The Virginia Gazette

NEW YORK, September 8.

Yesterday, by a Gentleman just arrived from Boston, we received the following Intelligence in a printed Handbill.

The following is a Copy of a Letter, said to be wrote by General Brattle, to the Commander in Chief, viz.

CAMBRIDGE, August 29, 1774.

R. Brattle presents his Duty to his Excellency Governor Gage.

He apprehends it is his Duty to acquaint his Excellency, from Time to Time, of every Thing he hears and knows to be true, and is of Importance in these troublesome Times, which is the Apology Mr. Brattle makes for troubling the General with this Letter. Captain Minot of Concord, a very worthy Man, this Minute informed Mr. Brattle that there had been repeatedly made pressing Applications to him to warn his Company to meet at one Minute's Warning, equipped with Arms and Ammunition, according to Law. He had constantly denied them, adding, if he did not gratify them, he should be constrained to quit his Farms and Town. Mr. Brattle told him he had better do that than lose his Life and be hanged for a Rebel. He observed, that many Captains had done it, though not in the Regiment to which he belonged, which was, and is, under Colonel Elitha Jones, but in a neighbouring Regiment.

'Mr. Brattle begs Leave humbly to query, whether it would not be best that there should not be one commissioned Officer of the Militia in the Province.'

'This Morning the Selectmen of Medford came and received their Town Stock of Powder, which was in the Arsenal on Quarry Hill, so that there is now there in the King's Powder only, which shall remain there as a sacred Depositum, till ordered out by the Captain General.'

Extract of a Letter from Boston, September 2.

'In Consequence of the foregoing Letter, a Party of 250 Regulars set out early yesterday Morning to secure and bring away the Powder alluded to, which was effected without Loss or Damage. At the same Time a Party of 30 are said to have seized two Field Pieces belonging to the Cambridge Regiment of Militia. The Report of this Manoeuvre, exaggerated no Doubt in the Country, brought this Morning, on Cambridge Common, at least 2000 People from different Parts of the Country, in Order to learn the Truth of the Matter. They were unarmed, and demanded the publick Resignation of two Counsellors, Inhabitants of Cambridge, which was complied with; and after choosing several Persons to stop the great Numbers coming in from the distant Parts, said to be many Thousands, and being satisfied that the Governour had seized only the King's Powder, they peaceably dispersed.

'You cannot conceive what an uneasy Day we have had, from the different Reports circulated in this Town, some of which were of the most alarming Nature, and by credulous People easily swallowed.

'It is said the Governour is determined not to risk any Troops in the Country, till he is reinforced, being apprehensive of their Loss, from the amazing Number and Fury of our People, who are all provided with Arms and Ammunition, &c.'

The mysterious Manner in which the Powder was removed from Cambridge has alarmed the whole Country between Boston and this City, as well as the Province of Connecticut prepared, and many set off thence, in good Order, to relieve their Brethren. The Report was circulated with Exaggerations of the most dreadful Nature.
'Gentlemen, we have just now received Intelligence, by the Return of an Express which was sent on Purpose, who informs us that he met several Companies returning; but he still proceeded as far as Lebanon, where he saw and received certain Intelligence from Governor Trumbull's Sons, who went from here, and marched as far as Pomfret, where they had the Pleasure of finding that the Alarm of an Engagement having happened was premature. We rejoice with you, and the rest of our Brethren, on this joyful Occasion!

Humphrey Lyon, for Self and the Committee of Correspondence.'

To Captain James Hazelton, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Town of Haddam.

'We learn from the Boston Papers, that the Gentlemen summoned to serve on the Grand and Petty Juries, under the Parliamentary Establishment, have unanimously refused to be sworn; and that, after many Difficulties, the Court received, read, and returned to them, the Papers which they had brought and signed, containing the Reasons of their Refusal, grounded on the Impeachment of the Chief Justice by the Assembly of the Province, and the Act of Parliament for the Dissolution of their Charter.'