stitutional, of what importance are their determinations? Salus populi suprema lex esto is a precious old maxim. The ministry have forgot it; but the people are determined to remember it.

We consider a suspension of trade through the continent with Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies, as the grand machine that will deliver us. If this should fail, we must then have recourse to the last resort. As yet, we have been preserved from action with the soldiery; and we shall endeavor to avoid it, until we see that it is necessary, and settled plan is fixed on for that purpose. The late Acts of Parlia ment are such gross infringements on us, that our consciences forbid us to submit to them. We think it is better to put up with some inconvenience, and pursue with patience the plan of commercial opposition, as it will be more for the honor and interest of the continent, as well as more consistent with the principles of humanity and religion.

Mr. Gage finds himself very unequal to the task that is set him, and is at a loss for measures. He sees, and is astonished at, the spirit of the people. He forbids their town-meetings, and they meet in counties. If he prevents county meetings, we must call provincial meetings; and, if he forbid these, we trust that our worthy brethren on the continent, and especially of the town of Norwich, in Connecticut, will lend us their helping arms in time of danger, and will be no less conspicuous for their fortitude than they now are for their generosity.

We have nothing important to inform you of besides what you see in the public papers. Should any thing worthy your notice take place, we shall gladly communicate it to you.

We are, gentlemen, your grateful friends and humble servants,

JOSEPH WARREN,

Per order the Committee of Donations.

To the Gentlemen the Committee of the Town of Norwich.1

The following hastily written note shows how energetically Warren was "helping forward the political machines in all parts of the province:"

Joseph Warren to Samuel Adams.

BOSTON, Aug. 29, 1774.

DEAR SIR, -I have enclosed all the late public papers worthy your notice, and shall, by the next opportunity, give you all the public 1 This letter is printed in Mass. Hist. Soc. Collections, 4th series, iv. 46.

intelligence in my power. Haste now prevents it, as I am constantly busied in helping forward the political machines in all parts of this province. Friend Quincy is going to London. I wish he may have such letters from you and the other gentlemen of the congress as may make him immediately noticed by persons of distinction there. Messrs. Paine of Worcester, Oliver of Salem, Winslow of Roxbury, and Pepperell of Roxbury, have resigned their seats at the Board. Nothing will satisfy the people here but a resolve of the congress never to commence any commercial intercourse with Britain whilst one person who has accepted a commission, or acted under the authority of the late Acts of Parliament, is [in] any office of power or trust in America. This, say they (and justly), is the only measure that can save us from being perpetually plagued with villains who will traduce their country to advance themselves to places of trust and gain. Mr. Webster, the bearer hereof, a merchant of Philadelphia, is a man of very extensive political knowledge, especially respecting commerce. I wish you to see him and converse with him.

I shall write you particulars by the next opportunity, and am your most humble servant and constant friend, Jos. WARREN.1

The determination to avoid a collision with the British soldiery was put to a severe test by the endeavors of both parties to secure what they could of the scanty stock of arms and ammunition in the province. The powder belonging to towns and the province was kept in the Powder House, in Charlestown, in the portion which is now Somerville. The towns had withdrawn their portion. Very early on the morning of the 1st of September, a detachment of soldiers went from Boston in boats, landed at Temple's farm, passed over to Quarry Hill to the Powder House, and carried the powder and some cannon to Castle William. This was the occasion of the famous "Powder Alarm," which was sounded not merely through Middlesex county, but through the

1 This letter is printed from the original in the possession of Mr. Bancroft.

province and into other colonies, causing a great commotion. There was a large gathering before evening; and, the next morning, the people, with arms in their hands, assembled in Cambridge. The ever-vigilant committees, early in the morning, sent several messengers into Boston asking the aid of the committee of correspondence. Warren, on being informed that his presence was needed to prevent an immediate outbreak, at six o'clock, notified such of the committee as he could, crossed over the ferry to Charlestown, met several of its committee of correspondence, and by eight o'clock was in the midst of the excited multitude in Cambridge. Counsellor Danforth was addressing about four thousand people, and resigning his commission. Warren now used his influence efficiently to prevent a collision with the troops, spent the day with this company of freemen, and was witness of their patience, temperance, and fortitude, as they compelled obnoxious officials to obey the popular will. The governor wisely remained inactive. In Warren's judgment, had the troops marched out of Boston against this body of men, not a man would have returned. On this day, he addressed a letter in reply to the committee of the town of East Haddam, which, in contributing "its mite for the relief of the poor," said, "As you are the first that are attacked as the head of all America, and so more immediately suffering, yet all the members, in a greater or lesser degree, are suffering with you."

45

Reply to East Haddam.

BOSTON, Sept. 1, 1774.

GENTLEMEN, The town of East Haddam, in their letter of the 24th August, discover such a cordial sympathy for our distress, and give such a pleasing proof of their resolution to assist us, as makes us more than ever determined to support our sufferings with a philosophic fortitude. Boston is the stage on which our tyrants choose to act at present; but how soon they will choose to figure in some spot where they have a greater probability of success, time only will discover. We hope, however, to convince them, that not only Boston, but all America, is designed by Heaven for an asylum for oppressed and injured virtue, rather than to be a theatre of sport for usurping despots. The late Acts of Parliament are cruel and oppressive to the last degree. That for blockading our harbor is perhaps without a parallel; but we are, nevertheless, of opinion that they have operated for our advantage. Our enemies imagined, that, by exhibiting to our view some signal instances of their immediate power to distress us, we should be intimidated; that we should submit to kiss the rod, and beg them to accept of our obedience. They now see that we are neither to be persuaded nor frighted from that standard which we are most sacredly bound to protect. They have done their utmost, and it is ineffectual. In policy, we flatter ourselves they have not exceeded us. Arms are as yet untried. There was a time when some good men among us were insensible of their danger, and seemed to prefer obscurity to action; but the late manœuvres of tyranny have roused them from their lethargy, and they now pant for the field in which the fate of our country is to be decided.

Nothing has so damped the spirits of those who aspire to be our masters, as the accounts we are daily receiving of the glorious spirit that inspires the different parts of the continent. Some have believed, or have pretended to believe, that, if the faction in Boston was quelled, the provinces would acquiesce in whatever changes Administration were pleased to make in the charter and constitution of the Massachusetts Bay. But now they see that a firm bond is formed in America, which the most powerful monarch on earth will not easily break.

You will be pleased to accept our most hearty wishes for a continuance of your friendship; and gratitude and justice oblige us to tell you, that the Colony of Connecticut have behaved to us like brothers,

and signalized themselves in the cause of American liberty in such a manner as will redound to their honor so long as the sun and moon endure.

The generous benefaction from the town of East Haddam, so modestly mentioned in your letter, excites those emotions which the grateful hearts of their brethren here can better conceive than express. We are, gentlemen, with sincerity, your much obliged servants,

JOSEPH WARREN,

Per order of the Committee of Donations.

To Mr. DANIEL Brainerd and others of the Committee of East Haddam.1

Warren now wrote to Samuel Adams, that he never saw a more glorious prospect than there then was, and that the generous spirit of their ancestors seemed to have revived beyond the most sanguine expectations. Though it seemed to him that the cord which bound the province to the king was by his act cut asunder, yet he was aware that the subject of a change in the Government should be handled very gently and cautiously, lest the Massachusetts patriots should be thought, for the advantage of their colony only, to aim at more than the other colonies were willing to contend for with Britain. Thus was the idea of union ever present with the popular leaders. It will be seen, that, though the first of the two following letters is without date, both were of the 4th of September:

Joseph Warren to Samuel Adams.

DEAR SIR, Our friends, Drs. Church and Young (whose letters I have seen), write so fully to you by this conveyance, that it will be needless for me to take up your time in giving a minute account of what has passed since my last. I can only assure you, that I never saw a more glorious prospect than the present. The generous spirit of our ancestors seems to have revived beyond our most sanguine expectations. I promised you, in my last, some account of the mighty

1 This letter is printed in 4th series of Mass. Hist. Soc. Collections, iv. 58.