58 



tions and projects of this people. The authority should 

 be good, but I must wait till some more favorable oppor- 

 tunity to inform you whence I derived this intelligence." 



" The circumstance of the eight pieces at Salem led us 

 into a mistake, for supposing them to be brass guns 

 brought from Holland, or some of the foreign isles, 

 which report had also given reasons to suspect, a detach- 

 ment of four hundred men, under Lieut. Col. Leslie, was 

 sent privately off by water to seize them. The places 

 they were said to be concealed in were strictly searched, 

 but no artillery could be found, and we have since dis- 

 covered that there had been only some old ship's guns, 

 which had been carried away from Salem some time ago. 

 The people assembled in great numbers, with threats and 

 abuse, but the Colonel pursued his orders and returned to 

 Marblehead, where he had first disembarked his detach- 

 ment." 



(J. S.) The intelligence alluded to above was procured 

 by some spy in the employment of Gen. Gage. From the 

 nature of his communications it is quite certain, also, that 

 the same person was a member of the Provincial Con- 

 gress. He gives a very minute account of the secret pro- 

 ceedings of the Congress, and even the doings of the com- 

 mittees appointed for specific objects, such as procuring 

 army ammunitions, and other stores. In short he details 

 particulars of the correspondence between some members 

 of the Congress, an*Dr. Franklin and Arthur Lee, in 

 England. This intelligence was sent to Gen. Gage, from 

 time to time, and was forwarded by him to the minister, 

 and it is now on the files. It would seem impossible that 

 any person, who was not a member of Congress, could 

 have procured the facts contained in his communications. 



"There are eight field pieces in an old store or barn 

 near the landing place at Salem ; they are to be removed 



