 Greetings! I am Lieutenant General Thomas Gage, Commander-in-Chief of his Royal Majesty's Forces in North America. I came to these shores in 1755 as part of General Braddock's expeditionary force with the objective of expelling French troops from the Ohio country. In 1763, following the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years' War, known in the colonies as the French and Indian War, I was selected to replace General Amherst as Commander-in-Chief and made responsible for the administration of a territory that spanned the entirety of North America east of the Mississippi River. England had been pursuing their interest in these territories since the early 17th century. These vast spaces were seen as a practically inexhaustible source of raw materials, especially wood for the Royal Navy and merchant ships, a solution to the problem of excess population in English cities, a haven for the various groups of religious dissenters, and a steadily growing market for English manufactured goods. Of course, in order to preserve and protect our interests here, it became necessary to maintain a strong military presence on land and at sea to secure our borders and ports against the intrusion of French and Spanish settlers. In addition, there was the necessity of maintaining peaceful relations with the native peoples who were wary of our growing population. The colonies flourished as time went by, and colonial merchants were quick to take advantage of various European markets for their goods, a practice that England frowned upon as it deprived English businesses of the lion's share of profits. Legislation was introduced over time to restrict trade with non-English markets, which resulted, of course, in an ever-increasing habit of smuggling by colonial merchants. To make matters worse, the Seven Years' War had left England with a very great debt, which would have to be made up somehow. The traditional method of raising money was, of course, raising taxes, and it seemed only logical that since a great deal of England's war debt was the result of defending our colonial territories, that the citizens of those territories should contribute to the repayment of said debt. Various methods were implemented. The Stamp Act sought to raise money by the sale of official stamps, which were to be affixed to various paper goods and official documents, any and all of which had to be paid for in hard English currency and not in colonial paper money. The Stamp Act was so vigorously protested against that it was never actually put into practice. The Stamp Act was succeeded by the Townsend Acts, which sought to levy taxes on such imports as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. In addition to raising revenue, the Acts were to create a more effective means of enforcing compliance with trade regulations and punish the province of New York for failing to comply with the Quartery Act. The Acts established the precedent that the British Parliament had the right to tax the colonies. These Acts were equally unpopular with the colonists who responded by refusing to buy English imported goods. The colonial response to these Acts was even more vehement than the uproar over the Stamp Act, and protests eventually led to the so-called Boston Massacre and the tax on British ships, including the burning of the custom schooner gas pay. Eventually, the Townsend Acts were repealed with the exception of the Tax on Tea, which had been implemented to save the East India Company from bankruptcy. Colonial indignation over the Tea Tax was to lead to the infamous Boston Tea Party, which in turn led to the imposition of the coercive Acts that the Americans took to calling the Intolerable Acts. The coercive Acts consisted of the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until such time that restitution be made for the Tea that was thrown into the harbour. The Massachusetts Government Act, which took away Massachusetts Charter and placed it under direct control of the British Government. The Administration of Justice Act, which allowed trials of accused royal officials to take place in England as it was assumed they could not get a fair trial in the colonies. And the Quartering Act, which required the colonies to provide housing for British troops in occupied buildings, but not private homes, this was an effort to house troops closer to their areas of operation. At the time the coercive Acts were being considered by Parliament, I had returned to England in order to enroll my sons in proper English schools. News of the Boston Tea Party reached England during my visit. I was summoned by the King to deliver my assessment of our situation in the colonies. I told the King that I thought the colonists would be lions whilst we are lambs, but if we take the resolute part they will undoubtedly prove very meek. I told him that I thought that the four regiments he was planning to send to relieve as many regiments in America, if sent to Boston, would be sufficient to prevent any disturbances. I also said that the repeal of the Stamp Act has encouraged the Americans to increase their pretension to that thorough independency which one state has of another, but is quite subversive of the obedience which a colony owes to its mother country. Once the coercive Acts were passed I was ordered back to Boston immediately. By the time I arrived the Boston Port Act was already the talk of the town and would soon be fanning the flames of resistance throughout the colonies, eliciting resolutions calling for a Continental Congress and resolves in support of Boston. It being my duty to implement the coercive Acts I found it necessary to dissolve the Massachusetts Assembly as they had sent delegates to the so-called Continental Congress. I have concluded that democracy is too prevalent in America. In addition I withdrew the garrisons from New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Halifax and Newfoundland and brought them to Boston along with a large naval presence under the command of Admiral Samuel Raves. We are currently making arrangements to begin confiscation of war-making materials. If force is to be used at length it must be a considerable one and foreign troops must be hired for to begin with small numbers will encourage resistance and not terrify and will in the end cost more blood and treasure. Gentlemen I am desired by the freeholders and other inhabitants of this town to enclose you an attested copy of their vote passed in town meeting legally assembled this day. The occasion of this meeting is most alarming. We have received a copy of an Act of the British Parliament which is also attached wherein it appears that the inhabitants of this town have been tried and condemned and are to be punished by the shutting up of the harbor and other ways without there having been called to answer for nay for ought that appears without there having been even accused of any crime committed by them for no such crime is alleged in the act. The town of Boston is now suffering the stroke of vengeance in the common cause of America. I hope they will sustain the blow with a becoming fortitude and that the effects of this cruel act intended to intimidate and so do the spirits of all America will by the joint efforts of all be frustrated. The people receive this edict with indignation it is expected by their enemies and feared by some of their friends that this town singly will not be able to support the cause under so severe a trial as the very being of every colony considered as a free people depends upon this event a thought so dishonorable to our brethren cannot be entertained is that this town will now be left to struggle alone. General Gage has arrived here with a commission to supersede Governor Hutchinson it is said that the town of Salem about 20 miles east of the metropolis is to be the seat of government that the commissioners of the customs and their numerous retinue are to remove to the town of Marblehead a town contiguous to Salem and that this if the general shall think proper is to be a garrison town reports are various and contradictory I haven't closed a copy of the town vote for each of the colonies southward of your province which I beg you to forward with all possible dispatch together with your own sentiments there on I am with very great regard gentlemen your humble servant Samuel Adams to the committee of correspondence for the city of Philadelphia