P. S. We want an hospital, upon a proper establishment, much, and a proper director, with good surgeons, to take care and charge of it. I cannot learn that these are to be provided here; it therefore rests with the Congress to consider of this matter. A Mr. Bass, of Philadelphia, who, I am told, was in this way last war, can give you the proper establishment of one. I would not wish to see an expensive one set on foot, and I have no doubt of Doctor Shippen’s recommending such gentlemen for surgeons as he can answer for the abilities of Whether there is no news stirring, or whether we live out of the way of receiving it, I cannot tell, but so it is, that I have heard nothing of what the Parliament or Ministry are about since I left Philadelphia.

I am, as before, your servant,

G. W.

GENERAL THOMAS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Roxbury Camp, July 10, 1775.

SIR: I have arrested a master of a vessel that came out of Boston (Saturday night) in order to take charge of a vessel at Stonington, in Connecticut, loaded with molasses, to proceed to New-York as he saith. His acquaintance in the country inform that he has been a suspected person, and I think it my duty to forward him to your Excellency for your examination.

I am, Sir, with respect, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN THOMAS.

To his Excellency Gen. George Washington, Cambridge.

Watertown, July 10, 1775.

In compliance with an order of the honourable the Provincial Congress, passed the fifth of July instant, the Freeholders and others, who were inhabitants of the Town of Boston, and were qualified, according to law, to vote for Representatives in May, 1774, and are now dispersed, are hereby notified and warned to assemble at the Meeting-House in Concord, on Tuesday, the eighteenth of July instant, at three o’clock in the afternoon, then and there to elect and depute one or more freeholders in said Town, according to the numbers limited by a law of this Colony, to serve for and represent them in a Great and General Court or Assembly, to be convened, held, and kept for the service of said Colony, until the day next preceding the last Wednesday of May next, if necessary, and no longer, at the Meeting-House in Watertown, upon Wednesday, the nineteenth instant, nine o’clock in the forenoon, and so from day to day during their session or sessions.

WILLIAM COOPER, Town Clerk of Boston.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, JULY 10, 1775.

The General’s express, that ought to have left this four days ago, is not yet gone. I therefore sit down to give you some description of our situation here, and that of the enemy.

The enemy are situated on Bunker and Breed’s Hills, both on the peninsula where the late Town of Charlestown stood, and within reach, and under the cover of the guns from the batteries in the Town of Boston, and the ships in the harbour, and of a number of floating batteries which they have built, that carry two guns in their bows, two in their sterns, and one on each side. Our people are situated from Charles River, about two hundred rods below the college, where we have a redoubt, which begins the line; then about sixty rods from that another redoubt, and lines continued near a hundred rods; then at Charlestown road, on the west side of the road, at the foot of Prospect Hill, another redoubt and strong fortification; then on Prospect Hill is Putnam’s Post, a very strong fortification; then, between that and Winter Hill, a strong citadel and lines over Charlestown road to Mistick; then in Mr. Temple’s pasture, a strong redoubt that commands to Mistick River; so that we have a complete line of circumvallation from Charles River to Mistick River. Our main fortress on Prospect Hill, and the enemy’s main fortress on Bunker’s Hill, are within cannon shot of each other. A hill between these two posts, a little to the eastward of Prospect Hill, called Cobble Hill, I expect will soon cost us a squabble who shall have it, our people or theirs; nor do I expect it will be many days before the contest begins, which will probably bring on a general engagement. If they let us alone four or five days more, we shall be well prepared, and shan’t care how soon they come, the sooner the better. On Roxbury side the enemy have dug across the neck and let the water through; and our people in turn have intrenched across the outer end of the neck, and are strongly fortified there, and on the hill by the meeting-house, so strong, that I believe every man in Boston, and at Bunker’s Hill and Breed’s Hill, must fall before they could force a passage that way into the country.

General Burgoyne sent a trumpeter yesterday with a letter to General Lee, wishing a composition of the unhappy differences, &c., and says the Parliament will certainly give up all right or pretence of taxation, if that will do, and wishes a conference. This letter is sent to the Congress for their opinion, and for them to appoint a person whom they can confide in, to attend the conference, and hear what passes, if they judge it best to have a conference. Major Gates is arrived, and we are getting into order and regularity very fast. Last night our people at Roxbury fired the remainder of Brown’s buildings on Boston Neck, and have drove the enemy’s guards back to their lines.

GENERAL LEE TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Head-Quarters, July 10, 1775.

General Lee presents his respects to the President and Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and submits to their perusal a letter which he yesterday received from General Burgoyne, in answer to one which was read and approved of by the Delegates of this Province, and other members of the Continental Congress. He begs leave to request their commands with respect to the proposed interview. If they approve of it, he shall be glad to accept of it; if they disapprove, he shall reject it; but if they approve of it, he must request that they will depute some one gentleman of their body to accompany General Lee, and be witness of the conversation. He desires their answer immediately, as he has engaged to inform General Burgoyne by four o’clock this afternoon, whether the interview is to take place. He shall likewise be much obliged to the gentlemen if they will return the letter; but if they choose to take a copy, he can have no objection.

MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS TO GENERAL LEE.

In Provincial Congress, Watertown, July 10, 1775.

SIR: Congress have perused the letter from General Burgoyne, which you was kind enough to submit to their inspection. They can have no objection to the proposed interview from a want of the highest confidence in the wisdom, discretion, and integrity of General Lee, but would beg leave to suggest, that as the confidence of the people in their General is so essentially necessary to the well conducting the enterprise in which we are engaged, and as a people contending for their liberties are naturally disposed to jealousy, and not inclined to make the most favourable constructions of the motives of conduct which they are not fully acquainted with, whether such an interview might not have a tendency to lessen the influence which the Congress would Wish to extend to the utmost of their power, to facilitate and succeed the operations of war.

To prevent, as far as we are able, any disagreeable consequences which may arise from the jealousy of the people on such an occasion, the Congress, agreeable to your request, have appointed Mr. Elbridge Gerry to attend you at the proposed interview, if you shall think proper to proceed in it; and as they do not think themselves authorized to counteract the General’s inclination, they would submit it to his opinion Whether the advice of the council of war might not be taken in a matter of such apparent delicacy.

GENERAL LEE’S LETTER DECLINING THE INTERVIEW PROPOSED BY GENERAL BURGOYNE.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, July 11, 1775.

Gen. Lee’s compliments to Gen. Burgoyne. Would be extremely happy in the interview he so kindly proposed;

*