nor the ingenuity of Knox and Waters, in planning the celebrated works at Roxbury. We were told here that there were none in our camp who understood the business of an Engineer, or any thing more than the manual exercise of the gun. This we had from great authority, and for want of more certain intelligence were obliged at least to be silent. There are many military geniuses at present unemployed and overlooked, who, I hope, when the Army is new modelled, will be sought after and invited into the service of their Country. They must be sought after, for modest merit declines pushing itself into publick view. I know your disinterested zeal, and therefore need add no more than to, assure you that I am, with cordial esteem, your friend,

SAMUEL ADAMS.

Elbridge Gerry, Esq., Watertown.

THOMAND BALL TO JOSEPH SHIPPEN, JR.

Sunbury, September 26, 1775.

SIR: William Maclay, Esq., being at present so much indisposed as renders him incapable of writing, I have the honour, by his directions, to inform you that a party of the Connecticut intruders, supposed to be a detachment from Colonel Butler’s Regiment, consisting, as nearly as can be conjectured, of three hundred men, arrived last Saturday night at Freeland’s mill, on the Warriour’s Run, about thirteen miles distance from this Town, where we are informed they immediately began to intrench themselves; and as they brought neither women nor children, but, instead of them, fortifying and intrenching tools, with the additional circumstance of some of the sellers of lands in this County, under Connecticut rights, being of the party, we cannot consider their visit as amicable. In consequence of which, a Company, consisting of about fifty men, left this Town at one o’clock yesterday, in order to join other Companies of the County, to meet and demand the reason of this intrusion and hostile appearance. This being wrote early in the morning, by a gentleman who is just setting off for Philadelphia, cannot at present gain farther intelligence, but in a few days shall transmit you an account of their and our farther proceedings. If the state of our County with regard to arms and ammunition will be satisfactory to you, Captain Hunter can inform you thereof, from a letter which the bearer carries, as well as his own knowledge.

I am, with great respect, your very humble servant,

THOMAND BALL.

To Joseph Shippen, Esq.

TO THE PUBLICK.

Morris County, New Jersey, September 26, 1775.

DEAR COUNTRYMEN: In a day of publick calamity like this, arising from oppression, every benevolent mind ought to be engaged for the defence of the rights of mankind, and in particular should endeavour to remove all cause of oppression, complaint, and disunion, among ourselves, and to stop, as much as possible, the mouths of our adversaries, who will omit the use of no plausible argument against the justice of our cause, and the probability of its success; such is the design of this letter.

The honourable Continental Congress, and the late Provincial Congress of this Province, have adopted the old mode of electing Representatives, who have power to tax those Colonies from whence they are chosen. By this mode, many true friends to their Country, who are obliged to pay taxes, are excluded from the privilege of a vote in the choice of those by whom they are to be taxed, or even called out to sacrifice their lives. This is a real grievance, yet one that may easily be redressed; for many of the members of the present Provincial Congress begin to give a serious attention to the complaints of the people on this account, and all our Congresses know that one part of His Majesty’s subjects have no right to tax another part of their fellow-subjects, without their consent, given by themselves or their Representatives. Nothing is therefore necessary, in order to obtain redress, but a number of petitions from several Towns and Counties in each Province for that purpose. They will undoubtedly resolve, that no one shall be taxed who is excluded from a vote in the elections; and will also resolve who shall for the future be esteemed proper electors; and by such resolves our enemies will be cut off from one of their most plausible arguments against us.

I am, my countrymen, yours,

ESSEX.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Ticonderoga, September 26, 1775.

SIR: I did myself the honour to address you in a long letter of the 20th, which I hope will come safe to hand.

The day before yesterday I was favoured with a letter from General Montgomery, (copy of which enclosed.) on the contents of which, and on the report of the Indian Deputies, I do myself the pleasure to congratulate your Excellency. I have made some explanatory notes on General Montgomery’s letter, which I conceived might be necessary for you.

I made a short speech to the Indian Deputies; gave them a present, and they left me in high good humour, and with a very good opinion of our Army.

The vexation of spirit under which I labour, that a barbarous complication of disorders should prevent me from reaping those laurels for which I have unweariedly wrought since I was honoured with this command; the anxiety I have suffered since my arrival here, lest the Army should starve, occasioned by a scandalous want of subordination and inattention to my orders in some of the officers that I left to command at the different posts; the vast variety of disagreeable and vexatious incidents that almost every hour arise in some department or other, not only retard my cure, but have put me considerably back for some days past. If Job had been a General in my situation, his memory had not been so famous for patience; but the glorious end we have in view, and which I have a confident hope will be attained, will atone for all.

I have discharged or ordered to be discharged every man that was so ill as to be unfit for farther service during this campaign, and that was able to return to the place of his abode. Those that were not, I have sent to the hospital. The former already amount to seven hundred and twenty-six, as per the enclosed return. My best wishes attend your Excellency and the gentlemen with you.

I am, dear Sir, with the most sincere esteem, your very obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

His Excellency General Washington, &c., &c.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, September 26, 1775.

SIR: In consequence of your letter of the 18th instant, we have sent out our small armed vessel, with orders to Capt. Whipple to relinquish the voyage to Bermuda, and to prolong his cruise for the packet to the 6th of October.

Agreeable to your advice, I have communicated the proposed adventure to Bayonne to the Congress, and most heartily wish it may be pursued, as the ability and integrity of Du Ville are perfectly relied upon here. The following extract from Governour Trumbull’s letter to me, of the 18th instant, will inform you of his sentiments respecting the enterprise, and of his reasons for declining to take a part in it: “In mine of the 11th instant, in answer to your esteemed favour of the 9th, I acquainted you with my purpose to lay your letter before my Council, on Thursday, the 14th instant; which I did. They approve your proposition. The way appears to them promising. At the same time, we have advanced money so largely for that article, and have great reason to expect a supply in a similar method, that they judge it not expedient for us to proceed farther at this time. It is an article that requires our attention, and wish every method that appears probable to obtain it may be pursued. I hope General Washington will hearken to your application, and suitably encourage and promote your generous design.”

The time for which the combined Army was enlisted being nearly expired, it is of great importance to provide some method for re-enlisting them, in order to keep up a sufficient force to restrain the enemy during the winter, and to take the field in the spring. My anxious concern on this head, which appears to me to be of the last importance, will excuse my suggesting to you the necessity of giving it the earliest attention, as I greatly fear difficulties