MHS Collections Online

Boston may 22 1776--

Dear Sir,

I must Acknowledge, my not writing you before,
carries in it some suspicion, wether that friendship which I have profesed to you,
is solid or only superficial, but the Engagements I have been under in publick
buisness, the Apprehensions I had of your being fully informed, of Every --
Occurence that took place here, from Gentn. whom I knew had frequently wrote
together with your Usual kindness will Excuse me in this matter. --

It seems GBrittain is determined to Exhaust her
strength, and so far as she Can, Employ all the powers of Europe but she will
carry her point, in reducing the Colinees to Absolute Slavery, which may
Heaven Avert, we have been amused With Commissioners Comeing out
with Extensive powers, to Adjust and Accommidate, the differences Subsisting
betwen them and us, but from present appearances, Hessians & Co. are the men intended,
however I trust the Union of the Colinees, and their Exertions will
with the blessing of Heaven will make us a happy and free people --

You have undoubtedly been Informed, of the Alteration
that has taken place, with respect to a more Equal representation, in this Colony,
and how far it is Extended, which I think is a matter of great Importance, when
we Consider the small Weight, the mercantile part of this Colony had in the
Legislature thereof, this took place from a petition, from the County of Esex,
we shall now I presume, have some Aleviation, of the burdens which heretofore
were unequally divided.

The Capture made on the 17th Instant, by young Mugford,
Commander of One of the Continental armed Vesels, is what can hardly be
realized, Altho we have the fifteen hundred Barrels of powder, with the other
war like stores, in Our magazines Chiefly out of Boston, and I shall use my
Endeavours, that all save Enough for the Immediate defence of Boston may be
removed out, as I apprehend we cannot be to Carefull of these Important Articles,
I do not give you the particulars of this Cargo, as I Conceive Congress has them
before this will reach you.

The 20th Instant mugford in his Schooner, went down to
Pullings point (or point Shirley) and in the night having only Seventeen men
on board in all was Attacked, by a number of Boats from the Ships of War below,

below to the number of thirteen and it's apprehended not less than two hundred
men were Contained in them, he Mugford had no Other assistance save a Small Vessel with Seven
men On board, but the two Vessels behaved with so much Fortitude, that the Boats
were soon Obligd to retreat, and as we apprehend with great loss, the ten Oared
Barge we have in Our possession and Undoubtedly her whole Crew perished,
The particulars respecting this matter, stand thus she (the Boat) Attacked mugford
schooner, the Schooner discharged some Canon into the Boat, she then Came
alongside the Schooner, the men on board the schooner then had recourse to their
spears, with which they gauled the Boatmen, to such a degree, that with the
dead and wounded falling on the of side of her, she Oversett and they all
perished, I was Informed by the men on board mugford they saw forty men
at One time, in the water, which must I conceive be all lost On of the men
On board mugfords schooner, told me he knew he with his Spear, killed Eight
men, I apprehend takeing all Circumstances into Consideration, a more
gallant defence, was never made, but Unfortunately mugford lost his life,
by A muskett ball, no Other man was Injured, On board the Schooner.
It is Apprehended from the best Accounts of this affair, not less than fifty
of the Enemy, were killd. and drowne.d, time will will give us a more perfect
Account.

These Advantages had raised Our Spiritts but the unexpected
Advise received from Quebeck, has in some degree taken them down,
but we must not always Expect, to have Every Action in a day of war
Crowned with Success. I hope the Wisdom of Congress will devise, and
pursue, Such measures as will prevent the Enemies Injuring us from
that Quarter, tho I fear Quebeck is lost as to Us. --

I am Apprehensive should the Enemy be reinforced, as is
Expected, they will Again make an Attempt uppon this Colony, with a large
Body, and should they we shall have Our hands full and must Exert
Ourselves to the Utmost, I hope that Spirrit which has heretofore appeared
will Again be revived, which I am Sorry to Say seems to me to abate.

We shall soon I hope have Boston as well secured, as Our
Circumstances will Admitt, the Enemy having destroyed so great a part [of]
Our Canon, leaves us scant in that Article, with respect to Other War like Stores th[ere]
seems to be a prospect of Our being Supplied, it is Judged we shall have
salt petre in plenty, indeed the last day the Committee sett for receiving

the same, there was Six' Tons brought to them; and I presume with
the Sulphur Imported we have Enough of that Article to Employ
Our mills for more than One year.--

The powder mill at Andover, turns Out from
ten to twelve hundred per week and will Increase in Quantity so
[that] the mill at Stoughton, will in a few days turn Out the Same or more.
Another mill is Erecting at Sutton, how soon this will be Compleat [I]
am not Able to Say, so that On the Whole the prospect seems to be
good respecting Ammunition, at least much better than it has
heretofore been. I want to Say many things to you which in this
way Cannot be done, which I hope I shall in some future good day have
an Opportunity of doing. your friends at marblehead, Watertown
and Else were are well, my best regards you. & please to pr [esent]
to Mr. Hancock, the Mr. Adams.s and Mr. Payne and [b [elieve]?]
me to be as I realy am your sincere friend and mos [t]

[Subscription (name of recipient at bottom of page)] Elbridge Gerry Esqr--

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[Other notes]
Colo. Porter
Jno. Trumbull
Cobbodesee