interesting, we have thought his information might be of service to the American cause. That your Committee of Safety, as well as the gentlemen of the Massachusetts and the Generals at Cambridge, would not be displeased with an opportunity to converse with him, for which reason we have persuaded Louis (having given a few small presents, and engaging some pay for his time) to make a journey down the country, paying a visit first to you, or your Committee at Exeter, and thence to the Army at Cambridge; and Colonel Bayley is so good as to undertake conducting him, having formerly some acquaintance with him. His time is short; he says he could not leave Montreal without a pass from the Governour, and a promise to return in about twenty days, as if going out upon a hunt. He speaks very good French, and English tolerably well, so as to be easily understood. By what we have learnt from him, our people are much easier in their settlements on these frontiers than they have been heretofore. For further particulars I must refer to Colonel Bayley. My best respects attend you and the gentlemen of the Committee; and am, Sir, your most humble obedient servant,

JOHN HURD.

The Honourable Matthew Thornton, Esq.

P. S. Captain Bedell has mustered his Company and paid them their month’s advance; he would have readily attended on this Indian to wait upon your Committee, had not Colonel Bayley offered.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED LONDON, JULY 28, 1775.

I am grieved to the soul at seeing our political disputes arrive to so terrible a crisis. The 25th instant we received the account of the battle of Charlestown, near Boston; we have only the Government account, none from the Provincials. However, General Gage makes out two hundred and twenty-six killed, and eight hundred and twenty-eight wounded, of the Regulars. It is schocking to humanity to think that so much blood should be spilt through the obstinacy of a few men, who now plainly see they are exhausting the blood and treasure of this Kingdom to no purpose. We are anxious here to have some certain account from the Provincials of that battle. The Ministry do not now scruple to say, these bloody measures originate from the King himself, who absolutely persists in the plan of reducing the Americans at all events. It is generally thought that Lord North was against sending out Troops, but as to the others, I fancy they see the improbability of executing their plan, and therefore prudently (but basely) endeavour to throw the whole odium on their Royal Master’s head.

People here are very anxious to hear the resolves of the Congress; and those who a week ago thought General Gage had Troops enough to march through America, now alter their tone, on finding the dispute for a mile of ground cost him one thousand and fifty-four men wounded and slain; they begin to think Gage must be content to keep possession of Boston, and that the, New-Englanders are men of more courage than they dreamed of. We have received accounts from Georgia, that the people of that Province have acceded to the resolves of the Continental Congress. I wish it may be true, as the Tories here promised their cause great support from that Province keeping their ports open. It is said a Regiment of Highlanders is to be sent out, and ten thousand Hanoverians—I don’t know how true; but this you may depend on, that several more ships are put into commission, and are intended for America; also I know it as a fact, that a great deal of ammunition and warlike stores were lately sent to Boston, from which you may judge of the disposition of our rulers.

P. S. I was this day in company with a boat-builder, who informed me that Government has contracted for a considerable number of flat-bottomed boats to be finished in the three weeks, and that he has engaged to build twelve by that time.

EXTRACT OF ANOTHER LETTER FROM LONDON, DATED JULY 29, 1775.

As in all probability the means of communication between us will soon be stopped, I am constrained to write even when I have nothing of importance to communicate. We have at length got an account from Government of the battle of the 17th of June, for which, garbled as it is, we are indebted to the ingenuity of some, who, suspecting that they had been in possession of the news some days, sat down and wrote an account of a battle, such as they thought likely to be fought, and sent it to the papers; which was published the next morning. As it defeated the Regulars with great slaughter, and as it was wrote with great semblance of truth, it threw Administration into confusion. They huddled up an account immediately, and sent it to the Gazette, which in course was to be published about eight o’clock that evening; but by the time the impression was thrown off, they found themselves so much dissatisfied even with the account of their own making, that they sent and had it destroyed, and prepared that which they have now given us; by which means the Town was kept Waiting till two o’clock in the morning, before the Gazette was published. This account, favourable as it no doubt is, compared with the truth, (for we as yet have had none from the Provincials,) has had a wonderful effect. The minds, of people on the side of Government, even of those that were most sanguine, begin to be soured. Those who made no doubt of the success of the Troops, cannot help expressing their discontent; and they who used to speak most contemptuously of the Provincials, complain, now that Administration should send such a handful of men to be devoured by such multitudes. What will be done next is somewhat problematical. ’Tis said orders are despatched to General Gage not to hazard another battle till, he is re-enforced. Query, Will the Provincials let him alone? Government has sent many thousand stand of arms to Quebeck, in hopes of getting the Canadians to take up arms against you; and they talk of sending a Highland Regiment of one thousand men complete. This, and many other things they talk of, together with the men-of-war, must create a deal of expense; and whether Lord North will be hardy enough to meet Parliament with a requisition of so much money, and whether Parliament will grant it, is another question. Parliament is prorogued to the 14th of September, and it is not improbable they may not choose to meet it till some, time in November, as usual. In the meantime, your Provincials have gained immortal honour. I should have told you that it has been advised to order General Gage to relinquish Boston, after burning it, and to fortify himself on Rhode-Island; whence; by means of, his ships and men, to make descents upon your coast, laying waste where you are least prepared to oppose him. God give you wisdom, fortitude, and success.

TO THE PRINTER OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.

London, July 28, 1775.

Our present disputes with the Colonies in America have engaged the attention of all ranks of people in this Country; from the Senate to the cellar, all have given their opinions thereon, and they have been as different as the several stations they hold in life, or the colours of their complexions.

It is an argument made use of by the friends to America, that Britain has, ever since her first settlement there, ruled her with an arbitrary curb of power, and imposed shackles on her trade and commerce unfitting the sons of Englishmen to bear. The present spirit which appears amongst them to redress their grievances, is no way wonderful, they say, but that it is matter of astonishment that they have borne their ill-treatment thus long. The partisans of Government, one and all, cry out, that the liberty granted hitherto to the Americans has most assuredly caused the present disturbances, and if they had been kept all along under due subjection, and not indulged in that unlimited power they have very improperly been indulged in, things would not have worn the face they now do, and that Government may thank themselves for having such disagreeable work cut out for them, and which might easily have been prevented, in crushing that power in the beginning which the people of America have for some time past assumed.

’Tis a principle in politicks with the Ministerial party, that power ought not to be given to the people. An opinion like this could never be propagated by any man who was not more than suspected of being corrupt. Such doctrine,