To the Soldiers and Seven Serving in the British Fleet and Army in America

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Salem, June 15, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Your situation is very unhappy, being dishonoured by the most infamous service, and under the command of the most vile and miserable wretches that ever disgraced the name of Briton. General Gage, to his eternal infamy, has commenced a thief, robber, murderer, and common butcher of his fellow-men; he has violated the most solemn compacts, and become an apostate to every thing that is honourable or virtuous. You never can forget the barbarous murders which Gage has committed upon some of his own soldiers; but we come now to a character still more infamous, if possible, than the above. Admiral Graves has added to the crimes of a common pirate, that of forcing Americans, whom he hath impressed, to act against their own countrymen. Turks and Indians would scorn such rascally conduct, and surely every British soldier and seaman must detest such an odious scoundrel. Gentlemen, the Americans still entertain a respect for you, consider you as their brethren, and wish to live in harmony with you, and to make you free citizens of America. May you soon be freed from the service of tyrants, become the glorious defenders of freedom, and join with the victorious Americans.

SYDNEY.