Application of Doctor Warren to General Gage

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Boston, September 27, 1774.

A few days ago General Gage paid for, and deposited in his Majesty' s Magazine, a quantity of military stores, which had been provided many years since at the desire of Colonel Bradstreet, and had laid from that time on the hands of Mr˙ Scott. The Selectmen and the Committee of Correspondence sent for Mr˙ Scott, and told him he deserved immediate death for selling warlike stores to the enemy; and a number of people instantly assembled to put this sentence in execution; but Mr˙ Scott was so fortunate as to make his escape; his house however suffered very much before the people separated, at the desire of the Selectmen.

Dr˙ Warren, the President of the Committee of Correspondence, came about nine o' clock at night to the General, acquainting him that he was to write to the Congress immediately, and he desired for their information, that the General would answer the following questions: viz; What is the meaning of the fortifications? What is the meaning that the General buys military stores? Are the people at Boston to be made hostages, in order to compel the people of the country to comply with the new laws?

Dr˙ Warren received for answer, that as the country people were all armed, and collecting cannon and military stores from all quarters, which, as they were not soldiers by profession, or under the least apprehension of any invasion, could indicate nothing but their intention of attacking his Majesty' s forces in that town, it became therefore the General, and it would be inexcusable in him to neglect to provide for their defence, and to enable them effectually to resist the attempts which it is no longer doubtful the people meditate against them. That the very construction of the fortifications show them to be defensive; and every body

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That though the General, to ease the town of the burden of furnishing quarters for the troops, and to keep the troops from every possibility of giving offence to the inhabitants, hath ordered barracks to be erected for them, which he conceives to be of equal utility to the town as to the troops, nevertheless the Selectmen and the Committee have ordered all the workmen to quit this employ, though they were paid by the King. That orders are given to prevent all supplies for English troops. Straw, purchased for their use, is daily burnt; vessels, with bricks, sunk; carts, with wood, overturned; and thus even the property of the King is destroyed in every manner in which it can be effected. Yet such is the General' s desire to preserve to the last, as far as in his power, the peace and quiet of the people, that all these disorders, though not the effect of rash tumult, but of evident system, are endured with patience. There can therefore be no reality in the apprehensions which it appears the people conceive of dangerous designs entertained by the troops against them, when these very people are not afraid to provoke the troops by every wanton insult they can devise.