Cambridge, 19th June 1775.

My dear Frd.
I thank you for your Several favors, the last of which, the 10th Inst., I just now recd. -- I have not had time to write, & thro' abundant business my health has Sometime[s] been reduced; I now write in Comtee of Safety, a few lines at a time as I can; all the business in this Comtee has been done by only 6 or 7 Members, upon whom it has fallen very heavy, public business having pressed upon us very hard.

To See the distress occasioned by the late measures of Administra: is enough to melt a heart of adamt: Carts are continually passing in every direction from the Sea-Coast, loaded with Beds, Chairs, Pots, Kettles, & a thousand &ca's, with Women & Children in the midst. Great part of the Sea Coast is thin'd of Inhabitants, & most people have removed their most valuable effects. Mr Cranch'es Family, & mine, are yet at Vertchild's House: they visit Germantown now and then: I have been with my family only 2 Nights since the 20th March.

You recd from Congress the particulars of the battle of Lexington; Since which the affair of Noddles Island, (& several other smaller Skirmishes) has taken place; in all which, we had greatly the advantage; accounts of which you have doubtless received. But on Saturday last, the 17th, the Regulars attacked us upon one of the Charlestown Hills, where we had begun to entrench, & obliged us to retreat, by means of their Ships & Floating Batterys, we having no large Cannon to match theirs; the Cannon we cou'd have had, if we had had Gunpowder enough to Spare, but we had not more than Sufficient for the Field Pieces & Musquetry; however, the Enemy have not much to boast; for' tho' they kept the Field, & took from us 4 or 5 ps, 3 Pounders, yet they lost, by the best acctts we can yet obtain: about 500 kill'd & wounded, & among the former are, as we have reason to believe, Several Officers of distinction: our loss in numbers is not great: by the best acctts we yet have, about 60 or 70 kill'd & missing; but -- among these is -- what Shall I say! how Shall I write the name of our worthy Friend, the great & good Dr W-----. You will hear by others who will write tomorrow, such particulars as