The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

A Letter from a Gentleman in London to his Friend in the American Camp, dated Aug, 24, 1775

I am greatly pleased, and also greatly affected, by your letter : the times are full of danger and distress, & such times as we could never have expected. This horrid civil war astonishes all Europe ; and will be both the wonder and the execration of future ages. The Americans, however, will be fully acquitted, by all impartial historians ; for it must always be confessed, that their moderation has been beyond all example, for men that were previously determined not to be enslaved. But what will be said of our K---, our ministry, and our parliament; Can there be found ink black enough to record their crimes ; for surely no crime can be of a deeper dye than premeditated murder ; & such it most certainly is, in all the abettors of the ministerial mandates ; wherefore, (as St. Paul says) " May the Lord reward them, according to their works."

I congratulate you most sincerely, on the success that has hitherto attended the Provincials ; a success the more flattering to me, as it was in some degree unexpected ; for tho' I doubted not the justice of your cause, nor had the least suspicion of your courage, as individuals ; yet something more goes to the gaining of a battle, in the open field ; and I must confess, I did fear, that the first onset of the regulars would have made such an impression, that your troops must have given way ; I am sincerely glad it has proved otherwise, and I prophesy that the brave Provincials will give additional proofs both of courage and discipline in every future engagement.

But after all, I am rather hurt by this delay, and was in hopes before now to have heard that they were in possession of Boston. What is the occasion of their procrastination ? Do the Americans think it unfair to attack the few troops that are there, and wish for a more equal combat ? or do they wait the event of the petition from the Congress ? Believe me when I assure you, that if some capital stroke is not struck during the present campaign, your cause will suffer greatly ; as you may rest assured that no accommodation is intended from hence; however you may be amused with protestations of that sort ; but on the contrary, when matters are a little riper for it, all the powers of hell are to be let loose upon you ; and if you find it difficult to dislodge 6000 men from their holds, how will you repulse 20,000 ? for so many will certainly come, and some of them very shortly.

On our part, we can do nothing but rail at the government, without taking one step towards righting ourselves, or aiding you. Oppressed as we are by a tory ministry, who are supported by a venal parliament ; and nearly equally divided without doors, what remains for us, but to cure our own luxury and effeminacy, and to look back with astonishment at the Pyms and Hampdens of former times. characters which we have not virtue to imitate

It is with pleasure I hear that you are forward in your works of Salt Petre and Gun Powder. You offer noble premiums of encouragement ; and they must be continued; as no price should be spared for so essential an article.

I am informed that a blustering proclamation is coming out declaring the Americans to be in a state of rebellion ; names can't alter the nature of things, and I apprehend that wise men will pay very little regard to the peremptory orders of a despotic ministry. when unsupported by the constitution.

I write to many of my friends by this conveyance: some of them may possibly have sealed your glorious cause with their blood. before this reaches you.--Peace and glory to their respected shades! As for myself, tho' I am no soldier, be assured in all confidence, that I shall not cease to wish well to American Liberty, nor fail to give more signal proofs of my attachment to the support of it, than mere wishes, when a suitable occasion presents itself.