[draft] To Major General Lincoln Commander of the Malitia now assembled in arms for the support of the Constitutional Government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Sir The alarming prospect which now presents itself to us of our being dayly or hourly involved in all the horrors of a civil war, we conceive to be a sufficient appology for applying to the Commander in chief - And although we have every sentiment of Respect for your person & the fullest & most [entire] Confidence in your abilities as a man - & an experienced Military Commander Yet sir permit men full of the most painfull anxiety on account of the present Distressing [complixion] of the Times, to lay before you thier fervent desires. The Inhabitants of the Town of Granby being sensibly affected with the situation we are now in & the publick in general did on the [28]th [inserted: of this] Instant, did Assemble & vote (being a very full meeting) that inasmuch as application [has according] to good information been made & is dayly making from a number of Towns in this Commonwealth to the Commander of the Militia in Arms in favor of Government That the said Commander will use every possible way & means in his power as a man & or an Officer consistent with ye dignity of government and his own honour to prevent ye awful destruction of mankind - and shedding ye blood of our own Countrymen - and conquer by his wisdom [2] and not by his arms - and bring our deluded friends to a due sense of their error, & subject them to their duty without ye further effusion of blood, if by any means practicable. - Therefore Voted that we heartily concur with every such prayer, and every such application, and do join with those who pray and apply as aforesaid - Attest P. Cook Moderator - Granby Jan. 31st 1787 -