My Retirement into the Country a great part of the Spring and Summer must be my Apology for not transmitting sooner to you the inclosed Vote of Thanks for your valuable Present to the Library of H[arvard]: College. The great Age of the venerable Gentleman who transcrib’d and attests it, will excuse any Deficiency in point of Form. Your literary Works, and your public as well as private Character, must for ever be superior to the unprovok’d Malice of your Enemies; and endear your name not only to the present but future Generations.

The Act for blockading the Town has been executed with the utmost Rigor and even beyond the Rigor of this cruel Act. Our Coasters with Wood have been oblig’d to unload at Salem in their way hither; and 240 Quintals of Fish kindly sent our poor by our Brethren at Marblehead were not permitted to come to us by Water, but transported by Land Carriage round the Country thro Roxbury. Tho Fuel and Victuals are expressly excepted in the Act. We have now besides the Fleet in our Harbor, 4. Regiments encamp’d on the Common: one on Forthill; another at the Castle; that from N. Scotia is station’d at Salem. The People endure all with an astonishing Calmness and Resolution; supported and encourag’d with the Sympathy and good Wishes of our Brethren in the Country and thro out the Colonies. They have made our Cause a common one. They appear ardent in it. Large and generous Presents to the indigent and distress’d Inhabitants flow in from all Quarters. Our Delegates with those of N. Hampshire set out a few days ago for the congress which meets at Philadelphia 1. Sept. All Eyes are turn’d towards that important Assembly: It’s Decisions will come with great Weight; and should it recommend either a Non Importation, or a Non consumption of British goods the Recommendation would be almost universally adopted. We have received the Act for vacating the Charter, and for encouraging the Soldiery to murder us. The Impression they make upon the other Colonies as well as this is deep. Genl. Gage has a difficult Task. He gives himself wholly up to the high Party among us, and acts in the Spirit of them that sent him. He finds the People less dismayed and submissive and the Colonies more united than he expected. Tho he has employ’d ev’ry argument to perswade those commission’d as Councellors to qualify, some have refus’d, and others desir’d Time to consider: Only eleven have as yet been sworn; but more it is expected will accept.

Col. Hancock is dismiss’d from his Command of the Company of Cadets, and they have resign’d their Colors to the Governor and dissolv’d. It is impossible to look into Futurity; and to write Conjectures may not at present be wise. Boston is not yet deserted, nor the American Cause desperate. We are indeed in a most critical Situation; and what the grand Event may be Heavn only knows. All Arts have been employ’d to terrify, cajol, divide, and mislead us; they have had some Effect, I wonder they have had no greater. Our Rights may perhaps yet be redeem’d, and prove a Means of saving the Liberties of Britain. I am, my dear Sir with increased Affection