gence of any movement in this town which might effect a threatened attack upon the tories. My Sister Copley & myself proposed going to Newton the very day after battle, but in the Morn finding a Disturbance in the Country we alterd our plan and with your horse & Chase I went alone to alarm my Brother & persuade him & my Sister to come to town as a place of safety. I went to the ferry. The ferrymen refused to carry me over, the Wind being high tho there was then a Chaise passing over. This I considerd as a great disapointment & scolded at the Ferrymen who I thot acting out of their line of Duty. I here lost an hour, being obliged to Return thro the town and go over the Neck. This in the sequal will appear a very fortunate Circumstance as it detered from attempting to return the same way. I found my brother unable to move being confined with the Gout. Anxious for my Friends, as the Country was now in the utmost Confusion my attention was drawn to our Amiable Friend Miss Sally Bromfield who was then at Cambridge. I went & took her into my Chaise. The people have taken up the bridge at Cambridge to stop the Troops in their Retreat and fear another Disapontment at Charlestown I thot it most prudent to Return home by the Way of Watertown tho it was 13 Miles, which I happyly effected by Sunsett after hav Rid apost a Circuit of 30 Miles. Had we Returnd thro Charlestown we should have been in the midst of the Battle and have remaind a fortnight involuntary exiles from our Friends who as it was were very uneasy for us. This is evident Mr. Harry B. having gone the same afternoon to fetch his Sister down but finding she had just left her Uncle's with me, hastned immediately back to the Ferry where he found the boats stoppd by Order of the Genl. The Armies fast approach and that being a very unsafe place he had but just time to escape over Charlestow[n] Neck before the retreats

army enterd it. He was forced to Remain 13 days in the Country unable to see his Friends before he could obtaind a pass to Returnd home. Amidst the Horrors of that fatal Day I feel myself peculiarly happy in being instrumental in rescuing my very lovely Friend from such a Scene of Distress and Danger. The other Circumstance was this, finding I should have no business here myself and friends thought it advisable for me to go to Philada. I had agreed for my Passage & was packs up my things expecting to sail the next morn when in the Night the Capt fears some detention went off and left all his Passengers behind. This has turnd out very lucky as advices have just arrived that New York & Philad: are in almost as much Trouble & Confusion as we are and there is an armed force going there. This with the other disapontm' at Charlestown Ferry have fully taught me that present disapontment [text lacking] will doubtless be surprised to find this transmitted to London by my dear Sister who sails in Callahan tomorrow with her little Family, the perticulars she will give you the times are such as must preclude all thout of your return. I am in some expectation of prevail with our hond Mamma to undertake a Voyge to England so dont be surprized if you hear of our arrival in England. I hope to be able to sail from this in about 6 or 8 Weeks. I must now conclude abruptly. with assuring you I am most sincerely and affectionately your love Brother & humbl Servt HENRY PELHAM. Pray continue to write as your letters afford us great Consolation under all difficulties. I am extremly obliged to you for the very affectionate terms with which you mention me in your letters to my Sister. My Mamma desires her kind love & Blessing to you. A Number of transports with troops have just arrived so that it will not be long before the Campain opens. We have a 74 Gun

Ship between us and Charlestown another at the back of your hill & several all round the town who each keep 2 Boats out constantly reconoitring every possable Avenue to the Town. We have a small Army of Torys who have been retiring from all parts of the Country, for 9 Months past & between 6 & 7000 Regular Troops in it and daily expect as many more.

At this time Pelham wrote to his mother's brother (Singleton) a letter which, while somewhat repeating the facts already narrated, adds enough to make it of historic interest. This letter, also, is not dated, and is as follows: :

Among other preparations of defence which the People of this province have for some months past been very industriously making they had formed some Magazines of Provisions & military stores one perticularly at Concord 18 Miles from Boston-The Granodier & light Infantry Companies belonging to the Kings Troops in this town making about 600 Men were ordered to destroy the Magazine (they began they march from town about 12 oClock in the nigt of the 18 of April) which after a small Skirmish they effected. By day break there was a very general rising in the Country all were in motion alarm Guns having been fired & expresses sent to every town. About 10 oClock the 19 of April Genl G[age] having rec'd advice that the troops were attackd as they were going to Concord ordered out a Reinforcement of 4 Regiments under the command of L[ord] P[ercy] with 2 field Pieces, the whole with the first party Makeing 1800 Men. This reinforcement joined the others just time eno to prevent their being entirely cut to pieces they having nearly expended all their amunition. By this time a great Number of People were assembling fully equippd who lined the Woods and Houses along the Road thro which the troops must pass in returning

to Boston. A general Battle ensued which was supported by an almost incessant fire on both sides for 7 Hours when the troops made good their retreat with the loss of 57 Killed above 100 Wounded amongst whom were two Officers who have since died and severall Missing. It is impossable to ascertain the loss on the part of the Country People they acknowledge the loss of 40 killed on the spot but this I apprehend must fall vastly short of the true number. a Friend of mine says he saw between 70 & 80 & the Gentlemen who were Spectators of the Scene universially argue that there could not be less than 150 or 200, they lost three of their Captans. Thus you have the most perticular account of this unhappy affair that I am capable of give you. Words are wanting to discribe the Misery this affair has produced among the Inhabitants of this Town. Thousands are reduced to absolute Poverty who before lived in Credit. Business of any kind is entirely Stop'd. The Town invested by 8000 or 10000 Men who prevent all supplis of fresh Provision from coming in so that we are now reduced to have recourse to the stores which those of us who were provident foreseeing a political Storm had laid in — We find it disagreable living entirely upon salt Meat, it is especially so to my honored Mother whose ill state of Health renders her less able to bear it. My Brother Jack has been near a year past making the Tour of France & Italy. My Sister Copley is just embarking with her little Family for London where she expects soon to meet him. She is the bearer of this to England. As for my self I dont know what to say, this last manoevour has entirely stoppd all my business and annialated all my Property the fruits of 4 or 5 years Labor. I find it impossable to collect any Monies that are due to me so that I am forced to find out some other place where I may at least make a living. My present purposed plan is to remove to Great Britian where I shall be able to

look about me and where I shall have an Opertunity of consulting my Friends respecting my future pursuits. Should I be able to perswade my Hond Mamma to undertake this Voyage Which I sometimes flatter myself I shall I would leave this place in 6 or 8 Weeks. With her love and sincerst affections I beg leave to tender you and my Aunt Singleton my most dutifull Respects and beg your blessing. Be kind eno to present my duty to my Uncle & aunt Cooper and Love to all my Cousins. I am Dear Sir with the sincerst affection & Respect your most dutifull Nephew

H. P.

Pelham's next letter to Copley recounts with much more fullness the occurrences of that period:

BOSTON, May 16, 1775. MY DEAR BROTHER, Before you rec. this you will doubtless have heard alarming Reports of a late most unhap py Event which has taken place here. I have hitherto declined giving you any account of the State of Politicks since you left us thinking it a theme which could afford you no amusement. I now reluctantly find myself obliged to give you a detail of one of the most extraordinary and unhappy transactions which can possably disgrace the Records of Mankind. Alass, My dear Brother, where shall I find Words sufficiently expressive of the Distractions & Distresses of this once flourish & Happy People. The Disorders of which we were lately such anxious Spectators have produced those effects which every dispasionate Mind foresaw & every humane & feeling Heart wished to avert. My hands tremble while I inform you that Sword of Civil War is now unsheathd. For some Months past the People of this Province impelled by the most surprizing Enthusium which ever seized the mind of Man have been industriously making every preparation for carrying on a War & had formed some considerable Magazines — Genl Gage to

embarrass them & Retard their Plans ordered about 600 Men to embark from the bottom of the Common which they did and landed at Phipp's farm about 11 oclock in the evng of the 18 of April & immediatly March'd to Concord 18 Miles from Town where they distroyd a Magazine of Provisions & Military Stores: By day Break the Country was all in Motion, Alarm Guns havg been fired & Express sent to evry town. About 10 Clock the Genl having reed advice that the Troops were attackd as they were going to Concord orderd out a Reinforcement of 4 Regiments under the command of Earl Percy with 2 field Pieces with the first Party making 1800 Men this Reinforcement fortunatly join'd the others just time eno to prevent their be entirely cut to pieces they not having 2 Rounds left. By this time a most Prodigious Number of People were assembled under Arms who lind the Woods & Houses quite from Concord to Charlestown. An obstinate & general Battle ensued and an insessant fire was supported on both sides for 7 Hours till sunsett during which time the Regulars made a Retreat which does Honour to the Bravest & best Discipli[n]ed troops that ever Europe Bred. The fatigue & conduct of this little Army is not to be parrelled in History. They march'd that day not less than 50 Miles, were constantly under Arms part of them at least from 11 oClock at night till an hour after Sunsett the next Even'g the whole of the time without any Refreshment attackd by an Enemy they could not see for they skulkd behind Trees stone Walls &c surrounded & most vigoursly assulted by not less than 10000 Men who then were fresh Men: In short considering the Circumstances it was almost a Maricle that they were not entirely distroy. When the battle ended they had not near a Charge a Man: The Kings troops had 57 Killed above an 100 Wounded among them 2 Officers who since dead and several missing. The Rebels loss is not ascertained

as there has been scarce any Communication between town & Country since. They acknowledge they had 40 of their People killed, but this must fall Vastly short of the true number Doct. Sprig of Watertown says he saw between 70 & 80. The Officers in general agree they could not loose les than 150 or 200 among whom are 3 of their Captains. Thus I give You the perticulars of this most shock affair, must now discribe the State of this town. It is intirely invested by an Army of about 8000 Provincials who prevent all supply and Communication from the Country. The Genl is fortifying the Town in all Parts has built a Number of Battery at the Neck at the bottom of the Common round the beach to Newboston, on fox Hill, Beacon Hill, & all along from your land entirely to Mr. Wm. Vasell's on Fort Hill & Capt Hill at Bartem Point. The threatned assault upon the town now gives us very little disturbance. The Ge' has entirely disarmed the Inhabitants & has permitted Numbers to move out with their Effects. We have been obliged to live entirely upon salt provisions and what stores we have in the house & I think we are very fortunate. Foreseeing a political Storm we had been for some time collecting provisions of all sorts had just furnish'd eno to last our family 6 Months. Mr. Clarke has done the same. It is in concevable the Distress and Ruin this unnatural dispute has caused to this town & its inhabitants almost every shop & store is shut. No business of any kind going on.

You will here wish to know how it is with me. I can only say that I am with the multitude rendered very unhappy, the little I had collected entirely lost, the Cloaths upon my back & a few Dollers in my pocket are now the only property which I have the least Command of, what is due to me I can't get and have now an hundred guineas worth of business begun which will never afford me an hundred farthings. I can't but think myself very unfortunate thus

to have lost so much of the best part of Life to have my Business when my happyness greatly depends so abruptly cut short all my bright prospects, the little Property I had acquired rendered useless myself doomed either to stay at home & starve or leave my Country my Friends. Forced to give up those flattering expectations of domestic felicity which I once fondly hoped to realise to seek that Bread among strangers which I am thus crually deprived of at Home. This I long foresaw would be the case. The expectation of this distressing Scene was the cause of that illness which sent me to Philadelpha last fall. When I think of my present Situation it requires all my Philosophy to keep up my spirits under this acumulated Load of uneasiness. I cant help relating two Circumstances which amidst all my distress Afford me real pleasure and have tended greatly to relieve my anxiety, it has fully taught me that present disapontment may be productive of future good & that we are indispensable obliged after we have conscientiously done what appears to us our duty, to leave the issue to that Almighty being whose Fiat created & whose Providence Governs the World: & should either Adversity depress or Prosperity chear us we are equally bound humbly to adore his Wisdom & patiently submit to his all righteous Dispensations.