Establishing a system of alarm signals between Massachusetts and Rhode Island soon after Lexington and Concord - photo 1

Establishing a system of alarm signals between Massachusetts and Rhode Island soon after Lexington and Concord

Lot 640
24.01.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1362258
Lot 640 | Establishing a system of alarm signals between Massachusetts and Rhode Island soon after Lexington and Concord
Estimate value
$ 8 000 – 12 000
Establishing a system of alarm signals between Massachusetts and Rhode Island soon after Lexington and Concord
James Warren, 27 April 1775
WARREN, James (1726-1808). Autograph letter signed ("Jas. Warren") to a member of the Massachusetts Committee of Safety [possibly Elbridge Gerry], Plymouth, 27 April 1775.

One page, 323 x 195mm (minor marginal wear, a few lightly toned areas, mounting remnants along verso of left margin).

A week after Lexington and Concord, James Warren reports on Rhode Island's cooperation in establishing a system of alarm signals. An early and important letter in the immediate aftermath of the "shot heard round the world." Warren reports that "The Principles & Spirits of the People of Providence & as far as I can Judge of the whole Colony are such as would please you. The lower House of Assembly behaved with Dignity several of them spoke very well on the Subject of our proposal and with An Alacrity
agreeable to our wishes, passed Concurrent Votes two only dissenting voices who pretended apprehensions for the Town of Newport." However, the upper chamber, "influenced by Timidity of Lt. Governor Sessions & the weakness & Unsteadiness of others had not Concurred when I came away they had voted to suspend the Consideration of the matter till after their Election…." Yet Warren remained optimistic, leaving "Providence with assurance that they must concur with the lower House." While his premature return to Massachusetts was prompted by the need to settle personal affairs, he also wished to offer his personal congratulations "to you on the current appearances of things. I want to know in what manner you propose to raise your Army & in what manner to raise money to support them. Suppose we could make propositions to the Debtors to English Merchants that would Induce them to lend us the money…" A signficant early letter concerning the critical nature of intercolonial cooperation in the wake of the first military campaign of the Revolutionary War. Provenance: Richard Maas – Sotheby's, New York, 23 May 1984, lot 272 – Sotheby's, New York, 13 December 1995, lot 380.
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