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…