Declaration by several persons, of their reasons for signing the preceding Letter

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Falmouth, September 1, 1775.

We, the subscribers, declare that, in signing the letter to Governour Hutchinson, of the 10th of February, 1774, lately published, it was the furthest from our intentions to injure or offend our Town or Country, or to signify our approbation of those acts of Parliament which are so universally and justly odious to America. We really thought Governour Hutchinson was a friend to his Country, and hoped he would have endeavoured, when in England, to obtain a redress of our grievances, and are sorry to find ourselves mistaken. We detest the thought of knowingly countenancing or encouraging an enemy to our once happy Constitution; and had we then been convinced that he was one, as we now are, we should never have signed that letter. We further declare, that it has always been our determination to observe the Association and Resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, and hope this declaration will be satisfactory to the publick, whose favour we shall always think ourselves happy in deserving.

ENOCH ILSLEY,
JOHN KENT,
THEO˙ BRADBURY,
SIMEON MAYO,
THOMAS SANDFORD,
MOSES SHATTUCK.