may arise which will require time to obviate; and I can safely assure you of the concurrence of this Colony in every prudent measure for the effecting this most essential point.

I am, with great truth and respect, Sir, your Excellency’s most humble and most obedient servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

General Washington.

P. S. Since the sailing of the small vessel, I observe in the New-York paper that a packet is arrived there from Falmouth, which I take to be the same that Capt. Whipple was sent after. If so, the opportunity is lost; but by extending his cruise a little longer, he may have a chance for the August packet.

HENRY WARD TO GENERAL GREENE.

Providence, September 26, 1775.

SIR: This letter waits upon you by Mr. Maxwell, who goes down to Cambridge upon a matter into which I think the strictest inquiry ought to be made. It is, in short, this: In July last, a woman, with whom Mr. Wainwood had an acquaintance in Boston, came to his house and wanted him to assist her in procuring an opportunity of seeing Mr. Dudley or Captain Wallace; and by all her behaviour showed that she had some secret of consequence. He artfully drew from her that she had been sent from Cambridge with a letter to be delivered to either of the persons above named, to be forwarded to Boston. It immediately occurred to him that the letter was probably sent from some traitor in our army. Upon which, he started every difficulty in the way of her seeing Dudley or Wallace, that he could think of, and finally prevailed upon her to intrust him with the delivery of the letter. He kept the affair to himself some time, being at a loss what step he should take in it; and at length imparted the secret to Mr. Maxwell, who, upon opening the letter, found it written in characters which he did not understand. Here it rested until very lately, when Mr. Wainwood received a letter from the woman, discovering great uneasiness about the letter she had intrusted him with, which naturally induced a suspicion that the writer of it still continued his correspondence in Boston, and had received information that the letter had never been transmitted. Mr. Wainwood and Mr. Maxwell, who are both of them friends to the cause of America, rightly judging that the continuance of such a correspondence might be attended with the most pernicious consequences to the interest of America, thought proper to come to Providence and consult me upon it, having prudently kept the matter entirely to themselves. By my advice, they proceeded to Cambridge, to lay it, with all the circumstances, before you.

I think it best to introduce Mr. Maxwell to General Washington, and for you and the General, with not more than one trusty person besides, to consider as to the most prudent measures to discover the traitor. Perhaps the first step should be to take up the woman, who is now at Cambridge, in so private a way as to create no suspicion; and it is probable that rewards and punishments, properly placed before her, will induce her to give up the author; in which case he, with all his papers, ought to be instantly secured. If the woman should be obstinate, some clew may be found from her connections, that will probably lead to a discovery. But I beg pardon for undertaking to give my advice in this case, when you, upon the spot, possessed of all the circumstances, will be so much better able to judge of the measures proper to be pursued. As Mr. Wainwood is well known to many of the inhabitants of Boston, I have advised him to go no farther than Dedham, where he may be sent for as soon as it shall be thought proper for him to appear. I will only add, that if they are happily the means of discovering a treacherous correspondence, carried on by any person of note and trust in our publick affairs, they will do a most essential service to their Country, and deserve an adequate reward.

I am, with great truth and esteem, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

HENRY WARD.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE WAGON-MASTER GENERAL.

Head Quarters, Cambridge, September 26, 1775.

1st. The Army being in three Divisions, Roxbury, Cambridge, and Prospect-Hill, under the Major-Generals Ward, Lee, and Putnam, you are to have a sufficient number of Teams for the service of each Division.

2d. When any person applies to you for a Team, he must produce an order from the Commander-in-Chief, one of the Major-Generals for whose Division the service is to be done, or the Commissary-General, otherwise you are not obliged to pay any regard to it.

3d. Once a week, on any Saturday, you are to make a return to the Commander-in-Chief of the number of Teams in service, and what work they have been employed in the preceding week, taking special care not to put the publick to needless charge, by providing and keeping more Teams than are absolutely necessary.

4th. As to the manner in which the Teams are to be fed, it will be best they should find themselves, and be paid accordingly. The Carts or Wagons may be numbered, and the number, with the words Continental Army, on a board, put on some part of the Cart or Wagon most easily seen.

I am, Sir, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON,

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE COMMITTEE AT HARTFORD.

Camp at Cambridge, September 26, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Your favour of the 18th instant, and one from Major French, on the same subject, have come safely to hand. From the general character of this gentleman, and the acknowledged politeness and attention of the Committee of Hartford to the gentlemen intrusted to their care, I flattered myself there would have been a mutual emulation of civility, which would have resulted in the ease and convenience of both. I am extremely sorry to find it otherwise.

Upon a reperusal of former letters and papers respecting these gentlemen, I cannot think there is any thing particular in their situation which can challenge a distinction. If the circumstance of wearing their swords had created no dissatisfaction, I should not have interfered, considering it in itself as a matter of indifference. But as it has given offence, partly, perhaps, by the inadvertent expressions which have been dropped on this occasion, I persuade myself that Major French, for the sake of his own convenience and ease, and to save me farther trouble, will concede to what is not essential either to his comfort or happiness, farther than mere opinion makes it so. On the other hand, allow me to recommend a gentleness, even to forbearance, with persons so entirely in our power. We know not what the chance of war may be; but let it be what it will, the duties of humanity and kindness will demand from us such a treatment as we should expect from others, the case being reversed.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MAJOR CHRISTOPHER FRENCH.

Camp at Cambridge, September 26, 1775.

SIR: Your favour of the 18th instant is now before me, as well as that from the Committee of Hartford, on the same subject. When I compare the treatment you have received with that which has been shown to those brave American officers who were taken fighting gallantly in defence of the liberties of their Country, I cannot help expressing some surprise that you should thus earnestly contest points of mere punctilio. The appellation of rebel has been deemed sufficient to sanctify every species of cruelty to them, while the Ministerial officers, the voluntary instruments of an avaricious and vindictive Ministry, claim, upon all occasions, the benefit of those military rules, which can only be binding where they are mutual. We have shown, on our part, the strongest disposition to observe them during the present contest. But I should ill support my Country’s honour, and my own character, if I did not show a proper sense of their sufferings, by making the condition of the Ministerial officers in some degree dependant upon theirs.

My disposition does not allow me to follow the unworthy example set me by General Gage, to its fullest extent. You possess all the essential comforts of life; why should you press for indulgences of a ceremonious kind, which give general offence?

I have looked over all the papers sent me from Philadelphia.