[Draft] May it please Your Excellency, We the underwritten, Generals, and Field Officers commanding regiments of the troops of Massachusetts, beg leave, in our own names and in the names of our brethren in the field, to declare our sincere pleasure in your Excellency's appointment to the Office of Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are happy to add our full concurrence to the unexampled unanimity on this occasion. And we cannot refrain expressing our satisfaction of the wise and uncorrupt judgement of our Countrymen, in electing Governor a character so decided as Your Excellency, who early became sensible of the abominable designs of our enemy to subvert the liberties of America, and who so nobly has persevered, and stood firm, amidst the ride and adverse blasts of war. And we chearfully assert that we esteem it a glorious presage of the liberality of sentiment and gratitude which the new Constitution will probably diffuse through all orders of men. We consider ourselves as citizens in arms, for the defence of the most invaluable rights of human nature. At the same time that we have a fised determination to do our duty, under all circumstances, we ardently look forward to the period, when, by a full establishment of the Independence of our Country, we shall return to our fam- [2] families and friends, with the consciousness of having contributed to its prosperity. And we have no hesitation to believe, that Citizens, capable of framing and adopting to generous a Constitution, will receive us with a full proportion of affection. Permit us to express our fullest confidence of Your Excellency's patronage and protection, and that you will, on all occasions, promote such measures as will render eligible the situation of the officers and soldiers in the field. That you may long enjoy the smiles, and experience the gratitude, of your Country, is the ardent desire of Your Excellency's Most obedient servants, Instead of the aforegoing - the one drafted by Col. Pickering was sent.