Address of the Selectmen of Boston to General Gage

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Boston, September 9, 1774.

This day, the Selectmen of Boston, waited on his Excellency General Gage, with the following Address:

May it please your Excellency:

The Selectmen of Boston, at the earnest desire of a number of gentlemen of the town and country, again wait on your Excellency to acquaint you that since our late application, the apprehensions of the people, not only of this, but of the neighbouring towns, are greatly increased by observing the designs of erecting a fortress at the entrance of the town; and of reducing the metropolis, in other respects, to the state of a garrison. This, with complaints lately made of abuse from some of the guards, posted in that quarter, assaulting and forcibly detaining several persons who were peaceably passing in and out of the town, may discourage, the market people from coming in with their provisions, as usual, and oblige the inhabitants to abandon the town. This event we greatly deprecate, as it will produce miseries which may hurry the Province into acts of desperation. We should, therefore, think ourselves happy if we could satisfy the people that your Excellency would suspend your present design, and not add to the distresses of the inhabitants, occasioned by the Port Bill, that of garrisoning the town.

JOHN SCOLLY, Chairman of the Committee.