Sir, 

The Retirement of a general Officer possessing the Confidence of his Country and the Army at so critical a Period, appears to me to be big with fatal Consequences both to the Publick Cause and his own Reputation. While it is unexecuted I think it my Duty to use this last Effort to prevent it; and after suggesting those reasons which occur to me against your Resignation, your own Virtue and good sense must decide upon it. In the usual contests of Empire and Ambition, the conscience of a soldier has so little share, that he may very properly insist upon his claims of Rank, and extend his pretensions even to Punctilio; but in such a cause as this, where the Object is neither Glory nor extent of territory, but a defence of all that is dear and valuable in Life, surely every post ought to be deemed honorable in which a Man can serve his Country. What matter of triumph will it afford our enemies, that in less than one month, a spirit of Discord should shew itself in the highest Ranks of the Army, not to be extinguished by any thing less than a total desertion of Duty? How little reason shall we have to boast of American Union and Patriotism, if at such a time and in such a cause smaller and partial considerations cannot give way to the great and general Interest. These remarks can[not] only affect you as a member of the great American body, but as an inhabitant of Massachusetts Bay, your own Province and the other Colonies have a peculiar and unquestionable claim to your Services, and in my opinion you cannot refuse them without relinquishing in some degree that Character For publick Virtue and Honor which you have hitherto supported. If our Cause is just, it ought to be supported, but where shall it find support, if Gentlemen of merit and experience, unable to conquer the prejudices of a competition, withdraw themselves in an hour of Danger. I admit, Sir, that your claims and services have not had due respect, it is by no means a singular case; worthy men of all Nations and Countries have had reason to make the same complaint, but they did not for this abandon the publick Cause, they nobly stifled the dictates of resentment, and made their enemies ashamed of their injustice. And can America shew no such instances of magnanimity? For the sake of your bleeding Country, your devoted Province, your charter rights, and by the memory of those brave men who have already fell in this great cause, I conjure you to banish from your mind every suggestion of anger and disappointment; your country will do ample justice to your merits, they already do it, by the Sorrow and regret expressed on the occasion; and the sacrifice you are called to make, will in the judgment of every good man and lover of his Country, do you more real Honor than the most distinguished Victory. You possess the confidence and affection of the troops of this Province particularly; many of them are not capable of judging the propriety and reasons of your Conduct, should they esteem themselves authorized by your example to leave the service, the consequences may be fatal and irretrievable. There is reason to fear it from the personal attachments of the men to their officers and the obligations that are supposed to arise from those attachments.