fit. Your Honour’s compliance with this our request will greatly oblige your Honour’s most obedient humble servants. Signed per order:

JOSEPH MATHER, Chairman.

N. B. The bearer is able to inform your Honour with regard to the number of the stock and other matters that your Honour may see fit to inquire after.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Camp at Cambridge, August 29, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 1st instant, by Mr. Randolph, came safe to hand. The merits of this young gentleman, added to your recommendation, and my own knowledge of his character, induced me to take him into my family as an Aid-de-Camp, in the room of Mr. Mifflin, whom I have appointed Quartermaster-General, from a thorough persuasion of his integrity, my own experience of his activity, and, finally, because he stands unconnected with either of these Governments, or with this, that, or the other man; for, between you and me, there is more in this than you can easily imagine.

I submit it, therefore, to your consideration, whether there is or is not a propriety in that Resolution of the Congress which leaves the ultimate appointment of all officers below the rank of Generals to the Governments where the Regiments originated, now the Army is become Continental. To me it appears improper in two points of view: first, it is giving that power and weight to an individual Colony, which ought of right to belong only to the whole; and, next, it damps the spirit and ardour of volunteers from all but the four New-England Governments, as none but their people have the least chance of getting into office. Would it not be better, therefore, to have the warrants which the Commander-in-Chief is authorized to give, pro tempore, approved or disapproved by the Continental Congress, or a Committee of their body, which I should suppose, in any long recess, must always sit? In this case, every gentleman will stand an equal chance of being promoted according to his merit; in the other, all officers will be confined to the inhabitants of the four New-England Governments, which, in my opinion, is impolitick to a high degree.

I have not been unmindful of that part of your letter respecting Point Alderton; before the receipt of it, it had become an object of my particular inquiry; but the accounts of its situation differ exceedingly in respect to the command it has of the ship channel. But my knowledge of this matter would not have been confined to inquiries only, if I had ever been in a condition, since my arrival here, to have taken possession of such a post. But you well know, my good Sir, that it becomes the duty of an officer to consider some other matters, as well as a situation, namely: what number of men are necessary to defend a place, how it can be supported, and how furnished with ammunition. In respect to the first, I conceive our defence of this place (Point Alderton) must be proportioned to the attack of General Gage’s whole force, leaving him just enough to man his lines on Boston and Charlestown Necks; and with regard to the second and most important, as well as alarming object, we have only one hundred and eighty-four barrels of powder in all, including the late supply from Philadelphia, which is not sufficient to give twenty-five musket cartridges to each man, and scarcely to serve the artillery in any brisk action one single day. Under these circumstances, I dare say you will agree with me, that it would not be very eligible to take a post thirty miles distant, by land, from this place, when we have already a line of circumvallation round Boston, of at least ten miles in extent to defend, any part of which may be attacked without our having, if the enemy will keep their own counsel, an hour’s previous notice of it; and that it would not be prudent in me to attempt a measure which would necessarily bring on a consumption of all the ammunition we have, thereby leaving the Army at the mercy of the enemy or to disperse, and the country to be ravaged and laid waste at discretion. To you, Sir, I may account for my conduct; but I cannot declare the motives of it to every one, not-withstanding I know, by not doing of it, that I shall stand in a very unfavourable light, in the opinion of those who expect much, and will find little done, without understanding, or perhaps giving themselves the trouble of inquiring into the cause. Such, however, is the fate of all those who are obliged to act the part I do. I must, therefore, submit to it, under a consciousness of having done my duty to the best of my abilities.

On Saturday night last we took possession of a hill, advanced of our lines, and within point blank shot of the enemy on Charlestown Neck. We worked incessantly the whole night twelve hundred men, and before morning got an intrenchment in such forwardness as to bid defiance to their cannon. About nine o’clock on Sunday they began a heavy cannonade, which continued through the day, without any injury to our work, and with the loss of four men only, two of whom were killed through their own folly. The insult of the cannonade, however, we were obliged to submit to with impunity, not daring to make use of artillery, on account of the consumption of powder, except with one nine-pounder, placed on a point, with which we silenced, and indeed sunk, one of their floating batteries. This move of ours was made to prevent the enemy from gaining this hill, and, we thought, was giving them a fair challenge to dispute it, as we had been told, by various people who had just left Boston, that they were preparing to come out; but, instead of accepting of it, we learn that it has thrown them into great consternation, which might be improved if we had the means of doing it. Yesterday afternoon they began a bombardment, without any effect as yet.

As I expect this letter will meet you in Philadelphia, I must request the favour of you to present my affectionate and respectful compliments to Dr. Shippen, his lady and family, my brothers of the Delegation, and any other inquiring friends; and, at the same time, do me the justice to believe that I am, with a sincere regard, your affectionate friend and obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

B. BASSETT TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Mount Vernon, August 30, 1775.

DEAR SIR: The Convention broke up on Saturday last, after a sitting of six weeks. They have agreed to raise fourteen hundred and forty-five men, and appointed Patrick Henry to the command of the First Regiment, and William Woodford to the Second. William Christian and Charles Scott are Lieutenant-Colonels, and Francis Eppes and Alexander Spotswood are Majors. Four hundred of the men are to be stationed on the frontiers, and the others about Williamsburgh and Norfolk. They have laid the country out in sixteen Districts, each of which is to raise five hundred men, to be called Minute-Men; they are to be ready to march on the shortest notice, and are nearly under the same regulations as the Militia of England.

The Convention have appointed a Committee of Safety, of the following gentlemen: Edmund Pendleton, George Mason, John Page, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Paul Carrington, Richard Bland, Dudley Digges, William Cabell, Carter Braxton, James Mercer, and John Tabb, who are to have the whole direction of the Army, and so call out the whole or any part of the Minute-Men, as they think best for the good of the Country. Pendleton and Bland begged to be excused from going to the Congress, and we have sent Wythe, Thomas Nelson, and Francis Lee. We have agreed to strike three hundreds and fifty thousand Pounds, paper currency, to pay for the Indian war, our part of the Continental Army, and our own Army and Minute-Men.

This is all the news that I can now send you. If you can spare a few minutes from the great hurry and fatigue that you must undergo, it would give me great pleasure to hear that you are well. Mrs. Bassett and the: children join me in our best wishes for your health and happiness.

I am, dear Sir, your affectionate friend and humble servant,

B. BASSETT.

SOUTH-CAROLINA, NINETY-SIX DISTRICT.

By the Honourable WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, Esquire.

A DECLARATION.

Whereas, by commission from the honourable the Council of Safety for this Colony, dated the 23d day of July last, I am upon a progress through the country, “to explain