eral papers referred to:--

"_To the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Esq., at London._
"IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, _April 26, 1775_.

"SIR: From the entire confidence we repose in your faithfulness
and abilities, we consider it the happiness of this colony that
the important trust of agency for it, in this day of unequalled
distress, is devolved on your hands, and we doubt not your
attachment to the cause and liberties of mankind will make every
possible exertion in our behalf a pleasure to you; although our
circumstances will compel us often to interrupt your repose, by
matters that will surely give you pain. A singular instance
hereof is the occasion of the present letter. The contents of
this packet will be our apology for troubling you with it.

"From these you will see how, and by whom, we are at last plunged
into the horrors of a most unnatural war.

"Our enemies, we are told, have despatched to Great Britain a
fallacious account of the tragedy they have begun; to prevent the
operation of which to the public injury, we have engaged the
vessel that conveys this to you, as a packet in the service of
this colony, and we request your assistance in supplying Captain
Derby, who commands her, with such necessaries as he shall want,
on the credit of your constituents in Massachusetts Bay.

"But we most ardently wish that the several papers herewith
enclosed may be immediately printed and dispersed through every
town in England, and especially communicated to the lord-mayor,
aldermen, and council, of the city of London, that they may take
such order thereon as they may think proper. And we are confident
your fidelity will make such improvement of them as shall
convince all, who are not determined to be in everlasting
blindness, that it is the united efforts of both Englands that
can save either: but that whatever price our brethren in the one
may be pleased to put on their constitutional liberties, we are
authorized to assure you that the inhabitants of the other, with
the greatest unanimity, are inflexibly resolved to sell theirs
only at the price of their lives.

"Signed by order of the Provincial Congress,
"JOSEPH WARREN, _President, P. T._

"A true copy from the original minutes,
"SAMUEL FREE