before informed your Honour, I lent two hundred pounds of my own stock to the Provincial Congress, I think it unsafe under our present situation to return the whole. I expect by next Monday to sail for New-York. Your Honour well knows the suspicious light in which the New-York Congress are viewed by the rest of the Continent; I must therefore beg of your Honour to alter that part of your orders to me, in which you subject me to the direction of that body of men. I have no faith in their honesty in the cause. I must, therefore, think it not only a disgrace to me, but a dishonour to my employers, that I am subjected to them. You know not, Sir, half their tricks. Your Honour will be good enough to direct to me at New-Haven, where I expect to stop a day or two, and if I am not there to be forwarded to Harlem.

I am, with great truth, your Honour’s most obedient, humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To the Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.

COLONEL JOSEPH REED TO PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Camp at Cambridge, August 24, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Several letters from Philadelphia having mentioned the capture of Major French and some other gentlemen, and that you proposed to send them forward to this camp, General Washington has directed me to request that you would order them to Hartford, or some other inland Town, as their coming hither would be attended with many inconveniences.

If there have been any late arrivals of powder, it is of the utmost importance to forward, as soon as possible, all that can be spared from the necessary defence of the Province. It is not within the limits or propriety of a letter to enumerate our difficulties in the article of ammunition. The late supply was very seasonable, but far short of our necessities.

It is also the General’s opinion that the clothing lately intercepted should be secured, or forwarded hither as soon as possible. The Army is in a very destitute situation in this respect, and such a supply would greatly relieve it.

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

JOS. REED.

To, the Honourable Committee of Safety, Philadelphia.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

In Committee of Safety, August 24, 1775.

SIR: We have sent down a man to endeavour to gain a little further acquaintance with the best method of constructing carriages for cannon. We should be glad, Sir, if you would be kind enough to introduce him to those persons and things that will forward him in his business, and to whatever you may judge may help an ingenious man to be useful to us. We hope he may have a full opportunity of viewing whatever will conduce to this purpose.

By some late intelligence we have great reasons to fear that Portsmouth is in danger. We beg to know whether some powder cannot be spared; if possible, let us know whether we cannot have fifty or one hundred barrels. If we can have powder, Sir, we mean immediately to erect some fortifications to defend the harbour.

The powder sent to the Army on our frontiers is distributed among the people, and, perhaps, by some ill management, has reduced our stores to about eight or ten barrels at most, so that any quantity that can be spared us will be acceptable, though much less than the above quantity; though we could wish that, as we intend immediately to erect a considerable fortification to guard our harbour.

CONNECTICUT COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Wednesday, August 2, 1775.

At a meeting of the Governour and Committee or Council of Safety, this day, present the same Members as at the last.

Sundry Letters, received by his Honour since the last meeting, were communicated.

The Committee appointed at the last meeting about the Armed Vessels, &c., having performed the journey, &c., business to which they were directed and instructed, made a full verbal report of their journey, viewing, conversation, and doings concerning Armed Vessels, &c. &c., what they have viewed, the terms on which they may be had, the opinion of gentlemen in various Towns who are concerned in navigation, about the measure of fitting out any, &c.; from which it appears sundry Vessels may be had on reasonable terms, but none can be found perfectly accommodated for War Vessels, &c. That the people are differently minded about the measure, many thinking that it is impossible for us to compare by sea with the British ships, &c.; it will but provoke insult and expose our sea-coasts and vessels inward bound to greater danger, &c. Others that it will be of advantage, and a protection, &c.

The subject being largely discoursed, and it being a measure resolved by the General Assembly, &c., doubt whether they have a right to suspend it, even though they should think it best, &c.

And on the question, do agree and conclude to take up and improve for the purpose a certain Brig belonging to Captain William Griswold of Wethersfield, of about one hundred and eight tons, and that she be fixed as, and for an Armed Vessel, according to the resolve of the Assembly.

And also to charter and improve some one Vessel of small burden and a fast sailer, about twenty, twenty-five or thirty tons, and to fix her with such warlike furniture as may be proper, to be improved, chiefly as a Spy Vessel, to run and cruise from place to place, to discover the enemy, and carry intelligence, &c. And do appoint Captain Samuel Niles, of Norwich, to be Captain of said small Vessel.

And this Council do appoint Benjamin Huntington, Esq., and Captain John Deshon a Committee to find and to fit out and furnish such small Vessel with all necessaries for that purpose.

Adjourned till tomorrow morning, nine o’clock.

Thursday, August 3, 1775.

The Governour and Committee met according to adjournment.

His Honour laid before the Council a Letter he had prepared to General Schuyler, at Ticonderoga, moving him to allow and direct Mr. Ichabod Fitch, or some other person, to collect and send down a number of Gun-barrels and disordered Guns, &c. which, on representation of said Fitch, are lying useless there, and at Crown Point, in order to their being repaired and made fit for use, and that the value of them shall be accounted for. Which Letter is approved, and was sent by said Fitch.

After further consultation about the Armed Vessels, &c., the following Bill and Resolve was prepared and passed, viz:

Whereas the General Assembly of this Colony, at their session in July last, resolved that two Aimed Vessels, of suitable burden, be immediately fitted out and armed with a proper number of cannon, swivel-guns and small-arms, and furnished with necessary warlike stores, and well officered and manned for the defence of the sea-coasts in this Colony, under the care and direction of his Honour the Governour and Committee of Council appointed to assist him in the recess of the General Assembly, who are hereby authorized and directed to procure, furnish and employ the same accordingly:

In pursuance of said resolve and direction, the Governour and Committee aforesaid, having taken all proper steps and care to find how and in what manner the said resolve may be most properly carried into execution, are of opinion, that a certain Brig, called the Minerva, belonging to Captain William Griswold, and now lying in Connecticut River, at Rocky Hill, is one proper vessel to be employed for the service aforesaid; and do therefore agree and resolve to take up and employ said Brig in the service of this Colony as aforesaid, during such term as said Assembly or this Committee shall find needful to employ her in said service. And do hereby appoint Titus Hosmer and Ezekiel Williams, Esqs., and Captain Giles Hall a Committee to take up and retain said Brig in the service aforesaid; to finish the contract for the hire or charter of said Brig, and execute proper writings; to cause the same