and veffels employed to come to carry away the goods of the inhabitants of Boston, may bring the effects of those who are defirous to leave the country, they paying half the charge."

Doctor Warren has this day written to general Gage, 26,

"SIR,

THE unhappy fituation into which this colony is thrown, gives the greatest uneafinefs to every man, who regards the welfare of the empire, or feels for the diftreffes of his fellow men; but even now much may be done to alleviate those misfortunes which cannot be entirely remedied; and I think it of the utmost importance to us, that our conduct be fuch, as that the contending parties may entirely rely upon the honor and integrity of each other, for the punctual performance of any agreement that shall be made between them. Your excellency, I believe, knows very well the part I have taken in public affairs. I ever fcorned difguife. I think I have done my duty; fome may think otherwife: but be affured, Sir, as far as my influence goes, every thing, which can reafonably be required of us to do, fhall be done; and every thing promifed fhall be religiously performed. I fhould now be very glad to know from you, Sir, how many days you defire may be allowed for fuch as defire to remove to Bofton with their effects, and what time you will allow the people in Bofton for their removal. When I have received the information, I will repair to congress, and haften as far as I am able the iffuing a proclamation. I beg leave to fuggeft, that the condition of admitting only thirty waggons at a time into the town, appears to me very inconvenient, and will pre

In every stage of the bill, the debate rekindled; and, in the course of it, the minority obferved, "When it was thought wisdom to overthrow established privileges, and to combat national prejudices, by ftarting the new claim of taxation, the Americans went no further than to deny our right of internal taxation. Having gained the point of urging them to queftion one right, we foon convinced them, both by argument and practice, that an external tax might be made to answer all the purposes, and to produce all the mifchiefs of internal taxation. They then denied our right of taxing for fupply. Parliament then proceeded to deprive them of their charter, and to change the course of justice and trials. Then they were pushed to deny the power of internal legislation. But ftill they had hitherto never formally rejected the power of parliament to bind their trade. We are now to convince them, however, that if but a fingle branch of legislative power is left to this country, we can distort that branch in fuch a manner, that it fhall include all the purposes of unlimited tyranny." It appeared upon evidence at the bar of the houfe, that by the operation of the bill, many thousands of innocent inhabitants would be reduced to the fad alternative, either of perishing through want at home, or of removing to fome other lefs rigorous government for protection and fupport; fo that a famine among the New Englanders was predicted as the confequence of the bill.

Some gentlemen on the other fide of the queftion, acknowledged the harfhnefs of the measure; but lamented its being indifpenfably neceffary. A much greater number contended, that the bill was in an high degree

merciful,

merciful, and that the New England colonies did not want resources to prevent a famine. A few went fo far as to regret, that the bill did not convey punishments adequate to the crimes of the Americans, and to dread, that the famine which had been ftrongly prognofticated, and pathetically lamented, would not take place.

Mr. Quincy fails to-morrow for the Maffachusetts. He is yery far from being well; and has been attended upon repeatedly by Dr. Fothergill. The doctor thinks the Bristol air and water would give him perfect health; and it is greatly against his own opinion and inclination that he takes the voyage. But he rifks his life for the good of his own colony in particular, and of America in general. His moft intimate friends infift upon his going directly to Bofton. They fay no letter can go with fafety; and that he can deliver more information and advice viva voce, than can or ought to be written. They urge that by going now, if he arrives fafe, he must be of great advantage to the American cause.

He is to tell the people of your colony, by no means to take any step of great confequence (unlefs on a fudden emergency) without the advice of the continental congrefs; and is to repair to that honorable body, when met at Philadelphia.

You will hear from him, how egregiously the Americans have been infulted by feveral in both houfes of parliament, in being pronounced daftardly cowards and poltroons, to be looked into fubmiffion at the approach of a regiment; and that if this is your true character, there will be no great exploit in the brave general Grant's marching fuccefsfully, with only five regiments, from one end of the continent to the other, of which he has

cruel ministry; and that they are determined to die or be free. They appeal to Heaven for the juftice of their caufe. Should not an accommodation take place, Heaven muft grant them its fpecial protection, or they will be crushed before the power of Britain, notwithstanding all that the other colonies can do for them: unless the officers, who are employed against them, are not fupplied with an adequate force, or are wretchedly defective in courage, inclination, activity, prudence, or other military abilities or unless fome foreign power, for its own interest and to injure the parent ftate, takes them by the hand. Their military ftores are fcarce worth mentioning. They reckon upon fixteen field pieces. It is well if fix of them are calculated for much actual fervice. There are four brafs ones, of a small size, that may answer a good purpose. They have a few large iron cannon, two or three mortars and howitzers, cannon ball, and fhells; but they have only eighty-two half barrels of powder belonging to the public ftore; most towns have a small quantity, that however will be soon exhausted. Confidering what ought to be the cafe, to warrant a reasonable expectation of fuccefs, in a military conteft with a nation that abounds in all the apparatus of war, they may be pronounced deftitute of every article but men; and, though these are not wanting in natural courage, it will take a confiderable time to make them thorough good foldiers. They have neither money nor magazines.

LET.

THE

London, June 12, 1775.

HE reftraining and fifhery bill did not pass through the house of lords with lefs oppofition than what it had met with in the house of commons. Upon the motion for committing it after the fecond reading, the marquis of Rockingham oppofed it with great ability; and in the course of his fpeech fhowed, that in 1704 the whole amount of the exports to the New England colonies was only about 70,000l. annually; that in 1754 it had arisen to 180,000l. in the fucceeding ten years to 400,000l. and in the last ten years had nearly doubled that fum.

The bill was carried by a majority of more than three to one; but was productive of a proteft, figned by fixteen lords. It is particularly diftinguished, by the fevere cenfure paffed upon a lord high in office, who in the late debates, moft unadvisedly threw out a charge of general cowardice against the Americans.

The fishery bill had fcarcely cleared the house of commons, when Lord North brought in another, "To Mar. restrain the trade and commerce of the colonies of New 9. Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British islands in the West Indies, under certain conditions and limitations." While this bill was in agitation, a long feries

of