The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

Extract of a letter from an inland part of New-York government, to a Gentleman in Boston.

"I take up my pen, to address you but in what terms, I know not. I am filled with horror and indignation, by the news of the siege laid against your town. I am not alone in my surprize, the whole country is in wrath, and only want to know what they shall do, to do it with all their might. Surely this is a day of trouble and adversity. The children are bro't to the birth and there is not strength to bring forth. However it may be the Lord our God will hear the words of T-s G—ge whom the K—g of E—g—d his Master, hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord God hath heard spoken by him against our land. Wherefore be not afraid of the words which you have heard spoken by the servants of the K—g of E—g—d, who have blasphemed against the God of New England, saying in like manner as Benhadad the King of Syria said unto Ahab King of Israel: Thy silver and thy gold is mine, thy wives also and thy children even the goodliest are mine. You need not trust in your God to deliver you out of my hand: For when did the God of any nation deliver them when I went against them? Where were the gods of France or the gods of Ireland, that they were not delivered out of my hand? Who are they of all the gods of those nations that have delivered their country out of my hand, that ye should think the Lord will deliver New-England out of my hand. I doubt not but some such like sentiments as these inspire the councils of the K—g of E—g—d. God grant they may be confounded and come to naught! The time, it seems, is come, when this country is to feel what Samuel foretold the Israelites respecting the behavior of their demanded King, when their children are to be made servants, their silver and gold taken away; their fields, their vineyards and their olive yards, even the best of them, taken and given to his servants.

"People here feel distress for you—all conclude the fate of America depends on your standing or falling. There are thousands that will aid you, even with their blood if required. but God grant there may be no occasion for such a sacrifice. I trust the firm resolution of the colonies to suspend trade with Great Britain, will peaceably answer the end. I long to hear how you and your poor people bear up under their trials. We, in this part of the world, earnestly hope you will not be righted or drove to surrender the rights and liberties of America, into the hands of a despotic ministry: You may depend upon the justice and benevolence of your countrymen, your poor will not long suffer for provision. I doubt not you will soon be supplied with a sufficiency to sustain you a ten years siege. We have the greatest prospect of a plenteous harvest that ever we had, and should the proposed suspension take place we shall have little else to do with it."