Cambridge, August 26, 1775.

Return of the Regiment of Artillery in the service of the United Colonies, commanded by Colonel RICHARD GRIDLEY.

N. B. Two Cadets not included in the above.

Return of the Company of the Train of Artillery of the RHODE-ISLAND Forces, commanded by Major JOHN CRANE, ROXBURY, AUGUST 25, 1775.

HORATIO GATES, Adjutant-General.

RICHARD PENN AND ARTHUR LEE TO LORD DARTMOUTH.

Mr. Lee and Mr. Penn present their respects to Lord Dartmouth, and enclose a copy of an humble and earnest Petition, from the Continental Congress in America, to the King. They mean, with Lord Dartmouth’s permission, to wait on his Lordship on Wednesday next, at noon, with the original, for his Lordship to present to His Majesty.

Gardon Court, Middle Temple, August 21st, 1775.

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, Secretary of State for America.

LORD DARTMOUTH TO RICHARD PENN AND ARTHUR LEE.

Lord Dartmouth presents his compliments to Mr. Richard Penn and Mr. Lee; he has just received by the post their note of the 21st inst., which would have been sent to him by express, if it had been known at his office that they had any commands for him; Lord Dartmouth having left orders there that he should be sent for whenever his presence should be required in Town. He will return to London in a day or two, and will not fail to inform Mr. Penn and Mr. Lee of his arrival.

Sandwell, 24th August, 1775.

EDMUND BURKE TO ARTHUR LEE.

Baconsfield, August 22, 1775.

SIR: I am honoured with your letter of the 21st inst., informing me of the time on which you purpose to wait on Lord Dartmouth, with the Petition of the American Congress.

I should be happy to attend you on that occasion, as you desire, if I were in the slightest degree authorized to do so by the Colony which I represent. I have been chosen Agent by the General Assembly of New-York. That Assembly has actually refused to send Deputies to the Congress; so that, if I were to present a petition in the character of their agent, I should act not only without, but contrary to the authority of my constituents. Whilst I act for them, it is not possible for me, in my transactions with the Boards or Ministers, to divest myself occasionally of that character.

This, and this only, is my reason for not obeying your commands. I do approve exceedingly of all dutiful applications of the Congress to His Majesty. I am convinced that nothing is further from the desires of the gentlemen who compose it, than to separate themselves from their allegiance to their Sovereign, or their subordinate connection with their Mother Country. I believe they sincerely wish for an end of these unhappy troubles, in which, while all are distressed, they must be the first and greatest sufferers. It were greatly to be desired that Ministers could meet their pacifick dispositions with a temper corresponding to them. On these principles I heartily wish you success in your laudable endeavours for the restoration of peace, and the reconciliation of our fellow-subjects to their Sovereign.

I have the honour to be your most obedient and humble servant,

EDMUND BURKE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER RECEIVED IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED LONDON, AUGUST 24, 1775.

There are some more Regiments to be sent from Ireland directly to America, and transports are taking up to go to Holland, to take Hanoverians from thence to Minorca, and to take the garrison of that place to Ireland. Immense quantities of artillery, bombs and stores of all kinds, are shipping here. Two days ago I dined with Mr. B . . . n, in company with a gentleman that does the business for the contractors, and find by him the Ministry think of removing the seat of war to the Southern Provinces, and to take possession of Long-Island, to establish themselves there, thinking by that means to be more secure in the winter, and better supplied with fresh provisions; and doubt not but that they will take possession of all the islands on the coast of New-England for the same purpose, and fortify them all. There are now building a number of flat-bottomed boats, to carry out with the transports, which will land forty men, or thereabouts, at a time, mounting a number of swivels.

If the American Army should defeat the Ministerial, I think that it will then be the time to make proposals for the restoring of peace and harmony; but if they should defeat the Americans, and the Canadians join them, which God forbid, I doubt there will be no such thing as to obtain peace on constitutional principles. Give not up; be steady and determined, and you will obtain what you want.

Some days ago sundry vessels arrived here from Newfoundland, without being able to continue their fishing voyage for want of provisions. Bread has not been sold for less than forty shillings to fifty shillings this year, and four pounds per hundred has been offered, and could not get it even for that, the whole island being an allowance; this has already made much noise, and gentlemen on Change curse the Poolemen, for they say it was owing to them that the restraining act took place. The West-Indies will next cry out; Ireland will soon be in the greatest distress: barrel staves are now twelve pounds per thousand, and I heard Mr. B . . . n, say to one of the contractors, that barrel staves would be this year two shillings higher than ever. What they will do for flax-seed I know not, but it is little matter whether they have it or not, when they cannot sell their linens at London now at any rate. England begins to feel sensibly, and the tools of Administration have been down to sundry manufacturing towns to quiet the people, telling them it will be all settled in less than six months, on a better and more solid foundation than ever, and that there will be no more obstructions to trade; distributing large sums of money to their tools: but this will not hold always, the poor will not be quieted by such speeches, when they will be ready to perish for want of bread. By next spring it is thought things will have another face. The King is obstinate, and has said sundry times that he would not wear the British Crown if the Americans did not acknowledge the supremacy of the British Parliament. May the reign of all your enemies be short, and their memory be covered with shame and contem<.

I heard the gentleman that does the business for the contractors say, that the Ministry have thoughts of declaring all your negroes free, and to arm them; but I told them negroes could not read proclamations, and that the Americans would march them back, and perhaps arm them all that they could trust: pray lay this matter before the Congress