Schuyler’s orders. I wish I could extend my approbation equally to the whole line of their conduct. Before you receive this letter, you will most probably be able to judge how far your continuance on Long-Island will be further necessary. If the Fleet which last sailed was destined for those coasts, it must be arrived. If it is not, it is certainly gone to the eastward, and your present station is no longer necessary. The importance of preserving the communication of the North River, and many other reasons, induce me to wish you were returned to your former post. The late transactions at New-York furnish additional reasons for your being as near that City as is consistent with the discipline and convenience of your Troops. Your next, therefore, I flatter myself, will inform me of your having resumed your former station.

I am, Sir, with much regard and esteem,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Brigadier-General Wooster, New-York.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CAPTAIN NICHOLSON BROUGHTON.

To Captain NICHOLSON BROUGHTON:

1. You, being appointed a Captain in the Army of the United Colonies of North-America, are hereby directed to take the command of a detachment of said Army, and proceed on board the Schooner Hannah, at Beverly, lately fitted out and equipped with arms, ammunition, and provisions, at the Continental expense.

2. You are to proceed, as commander of said Schooner, immediately on a cruise against such vessels as may be found on the high seas or elsewhere, bound inwards and outwards, to or from Boston, in the service of the Ministerial Army, and to take and seize all such vessels, laden with soldiers, arms, ammunition or provisions, for or from said Army, or which you shall have good reason to suspect are in such service.

3. If you should be so successful as to take any of such vessels, you are immediately to send them to the safest and nearest Port to this camp, under a careful prize master, directing him to notify me, by express, immediately, of such capture, with all particulars, and there to wait my further direction.

4. You are to be very particular and diligent in your search after all letters and other papers tending to discover the designs of the enemy, or of any other kind, and to forward all such to me as soon as possible.

5. Whatever prisoners you may take you are to treat with kindness and humanity, as far as is consistent with your own safety. Their private stock of money and apparel is to be given them, after being duly searched; and when they arrive at any Port, you are to apply to the Committee, or to any officer of the Continental Army stationed at such Port, for a guard to bring them up, to headquarters.

6. For your own encouragement, and that of the other officers and men, to activity and courage in this service, over and above your pay in the Continental Army, you shall be entitled to one third part of the cargo of every vessel by you taken and sent into port, (military and naval stores only excepted, which, with vessels and apparel, are reserved for publick service;) which said third part is to be divided among the officers and men in the following proportions: To a Captain, six shares; a First Lieutenant, five; a Second Lieutenant, four; Ship’s Master, three; Steward, two; Mate, one and a half; Gunner, one and a half; Boatswain, one and a half; Gunner’s Mate and Sergeant, one and a half; Privates, one share each.

7. You are particularly charged to avoid any engagement with any armed vessel of the enemy, though you may be equal in strength, or may have some small advantage; the design of this enterprise being to intercept the supplies of the enemy, which will be defeated by your running into unnecessary engagements.

8. As there may be other vessels employed in the same service with yourselves, you are to fix upon proper signals, and, your stations being settled so as to take the greatest range, avoid cruising on the same ground. If you should happen to take prizes in sight of each other, the rules which take place among private ships of war are to be observed in the distribution of the prize money.

9. In case of retaking the vessel of any friend to the American cause, I will recommend it to such person to make a suitable compensation to those who have done such a service; but such vessels are not to be deemed as coming within the directions respecting other vessels.

10. You are to be extremely careful and frugal of your ammunition; by no means to waste any of it in salutes, or for any purpose, but what is absolutely necessary.

Given under my hand, at Head-Quarters, Cambridge, this second day of September, 1775.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Head-Quarters, September 2, 1775.

By his Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the UNITED STATES.

To NATHANIEL TRACY, Esq.:

You are hereby authorized and empowered to take up for the service of the said Colonies so many vessels as shall be necessary for the transporting a body of Troops to be detached from this Army on a secret expedition. Freight of such vessels to be paid in such manner and at such a rate as is herein endorsed; and in case of loss or damage to such vessels, or any of them, such loss or damage to be compensated by the publick, according to an estimation to be made before the said vessels proceed in the above service.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To prevent any dispute which may arise respecting the freight of the within vessels, it is agreed that Colonel Orne, of Marblehead, with two other persons, to be nominated by him, fix the price, which shall be binding on both parties, and that the same gentlemen do appraise the vessels before they proceed.

JOSEPH REED, Secretary.

GENERAL CHARLES LEE TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Camp on Winter-Hill, September 2, 1775.

MY DEAR FRIEND: We have just heard of the strange manœuvre of sending back the clothing which was taken from Philadelphia. I have only time to express my astonishment and apprehension that this conduct will betray some degree of fear, than which nothing can be more pernicious, both here and on the other side of the water. Upon this principle, I must confess I was shocked at your last address to the King. I am confident it will do mischief; it will bring on a negotiation, which perhaps will be fatal. That callous tyrant must have his fears alone worked upon. If I did address him, I would do it in the following style: “Sir, if you do not withdraw your Troops upon the receipt of this, we will absolve ourselves from all allegiance to you, and we will divorce ourselves forever from Britain, whose abject patience in suffering such tyranny as that she has experienced through your whole reign, renders her totally unworthy to be the presiding power of a great Empire.”

This is the style you should adopt; it is the only style which can possibly succeed. I rejoice that Congress has made the acquisition of your brother. My love and respects to him. Have you received my long scroll? For God’s sake, let me hear from you soon. God bless you, my dear friend, and send the common cause all the success it merits from a righteous being.

Farewell, yours, most truly and sincerely,

CHARLES LEE.

DOCTOR ZUBLY TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Philadelphia, September 3, 1775.

To the Right Honourable WILLIAM, Earl of DARTMOUTH:

MY LORD: Your Lordship’s appointment to be Secretary of State for the American Department, by numbers that respected your Lordship’s religious character, was looked upon as a very providential and happy event. Your patronising of religious undertakings confirmed the general opinion, and we were happy in the expectations of your Lordship’s conscientious regard to justice and equity, as well as to the civil and religious liberties of this great Continent; we expected the cause of liberty and religion would meet with the strongest support under your administration, and in your Lordship would ever find a constant and successful advocate with your royal master.