is impossible for me to assign any place where they will be free from danger.

I have not the least preference for one place above another, but shall at all times and in all places use my best endeavours to preserve them from injury. And that nothing on my part may be wanting, I shall provide proper boxes for the most important parts of the records, to be ready in any emergency.

I am, Sir, your most obedient, and humble servant,

SAMUEL BAYARD, JUN.

To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq.

A Return of Officers for CHARLOTTE Precinct, DUTCHESS County, NEW-YORK, by the Committee of the said Precinct, the 6 th and 7 th of SEPTEMBER, 1775.

The North District, late Sharpstone’s Company: Henry Humphrey, Captain; Smith Sutherland, First Lieutenant; Silas German, Second Lieutenant; George Krankhiet, Ensign.

The South District, late Sharpstone’s Company: Isaac Bloom, Captain; John Gaseley, Jun., First Lieutenant; John Williams, Second Lieutenant; David Jenis, Ensign.

The West District, late Tobias’s Company: Benjamin De Le Vargne, Captain; David Handy, First Lieutenant; William Woodworth, Second Lieutenant; Joseph Harris, Ensign.

The East District, late Tobias’s Company: Jacob Tobias, Captain; Israel Platt, First Lieutenant; Caleb Hyatt, Second Lieutenant; Gilbert Warden, Ensign.

The North District, late D. Southerland’s Company: Ebenezer Husted, Captain; Jonathan Mead, First Lieutenant; James Talmadge, Second Lieutenant; Stephen Adset, Ensign.

The South District, late D. Southerland’s Company: Roger Southerland, Captain; Josiah Gale, First Lieutenant; Thomas Jencks, Second Lieutenant; Joel Horskins, Ensign.

South District, late Stoutenbergh’s Company: William Gay, Captain; Joseph Hagaman, First Lieutenant; Francis Leroy, Second Lieutenant; Paul Vananden, Ensign.

Middle District, late Stoutenbergh’s Company: Isaac Conklin, Captain; Peter Shults, First Lieutenant; Josiah Burton, Second Lieutenant; Ebenezer Mott, Ensign.

North District, late Stoutenbergh’s Company: Peter Stoutenbergh, Captain; Elijah Harrick, First Lieutenant; Hugh Wilde, Second Lieutenant; Joseph Hambleton, Ensign.

By order of the Committee, September 14, 1775:

JOHN BARNES, Chairman.

RETURN OF MILITIA OFFICERS IN THE MOST WESTWARDLY DISTRICT OF NEW-MARLBOROUGH.

A List of the Officers chosen in a Company of Foot in New-Marlborough, in Ulster County, New-York, agreeable to the direction of the Congress:

Bordawine Tarpenny, Captain; William Martin, First Lieutenant; Uriah Drake, Second Lieutenant; John Everit, Ensign.

Witness my hand, September 6, 1775:

BENJAMIN CARPENTER, Chairman.

To Colonel Jonathan Hasbrouck.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE.

Camp at Cambridge, September 6, 1775.

SIR: Your favours of the 30th August and 2d instant are duly received. The concurrence of the Committee in the Bermuda voyage is very agreeable, and I hope will prove a happy earnest of its success. Enclosed is a letter to the inhabitants of that island, of the tenour you have suggested, but I shall depend upon Captain Whipple’s not making use of it except in case of real necessity.

I am to acknowledge your kind assistance to Captain Baylor, in his late errand, and must desire you to make known to Messrs. Clarke & Nightingale that I am very sensible of the patriotick and disinterested part they have acted on this occasion.

As the Congress will depend upon a supply of tow cloth from your Colony, unless they are apprized to the contrary, I apprehend it will be proper, through your Delegates, to acquaint them of the state in which you have found that article, in order to guard against a disappointment.

The removal of the stock from the coast and islands will, I hope, have its effect in sending the ministerial plunderers empty home. We have yet no accounts of the last fleet, except six, who returned from Louisburgh with coal a few days ago.

I need not mention to you the vast importance of gaining intelligence of the enemy’s motions and designs as early as possible. The great saving to the Continent, both of blood and money, a detection of our secret and most dangerous enemies, with innumerable other advantages, would result from the interception of their correspondence at this juncture. I have, therefore, thought proper to propose to you the seizing the mail by the next packet. She is hourly expected from England; her force of men and guns inconsiderable; none but swivels, and only manned with eighteen men. If the vessel proposed to go to Bermuda should cruise for a few days off Sandy-Hook, I have no doubt she would fall in with her. In which case she might, with little or no delay, land the mail, in order to be forwarded to me, and proceed on the voyage. But if there are any material objections to this mode, I am still so anxious upon the subject that I would have it tried with another vessel, at the Continental expense; and will, for that end, direct that any charge which may accrue in this service shall be paid by the Paymaster here, upon being duly liquidated. It will be necessary that some person well acquainted with the packets should be on board our vessel, or the stopping inward bound vessels indiscriminately will give the alarm, and she may be apprized of her danger. The choice of a proper officer, with the care of providing a suitable vessel, &c., I must leave to you. Should it meet with the desired success, there can be no doubt the honourable Continental Congress will distinguish and reward the officers and men who shall have done so essential a service. Nor shall I fail in making known to them how much the publick service is indebted to you for your zeal and activity on all occasions. I am, Sir, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. Nicholas Cooke, Esq., Deputy-Governour of Rhode-Island, Providence.

To the Inhabitants of the Island of BERMUDA:

GENTLEMEN: In the great conflict which agitates this Continent, I cannot doubt but the asserters of freedom and the rights of the Constitution are possessed of your most favourable regards and wishes for success. As the descendants of freemen, and heirs with us of the same glorious inheritance, we flatter ourselves that, though divided by our situation, we are firmly united in sentiment. The cause of virtue and liberty is confined to no Continent or climate; it comprehends within its capacious limits the wise and good, however dispersed and separated in space or distance. You need not be informed that the violence and rapacity of a tyrannick Ministry have forced the citizens of America, your brother Colonists, into arms. We equally detest and lament the prevalence of those counsels which have led to the effusion of so much human blood, and left us no alternative but a civil war or a base submission. The wise Disposer of all events has hitherto smiled upon our virtuous efforts. Those mercenary Troops, a few of whom lately boasted of subjugating this vast Continent, have been checked in their earliest ravages, and are now actually encircled in a small space, their arms disgraced, and suffering all the calamities of a siege. The virtue, spirit, and union of the Provinces leave them nothing to fear but the want of ammunition. The applications of our enemies to foreign States, and their vigilance upon our coasts, are the only efforts they have made against us with success. Under these circumstances and with these sentiments we have turned our eyes to you, gentlemen, for relief. We are informed there is a very large magazine in your island, under a very feeble guard. We would not wish to involve you in an opposition in which, from your situation, we should be unable to support you. We know not, therefore, to what extent to solicit your assistance in availing