Warren's guest, Colonel Putnam, remained in town several days. The old hero, Putnam," Dr. Young writes, "arrived in town on Monday, bringing with him one hundred and thirty sheep from the little parish of Brooklyn. He cannot get away, he is so much. caressed, both by the officers and citizens. He has had a long combat with Major Small, in the political way, much to the disadvantage of the latter. He looks fresh and hearty, and, on an emergency, would be as likely to do good business as ever." The patriot received due notice in the newspapers, which said, he was so well known through North America, that no words were necessary to inform the public further than that his generosity led him to Boston, to cherish his oppressed brethren, and support them by every means in his power. The provisions of the Regulating Act forbade town-meetings, except by the permission of the governor; but the most of the towns of Suffolk met, and chose delegates-in all sixty-to attend a convention, held on the 16th, at Stoughton, at Colonel Doty's tavern. It was called "a county congress." Some of the towns had not had the requisite notice: it was found that "the committees of many towns were not specially authorized to negotiate the affairs of a county congress;" and, to enable all towns and districts to choose delegates, and thus "to show contempt for the act of parliament touching town-meetings," the convention, after adopting the form of a call,2 and choosing a committee to send it to the towns, adjourned to the 6th of September, in the town of 1 Letter, Aug. 19, 1774. 2 The call is in Proceedings of Mass. Hist. Soc., 1858-60, 291. Dedham. One of the Boston delegates says, "We were perfectly unanimous and firm in the common cause. Colonel Thayer particularly said, we must all appear undisguised upon one side or the other. Good Mr. Dunbar gave us the most extraordinary libertyprayer that ever I heard. He appeared to have the most divine, if not prophetical, enthusiasm in favor of our rights, and stood with us till eight o'clock at night. We rode all together in the berlin, with four horses and two servants, and returned at eleven o'clock at night in good health." On the day of this convention, the judges of the inferior court of Great Barrington were forced by the people to pledge their honor that they would do no business.2 Warren's time was now greatly occupied with public affairs. Among his students was Dr. William Eustis, subsequently member of congress, governor of Massachusetts, and secretary of war. He was now about twenty-one. His amiable character, fine address, and culture, won the strong attachment of Warren. The young student is found by the side of his instructor in trying scenes. He now sent the following note, in a neat handwriting, to Samuel Adams: I am [ BOSTON, Aug. 18, 1774. inform you that Dr. Warren would do himself the pleasure to write you; but opportunity will not permit it. He sends you the enclosed, and wishes you much prosperity. Mr. ADAMS. Sir, your very humble servant, This was an exciting week, and the correspondence was often in session. 1 Benjamin Kent to Samuel Adams, Aug. 20, 1774. W. EUSTIS.$ committee of "Letters and 8 Samuel Adams's manuscript papers. resolves," Young writes on the 19th, "come in to us from all quarters, and still on the rising tenor. Thirteen were received last Tuesday evening, and many are come to hand since. We meet every day or two as usual, and proceed with great harmony." Warren now wrote to Samuel Adams, that the county meeting, already appointed, would have important consequences: Joseph Warren to Samuel Adams. BOSTON, 21 Aug. [1774]. MY DEAR SIR, I received yours from Hartford, and enclose you the vote of the House, passed the 17th of June. I shall take care to follow your advice respecting the county meeting, which, depend upon it, will have very important consequences. The spirits of our friends rise every day; and we seem animated by the proofs, which every hour appear, of the villainous designs of our enemies, which justify us in all we have done to oppose them hitherto, and in all that we can do in future. A non-importation and non-exportation to Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies, is now the most moderate measure talked: it is my opinion, that nothing less will prevent bloodshed two months longer. The non-importation and non-exportation to Britain and Ireland ought to take place immediately, to the West Indies not until December next; because, should the non-exportation to the West Indies take place immediately, thousands of innocent people must inevitably perish: whereas, if it takes place at some distance, they, and the proprietors of the islands, may use their influence to ward off the blow; and, if they fail in that, they may come to the continent, where they will be treated with humanity. [By] stopping the exportation of flaxseed to Ireland, and giving them immediate notice, they may obtain a repeal of the Act soon enough to get their supply before sowing-time. This stoppage of exportation of flaxseed will not fall heavy upon any one in this country, as scarcely any farmer raises more than four, six, or eight bushels; but it will throw a million of people in Ireland out of bread. There are about one hundred thousand acres of land sowed in Ireland with flaxseed every year; and it is computed, that, with dressing and spinning, weaving, bleaching, &c., ten persons are employed by every acre; and the ministry will not find it easy to maintain so many persons in idleness, especially as the national revenue, if computed (as the best writers have computed) at eight millions sterling, will be oneeighth part lost by the loss of their trade with America and the West Indies. In my next, I will endeavor to make some calculations of the interest which the British nation have in the West Indies and Ireland; also how many Irish peers and peers of Great Britain: and, if I can (though I hardly know how to go about it), will give some pretty near guess at the number of members in the House of Commons, whose chief fortunes lie in Ireland and the West Indies. I enclose you all the papers, as far as they are printed. I think nothing material is omitted. The extract of a letter from London, dated June first, is from Mr. Sheriff Lee. The lord said to be virulent against America, in the cabinet, is Dartmouth, in the letter. The lord said to be brought over to American justice is Temple. The letter was written to the Hon. Mr. Cushing. I have now a matter of private concern to mention to you, by the desire of Mr. Pitts. Our friend, Mr. William Turner, has, as you know, been persecuted for his political sentiments, and ruined in his business. The dancing and fencing master, named Pike, in Charleston, South Carolina, is about leaving the school, and has invited Mr. Turner to take his place. I am myself, and I know you are, always deeply interested for the prosperity of persons of merit, who have suffered for espousing the cause of their country. If you can, by giving Mr. Turner his true character, interest the gentlemen with you in his favor, you will do a benevolent action, and oblige Mr. Pitts, Mr. Turner, and myself. If they could be induced to write to their friends, and know what encouragement he might expect, it might save him the expense of a journey which he can ill afford to take. I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, J. W. P.S.Please to make my respectful compliments to your three fellow-laborers. As far as I have been able to get information, their families and friends are in health. Let them know that I consider every thing I write to one of you is written to all. Great expectations are formed of the spirited resolves which the congress will pass relative to our traitors by mandamus. There was delay in organizing a body to receive the donations that were sent to Boston. The town, at the meeting on the 17th of June, authorized the overseers of the poor, as they were "a body politic by law," in concert with the committee of the ways and means of employing the poor, to receive and distribute the donations made to the town. Accordingly, the earliest replies to the committee are signed by order of this board. On the 19th of July, this body desired to be discharged from further service in relation to this subject; and, on the 26th of July, the committee on donations was finally organized. was a body distinct from the committee of correspondence, and its duties were urgent and arduous. One of them was to reply to the letters that were sent. with the contributions; and Warren wrote some of these replies. One of them was the following, addressed to Stonington, Connecticut: Joseph Warren to the Stonington Committee. BOSTON, Aug. 24, 1774. It GENTLEMEN, Your elegant and benevolent favor of the 1st instant yielded us that support and consolation amid our distresses, which the generous sympathy of assured friends can never fail to inspire. "Tis the part of this people to frown on danger, face to face; to stand the focus of rage and malevolence of the inexorable enemies of American freedom. Permit us to glory in the dangerous distinction; and be assured, that, while actuated by the spirit and confident of the aid of such noble auxiliaries, we are compelled to support the conflict. When liberty is the prize, who would shun the warfare? Who would stoop to waste a coward thought on life? We esteem no sacrifice too great, no conflict too severe, to redeem our inestimable rights and privileges. "Tis for you, brethren, for ourselves, for our united posterity, we hazard all; and permit us humbly to hope, that such a measure of vigilance, fortitude, and perseverance will still be afforded us, that, by patiently suffering and nobly daring, we may eventually secure that more precious than Hesperian fruit, the golden apples of freedom. We eye the hand of Heaven in the rapid and wonderful union of the colonies; and that generous and universal |