Cover Letter from Joseph Warren
5/3/1775
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Joseph Warren, a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress at Watertown, wrote this letter to the Continental Congress. In this letter, Joseph Warren explains that the enclosed packet contains copies of depositions which have been dispatched for London.
This and other documents about the battles at Lexington and Concord are included in the Massachusetts State Papers from 1775 - 1787, in the Papers of the Continental Congress.
This and other documents about the battles at Lexington and Concord are included in the Massachusetts State Papers from 1775 - 1787, in the Papers of the Continental Congress.
Transcript
In Provincial Congress, Watertown, May 3rd, 1775To the Honorable American Continen-tal Congress, to be conven'd at Philadelphia on the tenth of May Instant. -
May it please your Honours,
The Congress of this Colony, impressed with the deepest Concern for their Country under the present critical and alarming State of its public Affairs, beg leave with the most respectful Submissions, whilst acting in Support of the Cause of America to request the direction of assistance of your respectable Assembly - The inclosed packet containing the Copies of Depositions, which we have dispatched for London, also an Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, and a Letter to our Colony Agent, Benjamin Franklin Esq, are humbly Submitted to your Consideration - The Sanguinary Zeal of the ministerial Army to ruin and destroy the Inhabitants of this Colony, in the Opinion of this Congress hath rendered the Establishment of an [evidence of erasure, possibly "American" written here] Army indispensably necessary - We have accordingly passed an unanimous Resolve for thirteen thousand six hundred men to be forthwith
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raised by this Colony, and proposals are made by us to the Congress of New Hampshire & Governments of Rhode Island and Connecticut Colonies, for furnishing men in the same proportion. The sudden exigency of our public affairs precluded the possibilities of waiting for your direction in these important measures, more especially, as a considerable reinforcement from Great Britain is daily expected in this Colony, and we are now reduced to the sad alternative of defending ourselves by arms or submitting to be slaughtered. With the greatest deference, we beg leave to suggest that a powerful army on the side of America hath been considered by this Congress as the only means left to stem the rapid progress of a tyrannical ministry. Without a force superior to our enemies, we must reasonably expect to become the victims of their relentless fury; with such a force, we may still have hopes of seeing an immediate end put to the inhuman ravages of mercenary troops in America, and the wicked authors of our miseries brought to condign punishment by the just indignation of our brethren in Great Britain. We hope that this Colony will at all times be ready to spend and be spent in the cause of America. It is nevertheless a misfortune greatly operating to its disadvantage, that it has a great number of sea port towns exposed to the approach of the enemy by sea; from
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many of which, the inhabitants have removed & are now removing their families & effects to avoid destruction from ships of war. These we apprehend will be generally distressed from want of subsistence and disabled from contributing aid for supporting the Forces of the Colony, but we have the greatest confidence in the Wisdom and ability of the Continent to support us. So far as it shall appear necessary for supporting the common cause of the American Colonies. We also inclose several resolves for impowering and directing our Receiver General to borrow the (missing) of one hundred thousand Pounds Lawful money and to issue his Note for the same, it being the only measure which we cond(missing) have recourse to for supporting our Forces; and we request your assistance in rendering our measures effectual by giving our Notes a currency through the Continent.
Jos Warren Presedt PT (signed)
To The Hon. the President of the American Continental Congress in Philadelphia No. 1 Letter from the Congress of Massachusetts bay to the contin-ental Congress. dated Water town May 3, 1775 rec'd & read May 11th
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 6882945
Full Citation: Cover Letter from Joseph Warren, Massachusetts Provincial Congress at Watertown, to the Continental Congress; 5/3/1775; Massachusetts State Papers; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 - 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cover-letter-joseph-warren, April 26, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.