[Previous copy of letter not transcribed, see page image.]

Boston November 17th 1774

Gentlemen

Your kind letter of the 17th of October came safe to hand
When we reflect on the great importance of the Controversey in which
we are engaged, when we consider that America will be free and
happy or servilely wretched according as we conduct ourselves we
tremble; but that we are contending for our Rights -- that the Continent
supports us makes us confident and determined. -- The plan which
has been so long concerted to deprive America of her Rights seems now
to be executing, and that the Ministry have chosen the Town of Boston
as their first victims, that we are sequester'd from all America
for a Criterion by which they shall determine how far the idea of
despotic Government is compatiable with the sentiments of free born
Americans, gives us no concern, because the spirit which is discover'd

in Middletown has diffused itself through the Continent. Many
have been the devices; subtle have been the schemes, and low the
Artifices made use of to sow dissention and division, but the virtue
of our Country has risen Superior to them all, and we see a band now
formed which will encourage our friends and confound our enemies.
The Ministrey have hitherto kept the people of Great Britain igno-
rant of the true state of America: they have by bribes and falsehoods
deceived the nation: truth and justice were never so effectually en-
veloped in the thick clouds of calumny and detraction: the merce-
nary writers they have employ'd to misrepresent, vilify, and abuse
the Bostonians afford us a striking instance of the base methods
they pursue to ruin us; we have however the best grounds to think
that the tide is turning in our favor. -- the eyes of the People of
Britain begin to be opened -- "The coolness, temper, and firmness
"of the Americans proceedings the unanimity of all the Colonies in
"the same sentiments of their Rights and of the injustice offer'd to
"Boston, and the patience with which those injuries are at present
"borne without the least appearance of submission have a good deal
"surprized and disappointed our enemies; and the Tone of publick
" conversations, which has been so violently against us, begins evidently
"to turn" This is the language of as good a friend as America has in
England and whose Authority we can rely on. and if this most
desireable change had taken place before the proceedings of the Ameri-
can Congress were known in England, what may we expect upon
their being known? Had not the present ministry discovered such
rancour and such malice in their proceeedings with respect to Ame-
rica we should expect everything to our wishes; but we have had --
such full demonstration of their diabolical designs against us that
we can look for nothing from them but what our own virtue and
spirit can extort. The regular firm and spirited conduct of the
Continent if they should even fail of success will eternaly redound
redound to their honor, and should they meet that success which
their cause merits they must be the happiest people on whom the
sun shines. The propriety and zeal with which the town of --
Middletown have treated the Indignity which is offerd to their
Country, seems to be a renewing that glorious ardor which warms
the Breasts of their progenitors 'tis a disposition which has here:
tofore been attended with prosperity. The support which they
have formerly so liberaly afforded the Town of Boston in their
sufferings demands our warmest gratitude. This recent
Instance of their good wishes for our success, and the readiness
and forwardness which they discover to do everything in their
power for maintaining and preserving the rights of their country
and for supporting and feeding any who are immediate suffer-
ers by the vengeance of their Enemies cannot fail to excite gratitude
from every friend to the rights of mankind and from the Town of
Boston in perticular. We are not insensible altho there is a
probability that our grievances will be redressed that every
thing yet depends on our own virtue and resolution; great
patience vigilance and public spirit are still necessary;
the point has been so long and so strenuously contended for
that our Enemies never will give it up 'till they are compeld
by the last and most unavoidable necessity.-- Our Cause is
so just and we are so sensible how necessary it is to defend it,
that we have no doubt but with the blessings of Heaven upon us
and upon the many good friends engaged for us. we shall be
able to hold on and hold out untill oppression injustice and
Tryranny shall be supperceded by Freedom Justice and good
Government, and we cannot but flatter ouerselves that
that while we are contending for Justice for ourselves we shall be
Instrumental in call back that Virtue which of late years
has fled from the Council of our parent Country --
We are Gentlemen your Friends --
and Obliged Humble Servt --
Joseph Warren P order Comm of Don.

PS. we have just now by Capt Sheppard from London received
his Majestys proclamation for disolving the late Parliament
of G Britain whose conduct respecting America will be --
remembered with horror thro' all succeeding Generations --
To the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Middletown