COLONEL VARNUM TO GENERAL, SULLIVAN.

Prospect-Hill, September 24, 1775.

Colonel Varnum begs liberty to present his compliments to the Honourable General Sullivan, and informs him that when the invalids came to relieve him on Ploughed-hill, Thursday night last, he gave the most particular directions to Colonel Woodbrigde and the Lieutenant-Colonel, in what manner to dispose of the detachment, where to place every sentry. Sent Captain Martindale with two Captains of that party; showed them where to place the out-picket; and, in fine, had they sense to comprehend, and resolution to execute the plainest orders, your Honour would not have been troubled by them upon that head, which I have learned you were by Colonel Stark.

The Colonel is extremely sorry that General Sullivan should have any reason to suspect him of neglect of duty, and hopes this will be sufficient to remove any unjust impressions.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, DATED SEPTEMBER 24, 1775.

We are looking towards Canada for news; that will be the scene of action, at least for a while. They are employed at Boston in pulling down the south part of the Town, for two purposes: to make room for a set of new barracks, which they propose to build there, and to convert the former buildings into fuel. There was a very heavy cannonade all Saturday morning, at Roxbury. They fired one hundred and ten cannon shot, with no other damage than putting out a bullock’s eye with a pebble stone, which one of them drove into it. On this side we had two men wounded with one shot; both are like to do well. The same ball beat off the hat of a Lieutenant McKinzie, of one of the Rifle Companies, and left him senseless for more than an hour; however, he is now perfectly recovered, and as well as ever.

We have heard this day that Colonel Arnold, who commands the detachment against Quebeck, was within a few miles of Kennebeck River last Thursday. Two men, who left Quebeck about twenty days ago, say it is in a very defenceless state, and that the French inhabitants, even of the City, are much in, our favour.

The intercourse between the enemy’s camp and ours, on both sides Roxbury and Charlestown, has ceased some days, in consequence of the brutality of one of the Ministerial officers, who, with very abusive language, threatened to fire upon our flags if any more came down. They have deceived themselves very much as to Arnold’s expedition. They will not believe but that it was destined against Halifax, and provided accordingly; so that telling your real design appears to be sometimes the best way of concealing it.

ADDRESS OF THE GENTLEMEN, ETC., OF COVENTRY.

Address of the Gentlemen, Clergy, Traders, and principal Inhabitants of the City of Coventry, presented to His Majesty by Walter Waring, Esq., and Edward Roe Yeo, Esq., their Representatives in Parliament.

Coventry, September 25, 1775.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Gentlemen, Clergy, Traders, and principal Inhabitants of the City of COVENTRY.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

It is with the deepest concern we have for some time observed the progress of those pernicious principles which the patrons of sedition have been industriously insinuating into the minds of your Majesty’s deluded subjects, and which have at length produced an actual rebellion among the unhappy Colonies in America —a rebellion the most atrocious, because altogether unprovoked; the most unnatural, because excited and fomented by the false representations and encouragement of a desperate domestick faction.

At such an alarming crisis, silence, in the true friends to their Country, would be utterly inexcusable; not to condemn the guilty were, in some sort, to partake in their iniquity. Whilst, therefore, we deplore this errour in our fellow-subjects, we cannot forbear to remark how very inattentive those persons must needs be to the welfare of the community, who can wantonly interrupt the publick repose by raising tumults and insurrections, from no other motive, and with no better view, than to promote the schemes of pretended patriotism, or to soothe the malice of disappointed ambition.

It might, indeed, and with the greatest reason, have been expected that the singular prudence and moderation, with which your Majesty hath ever held the reins of Government, would have effectually composed every animosity among your people, and secured a general acquiescence in a conduct so irreproachable. It might have been hoped, too, that the Ministry you have so judiciously made choice of, and who, on the late trying occasions, have acquitted themselves with the most consummate discretion, should not have experienced so base and ungrateful a return. The continued series of ill-treatment which your Majesty, the more immediate officers of the Crown, and the great Council of the Nation, have met with, at the hands of these nominal guardians of our rights and liberties, we sincerely lament; and it is our earnest request that this testimony of our abhorrence of such scandalous and unjustifiable behaviour may stand recorded to the latest posterity. Renouncing therefore, thus openly, all fellowship with the men of this complexion, permit us, Sire, with all humility, to approach your throne with our most faithful assurances of an unalienable attachment to your Majesty’s person, and of our most hearty concurrence in the prosecution of such measures as, in your royal wisdom, you shall think proper to adopt, for the suppression of the present outrageous commotions abroad, for the restoration of peace and good order at home, for the maintaining a due regard to the authority of the Legislature, and for the support of our admirable Constitution, both in Church and State.

ADDRESS OF THE CITY OF EXETER.

Address of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Exeter, in Chamber assembled, presented to His Majesty by John Rolle Walter, Esq., and Charles Warwick Bampsylde, Esq., their Representatives in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of EXETER, in Chamber assembled.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most faithful and loyal subjects, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Exeter, in Chamber assembled, beg leave to pay our humble duty to your Majesty, and to express our gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy under your Majesty’s Government.

Convinced, as we are, of your Majesty’s unwearied and impartial attention to the true interests of all your subjects, we cannot but behold, with infinite concern, the unhappy differences which subsist between this Country and many of your Majesty’s Colonies in North-America, where a most unjustifiable resistance hath been made to your Majesty’s arms, in open defiance of the legislative authority of Great Britain.

We had our hopes that this misguided people might, ere now, have been reduced to a proper sense of that duty and obedience, by which alone they can be connected with this Country. In what manner this great object is farther to be pursued, is a question on which we presume not to express our sentiments; but relying with confidence on the wisdom, justice, and prudence of your Majesty’s counsels, we doubt not but your Majesty, zealous of the honour of your Crown, and deeply interested in the welfare of all your people, will act with firmness, and adopt such measures as may most effectually tend to the establishment of peace, consistent with the support of that general principle on which the declaratory act is founded.

Far be it from us, however, to circumscribe the bounty of Government; may every constitutional, every favourable indulgence be extended towards them. We are anxious that your Majesty’s subjects should be all heartily and sincerely united in that dutiful obedience to your Majesty and the Legislature of Great Britain, which constitutes the true strength of this great Empire.