persons around you, who I supposed had gained your entire confidence.         I am, &c.

ADAM BABCOCK TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-Haven, April 20, 1775.

SIR: I have a Brig now ready for sea, on board of which is laden twelve Oxen, bound for the foreign West-Indies. She was cleared out the 15th instant, and has made several attempts to sail, and once actually sailed, but by contrary winds was obliged yesterday to put back, and must unlade the Cattle she has on board, according to your Honour’s Proclamation, unless the circumstances attending this matter can induce your Honour to grant a dispensation. I will use no other argument in favour of this application than this: that as the Cattle were purchased, cleared out, and snipped before the Embargo was laid, and indeed before the cause that occasioned the Embargo existed, there was consequently no intention in me to defeat the wise precaution of our Legislature, and have been so long a time on shipboard, at a great expense. Whether, under these circumstances, I may not claim, at least ask an exemption, as in my apprehension the publick will apparently sustain a greater loss through me, as an individual, from her being stopped and unloaded, (as I have neither time nor opportunity to supply the place of the Oxen with Horses before there may be danger of sending out any Vessel,) than from her proceeding to perform her voyage; especially when I assure your Honour that the nett proceeds of this Vessel and Cargo are ordered to be laid out of the West-Indies, and shipped home to me in certain articles which the community are in much greater want of at this unhappy period than of Cattle. I shall wait your Honour’s determination by the return of the young man, Mr. Adam Helme, who waits on you with this; and in the mean time have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your Honour’s most obedient and humble servant,
ADAM BABCOCK.

The Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Governour of the Colony of Connecticut.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, April 21, 1775.

This morning, between three and four o’clock, all the Gunpowder in the Magazine, to the amount, as we hear, of about twenty barrels, was carried off in his Excellency the Governour’s Wagon, escorted by Captain Collins and a detachment of Marines from the armed Schooner Magdalen, now lying at Bunwell’S Ferry, and lodged on board that Vessel. As soon as the news of this manœuvre, took wind, the whole City was alarmed, and much exasperated; and numbers got themselves in readiness to repair to the Palace to demand from the Governour a restoration of what they so justly supposed was deposited in this Magazine for the Country’s defence. However, as some gentlemen represented the propriety of remonstrating to the Governour upon this occasion in a decent and respectful manner, the Common Hall assembled., who, after deliberating some time, waited upon his Excellency with the following Address, which was presented by the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esquire, Recorder of this City, and is as follow:

To His Excellency the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, His Majesty’s Lieutenant, Governour-General, and Commander-in-chief of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA:

The humble Address of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of WILLIAMSBDRGH:

MY LORD: We, His Majesty’s dutiful and local subjects, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Williamsburgh, in Comman Hall assembled, humbly beg leave to represent to your Excellency that the inhabitants of this City were this morning exceedingly alarmed by a report that a large quantity of Gunpowder was, in the preceding night, while they were sleeping in their beds, removed from the publick Magazine in this City, and conveyed under an escort of Marines on board one of His Majesty’s armed Vessels lying at a Ferry on James River.

We beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that as this Magazine was erected at the publick expense of this Colony, and appropriated to the safe-keeping of such munition as should, be there lodged from time to time, for the protection and security of the Country, by arming thereout such of the Militia as might be necessary in case of invasions and insurrections, they humbly conceive it to be the only proper repository to be resorted to in times of imminent danger.

We farther beg leave to inform your Excellency, that from various reports at present prevailing in different parts of the Country, we have too much reason to believe that some wicked and designing persons have instilled the most diabolical notions into the minds of our Slaves, and that, therefore, the utmost attention to our internal security is become the more necessary.

The circumstances of this City, my Lord, we consider as peculiar and critical. The inhabitants, from the situation of the Magazine in the middle of their City, have for a long tract of time been exposed to all those dangers which have happened in many Countries from explosions and other accidents. They have, from time to time, thought it incumbent on them to guard the Magazine. For their security, they have for some time past judged it necessary to keep strong patrols on foot. In their present circumstances, then, to have the chief and necessary means of their defence removed, cannot but be extremely alarming.

Considering ourselves as guardians of the City, we therefore humbly desire to be informed by your Excellency upon what motives and for what particular purpose the Powder has been carried off in such a manner: and we earnestly entreat your Excellency to order it to be immediately returned to the Magazine.

To which Address His Excellency returned this verbal Answer:

That hearing of an insurrection in a neighbouring County, he had removed the Powder from the Magazine, where he did not think it secure, to a place where it would be in perfect security; and that, upon his word and honour, whenever it was wanted on any insurrection, it should be delivered in half an hour. That he had removed it in the night time to prevent any alarm; and that Captain Collins had his express commands for the part he had acted. He was surprised to hear the people were under arms on this occasion, and that he should not think it prudent to put Powder into their hands in such a situation.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee for Cumberland County, held on Friday, the 21st of April, 1775:

The Chairman recommended that the Committee should take under consideration the proceedings of the late Provincial Convention, held at Richmond Town, in the County of Henrico, from Monday, the 20th of March, to Monday, the 27th of the same month.

The Committee accordingly proceeded to the consideration thereof, and, after the maturest deliberation, came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, unanimously, That this Committee do cordially approve the Proceedings and Resolutions of the of the late Provincial Convention, and also recommend it, in the strongest terms, to the inhabitants of this County, to observe them in every particular, and that they use every means in their power to carry them into effect.

Resolved, unanimously, That the most cordial thanks of this Committee, and of all the inhabitants of the County, are justly due to the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq., and the rest of the worthy Delegates who represented this Colony in the late Provincial Convention, for the cheerful undertaking, and faithful discharge of the trust reposed in them, and for the wisdom and spirit displayed in their proceedings

GEORGE CARRINGTON, Chairman.

CONNECTICUT COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE TO JOHN HANCOCK.

Lebanon, April 21, 1775.

DEAR SIR: TWO of the Delegates from your Congress were with Governour Trumbull, and left him this morning at 7 o’clock. Writs are gone out, to call the General Assembly to meet at Hartford next Wednesday. Every preparation is making to support your Province. We have many reports of what is doing with you, the particulars we