and had I been permitted to have loaded her, should no doubt have sent to Boston every species of stores I stood charged with, (the largest sizes of shot and shells only excepted,) but the violent commotions which at that time prevailed amongst the people were such as to render it impossible, and the vessel was obliged, for safety, immediately to depart, without my being able to put the least article on board her.

With respect to the saltpetre, it was, at the time, deposited at Turtle Bay, where I conceived it to be equally secure with the rest of His Majesty’s property, and that moving it might excite the jealousy of the people, who assiduously watched that no supplies should be sent to Boston. At this period I had no idea of powder-mills being erected, or that they would ever have the audacity to rob and plunder the store-houses in the manner they have since done; their declared intention at the time being to prevent all supplies going to Boston that might enable your Excellency to act with greater effect against their brethren and fellow-subjects in New-England.

I entreat your Excellency, therefore, to believe me when I assure you, that every thing was done which lay in my power, towards expediting and otherwise forwarding the good of His Majesty’s service.

I am, with the greatest respect, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

FRANCIS STEPHENS.

To His Excellency the Honourable General Gage.

PETER T. CURTENIUS TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, August 12, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Enclosed is amount of the goods I have bought by virtue of your orders, on Continental and Provincial account. Some of the tradesmen’s bills are not yet come in, and therefore it was impossible, on so short a notice, to give you the exact amount. I have a clerk constantly busy in posting the books, and am in hopes, in eight or ten days, to have them finished, when I shall be able to give you an exact account of the whole.

If I can get muskets and the whole quantity of blankets, besides about one thousand oars and some other articles which are not yet purchased, I shall want at least twenty-five thousand Pounds to make good my engagements.

As to give you a particular account what the clothing, &c., will amount to, it is impossible at this time to give you an account of. I have made a rough sketch at bottom for your government.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

P. T. CURTENIUS.

Twenty-eight hundred and fifty-two coats, at about thirty shillings, £4,278; Fifteen hundred vests, breeches, shirts, shoes, stockings, hats, &c., about fifty shillings per man, £3,750—£8,028

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticonderoga, August 12, 1775.

SIR: Mr. Fitch, agreeable to your Honour’s request, has had all the gun barrels here delivered to him. I did not think proper to have any appraisement made of them, as I consider them as belonging to the Associated Colonies, and if repaired, at the disposal of Congress, they paying the particular Colony which may have been at the expense of the repairs; and as arms are much wanted in this Colony, I have given directions for some of them to be left at Albany, and others sent to New-York, where they may be immediately made fit for present use.

I am your Honour’s most obedient and humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Honourable Jonathan Trumbull.

P. S. No tents for Colonel Hinman’s Regiment are yet arrived.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Lebanon, August 12, 1775.

SIR: Since my letter of yesterday, desiring an allowance to retain at Hartford such quantity of powder as you shall judge expedient out of the next that comes, I have received a letter from the Honourable Henry Middleton and Edward Rutledge, dated Hartford, August 11, 1775, informing that a company of riflemen, with eight wagon loads of powder, have come into that town, and the article of which they have the charge would be absolutely necessary at New-York, in case an attack should be made upon that Colony; suggesting the propriety of sending off an express to you, informing of their situation, and to obtain an order to stay the riflemen and detain the powder there, as most likely to be conducive to the publick safety. All circumstances considered, I have directed two wagons of powder to be detained till your Excellency’s orders are received—the riflemen to proceed with the other six. You will soon have the pleasure to see those two gentlemen at camp.

I am, with great truth and regard, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JONA. TRUMBULL.

His Excellency General Washington.

Providence, Rhode-Island, August 12, 1775.

A gentleman from Goldsborough, at the eastward, informs, that about the middle of July, two armed vessels, one of eight, the other of four carriage guns, were sent by Admiral Graves on a piratical cruise to the eastern parts of the Massachusetts, and venturing too far up Machias River, the inhabitants of that place attacked them in a sloop they had fitted for that purpose, and took them both, without losing a man. The Machias people have now three armed vessels, which they took from the enemy; the largest of them is supposed to be worth £800 sterling. About the same time, five sloops, that had been sent by General Gage for wood, were taken by the inhabitants of Majabigwaduce, a small new settlement, not far from Fort Pownall; and as there was some reason to fear that the fort, which stood at the head of Penobscot Bay, might be taken by the King’s Troops, and made use of against the country, the people in that neighbourhood dismantled it, and burnt the block-house and all the wooden work to the ground. The prisoners taken at Machias, and at Majabigwaduce, about forty in number, were on their way to Cambridge when the gentleman who brings this account came away. Among them is Captain Ichabod Jones, an infamous tory, who went down in the first armed vessel that was some time ago taken at Machias.

LOAMMI BALDWIN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Chelsea, August 13, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I herewith send two men who deserted from the Lively, man-of-war, this morning, about three o’clock, and were taken up by our guard at Chelsea Beach, and conducted to me by a file of men.

We have had a small brush with the enemy to-day, which began about twelve o’clock, and ended about quarter of one, occasioned by two barges and two sail-boats going up to the floating battery, that lay near a neck of land at Charlestown, and bearing rather too near Malding Point; suppose Captain Lindsey’s Company suspected they had some evil design, or a mind to revenge past injuries, gave them a pretty smart fire, which made them return down the river, and with their swivel-guns and small-arms began a fire at our Chelsea soldiers, who returned the fire briskly. Having been alarmed by the first firing at Malding, one of the sail-boats came round near to the old wreck upon Winnisimit, where we gave them the best we had, and they soon made off down among the shipping, and the firing ceased. We suffered no damage by them; there was a great number of balls struck one of the boats, and believe wounded, if not killed, some of the men. Some of our men declare that they saw a number drop, as if they were shot dead, when a volley was fired from our men; its certain they never appeared much in sight again. Nothing extraordinary has appeared since. I send the observation as usual.

I am, with much esteem, your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

LOAMMI BALDWIN, Lieut. Col.