ORIGINAL LETTERS. [The following interesting papers, relating to the War of Independence, are copied from the originals on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of NewHampshire.] Circular Letter from President Hancock to the Assembly of New-Hampshire. Gentlemen, Baltimore, January 31, 1777. As there is not a more distinguished event in the history of America, than the declaration of her Independence; nor any, that, in all probability, will so much excite the attention of future ages, it is highly proper that the memory of that transaction, together with the causes that gave rise to it, should be preserved in the most careful manner that can be devised. I am, therefore, commanded by Congress to transmit you the enclosed copy of the act of Independence, with the list of the several members of Congress subscribed thereto, and to request that you will cause the same to be put upon record, that it may, henceforth, form a part of the archives of your state, and remain a lasting testimony of your approbation of that necessary and important measure. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, JOHN HANCOCK, Presidt. Honourable Assembly of the Letter from M. Hillegas to President Weare. Philadelphia, August 20, 1781. Sir,-The importance of preserving the history of the present revolution, and transmitting authentic records to posterity is evident, and ought doubtless to be attended to, while we have the means of doing it in our power. Sensible of this, the assembly of this state have lately ordered that all the proceedings of the public bodies (committees and conventions,) from the commencement of the present contest, until the organization of government amongst us be collected and published; whereby the different steps taken to secure our liberty and establish our independence will be clearly seen, and the chain of our history completed. It was with difficulty some of the minutes of committees could be collected, notwithstanding their transactions were of so recent a date, which I apprehend evinces the necessity of attending to this matter immediately, as the loss of any such papers must occasion a chasm in the history. cy I beg leave therefore to suggest to your Excellenthe propriety of each legislature in the Union adopting measures similar to those taken by this state for the above purpose; and should your Excellency view the matter in the same light that I do, I have no doubt of its being communicated, and warmly recommended to the House of Representatives of your state. I have the honor to be your Excellency's most His Excellency Meshech Weare, Esqr. Letter from Rev. Eleazar Wheelock to the Provincial Congress, at Exeter. Dartmouth College, June 28, 1775. Much respected gentlemen,-Yesterday Mr. Dean returned from his tour to Canada, where I sent him in the capacity of a Missionary last March, with a view to strengthen and perpetuate that friendship which has lately commenced between the Indian tribes in that quarter and this seminary-attach them to these colonies, and secure these frontiers from an invasion from that quarter. And on hearing his narrative, the intelligence appeared so interesting, and the authority so good, that I thought best to send him forward immediately to the Honorable Continental Congress, whose measures I thought would probably be governed in some important respects by his accounts. The The tribes of Indians near Montreal and Quebec, are doubtless well affected towards these colonies and the cause we are engaged in. But about forty savages from a great distance came into Montreal with a profession of coming to a congress or treaty, he understood at the desire of the Governor, who ordered the commissary to make provision for the entertainment of three hundred more, by which he supposed that number was expected soon. neighboring tribes will none of them join with the Governor, excepting that the Caghnawagas, to save themselves from being destroyed, have engaged to assist in defending him at Montreal, but to go no further, and gave the fullest confidence that this concession was only for self-preservation; and Mr. Dean, is confident that the governor can't persuade an Indian there so much as to conduct those foreigners through the woods to our settlements. He further informs that the inhabitants of Canada were much alarmed at our people's taking the forts on the lake, and that upon it they, the regulars, exerted themselves much in preparing themselves for an attack from our soldiers, and that this appeared to be their grand object when he left the place. But my son who comes on purpose can give you a more full and particular account of this, and the present state of Oswego. And I would humbly propose to your consideration, gentlemen, whether it be not expedient, and of the first and greatest importance to the safety of the whole, that all those frontier towns be well and speedily supplied with fire-arms and ammunition, and, as much as they can, put themselves into a posture of defence. And that in order hereto, some method to procure such stores be pointed out to them by the Honorable Congress, and also, some means be provided, to make it practicable by such as are poor, and unable to purchase for themselves. I most heartily pray the Father of Lights to direct you in your consultations and determinations on this most interesting affair; and am, much respected gentlemen, Your most obedient and very humble servant, ELEAZAR WHEELOCK. P. S. My Son can inform you of the measures used by the Canadian Indians, to engage all their allies not to join against us. Since I wrote the foregoing letter, I have seen a man direct from Albany, and late from Mount Johnson, who informs me that Col. G. Johnson, has lately received presents to the amount of £3,000, from the King, to be disposed of to engage the Indians, within his jurisdiction against the colonies, and that all his endeavors for that purpose have been fruitless, that not one of the Indians would go to receive the presents; that said superintendant is withdrawn with his family and presents by the way of Oswego, but where he is going is not known; that the Mohawks and Oneidas are firm for the colonies, which also agrees with other accounts. Letter from the Committee of Safety, in Massachusetts, to the Provincial Congress of New-Hampshire. Gentlemen, Cambridge, April 22, 1775. On Wednesday, the 19th inst., early in the morning a brigade of General Gage's army marched into the country, to Lexington, about thirteen miles from Boston, where they met with a small party of our militia, exercising, who had no intention of doing injury to the regulars, but they fired upon our men without any provocation, killed eight of them, and wounded two others; then they marched to Concord, where they destroyed part of our magazines and stores; however, our people collected as soon as possible, and repulsed the troops, pursuing them quite down to Charlestown, where they encamped on a place called Bunker's Hill. The first division, which consisted of about one thousand men, went to Concord; and the second division, about the same number, who took the same route, and supported the first division as well as they could, but all were obliged to retire. Our loss is supposed between twenty and thirty killed, and a few wounded; their loss is much larger. As the troops have now begun hostilities, we think it our duty to exert our utmost strength to save our country from absolute slavery, and we pray you to afford us all the assistance in your power, and we shall be glad that our brethren who may come to |