visit their friends, and to move up parts of their families that were left behind, with this belt by them, we open the road wide, clearing it of all obstacles, that they may visit their friends and return to their settlements here in peace. We Oneidas are induced to this measure on account of the disagreeable situation of affairs that nay; and we hope, by the help of God, that they may go and return in peace. We earnestly recommend them to your charity through their long journey.

Now we more immediately address you, our brother, the Governour and the Chiefs of New-England.

Brothers! We have heard of the unhappy differences and great contention betwixt you and old England. We wonder greatly, and are troubled in our minds.

Brothers! Possess your minds in peace respecting us Indians. We cannot intermeddle in (his dispute between two brothers. The quarrel seems to be unnatural; you are two brothers of one blood. We are unwilling to join on either side in such a contest, for we bear an equal affection to both of you, Old and New-England. Should the great King of England apply to us for our aid, we shall deny him. If the Colonies apply, we will refuse. The present situation of you two brothers is new and strange to us. We Indiana cannot find nor recollect in the traditions of our ancestors the like case or a similar instance.

Brothers! For these reasons possess your minds in peace, and take no umbrage that we Indians refuse joining in the contest; we are for peace.

Brothers! Was it an alien, a foreign Nation, which struck you, we should look into the matter. We hope, through the wise government and good pleasure of God, your distresses may soon be removed, and the dark cloud be dispersed.

Brothers! As we have declared for peace, we desire you will not apply to our Indian brethren in New-England for their assistance. Let us Indians be all of one mind, and live in peace with one another, and you white people settle your own disputes betwixt yourselves.

Brothers! We have now declared our minds; please write to us that we may know yours.

We, the sachems, warriors, and female governesses of Oneida, send our love to you, brother Governour, and all the other chiefs in New-England.

Signed by
	William Sunoghsis,		Chief Warriors of Oneida
	Viklasha Watshaleagh,
	William Kanaghquassea,
	Peter Thayehcase,
	Germine Tegayavher,
	Nikhes Ahsechose,
	Thomas Yoghtanawca,
	Adam Ohonwano,
	Quedellis Agwerondongwas,
	Handerchiko Tegahpreahdyen,
	Johnks Skeanender,
	Thomas Teorddeatha.

Caughnawaga, June 19, 1775.

Interpreted and wrote by Samuel Kirkland, Missionary.

TIVERTON AND LITTLE COMPTON (R.I.) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committees of Inspection for the Towns of Tiverton and Little-Compton, held at the dwelling-house of Gideon Wilcox, Esquire, on Saturday, June 27th, 1775 :

NATHANIEL SEARLE, Jun., Esq., in the Chair.

Information being given to these Committees, that Abiel Cook, of Little-Compton, bad violated the seventh article of the Continental Congress Association, and was thereby endeavouring to feed and support the enemies of American liberty, by selling some of his Sheep to go on board the Swan, man-of-war, at Newport; the Sheep being stopped at Forkland-Ferry, and said Cook ordered to attend the Committees, he attended accordingly this day, and had the effrontery to insult the Committees and his Country, by declaring, that he had sold the Sheep to go on board the man-of-war, and would do it again when any opportunity should offer.

Voted, That the above Sheep be sent as a present to the American Army near Boston.

Ordered, That the above be printed in the Newport Mercury, that all friends to American liberty may break

off all dealings with said Cook, and treat him as an enemy to his Country and the liberties of America.
A true copy.

By order of the Committee:

WM. LADD, Clerk for the day.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Providence, Rhode-Island, June 27, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I gave you a hint in my letter of yesterday of our fitting out two armed vessels for the protection of our trade. It looks very probable to me that if there were a few vessels properly armed and manned along the coast, in different parts, it would be a great means of protecting our own trade, and also of picking up many of the provision vessels that they (the men-of-war) take this way, and send round to Boston. Many of those vessels are sent round with but five or six hands in each, and with nothing more than a small-arm a piece, to defend them; and further, as the enemy think we have no force that dare put out of our harbours, some of their store-ships come without convoy, and there is a possibility that we might pick up one of them if we had a vessel or two to cruise in their way. These things are dropped, gentlemen, for your consideration, from your most humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

To the Hon. James Warren, President of the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts Bay, Watertown.

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS RECEIVED IN PHILADELPHIA FROM GENTLEMEN IN THE ARMY, DATED CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, JUNE 27, 1775.

You will have heard of the battle on Bunker’s Hill before you receive this, but the accounts will be various. Our people went on to take the ground, expecting every day the enemy would take it, if we did not. They were not well prepared; however, they went on; and at daybreak, before they had time to finish their work, they were attacked, but General Howe gives them the praise of defending their works as well as any men on earth could do; and had our troops who were to march up to their support, behaved as well in coming to their posts as the others did in defending theirs, they never would have lost their ground, but the enemy must have been cut off. But the low ground over which they were to pass was so continually raked by a constant fire from the ships and floating batteries, with every kind of shot, that it rendered it impossible to bring a proper number of men over at that time to their support; and after a most vigorous defence for some hours, our men being employed the whole night before without sleep or rest, and many having expended the ammunition they had with them, they retreated, and left the ground and unfinished lines to the enemy, where they are now encamped and fortifying. Our people are encamped on Prospect Hill, at about a mile distance, and have strong lines thrown up from Cambridge River to Mitstick River, and are watching each other. We lost in the engagement one hundred and seventy-nine men, killed and wounded: fifty killed, thirty wounded and prisoners in Boston, and the remainder of the one hundred and seventy-nine wounded with us; the enemy lost one thousand on the spot and dead of their wounds before last Wednesday, and seven hundred then in the hospitals wounded. Many such conquests would totally ruin the King’s Troops.

Last Saturday the enemy cannonaded Roxbury, and endeavoured to burn the Town, but failed. Sunday General Clinton sent a flag from his camp to ours with letters from our prisoners; they say they are kindly treated, and have their choice of Army or Town Surgeons, or both; and most of them are like to do well. Mr. P—cy is this day arrived here from London; he came with Captain Jenkins to Nantucket; an officer of the King’s Army was passenger with them, and is secured. Mr. P—cy says it was expected by Administration that the Yankees would not fight; that the Army would get up the hill and down again, and that would settle the whole controversy; they will be much chagrined when the account from here arrives. They are like to have enough to do to keep France and Spain quiet during the summer, Russia and the Porte are preparing for war again; and Prussia, always ready, is looking on, and laughing in his sleeve, and the States of Holland are