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you by Mr. Dana a pamphlet, which I wish was more deserving of your notice. The abililty and firmness with which you have defended the rights of mankind, and the liberties of this country in particular, have rendered you dear to all America. May you soon see your enemies deprived of the power of injuring you, and your friends in a situation to discover the grateful sense they have of your exertions in the cause of freedom.

I am, sir, with the greatest esteem and respect, your most obedient, humble servant, JOSEPH WARREN.1

Dr. FRANKLIN.

The Provincial Congress remained twelve days in session after the peremptory summons of the absent members; and Warren, a part of the time at least, attended the meetings. On the 7th, he was placed on the committee on the state of the province. On the recommendation of this committee, a resolve was passed, providing for delegations to repair forthwith to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, asking their co-operation and quotas in raising an army for the effectual security of New England and the continent. The same committee prepared for their delegates, instructions which dwelt on the importance of cementing and continuing that union. which had so happily taken place on this continent." Congress sent a circular to the committees of the towns round Boston, earnestly recommending that the militia and minute-men be put in the best posture for defence; but said that plans laid for the general good obliged them to request, that, whatever patience and forbearance it might require for the present, the committees should act on the defensive only until

1 The original of this letter, and the other letters alluded to in the text, are in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and printed in their proceedings, 1863-64.

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the further direction of the congress." They could not advise any measures "that the enemies of the cause might plausibly interpret as a commencement of hostilities." Having fixed on the 11th of May for a day of fasting and prayer, and provided for reassembling on any pressing exigency, congress, on the 15th of April, adjourned.

It was said in the British papers, that, by the 10th of April, an army of thirteen thousand would rendezvous in Boston, and that three major-generals were to be sent over to command it. This report was copied into the Boston journals. According to a statement drawn up by Colonel William Heath, and dated the 20th of March, there were at this time about 2,850 troops at Boston, who were distributed in the following localities: 80 in King Street, 340 on the Neck, 400 at Fort Hill, 1700 on the Common, and 330 at Castle William. The fortifications on the Neck are said to have been skilfully designed and thoroughly executed.2 Re-enforcements from England and other places were expected soon. There was the feeling among the officers, that the mere presence of the king's troops in the field would produce submission to the Regulating Act, and that there would be no fighting.

In connection with this feeling was the allegation of cowardice. Warren met this charge in the following clear and temperately worded note, printed in his 1 Essex Gazette, April 11, 1775.

* Proceedings of Massachusetts Historical Society, 1858-60, 292, where the report entire may be seen.

$ Life of Lord Harris, 46, who was an officer. In the Boston papers of April 17, it is said that the Twenty-second, Thirty-fifth, Fortieth, Forty-fourth, Fortyninth, and Sixty-third Regiments of Foot and the Seventeenth of Dragoons were expected.

oration. It is written in the repose of a heroic spirit, who was deeply moved at the insults that were heaped on his countrymen:

"The patience with which this people have borne the injuries which have been heaped upon them, and their unwillingness to take any sanguinary measures, has, very injudiciously, been ascribed to cowardice, by persons both here and in Great Britain. I most heartily wish that an opinion so erroneous in itself and so fatal in its consequences might be utterly removed before it is too late; and I think nothing further necessary to convince every intelligent man, that the conduct of this people is owing to the tender regard which they have for their fellowmen, and an utter abhorrence to the shedding of human blood, than a little attention to their general temper and disposition, discovered when they cannot be supposed to be under any apprehension of danger to themselves. I will only mention the universal detestation which they show to every act of cruelty, by whom and upon whomsoever committed, the mild spirit of their laws, the very few crimes to which capital penalties are annexed, and the very great backwardness which both courts and juries discover in condemning persons charged with capital crimes. But, if any should think this observation not to the purpose, I readily appeal to those gentlemen in the army who have been in the camp or in the field with the Americans."

It was now expected that General Gage would order arrests of the popular leaders; it was said that parliament would pass Bills of attainder against the Bostonians; and the aspect of affairs became so serious, that a number of families moved into the country, and carried with them their valuable effects.1 Samuel Adams and John Hancock were persuaded to retire to the residence of Rev. Jonas Clark, a patriotic clergyman, in Lexington. It is one of the doubtful stories of the time, that the officers formed a scheme to seize Adams, Hancock, and Warren, which an acci

1 Newspapers, April 10.

dent frustrated.1 Warren's friends felt apprehensions for his safety. As one of his students, Dr. Eustis, returned home one evening, he passed a party of officers who appeared to be on the watch; and he advised Warren not to visit his patients that evening. But Warren, putting his pistols in his pocket, replied, "I have a visit to make to Mrs., in Cornhill, this evening, and I will go at once: come with me."2 It was about this time, when he was moved by the taunts which the officers were uttering, that he said to Eustis, "These fellows say we won't fight: by Heavens, I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood!"3 One day he was passing the place at the Neck where the gallows stood, and met three officers, one of whom insultingly said, "Go on, Warren: you will soon come to the gallows." Warren turned, walked up to the officers, and calmly asked who it was that uttered these words, but received no reply.*

Warren did not attend the meetings of the committee of safety in April. They held their sessions

1 Moore's Diary of the Revolution, i. 157. When George Chalmers was preparing his history of the revolt of the American colonies, he addressed to General Gage a series of questions, some of which refer to this period. One of these related to an alleged design of "the malcontents" to surprise Boston, with a view to massacre the troops." In one of the replies of Chalmers, he says:"On the arrival of two vessels at Marblehead, on the 8th of April, 1775, an unusual hurry and commotion was perceived among the disaffected. It being on a Sunday morning, Dr. Cooper, a notorious rebel, was officiating in his meetinghouse, and, on notice given him, pretended sudden sickness, went home, and sent to another clergyman to do his duty in the evening. He, with every other chief of the faction, left Boston before night, and never returned to it. The cause, at the time unknown, was discovered on the 14th of said month, when a vessel arrived with Government despatches, which contained directions to seize the persons of certain notorious rebels. It was too late. They had received timely notice of their danger, and were fled."-4th Series of Mass. Hist. Soc. Collections, vol. iv. 8 Ib. See p. 168.

2 Tudor's Life of Otis, 466.

* Loring's Hundred Boston Orators, 48.

at Concord. The absence doubtless was for weighty reasons. He had resolved to abandon his profession, and enter the army; and, as the crisis approached, he devoted some time each day to a regular practice of the manual exercise.1 His letters show that he watched narrowly the motions of the army. As he knew their numbers, knew also the preparations for self-defence that had been' matured by the patriots, he was confident, that, in case offensive operations were attempted, the militia would appear in the field in sufficient numbers to defeat them. The organization of a watch, and of couriers to alarm the country, by the committee of safety, have been already stated.

General Gage sent two officers, disguised as farmers, into the interior to ascertain the places where the provincials had gathered stores, sites for encampments, and the state of the country. They, though narrowly watched by the patriots, succeeded in their object; and, besides an interesting narrative showing the spirit of the people, they presented to General Gage a rudely sketched map of the roads as far as Concord and Worcester. It was now (April 4) said in the journals, that a considerable number of army wagons were ready for use, that blacksmiths were employed in making crow's-feet, and the army seemed to be preparing for a march. A week later, it was suggested that Worcester would be the point to which the army would march, with the view to protect the courts under the Regulating Act.2 A NewYork letter, in remarking on the probability that the troops would take the field, said to the Massachusetts patriots, "For Heaven's sake, be watchful and firm, as 2 Salem Gazette, April 10.

1 Tudor's Otis, 466.

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