Ed[mund] Quincy autograph letter signed to John Hancock, April 22, 1775; Boston, [Province of Massachusetts Bay]. Handed to Benjamin Church to be delivered to its recipient, but instead turned over to Thomas Gage by Dr. Church.

From the Thomas Gage Papers, American Series.

Boston (.Ap^l: ) 22^d 1775

Dear Sir,

Referrin’g you to a L^r. wrote ^th. 8^th. curr^t: I’m now to en: / close you one I had this day out of Callihan’s bag: – 32 days fro. Lond: into Salem / p^r young Doct Sprague – who tells me Lyde sail’d 14 days before them w^th. J^o Quincy Esqr / & other passengers – that some of y^e Men of War & transports sail’d also before Callihan / As to y^e times at home – y^e Doct^r. is little able to inform us – youl probably have / Some papers via Salem. – As to my Scituation here – y^{e ^unexpected} extraord^y event / of y^e 19^th: of w^ch Ive wrote my tho^ts. –) now & for days past impedes my leaving town / No Carriage from L . . & if there was – no permiss^o: to pass y^e lines – The people / will be distress’d for ^{^fresh} provisions – in a short time – The Gov^r: & Gen^l – is very / much concern’d about y^e prov^l. troops w^th:out – w^ch probably will be very nume- / rous ‘ere long if desired – Dorchester hill – I’m just now told, is possess’d by our / prov^ls. – & I hope its true, for Ive reason to believe, y^e Gen^l. had y^e same thing / in Contemplation – Here they say & swear to it all round, in excuse / of y^e. Regulars, proceeding at Lexinton – that they were attack’t first / & I doubt not many oaths ^{^of Officers & men} are taken before J’ G-ley, to confirm it – but / among others who contradict ‘em – L^t. Haw^{^k}shaw yesterday near expiring / thro. his bad wounds  – – Call’d Several Credible persons to him  – & told ‘em / as a dying man – that he was obliged in Conscience to Confess – that the / first Action of y^e Whole at L. was done by the Kings troops – w^re. they kill’d / & wounded eight men – but doubtless you have sufficient proof of y^{e /} Fact & every Circumstance attending near at hand – my advice is that / the Whole Matter – be forwarded at y^e province expense or otherwise w^th the Greatest / dispatch – that so your Advices may be in London as early as GG’s –

If the people of G:B: are not under a political Lethargy – The account / of y^e late Memorable Event, will excite them to consider of their own / Close Connexion w^th: America, and to Suppose at length, that y^e Americans / especially N. Englanders will act as they’ve wrote, & engag’d – A Blessed m / Mistake our prudent G-^e has indeed made, & y^e Sensible part of his Officers / & Soldiers own it  – & are vastly uneasie – I had been at L– days to pay / my real regards to y^o good Aunt & Dolly – but wⁿ we shall have y^e passage clear / I dont we are hopes of effecting soon. But y^e G^l. is really intimidated & no wonder / wⁿ. he hears of 50.000  men &^c – Much is Confess’d of y^e intrepidity of y^e provin^ls. / Im much Surprizd to hear that the Regulars ab^t. 1700 – were drove off, & defeated by / near an Equal Corps only. – Cap^t. Erving, at his house yesterday Gave me y^e account / of