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To the Inhabitants of the Colony of New Hampshire
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
Adams, Charles Thornton. Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire: A Patriot of the American Revolution. Philadelphia, Pa.: Dando Print and Publishing Company, 1903.
Adams, Charles Thornton. Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire: A Patriot of the American Revolution. Philadelphia, Pa.: Dando Print and Publishing Company, 1903.
==To the Inhabitants of the Colony of New Hampshire==
Exeter, June 2, 1775.
Friends and Brethren,
You must all be sensible that the affairs of ''America'' have at length come to a very affecting and alarming crisis. - The ''Horrors'' and ''Distresses'' of a ''Civil War'', which, till of late, we only had in contemplation, we now find ourselves obliged to realize. Painful beyond expression have been those ''Scenes of Blood and Devastation'', which the barbarous cruelty of British troops have placed before our eyes. Duty to GOD - to ourselves - to Posterity - enforced by the ''Cries of slaughtered Innocents'', have urged us to take up Arms in our Defence. Such a day as this was never before known, either to us or to our Fathers. You will give us leave therefore - in whom you have reposed special confidence, as your representative body, to suggest a few things which call for the serious attention of everyone who has the true interest of America at Heart. We would therefore recommend to the Colony at large to cultivate that Christian Union, Harmony and tender affection which is the only foundation upon which our invaluable privileges can rest with any security, or our publick measures be pursued with the least prospect of success.
We also recommend that a strict and inviolable regard be paid to the wise and judicious councils of the late American CONGRESS: and particularly, considering that the experience of almost every day points out to us, the danger arising from the collection and movements of bodies of men, who, notwithstanding, we willingly hope would promote the common cause and serve the interest of their country; yet are in danger of pursuing a track which may cross the ''general plan'', and so disconcert those publick measures which we view as of the greatest importance. We must, in the most express and urgent terms, recommend it that there may be no movements of this nature, but by the direction of the ''Committees'' of the respective towns or counties; and those ''Committees'', at the same time, advising with this ''Congress'' or with the ''Committee of Safety'' in the recess of Congress, where the exigence of the case is not plainly too pressing to leave room for such advice.
We further recommend, that the most industrious attention be paid to the cultivation of ''Lands'' and ''American Manufactures'', in their various branches - especially the ''Linen'' and ''Woollen''; and that the husbandry might be particularly managed with a view thereto - accordingly that the Farmer raise ''flax'' and increase his ''flock of sheep'' to the extent of his ability.
We further recommend a serious and steady regard to the rules of ''temperance'', ''sobriety'' and ''righteousness'' - and that those Laws, which have heretofore been our security and defence from the hand of violence may still answer all their former valuable purposes, though persons of vicious and corrupt minds, would willingly take advantage from our present situation.
In a word - We seriously and earnestly recommend the practice of that pure and undefiled ''religion'', which embalmed the memory of our pious ancestors, as that alone, upon which we can build a solid hope and confidence in the ''Divine protection'' and ''favour'', without whose ''blessing'', all the measures of safety we have, or can propose, will end in our shame and disappointment.
MATTHEW THORNTON, ''President''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=emMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA88 Collections, Topographical, Historical, and Biographical Relating Principally to New Hampshire, Volume 1]</ref>
==Further Reading==
==Further Reading==
==References==
==References==
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{{Template:Declaration of Independence}}