vessel, should he return this fall to Quebeck, or by assisting him to get out of the port of Boston with a little pitch and tar, with wine, candles, and some other articles that are much wanted here. The freight Mr. Dunn begs you will pay at Boston, as per agreement with Mr. Grant, to enable the master to purchase a cargo at your port, as it was the hopes of making something, by the profits of her cargo back, that induced Dunn and Grant to let me have her; and it makes no difference to the Crown whether it is paid at Boston or by me here; in short, Dunn writes to you on the subject, and to his letter I refer you.

The Rebels have taken post at Point-au-Fer, and an invasion of the Province is expected. Should that take place, I am apt to think the Canadians will lay down their arms and not fire a shot. Their minds are all poisoned by emissaries from New-England, and the damned rascals of merchants here and at Montreal. General Carleton is, I believe, afraid to order out the Militia, lest they should refuse to obey. In short, the Quebeck Bill is of no use; on the contrary, the Canadians talk of that damned absurd word liberty.

Mr. Dunn desires me to mention to you a Captain Venture, who comes out with a ship from London. If you can be of any use to him, he will take it as a particular favour; he would be fit to command an armed vessel.

In one of my former letters I begged you would remember my brother. If you can serve him in the commissary way, I shall ever acknowledge it. He is from Albany. Mr. Porter knows where he is, at Burlington, New-Jersey. I am sure you will excuse this application. It will be hard if you and my friend Chamier cannot, between you, do something for him. I can venture to promise he is capable, and he has promised me not to be lazy.

Remember me to all with you, and believe me yours, very sincerely,

THOMAS GAMBLE.

To Major Shirreff, Deputy Quartermaster-General.

ORDERS BY GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, October,1, 1775.

The Colonels and Commanding Officers of Corps are, upon application from the Quartermaster-General, immediately to employ, under his direction, all the Carpenters in their several Regiments, to erect Barracks for the Regiments and Corps they respectively belong to.

Lieutenant Cummings, of Captain Dow’s Company, in Colonel Prescott’s Regiment, tried at a General Court-Martial, whereof Col. Hitchcock was President, for “misbehaviour in the action upon Bunker’s Hill.” The Court are unanimously of opinion the prisoner is not guilty of the charge, and the complaint appears to the Court to be groundless and malicious. The General approves the proceedings of the Court, and orders Lieutenant Cummings to be immediately released from his arrest.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, October 3, 1775.

Any Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, or Soldier, who shall hereafter be detected playing at toss up, pitch and hustle, or any other games of chance, in or near the camp and villages bordering on the encampments, shall, without delay, be confined and punished for disobedience of orders.

[The General does not mean, by the above order, to discourage sports of exercise and recreation; he only means to discountenance and punish gaming.]

Doctor Isaac Foster to take the direction and superintendency of the General Hospital until further orders, and is to be obeyed as Director during that time.

Ensign Proctor, of Captain Fletcher’s Company, in Colonel Doolittle’s Regiment, tried at a late General Court-Martial for “absenting himself from his Regiment, from the 9th of August to the 27th September following.” The Court find the prisoner guilty of the crime, and order him to be mulcted one month’s pay for his offence.

John Gallop, of Captain Williams’s Company, in Colonel Patterson’s Regiment, tried at the above Court-Martial for “absenting himself from his Regiment from the 27th of June to the 27th September following, and carrying off and disposing of a Colony gun.” The Court find the prisoner guilty of the crimes wherewith he was accused, and sentence him to be whipped on the bare back fifteen lashes, and order the value of the gun to be stopped out of his pay.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, October 4, 1775.

The General approves the sentence of the General Court-Martial inserted in yesterday’s order, and directs that Ensign Proctor be mulcted one month’s pay, and the prisoner, John Gallop, of Captain Williams’s Company, in Colonel Patterson’s Regiment, punished with fifteen lashes on the bare back, at the time and place the Colonel of the Regiment shall think proper, and the value of the gun stopped out of the prisoner’s pay.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

Camp at Cambridge, October 5, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: By an intelligent person from Boston, the 3d instant, I am informed that a fleet, consisting of one sixty-four, one twenty gun ship, two sloops of eighteen guns, two transports, with six hundred men, were to sail from Boston on yesterday; their destination a profound secret. That they took on board two mortars and four howitzers, with other artillery, concluded for the bombardment of a Town. I have thought proper to apprize every considerable Town on the coast of this armament, that they may be upon their guard. Should I receive any further account of their destination, it shall be forwarded.

The same person also informs that an express sloop arrived four days before, from England, at Boston, which she left the 8th of August. General Gage, and most of the officers who were at Lexington, are recalled, and sail this day; General Howe succeeds to the command. Six ships of the line and two cutters, under Sir Peter Dennis, are coming out. Five Regiments and one thousand marines may be expected at Boston in three or four weeks. No prospect of accommodation, but, on the other hand, every appearance of the war being pushed with the utmost vigour.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Isaac Low, Esq., Chairman, &c.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE, OF RHODE-ISLAND.

Cambridge, October 5, 1775.

SIR: By an intelligent person, &c., [as in the preceding letter.]

Your several favours of the 26th and 29th September were duly received. The care of the men, respecting whom you request direction in yours of the 29th, I will consider of, as there are some regulations in the Army of which I choose to see the result before I make any disposition; you will therefore be pleased to have them employed in this interval as you think most conducive to the publick interest. The mode of continuing the Army is now under the consideration of the General Officers, in order to report to the Congress, with which I shall make you acquainted in course. In the mean time, shall be glad of your sentiments by the next post.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Governour Cooke, Rhode-Island.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Cambridge, October 5, 1775.

SIR: By a person from Boston the day before yesterday, we learn that a small fleet, consisting of a sixty-four gun ship, a twenty gun, two sloops of eighteen guns, two transports, and about six hundred men, sailed yesterday. They took on board two mortars, four howitzers, and other artillery, from which we suspect they intend to bombard some Town on the coast. General Gage is recalled. General Howe commands in his place. We have some