themselves; but rather let what you hear pass in at one ear and out at the other, so that it may make no impression on your heart, until you hear from me fully, which shall be so soon as I can give you farther information, who am your friend and brother.

Captain White Eyes will please acquaint the Corn Stalk with these my sentiments; also, as well as the Chiefs of the Mingoes, and the other Six Nations.

Your sincere friend and elder brother,

DUNMORE.*

Philadelphia, August 9, 1775.

To the Spinners in this City, the Suburbs, and County:

Your services are now wanted to promote the American Manufactory, at the corner of Market and Ninth-streets, where cotton, wool, flax, &c., are delivered out. Strangers who apply are desired to bring a few lines, by way of recommendation, from some respectable person in their neighbourhood.

One distinguishing characteristick of an excellent woman, as given by the wisest of men is, “ That she seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands; she layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands holdeth the distaff.” In this time of publick distress you have now, each of you, an opportunity not only to help to sustain your families, but likewise to cast your mite into the treasury of the publick good. The most feeble effort to help to save the State from ruin, when it is all you can do, is, as the widow’s mite, entituled to the same reward as they who of their abundant abilities have cast in much.

GENERAL WOOSTER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Oyster-Pond, August 9, 1775.

SIR: I have just time to acquaint your Honour that, by the request of the Provincial Congress of New-York, I yesterday embarked from New-York with four hundred and fifty men, and this afternoon arrived here. We find that the inhabitants are in great need of powder. There is none in New-York. I spared two hundred weight from my own stock, which was forwarded from New-York to this place, for the use of the York Provincials who were stationed here; of consequence our stock is reduced to about twenty rounds a man.

The Regulars have taken the cattle, sheep, &c., from Fisher’s Island, and this day have employed themselves in the same business on Gardiner’s Island; when they have got through with that we may expect them upon this.

I beg that your Honour would, with the greatest expedition possible, forward to me three hundred weight of powder, which I hope will be sufficient for the present exigency, both for our own Troops and the Militia here.

I am, Sir, in great haste, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN OF PHILADELPHIA, DATED CAMBRIDGE, AUGUST 9, 1775.

We waited on General Washington, who I have the pleasure to inform you is much beloved and admired for his polite condescension and noble deportment. His appointment to the chief command has the general suffrage of all ranks of people here, which I think is no bad omen.

We viewed the lines, and were truly amazed at the extent and grandeur of the works, considering the short time in which they have been erected. The whole works from Winter Hill to Dorchester Neck, form a kind of semicircle round Boston, Winter Hill being the northernmost; next comes Prospect Hill, very properly named from the fine prospect it affords, from its summit, of the Towns of Boston and Charlestown, the latter now in ashes, and nothing to be seen of that fine Town but chimneys and rubbish, having been burnt, as you know, about the twentieth of June, by the British barbarians; it affords also a distinct view of Bunker’s Hill, about one mile distant therefrom. To the southward of this hill is a chain of breastworks and redoubts till you come to Cambridge River, from whence it is continued along by Roxbury and Dorchester Neck, being in the whole extent, as near as I can judge, about eight miles. The two hills appear to me almost impregnable, having forts within breastworks strongly picketed, and in many places planted with heavy cannon; add to these their natural strength from their great elevation. To the eastward of Winter Hill lies Penny-Ferry, where the said barbarians, out of mere wantonness, burnt a house a few days since, without any prospect of advantage to themselves. This day they have been blowing up the Castle; the explosions we could see from a high hill in the neighbourhood of Winnisimit-Ferry.

The people bear their misfortunes with astonishing patience and magnanimity. It is no uncommon thing to see those who have lost one or two houses, and nearly all their effects, and some who have lost their all; yet you would discover nothing of this by their behaviour or countenances.

Gage has again agreed to let the people come out of Boston, but will not suffer more than two small boats to ply, which bring about twelve or fifteen in a day. The people say great pains are taken to persuade them to stay, by telling them that thirty thousand Hanoverians, thirty thousand Hessians, and as many Russians, are shortly expected, when they shall destroy all the Rebels at once.

We have an account from the eastward of our people having taken a man-of-war’s tender, and one or two transports. The particulars are difficult to gather or ascertain; however, seven Marine officers are brought prisoners here, and are secured. There is just arrived an account of an engagement between our people and a man-of-war at Cape-Ann, wherein our people had the advantage; but no particulars that can be relied on are come to hand.

If any men-of-war or regular mercenaries should be sent to Philadelphia, I am in hopes my fellow-citizens will give a good account of them. I have pledged myself for their good behaviour.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GERMANY, RECEIVED IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED AUGUST 10, 1775.

All Germany is fixed in admiration, wonder, and amazement, at the firm, determined, heroick spirit of the brave Americans, and are exceedingly pleased with the undaunted opposition they make against the several attacks of the formidable arms of England, employed to deprive them of their just rights to natural liberty, and to shackle them in chains of slavery and subjection ever after; and this will be the miserable consequence, should they subdue you by their fleets and armies.

Great numbers of the Germans live in America, and they highly experience, in that happy country, the sweets of freedom and liberty, and which they did not enjoy here under their petty arbitrary rulers. These men will exert every nerve in support of the righteous cause of freedom, so sweet to them. Their numerous friends and relations here are constantly and most ardently supplicating the great Divine Ruler of all events to interpose and assist you with the almighty arm, and to set at naught all the wicked enslaving attempts of your enemies. But they hope you will not fold your arms, and depend altogether on the efficacy of your praying friends, but that you will make use of defensive means. And they hope and believe that Providence will be propitious to your cause, which you have already had an earnest of, and that your oppressors may be discomfited. We wish, that as England is going to hire foreign troops, in vain hope of subduing you, (their own men becoming enervated and spiritless so soon as they tread American soil,) that they could obtain Germans to be sent on this errand; for in that case we foresee the event would turn in your favour, as you have an extensive country for Germans to cultivate, and no people love profitable labour better, or are better adapted for the purpose, (which America has long experienced,) and we know that they would soon drop their fire-arms and betake themselves to the cultivation of lands. We think highly of the wisdom of your American Congress, and of all their good regulations throughout that extensive Continent, and we cannot enough

* The speech from lord Dunmore to White Eyes, was sent by Captain Connolly to Mr. John Gibson, of Pittsburgh, with a friendly letter; but Mr. Gibson, instead of delivering it to the Indians, as desired, immediately put both the letter and speech into the hands of the Committee of West-Augusta.