Instructions to Nathan Cushing, Esq.,
Representative of the Town of Scituate,
June 4, 1776.

The inhabitants of this town be­ing called together on the reco­mmenda­tion of our General As­sem­bly, to signify our minds on the great point of independence on Great Britain, think fit to in­struct you on that head. The Mi­nistry of that kingdom having formed a design of sub­jecting the Colonies to a distant, exter­nal, and absolute power, in all cases whatsoe­ver, wherein the Colo­nies have not, nor, in the nature of things, can have any share by representation, have for a course of years past exerted their ut­most art and endeavour to press the same plan, so de­structive to both countries, into execu­tion; but fin­ding it, through the noble and virtuous op­position of the sons of free­dom, impracticable, by means of mere po­li­tical art­i­fice and corruption, they have at length had a fatal re­course to a stan­ding army, so repug­nant to the na­ture of a free Government, to fire and sword, to blood­shed and de­vastation, calling in the aid of foreign troops, as well as endeavouring to stir up the sa­va­ges of the wilderness to ex­er­cise their barbarities upon us; being de­termined by all ap­pearan­ces, if prac­ticable, to extirpate the Ame­ricans from the face of the earth, if possible, unless they tamely resign the rights of humanity, and to re-people this once happy country with the ready sons of vassalage, if such can be found: We, therefore, apprehending such a subjec­tion utterly in­con­sis­tent with the just rights and blessings of society, unani­mous­ly in­struct you to endea­vour that our Dele­gates in Con­gress be in­formed, in case that Rep­resen­ta­tive body of the Con­tinent should think fit to de­clare the Colonies in­dependent of Great Britain, of our readi­ness and de­termination to assist, with our lives and for­tunes, in support of that (as we appre­hend) ne­ces­sary measure.

Touching other matters, we trust in your discretion, fidel­ity, and zeal, for the publick welfare, to propose and forward all such measures as you shall apprehend may tend to our ne­cessary de­fence in the present threa­ten­ing aspect of affairs, or to promo­ting the internal peace, order, and good Government of this Colony.