generally expected here. Stocks fell but one and a half per cent. cent. General Gage's account had not arrived, and the enemy affected to treat it as a fiction. Parliament had been prorogued two days, but it was reported that it would be immediately recalled. Our enemy continues strongly posted about a mile from us, both at Bunker's Hill and Roxbury, but we are not able to get any information of their future intentions. Part of the riflemen are come in, and the rest daily expected. I did not suppose your returns would be very complete at first; but I must ask your attention to reforming them as soon as possible; and I beg leave to add, that I would have you scrutinize with exactness into the application of provisions and stores.* I have the utmost reason to suspect irregularities and impositions here. You will be fortunate if the contagion does not reach you. General Lee has removed about four miles from me, but I will take the first opportunity to make your kind wishes known to him. † I am, dear Sir, yours, &c. * By a return sent in the letter of the 15th, the forces under General Schuyler in the Northern Department were represented as follows; 1. Connecticut troops under General Wooster 1505 2. 66 66 under Colonel Hinman, at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Fort George 973 3. New York troops at Fort George 205 4. Massachusetts troops at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Fort † General Lee was now stationed at Winter Hill, near Medford, in command of the left wing of the army.-See APPENDIX, No. VI. TO THE SPEAKER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SIR, MASSACHUSETTS BAY. * Camp at Cambridge, 31 July, 1775. I have considered the application made to me yesterday from the General Court, with all the attention due to the situation of the people, in whose behalf it is made, and the respect due to such a recommendation. * General Gage, as governor of the colony, summoned in the usual way a meeting of the General Assembly to be held at Salem, on the 5th of October, 1774. After issuing precepts for the election, he was induced by the current of events to suspend the meeting of the members chosen. They met, however, to the number of ninety, at the time and place appointed; and receiving no message from the governor, and questioning the legality of his proclamation, they formed themselves into a Provincial Congress, and proceeded to take into consideration the affairs of the colony. They adjourned to Cambridge, where, except an intermission of three or four weeks, by adjournment, they continued in session till the 10th of December, when the Congress was dissolved, having previously recommended a new election to the people, and appointed a Committee of Safety from their own members to manage the public concerns, till a new Congress should be assembled. The second Congress met on the 1st of February, 1775, at Cambridge, but adjourned to Concord, and afterwards to Watertown; it was dissolved on the 23d of May. A third Congress met at Watertown, May 31st, and continued till July 19th, when the government by Provincial Congresses ceased, and the General Assembly, or, as it was otherwise called, General Court, convened at Watertown. This was the body, which Washington now addressed. It differed from the old mode, by having a Council, and thus acting in two separate branches. The Provincial Congress, had, on the 16th of May, written to the Continental Congress requesting their advice on the expediency of establishing a more efficient system, or, as it was termed, taking up civil government. In their letter it was stated, -"As the sword should, in all free states, be subservient to the civil powers, and as it is the duty of the magistrate to support it for the people's necessary defence, we tremble at having an army, although consisting of our own countrymen, established here, without a civil power to provide for and control them." In consequence of this representation, the Continental Congress, on the 9th of June, passed a resolve, recommending the adoption of the old form of an Assembly, according to the spirit and substance of the charter, as far as it could be effected without the agency of a governor. A new election was immediately ordered, and the Assembly convened as above stated.— MS. Journal of the Massachusetts Congress, for May and June. Upon referring to my instructions, and consulting with those members of Congress, who are present, as well as the general officers, they all agree, that it would not be consistent with my duty to detach any part of the army now here on any particular provincial service. It has been debated in Congress and settled, that the militia, or other internal strength of each province, is to be applied for defence against those small and particular depredations, which were to be expected, and to which they were supposed to be competent. This will appear the more proper, when it is considered, that every town and indeed every part of our sea-coast, which is exposed to these depredations, would have an equal claim upon this army. It is the misfortune of our situation, which exposes us to these ravages, and against which, in my judgment, no such temporary relief could possibly secure us. The great advantage the enemy have of transporting troops, by being masters of the sea, will enable them to harass us by diversions of this kind; and should we be tempted to pursue them upon every alarm, the army must either be so weakened as to expose it to destruction, or a great part of the coast be still left unprotected. Nor, indeed, does it appear to me, that such a pursuit would be attended with the least effect. The first notice of such an excursion would be its actual execution; and long before any troops could reach the scene of action, the enemy would have an opportunity to accomplish their purpose and retire. It would give me great pleasure to have it in my power to extend protection and safety to every individual; but the wisdom of the General Court will anticipate me in the necessity of conducting our operations on a general and impartial scale, so as to exclude any just cause of complaint and jealousy. I beg, Sir, you will do me the honor to communicate these sentiments to the General Court, and to apologize for my involuntary delay, as we were alarmed this morning by the enemy, and my time was taken up in giving the necessary directions. I shall be happy in every opportunity of showing my very great respect and regard for the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, and am, Sir, &c. SIR, TO GOVERNOR TRUMBULL. Cambridge, 4 August, 1775. I am favored with yours of the 31st of July, informing me, that the new levies are coming forward with all expedition.* As the enemy has lain much longer inactive than I expected, I hope they will arrive in time to give us their assistance. My last letter from the honorable Continental Congress recommends my procuring, from the colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticut, a quantity of tow cloth, for the purpose of making Indian or hunting-shirts for the men, many of whom are destitute of clothing. A pattern is herewith sent you; and I must request you to give the necessary directions throughout your government, that all the cloth of this kind may be bought up for this use, and suitable persons set to work to make it up. As soon as any number is made, worth the conveyance, you will please to direct them to be forwarded. It is designed as a species of uniform, both cheap and convenient. The express, having left his horse at Hartford, is under the necessity of going that way. I am, Sir, &c. * Connecticut had recently determined to send fourteen hundred additional men to the camp. These were called new levies. TO GOVERNOR Cooke, of rhode island. SIR, Camp at Cambridge, 4 August, 1775. I was yesterday favored with yours of the 31st of July. We have yet no certain accounts of the fleet, which sailed out of Boston on the 25th; but if our conjectures and information are just, we may expect to hear of it every hour. I am now, Sir, in strict confidence, to acquaint you, that our necessities in the articles of powder and lead are so great, as to require an immediate supply. I must earnestly entreat, that you will fall upon some measure to forward every pound of each in your colony, that can possibly be spared. It is not within the propriety or safety of such a correspondence to say what I might on this subject. It is sufficient, that the case calls loudly for the most strenuous exertions of every friend of his country, and does not admit of the least delay. No quantity, however small, is beneath notice, and, should any arrive, I beg it may be forwarded as soon as possible. But a supply of this kind is so precarious, not only from the danger of the enemy, but the opportunity of purchasing, that I have revolved in my mind every other possible chance, and listened to every proposition on the subject, which could give the smallest hope. Among others, I have had one mentioned, which has some weight with me, as well as the general officers to whom I have proposed it. A Mr. Harris has lately come from Bermuda, where there is a very considerable magazine of powder in a remote part of the island; and the inhabitants are well disposed not only to our cause in general, but to assist in this enterprise in particular. We understand there are two armed vessels in your province, commanded by men of known activity and |