Appendix. 66 1 



" October I*', 1775. 



" REV? SIR, I came out of Boston a few days before the 

 affair at Lexington on the igth April, and have since not been 

 able to return.. When I left the Town I little imagined that a 

 return would be thus difficult, or, rather, impossible, and there- 

 fore took no care to provide for such a contingency. My effects 

 in Town I left at my lodging in Hanover Street ; and my land- 

 ladies (Miss Elizabeth Clark and Miss Elizabeth Nowel) who 

 left Boston about the 2O th August, inform me that when they 

 came away they took the liberty to break open a trunk of theirs 

 in which I used to keep my papers, and that they packed up my 

 papers together with my clothes, and everything else they could 

 find belonging to me, and put them all into an old square box, 

 marked on the top C k, N 1, and on one side or end, B. T., 

 which box they left in the lower front chamber of their dwelling- 

 house, under the care of one Mrs. Cromartie, to whom also 

 they committed the care of the house. 



" This Box, I am informed by a person who has lately left 

 Boston, was safe in the before-mentioned chamber as late as the 

 middle of August. But as it contains matters of the greatest 

 consequence to me, and as I cannot depend upon Mrs. Cro- 

 martie's- care, this is earnestly to beg your assistance in this 

 affair. 



" The enclosed letter (which I beg you would deliver as soon 

 as it comes to hand) is a duplicate of one I wrote some time 

 ago, which I since learn miscarried. And notwithstanding in 

 this letter I desire Major Small to take charge of the Box con- 

 taining my effects, yet if you would be so kind as to take the 

 same into your care and possession, I should be exceedingly 

 obliged, and would not wish to give the Major the trouble 

 of it. 



" I have experienced too much of your obliging disposition to 

 doubt of your readiness to serve me in this affair, especially 

 when you consider to what an unhappy situation I am reduced 

 with respect to my affairs in Town. But whether you do or do 

 not take charge of my effects, yet I beg that the enclosed letter 

 may be delivered. And at the same time you deliver the letter 



