Letter to the Governour of Connecticut

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Afternoon.

A draught of a Letter to Governour Trumbull was presented by the Committee appointed to prepare one, and was read and accepted; and the Committee of Supplies directed to forward it by express, and is as follows, viz:

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: From advices received divers ways, we have the greatest reason to determine that all the British Troops already destined, or that may be yet ordered to America this season, will come to Boston, it being evidently their design, if possible, to rout our Army before that place, destroy all our magazines, and thereby to strike terrour and faintness into the hearts of all the friends to right and liberty throughout the Continent; to revive and animate their scattered friends, and break the union of the Colonies, and in that way insure final success to their tyranny. This being undoubtedly the plan of our enemies, it is of inexpressible consequence that the ground which we have taken should at all events be maintained. Your Honour is no doubt fully sensible that our Army, for the present, is unavoidably checked, with regard to offensive operations, for a reason of which you are not unapprized; but, however, we have the means of acting on the defensive.

"As Boston is impregnable against every thing but great artillery, very few troops are sufficient to keep it; and as there are two passes at least, very distant from each other, by which the enemy will probably attempt to advance into the country, it is thereby rendered necessary that we should throw our Army into at least two grand divisions, each of which ought to be able to withstand almost the whole strength of the enemy. Your Honour is acquainted that it was at first supposed to be necessary that thirty thousand men should be raised and stationed to act for this season in the environs of Boston. Thirteen thousand six hundred was the number supposed by our Congress to be this Colony' s proportion of such an Army, and that number we have to our utmost been endeavouring fully to complete; but because there are deficiencies in our Regiments, (as your Honour well knows there always will be in such cases,) in order to make that quota good, we have been obliged to increase the number of the Regiments, but still there is a deficiency; and because of the inexpressible importance of having our Army effectually strong, we are, by unremitted efforts, and by every device, at vast expense, labouring to make that number fully complete, or rather to exceed it.

"May it please your Honour: Because we are so vastly apprehensive of the fatal consequences of a general defeat of this Army to the whole American cause, and are so unutterably solicitous to have it effectually strengthened, we have called in every individual of our levies, from all our outposts, to join the Army; although by that measure we expose all our Towns on the sea-coasts to the rage and depredations of the enemy, and run the dreadful risk of the best of our Towns being reduced to ashes, and taking the miserable fate of Charlestown.

"We beg leave to acquaint your Honour, that it is most

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"From this view of the case we cannot a moment longer forbear addressing your Honour, and rnost earnestly suggesting to the immediate consideration of your General Assembly, not only the expediency, but indispensable necessity of an immediate augmentation of the Troops from your Colony, for the more effectual strengthening of the Army. What the number of the augmentation ought to be, we most cheerfully submit to the good judgment of your Assembly, not in the least doubting but their wisdom and justice will direct and dispose them to do all that is proper in so important a crisis as we really consider the present.

"We need not express to your Honour the indispensable necessity of despatch in making re-enforcements, nor the propriety and advantage of marching any new levies, which your Assembly may order, with all possible speed, without the first raised companies waiting for the completing of others, inasmuch as your Colony has here on the spot all the proper officers to make the necessary disposition for their reception. And as the Reason of their being of any advantage for the support of our Army may be irrevocably lapsed before their arrival, if the least unnecessary delay should be indulged, we have made a representation to the Lieutenant-Governour of Rhode-Island, similar to the foregoing, and are about to make a like representation to the Congress of New-Hampshire, and to send the same by special express.

"We suppose the whole number of our enemy' s land forces, when joined with the four regiments which were ordered to New-York, will amount to upwards of ten thousand, exclusive of negroes and tories, who are every way provided and furnished in the best manner for action.

"We have the fullest confidence that your Honour' s zeal and ardour for the salvation of our Country, and the preservation of our inestimable rights, will render any importunity unnecessary to induce you to take all the requisite steps to effect the proposed augmentation for which we are most solicitous."