Sir,
I took the liberty, by last Post, of acquainting the late Honble. Congriss, of some things that appeared indispensible to the keeping possession of the greatest part of the County of Lincoln
Since that time, an express from the Committee of Campden bro't me the disagreeable news, that the extreme indigence of the inhabitants of that settlement had induced many of them for sake of obtaining provisions to trade off their lumber to the Emissaries of Genl [Thomas] Gage; & that the Committee was not able to remove this evil; praying advice; I opened the modes prescribed for relief in such a case; & recommended them to some neighbouring Towns:
Application was made a few days after. by the Comee of a town near me for some directions for their proceedings with a certain trader from Nantuckett to whom another Committee had given a permit to load for that Island; the sight of the 1st Resolve (which was all I then had) greatly surprized them: Major Andrew Reed of this town immediately mustered a party, went to Edgecumbs, seized the vessel, & brought it into this harbour where the Committee ordered her to be unloaded ー took bonds of the Capt that he would return to Nantuckett empty ー & so dismissed her; this conduct of theirs has been much censured ー inasmuch as the Committee in Kennebec River allowed five sloops, from the same Island, in the same week, to load & go off unmolested ー they therefore pray the judgment & further orders of your Honble Court:
On this Occasion I beg leave to remark that, when any Comees are found faulty ー they commonly plead that they had never seen nor known of the Resolves in point: to remove this excuse I would humbly Query whether it would not be necessary to publish every order &c that requires their execution, in hand bills; & take order for having them, with speed & certainty conveyed to these distant parts? & 2. whether it would not be proper to continue the post-ridings at least as far as St. Georges, or direct each town speedily to convey the bills to the next on some proper penalty?
This afternoon the Minister & five of the inhabitants of Deer Island arrived at my house, express with the alarming news that a Man of War of twenty guns four large transports & three sloops have landed a number of Marines on Long island near Fort Pownal where they now are encamped, for the protection of the vessels &c while they are to bring in a load of wood (of which 'tis said Capt Pendleton had 1000 cord ready for them, on his landing-place) also a quantity of fresh meat, for which they offer a pistareen pr pound ー envoys are sent thro' the Country with written demands of provisions promising good pay for all they receive & threatning to take by force what they can't obtain by wile: after they have finished this business, 'tis expected they will se[nd] to nestle at Fort Pownal: where the people in general imagine they are permitted by Col. [Thomas] Goldthwait ー Major [Nathan] Jones of Goldsborough and thirty of the inhabitants at Majabigwaduse; who, since the battle at Charlestown, have avowed a resolution of supplying the enemy: what pity is it that fortress is yet standing! warning, early enough, was given to Congress about it.
The enemy it seems bring their wives-childrin, & all the necessaries for quarters, along with them: The people in these parts are in great anxiety & distress; but all in motion; tho' almost quite destitute of powder-money-provisions & every thing the Express desires some help both in men & all the articles above: I immediately dispatched Messengers to the Colonels of the two Regiments of Militia in this County, and believe they will march large detachments of both, tomorrow: but we shall now begin to feel the mischiefs that must accrue to the Country from the draughting our best men & best arms to the Camp ー the Sorry remains are in ill condition to meet an enemy ー and what with 150 men to defend this extensive shore. I think the Country must be evacuated, unless more companies be stationed on the Sea Coast. & unless the wisdom of the Honble. [Congress] devise some means of supplying the inhabitants, as well as the Companies to be stationed in this County both with ammunition & the necessaries of life.
The extreme hurry of my Situation, I hope will be my apology for the Confusion of this letter; as I hardly know what is said, & what left unsaid and have time neither to revise nor correct ー I tho't it best to send the Express forward to wait on the Honble Court; as I could better acquaint you of the particulars of our alarming situation than a letter would admit ー if it is not made the source of some early exertion of Government, I fear t,he people will be discouraged, & before the temptation now laid in their way ー & if so, that the enemy will obtain lodgment from which it will be no easy matter to expell them. I have the honour [&c.]
