MHS Collections Online

Philadelphia May 19 1775

Sir

Since my Arrival in this City I have
received your favor of the 12th Instant, in-
-closing the Issued Copies of two Bills for these
hundred and six pounds 5/ Currency of this
Province payable to my self on order, being
the Amount of a generous Donation for the
use of the Poor of Boston from our worthy
Friends of Cecil County in Maryland.
I fear your former Letter under Cover to Mr
Black, inclosing the first Copies of these
Bills, has not reachd his hand; I shall
therefore embrace the first Safe opportunity of
sending forward those which I have now
received, assoon as I can be informed that they
can be made Use of for the benevolent Pur
-pose of the Donors. At present the Sufferers
by the Port bill are confined within the
Town of Boston with the other Inhabitants
and there can be no Communication between
them and their friends without- Should
General Gage ever condescend "to let the

the People go," those Sufferers will be
distributed, agreable to a Resolve of our
Provincial Congress, among the Country
Town, and then the publick Charity can
be again easily applied for their Releife.
I will communicate to you such Information
of these Matters as I shall receive - It is
the opinion of some of my Brethren here
that as Provisions may be wanted in our
Colony, it would be best to Send what are
now in your Store to Newbury Port;
there is indeed Danger of their
being Seizd - you will please to be
guided by your own Discretion, either
in taking that Method or in waiting
for further Intelligence.

I have daily the Pleasure of seeing your
worthy Friend Mr. Johnson, for whom
I have a particular Regard - The
Concern you express for the Colony of the
Massachusetts, and your opinion of
their Prudence and Integrity, are very

obliging - I was with my Friend Mr
Hancock near the Scene of Action at
Lexington on the 19th of April - The
authentick Accounts lately published
prevent the Necessity of troubling you
with my Detail of that memorable
Battle - I rejoyce that my Countrymen
had adhered punctually to the Direction
of the General Congress, and were at
length driven to Resistance through
Necessity - I think they may now
firstly claim the Support of the confede
-rated Colonies - I was much pleased
to be informed by you, that your Colony
had observed a Day of Fasting and
Humiliation - It is upon the Blessing
of God alone that we must depend
for a happy Issue to our virtuous
Struggle: - I will write to Mr. Veazy
by another opportunity, having at
present not Sufficient Leisure -

Pray present my unfeigned Regards
to your Brother, and be assured that I
am Sincerely
Your obliged and
affectionate Friend
and Countrymen
Saml Adams

Mr. Samuel Purviance, junr.

[Endorsement]