689 | From Thomas Gage

    New York Sept. 25th: 1768.

    Sir

    your Letter of the 16th Inst.1 was delivered to me on the 21st in the morning: and on the Evening of the same Day a number of Letters from Boston were received by People in this Town,2 to acquaint them of the noble Resolutions taken at the Town meeting held at Faneuil Hall.

    Whatever may be my private Opinion, concerning the Firmness of your Sons of Liberty, when the Day of tryal comes, I shall prepare for the worst. And you may be assured that I shall exert all my Powers, as far as I can exert them with Propriety in support of the Rights of the King and Kingdom of Great Britain; and to defeat all Traiterous Designs against them.

    Should any Body of Rebels have gained Possession of the Castle, thro’ the Treachery of the Garrison before the Troops arrive, The ships of war, from the Reports made to me of the Situation of the Castle, will soon be able to drive them out of it. From what has happened, I can no longer be leader of putting the King’s Troops in Garrison in the Castle,3 and fortifying it as well as we can; for which Purpose I have sent an Engineer4 to attend the Troops in that Business, and given Powers to Lieut. Colo. Dalrymple to order a Detachment of the Royal Regt: of Artillery from Halifax, together with such military stores as he shall have occasion for, and Such further Reinforcements of Troops, as Nova Scotia can supply.

    The Colonel will be always able whatever number of Rebels may rise or however great their Determination, to secure Castle William, till larger Reinforcements can be collected and I am taking every measure to collect them as speedily as possible, and to prepare them for service.

    I am with great Regard Sir, your most obedient, humble servant

    Thos Gage

    His Excellency Govr. Bernard

    ALS, RC     BP, 11: 307-310.

    Endorsed: General Gage Sepr 25th 1768. The letter was personally delivered by Capt. John Montresor on 30 Sept.5