Head-Quarters, Cambridge September 7, 1775.

Repeated complaints being made by the Regimental Surgeons, that they are not allowed proper necessaries for the use of the sick, before they become fit objects for the General Hospital, and the Director-General of the Hospital complains that, contrary to the rule of every established Army, these Regimental Hospitals are more expensive than can be conceived, which plainly indicates that there is either an unpardonable abuse on one side, or an inexcusable neglect on the other: And whereas the General is exceedingly desirous of having the utmost care taken of the sick, (wherever placed, and in every stage of their disorder,) but at the same time is determined not to suffer any impositions upon the publick, he requires and orders that the Brigadier-Generals, with the Commanding Officers of each Regiment in his Brigade, do sit as a Court of Inquiry into the causes of these complaints; and that they summon the Director-General of the Hospital, and their several Regimental Surgeons, before them, and have the whole matter fully investigated and reported. This inquiry to begin on the left of the line to-morrow, at the hour of ten, in General Sullivan’s Brigade.

When a soldier is so sick that it is no longer safe or proper for him to remain in camp, he should be sent to the General Hospital. There is no need of Regimental Hospitals without the camp, when there is a General Hospital so near and so well appointed.

Colonel Thompson’s Regiment of Riflemen to be mustered to-morrow morning, at seven o’clock. General Green’s Brigade to be mustered Saturday morning, at the same hour. These Corps are to be one day off duty, previous to their being mustered.

JOSEPH REED TO BENJAMIN LINCOLN.

Camp at Cambridge, September 7, 1775.

SIR: His Excellency the General, hearing of the arrival of a quantity of powder and arms at Providence, despatched one of his Aids-de-Camp to purchase the whole importation, supposing it to be private property. Messrs. Clark & Nightingale, in their letter, make use of the following expression: “As our vessel is not yet arrived here, and we have not been able to obtain the Captain’s accounts with respect to the voyage, we cannot ascertain our proportion of these articles—the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts-Bay being equally concerned with us in them, they having advanced four thousand dollars, to which we put the like sum, to be invested in military stores, if they could be procured. It will, therefore, be entirely out of our power to have this matter adjusted until the Captain’s arrival; for which reason, we must request your Excellency to inform Colonel Benjamin Lincoln, (to whom we write,) as he was formerly one of the Committee of Supplies and one of the Council of the Massachusetts-Bay, and the person with whom we contracted, that you have the powder and lead delivered you, and that the arms and five thousand flints will be sent the first opportunity, for which your Excellency will be pleased to settle with them, as soon as they know the amount, which shall be immediately on the Captain’s arrival.”

In consequence of the above letter, I am now, by the General’s direction, to acquaint you that seven thousand two hundred and ninety-eight pounds of powder, and six hundred weight two quarters three pounds of lead, have been received by the Commissary of Artillery of the Continental Army, for which he will account with this Province, whenever the papers will enable him so to do.

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

J. REED.

To the Hon. Benjamin Lincoln, Esq.

JOSEPH REED TO NATHANIEL TRACY.

Camp at Cambridge, September 7, 1775.

SIR: Colonel Glover has just informed the General that there are five vessels at Beverly, and two at Newbury, which were fitted out for another purpose, but will answer the present equally well, as they are completely equipped with platforms, wood, water, &c. It will be a saving, both in time and expense, to make use of these. You will, therefore, be pleased, in your transaction of this matter, to consider these seven vessels as a part of the transports, and only extend your care to the remainder. Whatever expense may have accrued in preparing any vessels which will not be necessary by this arrangement, must be carried to the general account; but you will be careful not to add any thing to it after this comes to hand.

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

J. REED.

To Nathaniel Tracy, Newburyport.

NICHOLSON BROUGHTON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Gloucester, September 7, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency that I sailed from Beverly last Tuesday, at ten o’clock, with a fair wind; proceeded on my cruise. On the same day, about five o’clock, saw two ships of war; they gave me chase. I made back towards Cape Ann, but did not go in. Next morning I saw a ship under my lee quarter; she giving me chase, I run into Cape Ann harbour. I went out again that night, about sunset, and stood to the southward. Next morning saw a ship under my lee quarter; I perceived her to be a large ship. I tacked and stood back for the land; soon after I put about, and stood towards her again, and found her a ship of no force. I came up with her, hailed, and asked where she came from; was answered, from Piscataqua, and bound to Boston. I told him he must bear away, and go into Cape Ann; but being very loth, I told him if he did not I should fire on her. On that, she bore away, and I have brought her safe into Cape Ann harbour, and have delivered the ship and prisoners into the hands and care of the Committee of Safety for this Town of Gloucester, and have desired them to send the prisoners, under proper guard, to your Excellency, for further orders.

Also, have sent the Captain of the ship we took, for your Excellency’s examination, and I shall proceed immediately in the further execution of your Excellency’s orders. And am your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

NICHOLSON BROUGHTON.

To his Excellency George Washington, Esq., Captain-General in and over the Confederate Army of the United Colonies in America.

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR, BAILIFFS, AND BURGESSES OF THE BOROUGH OF LEICESTER, PRESENTED TO HIS MAJESTY BY JOHN DARKER, ESQ., ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty:

SIRE: Your Majesty’s loyal subjects, the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Burgesses of the Borough of Leicester, beg leave to approach the Throne, and with all humility to offer an address on the unhappy difference subsisting between the Mother Country and your Majesty’s American Colonies; lamenting, as we do most sincerely, the loss of our countrymen who have already fallen a sacrifice in defence of measures extorted from the Parent State by the obstinate delusion of those people who, from their first settlement on the Continent of America, have uniformly experienced protection, encouragement, and defence, at the expense of millions, and with the repeated effusions of human blood.

We have not been inattentive to the late Parliamentary deliberations respecting the Colonies; and whilst we view with full approbation the conduct of our Representatives given in and to those truly respectable majorities, fully informed and competent to decide upon questions so important, it is matter of wonder to us that any part of our fellow-subjects, however small, should so far be seduced by prejudice and faction, as to afford, even in the most distant manner, countenance to a people declared, on the firmest ground, to be in a state of rebellion.

Your Majesty’s clemency and justice we are fully impressed with, and do not entertain a doubt but that the Colonists will receive those terms, whenever a proper opportunity occurs, that may be consistent with the dignity and welfare of the Mother Country to offer, and such as may be accepted with security and advantage by those who have shown a disposition to oppose, with the utmost violence, the legislative power of Great Britain; but we