-- their homes. On this day, Warren read in congress a letter from a Connecticut committee of correspondence well calculated to nerve the desponding and to cheer on the brave: "Every preparation," the letter said, "is making to support your province.""The ardor of our people is such that they cannot be kept back. The colonels are to forward a part of the best men, and most ready, as fast as possible; the remainder to be ready at a moment's warning." On this day, it was voted to raise an army of 13,600 men, as the quota of Massachusetts in the army of 30,000, which it was resolved ought to be raised. In the afternoon, Hancock, the regular president, being absent, it was voted to choose a president pro tempore, when a committee reported that "the vote was full for Dr. Warren." Papers bearing his signature, while acting in this capacity, occur henceforward to the day of his death. He said to-day to Dr. Belknap, "The town must be cleared, and would be soon."1 On the 24th, the following commission, which has Warren's autograph, was given to "Captain Ebenezer Winship," and dated, "In committee of safety:" "Sir, you are to enlist a company of rangers, whereof Jonathan Brewer is colonel. You are hereby empowered immediately to enlist a company, to consist of fifty-nine able-bodied and effective men, including sergeants, as soldiers in the Massachusetts service, for the preservation of American liberty, and cause them to muster as soon as possible. Jos. WARREN, chairman." The signature is in his large handwriting. On the 25th, the following resolve was passed, 1 Belknap's Memoirs, 90. which is in Warren's handwriting: "In committee of safety. Resolved that be ordered, with the troops of horse under his command, to proceed forward as an escort to the honorable members of the Continental Congress, on their way to Philadelphia, until they are met by an escort from the colony of Connecticut.-Jos. WARREN, chairman." One of the delegates was Samuel Adams, and the friends parted for the last time. On the 26th, Warren's intimate friend, Josiah Quincy, jun., died as he reached his native land. His biographer says, "He repeatedly said to the seaman on whose attentions he was chiefly dependent, that he had but one desire and prayer, which was that he might live long enough to have an interview with Samuel Adams or Joseph Warren; that granted, he should die content. This wish of the patriot's heart Heaven, in its inscrutable wisdom, did not grant." On this day, Warren penned the following letter in relation to the New-Hampshire forces, copied from the original, in his handwriting: 1775, CAMBRIDGE, April 26. SIR,- Our friends from New Hampshire have shown their readiness to assist us on this day [of] distress: therefore thought it best to give orders for enlisting such as were present in the service of this colony, as many desired something might be done to hold them together until the resolve of your congress is known, when we are ready and desirous they should be discharged from us, and put under such command as you shall direct. Colonel Sargeant has been so kind as to afford his utmost assistance in conducting this matter. On the 27th, Warren addressed the following letter to Arthur Lee, which shows the views with which he was now acting as the head of the popular cause: CAMBRIDGE, April 27, 1775. MY DEAR SIR, -Our friend Quincy just lived to come on shore to die in his own country. He expired yesterday morning. His virtues rendered him dear, and his abilities useful, to his country. The wicked measures of Administration have at length brought matters to a crisis. I think it probable that the rage of the people, excited by the most clear view of the cursed designs of Administration and the barbarous effusion of the blood of their countrymen, will lead them to attack General Gage, and burn the ships in the harbor. Lord Chatham and our friends must make up the breach immediately or never. If any thing terrible takes place, it will not now do to talk of calling the colonies to account for it, but must be attributed to the true cause, -the unheard-of provocations given to this people. They never will talk of accommodation until the present ministry are entirely removed. You may depend, the colonies will sooner suffer depopulation than come into any measures with them. The next news from England must be conciliatory, or the connection between us ends, however fatal the consequences may be. Prudence may yet alleviate the misfortunes and calm the convulsions into which the empire is thrown by the madness of the present Administration. May Almighty God direct you. If any thing is proposed that may be for the honor and safety of Great Britain and these colonies, my utmost efforts shall not be wanting. I am in the utmost haste, surrounded by fifteen or twenty thousand men. P.S. - The narrative sent to Dr. Franklin contains a true state of facts; but it was difficult to make the people willing that any notice should be taken of the matter, by way of narrative, until the army and navy were taken, or driven away. J. W.1 On the 28th, Warren was appointed by the committee of safety to express its sentiments relative to Lord Dartmouth's circular letter to the governors of the colonies. This circular, with other declara 1 This letter is copied from the original in the archives in Harvard-College Library. It will not agree with the copy in "Life of Arthur Lee," 267. The last sentence of the second paragraph there reads, "If any thing is proposed which may be for the honor and safety of Great Britain and these colonies, my utmost efforts shall not be wanting to effect a reconciliation;" the four last words being an interpolation. tions, says that His Majesty was determined to resist every attempt to encourage, in the colonies, ideas of independence. Warren's letter shows that he was of opinion, that the next news from England must be conciliatory, or the connection between the two countries would end. On this day, he was placed on a committee to consider the condition of the inhabitants of Boston; and he was the chairman of a committee appointed by the Provincial Congress to confer with a delegation from New Hampshire. In a letter addressed to the patriots of that colony, congress said, that the conviction was general in Massachusetts and the other colonies, that, by their immediate and most vigorous exertions, there was the greatest prospect of establishing these liberties and saving the country. On the 29th, the Provincial Congress, and the committee of safety, were in session. I select from the varied business of that day the following report, which has Warren's autograph: IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, CAMBRIDGE, April 29, 1775. Agreeably to the order of the Provincial Congress, this committee have inquired into the state and situation of the cannon and ordnance stores, with the provision made for the companies of artillery, and beg leave to report as follows; viz., In Cambridge, six three-pounders complete, with ammunition, and one six-pounder. In Watertown, sixteen pieces of artillery of different sizes. The said six-pounder and sixteen pieces will be taken out of the way, and the first-mentioned six pieces will be used in the proper way of defence. Captain Forster is appointed to command one of the companies of artillery, and ordered to enlist said company. Captain William Lee, of Marblehead, [is] sent for to take the command of another; and several other persons [are] sent for to take command for other companies. Jos. WARREN, Chairman. On the 30th, Sunday, Warren kept mostly with the committee of safety, which met in Cambridge; and he passed an uncommonly anxious and busy day. The Tories in Boston were alarmed at the exodus of the inhabitants, and were desirous to retain them as hostages for the safety of the town. On their remonstrance against the departure of so many, General Gage, on various pretexts, forbade their going out. Warren received a letter on this subject from the selectmen; and the committee on this day were occupied in considering it. Meantime the Provincial Congress, which was also in session at Watertown, directed a letter to be sent in the afternoon to Warren, in which, after expressing the anxiety of the members on account of the distress of the people of Boston, it said this body "sat in almost impatient expectation, by several adjournments, since seven o'clock this morning." The committee of safety reported to Congress, probably through Warren, a resolve providing for a system of permits to facilitate ingress and egress from the town, which was printed with his name attached to it. This subject occasioned the following letter to the selectmen, which I copy from the original in his handwriting, which expresses his feeling for his "ever-dear town of Boston:" Joseph Warren to the Selectmen of Boston. GENTLEMEN, - Enclosed you CAMBRIDGE, April 30, 1775. have a resolve of congress, which we hope will remove every obstacle to [the] removal of our friends from Boston. The necessity of going from this town to Watertown, in order to lay the proposals of this committee before the Provincial Congress, we hope will suggest to you an apology for any supposed |