This Day in History: August 8

This Colony the last Fall, not confiding entirely in the precarious Supply of Powder that might be expected from the Merchants, imported a considerable Quantity, though not so large as was ordered. The supplying the Inhabitants, who were in a Manner utterly destitute, the Army near Boston, and our armed Vessels have so exhausted this Stock that the Powder now left which is all in this Place is greatly insufficient to resist even a short Attack upon it. Our Situation is the same with Respect to Lead. So that at present none of either Article can be spared from the Colony.