for defence so very slender, as to fill them with perpetual solicitude and even anguish of spirit, lest by defending, even with small arms, against frequent attacks, their ammunition should be wholly spent, and they constrained to turn their backs on their enemy; when, if the Army was well found with ammunition, they would be able, not merely to defend themselves and their Country, but to bear down and triumph over the enemy.

Your Honours, therefore, will be most certainly convinced that nothing can so much merit your immediate and earnest attention, as the ways and means of supplying this Army, in the speediest manner, with the article of gunpowder. We cannot find words to express the importance of this proposal with sufficient emphasis. Our all very much depends upon success in this particular, and we cannot forbear repeating our request, that whatever quantity your Honours may find it in your power in any way to avail yourselves of, whether greater or less, may be sent forward with the utmost expedition.

We humbly conceive that it cannot be by any means prudent to venture an article of this importance any part of the way by water, nor by land, without a sufficient guard, as the same is in a manner as precious as our very blood.

This Colony is making the utmost efforts, running every risk, and trying every experiment, and hesitating at no expense, to procure good supplies of the above-said most important article for this Army. Nothing can be more remote from the temper of this Colony than to solicit the exertions of the other parts of the Continent, with a view, in any degree, to relax or render unnecessary our own utmost assiduity and endeavour; but our foregoing importunate applications proceed only from the fullest conviction that the largest contributions which the whole Continent is capable of, and the most immediate, vigorous, and unremitted efforts of every part of our Country, will be little enough, not to say inadequate, to effect such a supply of that commodity as the exigencies of the present crisis require.

The foregoing representation has been, by order of Congress, considered by our Committee of Supplies, who fully agree that nothing therein is expressed in too strong terms, or deserves the epithet of high colouring.

We are, may it please your Honours, with the greatest esteem and deference, your most obedient servants,

JOSEPH HAWLEY,
ELISHA PORTER,
Committee of Congress,

The foregoing letter is made by us as a Committee of Congress, without its having been read publickly, (for reasons which your Honours will not be at a loss about,) and this by express order of Congress.

GEN. FOLSOM TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY

Camp on Winter Hill, June 27, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Since my arrival here, the harmony and willing obedience of the New-Hampshire Troops gives me the most sensible pleasure. I have got them into tolerable regulation, and shall, as far as in me lies, use my utmost exertion to get them into the greatest good order and discipline, which is so indispensably necessary in an army, and still promote and preserve unanimity and concord amongst them.

But to that end you are very sensible that they must receive regular supplies. Such brave Troops as yours are, deserve the best of living, or at least such as will conduce to the preservation of their health, and render them capable of undergoing fatigues and hardships. I would therefore beg leave to intimate, that if part or the whole of the Committee of Supplies were constantly to attend the camp, vested with discretionary power as to supplies, it would be greatly advantageous to your forces, as it is impossible any set of men can so well ascertain what properly belongs to their department when absent as when present, and can have their business carried on under their immediate inspection. The foregoing I esteemed myself in duty bound to mention; and leaving it to your well known wisdom and prudence, I remain your very humble servant,

NATHANIEL FOLSOM.

To the Honourable Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-Hampshire.

PORTSMOUTH (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) COMMITTEE TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Portsmouth, June 27, 1775.

To the Rev. SAMUEL LANGDON, D. D., to be communicated to the Committee at CAMBRIDGE.

HONOURED SIR: The Committee of Portsmouth having detected the enclosed letter, have thought proper to transmit a copy to you by way of caution, as we have heard that James Henderson has been travelling about the country lately to gain intelligence; and lest he might be the cause of more mischief to the American cause, we pray he may be prevented.

We have some cannon with good carriages, of twenty-four and thirty-two pounders; if you need them, please to signify, and we will send them.

We are, with cordial esteem, Sir, your most humble servants, the Committee of Safety at Portsmouth, per their order.

GEORGE GAINES.

Copy of the above to be transmitted to the Committee of Supplies.

Boston, June 22, 1775.

DEAR HUGH: I take this opportunity of letting you know of our welfare. We had a good deal of confusion last Saturday, but we have great reason of thankfulness that the Troops got the better of the people. It was one of the boldest attacks almost of the age, as they had it very strong, but they did not keep it fifteen minutes after the attack begun; and such firing I never heard —so constant. I saw it all the time. There are a great many country people killed, (amongst them is Doctor Warren,) and about thirty taken prisoners who are in Town. There is one of the second fleet come in last night; so I am in hopes the Troops will be soon enabled to bring them to a sense of their duty.

If you have any apprehension of danger, I think you had best come to Town. My love to Hannah, &c.

I am yours.

The above letter came in a tender, directed to Hugh Henderson, and was stopped by the Committee at Portsmouth; it is supposed here to be wrote by James Henderson, of Boston.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis was requested by Captain Charles Henzell, on Wednesday, the twenty-eighth day of June, 1775.

Present: Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Matthias Hammond, John Bullen, Chas. Wallace, John Davidson, Wm. Wilkins, Allen Quynn, John Brice, and Doctor Richard Tootell.

Mr. CHARLES CARROLL in the Chair.

Captain Henzell having informed the Committee of his arrival from London with goods on board the Adventure, which was cleared, as appears by the cocket, for Maryland, he being duly sworn, deposed that the following goods, and no other, were shipped on board said vessel, to wit: two hundred dozen Porter, one hundred Pipe-Staves in packs, two thousand weight of Cheese, and forty-two chaldrons of Coal, Winchester measure, which was to be disposed of at the Island of Madeira, but through contrary winds he was prevented from landing them there: and this deponent also saith that he brought in with him about seventy persons, consisting of passengers and servants.

It appearing to the Committee, from letters produced by Captain Henzell, and by his and Joseph Eastman’s depositions, that the Cheese, Porter, Pipe-Staves, and Newcastle coal, were to be sold at Madeira, and the proceeds thereof to be laid out in the purchase of Madeira Wine, he being empowered to draw bills on London for so much as said Wine should exceed the value of the above mentioned articles; and it also appearing to the Committee that Captain Henzell intended to bring to Maryland the cargo of Wine aforesaid: being interrogated whether he intended to sell the said Wine in America, he declared on oath that he did not, but proposed to carry the Wine to the London market, and report the same here to the Custom-House. Being asked whether he did not know, or had been informed that the aforesaid Wine was subject to a duty, imposed by