[draft] J 29.th Boston July 28.th 1776. My dear Brother Yours of 22.d came to hand last evening - The success of the Brave Carolinians pleasingly surprises all the friends to our cause here [struck: to think of] a Garretson labouring under the disadvantages you [inserted: mention] defeating so formidable a Fleet with second man of the Naval departm[struck: a][inserted: e]nt in America for their commander is a circumstance superior to any thing that has happen'd in favour of either [struck: side] the Ministerial or American army during the war in America; I am pleas'd with the Spirit of the people in general at the Southward. I am inform'd that the Gentlemen have thrown by what Business what if they had, & have taken up the Sword. Determining, at the same time not to lay it down, till Freedom is Establis'd, or Death obliges them to it: those are the intentions I wish ev'ry american to possess. - Yesterday a large Ship was brought into Marblehead, taken by Cap.tn Skimmer with a number of Tories on board among whom is the not[inserted: ed] Benjn Davis (the Sandemanian preacher) & his son, two simply Temples Scotch shop keepers, & sev'ral others - the has (as (I am informed) on board 300. or 400 Barrels Beaf £ 1500 [inserted: Sterling [struck: B] in Cash and a great many Eng.sh Goods, the first person who saluted Davis [2] was a man who sayd to him "You Davis where's that Bisquit you took away from my Child [inserted: when it was going out of Town] & gave it to a Horse" he was brought round from Marblehead with the rest of the prisoners in a Boat, our people would have torn him to pieces had not the guard have prevented them - I wrote M.rs Knox & yourself my M.r Deblois who went from Town yesterday. I write yours to send by Thursday's post; but I was to late. I inform'd M.rs Knox what Capt. Dauce [inserted: told one] who came from England lately by the way of Halifax, which was that M.rs Flucker [struck: &] Mr. D[illegible] & Sally had gone from thence, M.rs Fitch the [text loss] told him that the two former had gone to England & he understood her that Sally had gone to Ireland with an officer to whom she was married. - In consequence of Independence being declar'd here, all the signs which had Crowns [struck: f] on them & every thing about the Town that look'd kingly, even the Mitre & Crown [struck: from] [inserted: in] the organ lost [struck: sp] [struck: Kins] Chappell were taken down, & M.r Parker (who is the episcapal Minister in Town) left of praying) for the King. - [struck: He s] The General Assembly have [struck: appointed] [inserted: instituted] a Court for [struck: the purpose] the purpose of Trying & punishing the Tories call'd the Court of Inquiry, they have try'd & Condemn'd several, the punishments to be inflicted on [inserted & struck: that] [inserted: those that] have been try'd, are [struck: some] Banishment [struck: some for 2 forms] some for 2 & others for 7 months. - [3] & bonds, [struck: for some] for their good political behavior for 1.Year, [struck: a man] .M.r James Perkins, [inserted: Honr] Doctor Whitworths - Tho.s Amory, John Timmings are among the prescrib'd - The small part in general has been pretty favourable, however many have been severely pepper'd & some few have died, - it is far from being over yet. I imagine the Town will be made an Hospital of [struck: there] six weeks or two months to come. I intend to pay [inserted: today] M.r Bradley who is Captn in the provincial, train, & M.r Thayer when he comes to Town, he lives almost intirely out of Town now. - Bussiniss continues to be very dull at the Country people hav'nt those access to the Town they us'd to at least only those who have had the small pox. - I am my dear Brother Yrs. Affectionately Wm Knox M.r Jackson will give you} some acco.t of a conversation} he held with young Mr. Davis} relating to News} [address leaf] 3,, 8 To 1/6 Colonel Henry Knox in New York. Post Boston