in some Degree, an Evil, which they cannot, at present, remove; and acting upon the same Principles of Self-Preservation and Retaliation which they have hitherto adopted, have been induced to come into sundry Resolutions relative to the fitting out Letters of Marque and Reprizal. The Trade of America is an Object of so much Consequence, and the Protection of it so necessary,-that I make no Doubt of your giving all the Encouragement in your Power, to any Measures that may be deemed expedient, for its Security & Existence. I herewith transmit Bonds, Commissions, and Instructions, 2 which the Congress has thought proper to request the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees of Safety, to"'make Use of on the Occasion. I have the Honor to be Gentlemen [&c.]

John Hancock Presid t