Letter from the Committee of Safety to the Inhabitants of Boston

v2:374

April 22,1775.

GENTLEMEN: The Committee of Safety being informed that General Gage has proposed a Treaty with the inhabitants of the Town of Boston , wherein he stipulates that the women and children, with all their effects, shall have safe conduct without the Garrison, and their men also, upon condition that the male inhabitants within the Town shall, on their part, solemnly engage that they will not take up arms against the King' s Troops within the Town, should an attack be made from without. We cannot but esteem these conditions to be just and reasonable; and as the inhabitants are in danger of suffering from the want of provisions, which, in this time of general confusion, cannot be conveyed into the Town, are willing you should enter into, and faithfully keep the engagement aforementioned, said to be required of you, and to remove yourselves, women, children, and effects, as soon as may be.

Per order.