doc_id n="S5-V3-P03-sp01-D0297">

Major Lithgow to John Avery

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Boston, 9th December, 1776.

SIR: Being informed that you wrote me some time since on the subject of my appointment to a Majority in one of the new regiments now raising in this State, on the Continental establishment, under the command of Colonel Ebenezer Francis, which I had not the honour to receive, and as it is my opinion that no private or interested views are a sufficient apology, at this critical and important day, to decline the service of our oppressed, insulted country, I take this method to express my gratitude for the honour done me, and also to signify to the honourable Board, though not without the most humiliating sense of my own inexperience and want of military knowledge, my cheerful acceptance of the appointment, however repugnant it may be to my private advantage or emolument.

I have the honour to be, with the most profound respect, your Honour' s very humble servant,

WILLIAM LITHGOW, Jun.

To the Secretary of the honourable Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay.