Letter from Captain Clarke to James Warren

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Chelsea, August 5, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: I received your commands of July 25, to have the Militia in this town at a minute' s notice, &c˙, and should have obeyed them with the greatest cheerfulness had it been in my power; but for the want of your commissions, we are quite unable to do anything in the military way; and since unwearied pains have hitherto been unsuccessful, I must beg your Honour' s influence to procure a settlement of our Militia. The town instructed their Representative to make it the first object of his endeavour in the late session of our Assembly. I much solicited one of the Field Officers of the Boston regiment, to which we formerly belonged, to preside at the meeting when officers were chosen, but could not prevail with one to do it; the town therefore chose a Justice of the Peace for their Moderator, and were unanimous in their choice, since which repeated applications have been made to the honourable Council, but we are refused commissions, because a Field Officer did not preside at the meeting, and it was quite out of our power to obtain one. It seems as if some strange fatality attended the thing. Your Honour, I trust, will procure our settlement, when you will ever find me most obedient to your commands. Upon this representation of facts, I doubt not you will excuse my utter incapacity to obey. Permit me to add, the company is far from being inconsiderable, and desirous of being on a footing with their neighbours. A regard to the publick safety, I doubt not, will induce your Honour to procure for us a speedy settlement and our commissions, when your Honour' s commands shall be obeyed with the greatest precision and alacrity, by, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL CLARK

To the Hon˙ James Warren, Esq.

P˙ S˙ The town unanimously chose, at a very full meeting, Samuel Clark Captain, Jonathan Williams Lieutenant, James Storer Ensign.