that such measures may be of mischievous consequence, as tending to a create a disregard to publick regulations, formed for preserving the liberties of America.

Ordered, That a copy of these proceedings be signed by the Chairman, and sent to be published in the Maryland Gazette. By order of the Committee:

JOSIAS BEALL, Chairman.

ASSEMBLY OF CONNECTICUT TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Hartford, May 27, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: You have doubtless received the advice of the Continental Congress, relative to the important fortress and pass of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. We esteem it necessary to be guided by their opinion in every important transaction, and have great satisfaction in their approbation of the capture made of those posts; and their advice relating to removing the cannon, &c., to the south end of Lake George, and making a stand there, must probably be complied with, unless they, upon further consideration, shall alter their opinion, and advise to making the stand at one or both the aforesaid forts, which this House and Assembly judge to be much more expedient, on many obvious accounts, and have several days since signified their opinion to our Delegates at said Congress; and for these and other reasons, hope for their concurrence.

The bearer, Captain Phelps, who has been very active and useful in the captures, is just arrived with important advices from Colonel Arnold, of an expected attack speedily from Governour Carleton, and is charged with the same advices from Mr. Arnold to you. In consequence of them, and the imminent danger the people there are exposed to, our Assembly have just ordered five hundred pounds of our pittance of powder to be forthwith sent to them; and also four companies to march for their present relief, and have advised the New-York Provincial Congress of this step; and also are now despatching advice of the same to the Continental Congress; and also again setting forth the advantage of maintaining a post at Ticonderoga or Crown Point, and suggesting our wishes that they reconsider their advice. In the mean lime you may be assured that we have no just claim to the acquisition or the command of them, as in the least degree to interfere with any measures you may think proper to adopt relating to them, and consider what we have done as a small and temporary relief.

I am, gentlemen, in the name and behalf of the House of Representatives, your most obedient and very humble servant. By order:

WM. WILLIAMS, Speaker.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE AT CHELSEA, HOG ISLAND, ETC., IN MASSACHUSETTS.

On Saturday, May 27, 1775, a party of the American Army at Cambridge, to the number of between two and three hundred men, had orders to drive off the live stock from Hog and Noddle Islands, which lie near Chelsea, Winnesimmet, on the northeast side of Boston Harbour. From Chelsea to Hog Island, at low water, it is but about knee high, and from that to Noddle’s Island about the same. The stock on the former belonging to Mr. Oliver Wendell, at Boston, and Mr. Jonathan Jackson, at Newburyport; that on Noddle’s Island was owned by Mr. Williams, of Boston, who hires the island.

About eleven o’clock, A. M., between twenty and thirty men went from Chelsea to Hog Island, and from thence to Noddle’s Island, to drive off the stock which was there, but were interrupted by a schooner and sloop dispatched from the fleet in Boston Harbour, and forty Marines, who had been stationed on the island to protect the live stock. However, they sent off two fine English stallions, two colts, and three cows, killed fifteen horses, two colts, and three cows, burnt a large barn full of salt, hay, and an old farmhouse. By this time they were fired on from the schooner and sloop, and a large number of Marines in boats, sent from the several men-of-war; upon which they retreated to a ditch on the marsh, and kept themselves undiscovered till they had an opportunity to fire on the Marines, when they shot down two dead, and wounded two more, one of whom died soon after. They then retreated to Hog Island, where they were joined by the remainder of their party from Chelsea, and drove off all the stock thereon, viz: between three and four hundred sheep and lambs, some cows, horses, &c. During this there were firings between the Provincials and the schooner, sloop, boats, and Marines, on the other island.

Having cleared Hog Island, the Provincials drew up on Chelsea Neck, and sent for a reinforcement of three hundred men and two pieces of cannon, (four pounders,) which arrived about nine o'clock in the evening; soon after which General Putnam went down and hailed the schooner, and told the people that if they would submit they should have good quarters, which the schooner returned with two cannon shot; this was immediately answered with two cannon from the Provincials: upon this a very heavy fire ensued from both sides, which lasted till eleven o'clock at night, when the fire from the schooner ceased; the fire from the shore being so hot that her people were obliged to quit her and take to the boats, a great number of which had been sent from the ships to their assistance, and also a large reinforcement of Marines sent to Noddle’s Island, with two twelve-pounders.

The schooner being thus left, drove ashore, where, about break-of-day, the Provincials carried some hay under her stern, and set her on fire, the sloop keeping up a small fire upon them; at which time a heavy cannonading was begun at Noddle’s Island Hill, with the twelve-pounders, upon the Provincials; also General Putnam kept a heavy fire upon the sloop, which disabled her much, and killed many of her men, so that she was obliged to be towed off by the boats, when the firing ceased, except a few shot which were exchanged between the party at Chelsea, and the Marines on Noddle’s Island. Thus ended this long action, without the loss of one Provincial, and only four wounded, one of whom was wounded by the bursting of his own gun, and another only lost his little finger. The loss of the enemy amounted to twenty killed, and fifty wounded. The Provincials took out of the schooner four double fortified four-pounders, twelve swivels, chief of her rigging and sails, many clothes, some money, &c., which the Sailors and Marines left behind, they having quitted in great haste.

COMPLAINT AGAINST LIEUT. COLONEL ABIJAH BROWN.

Waltham, May, 1775.

To the Honourable Committee of Safety now assembled at CAMBRIDGE, Province of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY:

Whereas a number of the inhabitants in and about Waltham, in the County of Middlesex and Province aforesaid, having a deep sense of their obligations to the Honourable Committee for their services, upon information given, look upon themselves in duty bound, to represent to them in this publick manner, the repeated and publick insults and abuses that the Honourable Committee and Congress are from day to day treated with by one Abijah Brown, who calls himself Lieutenant-Colonel, who, from time to time, and in different company, in the most publick manner upon the road, and in publick houses, where company of strangers or town’s people are on any occasion assembled, taking such opportunity to declare, though in such profane language that we must be excused from repeating, viz: that the Congress had no power to do as they did; for all the power was and would be in the Army; and if the Congress behaved as they did, that within forty-eight hours the Army would turn upon the Congress, and they would settle matters as they pleased; that there would be nothing done but what would be done by the Army; and with respect to the General and Committee, that they had no more right or power to give their orders to remove the cannon and stores from Waltham, than one John Stewart, who is a poor unhappy man, that is non compos mentis; hereby rep resenting the General and Committees as a set of idiots and lunaticks, in order to lessen and bring into contempt the power and authority of the Province, at this very important day. This conduct, from one assuming rank in the Army, in and about Head-Quarters where the Army is, and his reasons for such conduct, we leave every one to judge for himself, &c.

We therefore would humbly pray that your Honours would be pleased to take into your consideration this very dangerous matter, before it is too late, and before the seeds