GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, August 30, 1775.

SIR: Your Excellency’s letter of the 14th instant is now before me, the contents of which I have duly considered. When it came to hand our small sloop-of-war was out upon the cruise, which I mentioned to your Excellency in a former letter. She hath since returned. The sending her on the enterprise you propose could not be done without some new and further powers from the General Assembly, which sat here last week; and the nature of the business was such that I did not think it proper to lay it before so large a body. I therefore procured a Committee to be appointed, to transact all business necessary for the common safety during the recess of the Assembly, particularly with power to employ the two vessels of war in such service as they should think necessary. The Committee is summoned to meet this day, before whom I shall lay your letter. At present the undertaking appears to me extremely difficult. The most suitable man we have for the purpose is confined to his bed by sickness.

We have accounts that a number of vessels have sailed lately from Boston, which we apprehend are designed to plunder the stock along the coast. The General Assembly have ordered it all to be removed from all the islands in this Colony, excepting Rhode-Island. We have now about three hundred men employed in that business. I am requested by the General Assembly to apply to you to give directions to the Commissary-General, that all the stock taken from these islands, that are fit to kill, be taken for the use of the Army, in preference to any stock which is secure in the country. The drought hath been so severe along the sea-coast this summer, that there is no possibility of providing for the stock in any other way.

The scarcity of coarse linen hath caused such a demand for tow cloth, for family use, that upon inquiry I find there is scarcely any of that article to be had in the Government at any rate.

The vessel our small sloop was cruising for arrived on the 28th instant, at Norwich. She hath brought powder, lead, flints, and small-arms. What quantity of each I am not certain; they are now on their way by land.

This letter waits upon your Excellency by Captain Joseph Brown, who is an eminent merchant here, a true friend to the liberties of his Country, extremely well respected amongst us, and noted for his superiour mechanical genius. If he hath any thing to propose for the service of the common cause, I have no doubt of your paying attention to it, and giving it the weight it shall appear to you to deserve.

I am, with very great esteem and regard, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

General Washington.

G. SALTONSTALL TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, August 30, 1775, 4 o’clock, A. M.

HONOURABLE SIR: This morning early cannon were fired in the eastern board, and have continued firing ever since, and in the last hour about forty. We had advice at twelve o’clock that a man-of-war and a tender were firing on the houses at the Point, in Stonington, without provocation, unless it were that the people had brought the stock, a small matter, from Block-Island. Off Block-Island yesterday appeared a number of transport ships, and scarce any stock taken from thence; probably they there have, with the men sent from the main, upwards of three hundred men; at Stonington probably two hundred. Major Latimer marched one-half his men (about two hundred) for Stonington, by my advice, instantly on the express from Stonington’s arrival. His Troops have not half a pound powder per man; not a cask of powder in this Town, for the Troops marched, or those remaining in Town.

Your Honour’s wisdom will furnish the article of powder, or we can make not the least defence, even with firelocks.

The cannon constantly firing. This waits on your Honour by express, from your most obedient humble servant,

G. SALTONSTALL.

Governour Trumhull.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Camp at Cambridge, August 30, 1775.

SIR: Your favour of the 21st instant is duly received, enclosing Mr. Carter’s information of the capture of the Charming Sally, which, from the circumstances attending it, was undoubtedly collusive. I have received advice that another vessel, belonging to one White, at Marblehead, whose ostensible voyage was to Casco-Bay, was carried in soon after. Such instances of avarice, at such a time, and in such a cause, call for a severe scrutiny and exemplary punishment.

Mr. Livingston, and some other gentlemen from your City, brought us the acceptable news of the safe arrival of a large quantity of powder, and five hundred stand of arms. Our situation is such as requires your immediate assistance and supply in that article. We have lately taken possession of a hill considerably advanced towards the enemy, but our poverty prevents our availing ourselves of any advantage of situation. I must therefore most earnestly entreat that measures may be taken to forward to this camp, in the most safe and expeditious manner, whatever ammunition can be spared from the immediate and necessary defence of the Province. The value of whatever may be sent, in consequence of this request, will be paid by order from hence when delivered, or negotiated with the honourable Continental Congress at Philadelphia, as may be agreed with the proprietors. I only request that no time may be lost through any such difficulties, as our situation is so critical and the exigence so great. The mode of conveyance I must leave with the Provincial Congress or the Committee of the City. I doubt not they will take every precaution to make it safe and expeditious.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

The Honourable Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, President, &c.

Worcester, Massachusetts, August 30, 1775.

Doctor Nahum Willard, of this Town, having at divers times, and in the presence of sundry persons, most scandalously aspersed the characters of some, and the proceedings of the whole of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, the Selectmen of this Town, and the Committees of Correspondence in general:

The good people of this Town, from a knowledge of his character, for some time passed it unnoticed, from an apprehension his character was so established for a retailer of falsehood, as to render him incapable of doing any publick injury; but from the perverseness of his vile heart, whereby he persisted in his wickedness, they were apprehensive he might be capable of doing some hurt in the neighbouring Towns, which he often frequented, and where his character, perhaps, may not be so well known. And from an apprehension the inhabitants of this Town might hazard the imputation of having deserted the glorious cause, for which this Continent are now contending, in suffering such an offender to escape with impunity, did, on the twenty-first instant, summon said Willard to appear before them, in the presence of the Selectmen and some of the Committee of Correspondence, when witnesses were produced in support of the charges alleged against him, which were fully proved and committed to writing, and deposited in the hands of the Selectmen, (open to inspection,) the witnesses being ready at any time to make oath to the same.

A Committee was then chosen to consider of the best methods for a further procedure with said Willard. They reported that said Willard should have tendered to him a paper they had drawn up, containing a confession of his notorious scandals and falsehoods, without mentioning a word of his promising a reformation, as they would be very sorry to be the means of his adding to his falsehoods. This paper, if he believed to be true, he was to sign that evening; and as it was late, and to prevent disorder, he was next morning to read it in such publick parts of the Town as the Committee directed, with which he complied; the contents of the paper abovementioned follows this account.

There was another scandalous aspersion upon the guard that conducted the prisoners from hence to Springfield, wherein he asserted that he was told they used them extremely cruel, frequently pricking them with their bayonets.