The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, Dec. 16.

In Provincial Congress, CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 10, 1774—

To the FREEHOLDERS and other INHABITANTS of the towns and districts of Massachusetts Bay.

Friends and Brethren,

At a time when the good people of this colony were deprived of their laws, and the administration of justice, civil and criminal; when the cruel oppressions brought on their capital had stagnated almost all their commerce; when a standing army was illegally posted among us for the express purpose of enforcing submission to a system of tyranny; and when the General Court was with the same design prohibited to it; we were chosen and empowered by you to assemble and consult upon measures necessary for our common safety and defence.

With much anxiety for the common welfare, we have attended this service; and, upon the coolest deliberation, have adopted the measures recommended to you.

We have still confidence in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of our Sovereign, as well as the integrity, humanity, and good sense of the nation; and if we had a reasonable expectation that the truth of facts would be made known in England, we should entertain the most pleasing hopes that the measures concerted by the colonies, jointly and severally, would procure a full redress of our grievances: But we are constrained, in justice to you, to ourselves and posterity, to say, that the incessant and unrelenting malice of our enemies has been so successful as to fill the Court and kingdom of Great Britain with falsehoods and calumnies concerning us, and to excite the most bitter and groundless prejudices against us; that the sudden dissolution of Parliament, and the hasty summons for a new election, gives us reason to apprehend that a majority of the House of Commons will be again elected under the influence of an arbitrary Ministry: and that the general tenor of our intelligence from Great Britain, with the frequent reinforcements of the army and navy at Boston excites the strongest jealousy that the system of colony administration, so unfriendly to the protestant religion, and destructive of American liberty, is still to be pursued, and attempted with force to be carried into execution.

You are placed by Providence in the post of honour, because it is a post of danger; and while struggling for the noble objects, the liberties of your country, the happiness of posterity, and rights of human nature, the eyes not only of North America and the whole British empire, but of all Europe, are upon you. Let us be therefore altogether solicitous that no disorderly behaviour, nothing unbecoming our characters as Americans, as citizens, and Christians, be justly chargeable to us.

Whoever, with a small degree of attention, contemplates the commerce between Great Britain and America, will be convinced that a total stoppage thereof will soon produce in Great Britain such dangerous effects as cannot fail to convince the Ministry, Parliament, and people, that it is their interest and duty to grant us relief. Whoever considers the number of brave men inhabiting North America will know that a general attention to military discipline must so establish their rights and liberties, as, under God, to render it impossible for an arbitrary Ministry of Britain to destroy them. These are facts which our enemies are apprised of, and if they will not be influenced by principles of justice to alter their cruel measures towards America, these ought to lead them thereto. They, however, hope to effect by stratagem what they may not obtain by power, and are using arts, by assistance of base scribblers, who undoubtedly receive their bribes, and by many other means, to raise doubts and divisions throughout the colonies.

To defeat their iniquitous designs, we think it necessary for each town to be particularly careful strictly to execute the plans of the Continental and Provincial Congresses; and while it censures its own individuals, counteracting these plans, that it be not deceived or diverted from its duty by rumours, should any take place, to the prejudice of other communities. Your Provincial Congress, we have reason to hope, will hold up the towns, if any should be so lost as not to act their parts, and none can doubt that the Continental Congress will rectify errors, should any take place in any colony through the subtlety of our enemies. Surely no arguments can be necessary to excite you to the most strict adherence to the American association since The minutest deviation in one colony, especially in this, will probably be misrepresented in the others, to discourage their general zeal and perseverance, which, however, we assure ourselves cannot be effected.

Whilst the British Ministry are suffered, with so high a hand, to tyrannise over America, no part of it, we presume, can be negligent in guarding against the ravages threatened by the standing army now in Boston: These troops will undoubtedly be employed in attempts to defeat the association, which our enemies cannot but fear will eventually defeat them; and so sanguinary are those our enemies, as we have reason to think, so thirsty for the blood of this innocent people, who are contending for their rights, that we should be guilty of the most unpardonable neglect should we not apprise you of your danger, which appears to us imminently great, and ought attentively to be guarded against. The improvement of the militia in general in the art military has been therefore thought necessary, and strongly recommended by this Congress. We now think that particular care should be taken by the towns and districts in this colony, that each of the minute men, not already provided therewith, should be immediately equipped with an effective fire arm, bayonet, pouch, knapsack, thirty rounds of cartridges and ball, and that they be disciplined three times a week, and oftener, as opportunity may offer: To encourage these our worthy countrymen to obtain the skill of complete soldiers, we recommend it to the towns and districts forthwith to pay their own minute men a reasonable consideration for their services; and, in case of a general muster, their farther services must be recompensed by the province. An attention to discipline the militia in general is however by no means to be neglected.

With the utmost cheerfulness, we assure you of our determination to stand or fall with the liberties of America; and while we humbly implore the Sovereign Disposer of all things, to whose divine providence the right of his creatures cannot be indifferent, to correct the errors, and alter the measures of an infatuated Ministry, we cannot doubt of his support, even in the extreme difficulties which we may all have to encounter. May all means devised for our safety by the General Congresses of America, and assemblies or conventions of the colonies, be resolutely executed, and happily succeeded; and may this injured people be reinstated in the full exercise of their rights, without the evils and devastations of a civil war.

Signed by order of the Provincial Congress,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

A true extract from the minutes,

Benjamin Lincoln, Secretary.