GENERAL GATES TO THE COMMITTEE OF PORTSMOUTH.

Head-Quarters, October 20, 1775.

SIR: I have it in command from his Excellency General Washington to acknowledge his having this moment received your letter, dated yesterday, from Portsmouth. The General is deeply afflicted with the distress the savage barbarity of the enemy has in all probability brought upon the Town and unhappy inhabitants of Falmouth; he cannot but feelingly participate with them in their misery, and is grieved to the soul it is not in his power immediately to comply with your demand. You may believe, Sir, your request would, without delay, have been complied with, had the state of the magazine here made that compliance in any degree possible.

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

H. GATES, Adjutant-General.

H. Wentworth, Esq., Chairman, &c.

P. S. The General is so busily engaged with a Committee from the Continental Congress, and the Governours of the adjacent Colonies, that he cannot, as he wished, write to you himself.

COLONEL JAMES READ TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Camp on Winter-Hill, October 20, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: In obedience to a desire of Esquire Thornton to me, to order the several Captains in my Regiment to make out muster-rolls from the time of their enlistment to the 4th day of August last, I immediately gave said orders, although I never could get said rolls till this moment, and now one is not sent by reason of the Captain’s being on furlough, and his Lieutenant does not incline to swear to the Captain’s accounts.

Gentlemen, as I did not make these rolls, neither have I examined them, except my own pay, which I think is right. I hope these rolls will be carefully examined before payment is made.

I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant,

JAMES READ.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY FOR THE PROVINCE OF NOVA-SCOTIA.

Friday, October 20, 1775.

A Message from his Excellency the Governour, requiring the attendance of the House in the Council Chamber.

Mr. Speaker and the House attended accordingly, and being returned, Mr. Speaker reported that the House had attended his Excellency in the Council Chamber, where his Excellency was pleased to make the following Speech to both Houses:
Gentlemen of the Council
and House of Representatives:

The particular situation and circumstances of this Province, at this alarming conjuncture of affairs in America, has made it necessary to call you together at this time.

From the best information of the intentions of the Americans, who are now assembled in arms against His Majesty’s Government, I have reason to think they are meditating to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the inhabitants of this Colony, proofs of which I shall order to be laid before you; and as self-defence is the first law of nature, and the consideration of it of the highest importance to your constituents, I do recommend to your serious deliberation those measures which will most conduce to the safety and protection of the Province. Among other weighty affairs, the state and condition of the Colony in respect to provision is become alarming, and though it is our duty to contribute to the utmost of our ability to furnish the Army and Navy with refreshments and every necessary, yet I am of opinion some rules and regulations might be made to prevent the enhancing the price of provisions, and its being diverted to other purposes. As this is a matter of great importance, and is become very interesting to the people in general, but more particularly to the inhabitants of Halifax, I must recommend it to your deliberations, that some measure may be adopted which will give a satisfactory relief.

Your firm attachment to his sacred Majesty and his Government, and your zeal in promoting the same sentiments among the inhabitants, have given me the highest satisfaction. The same union and harmony in all your deliberations will tend to the advancement of the publick good, and, you may be assured, I shall most heartily concur in every measure that will promote the peace, safety, and interest of this Province.

Ordered, That Mr. Morris, Mr. Fillis, and Mr. Bridge, prepare an Address to be presented to his Excellency the Governour, in answer to his Excellency’s Speech.

Monday, October 23, 1775.

Mr. Speaker and the Members waited on his Excellency the Governour with their Address, in answer to his Excellency’s Speech, and presented the same, as follows:
May it please your Excellency:

We, His Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Representatives for this Province, return your Excellency our unfeigned thanks for your speech in General Assembly.

Fully sensible of the dangerous situation in which the inhabitants of this Colony are, from the unhappy troubles in America, and as the providing for its security and defence is a matter of the highest consequence, we shall in our deliberations give it that weight and attention the importance of the subject requires, and sincerely wish it was in our power to grant supplies adequate to the exigency of the times.

We shall pay due regard to your Excellency’s recommendation on the state and condition of the Colony in respect to provisions, and endeavour to provide against such abuses as may arise to the prejudice of its inhabitants; at the same time that we esteem ourselves happy in having it in our power to contribute to the supplying the Army and Navy, as well as His Majesty’s distressed subjects at Boston, with such refreshments as this Province affords, and which we are cheerfully ready to continue to the utmost of our abilities.

It yields us the highest satisfaction that your Excellency is pleased to entertain such sentiments of our attachment and loyalty to our most gracious Sovereign and his Government; we shall not fail to continue to inculcate those sentiments among our constituents, and be ever ready to co-operate with your Excellency in every measure that may tend to promote the peace, safety, and welfare of the Province.

ADDRESS OF THE BOROUGH OF BRIDGEWATER.

Address of the principal Inhabitants of the Borough of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, presented to His Majesty by the Hon. Anne Poulett, one of their Representatives in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the principal Inhabitants of the Borough of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, beg leave to approach your royal presence, with hearts full of allegiance, loyalty, and fidelity.

Truly sensible of the happiness we enjoy under your Majesty’s Government, uniformly regulated by the laws of this Country, by which our constitutional rights are preserved and secured, we cannot, without the deepest concern, behold the many inflammatory methods used to alienate the affections of your Majesty’s subjects, to seduce them from their duty, and even to countenance and abet the most ungrateful and daring rebellion in America.

We therefore think it greatly incumbent on us to express our detestation and abhorrence of such flagitious attempts; and to humbly beg your Majesty’s gracious acceptance of our most faithful assurances to support your Majesty, and the legislative authority of this Kingdom, to the utmost of our power.

ADDRESS OF THE HIGH SHERIFF, ETC., OF THE COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN.

Address of the High Sheriff, Justices of the Peace, Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders of the County of Carmarthen, presented to His Majesty by the right Hon. George Rice, their Representative in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the High Sheriff, Justices of the Peace, Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders, of the