especially as we had been threatened, by reports from Boston several days before, that the enemy intended an attack upon our intrenchments. Nothing, however, followed, but a severe cannonade for a day or two, and a bombardment afterwards for the like time; which, however, did us no other damage than to kill two or three men, and to wound as many more. Both are now at an end, as they found that we disregarded their fire, and continued our works till we had got them completed.

Unless the Ministerial Troops in Boston are waiting for re-enforcements, I cannot devise what they are staying there for, nor why, as they affect to despise the Americans, they do not come forth, and put an end to the contest at once. They suffer greatly for want of fresh provisions, notwithstanding they have pillaged from several islands a good many sheep and cattle. They are also scarce of fuel, unless, according to the account of one of their deserters, they mean to pull down houses for that article. In short, they are, from all accounts, suffering all the inconveniences of a siege. It is true, from their having the entire command of the sea, and a powerful navy, and, moreover, as they are now beginning to take all vessels indiscriminately, we cannot stop their supplies through that channel; but their succours in this way have not been so powerful as to enable them to give the common soldiers much fresh meat as yet. By an account from Boston, of the 4th instant, the cattle lately brought in there sold at publick auction from fifteen to thirty-four Pounds ten Shillings sterling apiece, and the sheep from thirty to thirty-six Shillings each, and fowls and every other species of fresh provisions went in proportion. The expense of this, one would think, must soon tire them, were it not that they intend to fix all the expense of this war upon the Colonies; if they can, I suppose we shall add.

I am just sending off a detachment of one thousand men to Quebeck, by the way of the Kennebeck River, to cooperate with General Schuyler, who by this time is, I expect, at or near St. John’s, on the north end of Lake Champlain; and may, for aught I know, have determined the fate of his Army and that of Canada, as he left Crown Point the 31st of last month, for the Isle-aux-Noix, within twelve miles of St. John’s, where Governour Carleton’s principal force lay. If he should succeed there, he will soon after be in Montreal without opposition; and if the detachment I am sending from hence, though late in the season, should be able to get possession of Quebeck, the Ministry’s plan in respect to that Government will be defeated.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED CAMBRIDGE, SEPTEMBER 10, 1775.

We are at present in our camp, in tolerable security. Ploughed-Hill may bid defiance to all their malice; and what is more amazing, that can scarce be credited by a Philadelphian, though nevertheless true, they have suffered our men at Roxbury to throw up an intrenchment below the George Tavern, and within musket shot of their last intrenchment, and have scarce honoured us with a cannon. We were last night under some apprehensions of an attack. General Ward sent a letter to his Excellency, informing him that he had seen, or his people had seen, a number of men parading on Bunker’s Hill; and our Army was kept during the night under arms, in order to give them a genteel reception. They have since been seen with their knapsacks on their backs, and, from good accounts from Boston, we are convinced they have sent a party of men either (which is most probable) to re-enforce the garrison at Quebeck, or to New-York. Three men-of-war are gone out of the harbour, for what purpose we cannot tell.

LORD NORTH TO HIS FRIENDS, SOLICITING THEIR ATTENDANCE IN PARLIAMENT.

Downing Street, September 11, 1775.

SIR: Before you receive this letter you will probably have seen His Majesty’s Proclamation, fixing the meeting of Parliament for the despatch of business on the 26th of next month. The situation of publick affairs, which has made so early a meeting necessary, will bring on very important business at the beginning of the session; give me leave, therefore, to submit to you that it is extremely desirable that the Members of the House of Commons should attend on the first day.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your most faithful humble servant,

NORTH.

ADDRESS OF THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL.

Address of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Common Council of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, in Council assembled, transmitted to the Earl of Dartmouth, one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, and presented to His Majesty.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty:

The humble Address of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Common Council of LIVERPOOL, in the County Palatine of LANCASTER, in Council assembled.