shall assemble in arms, hold meetings of Committees, or Congresses, or prevent the King’s Courts of Justice from assembling.

It is possible that the people may be rash enough to appear in the open field against the King’s troops, and to hazard an action; but should that be the case, I trust the matter will soon be decided to the advantage of Government. I apprehend, however, that they will not hazard such a conflict; nor is it with any such expectation, that the measure of sending these troops has been adopted here, but principally upon the encouragement held out by the King’s Governours, that if such respectable force was sent as might make it safe for the friends of Government to show themselves, they should soon prevail over those who, having found means of getting the sword into their hands, have hitherto been able to effect their rebellious purposes without control. At the same time, therefore, that the Rebels are encouraged to hope for mercy upon submission, every species of reward must be offered to those who have not yet involved themselves in that guilt, and shall consent to list under the royal banner, who, besides an allowance of the same pay as the King’s troops receive, so long as they continue in service, may be encouraged to expect a remission of all arrears of quit-rent due to the Crown, and an exemption from payment of any for a few years to come.

In truth, the whole success of the measure His Majesty has adopted depends so much upon a considerable number of inhabitants taking up arms in support of Government, that nothing that can have a tendency to promote it ought to be omitted. I hope we are not deceived in the assurances that have been given; for if we are, and there should be no appearance of a disposition in the inhabitants of the Southern Colonies to join the King’s Army, I fear little more will be effected than the gaining possession of some respectable post to the southward, where the officers and servants of Government may find protection, and from which the Rebels may be annoyed by sudden and unexpected attacks of their Towns upon the sea-coast, during the open part of the winter; which attacks, however, may be made very distressing to them, and will be no inconsiderable advantage.

There are, indeed, so many objects of advantage in this expedition, that His Majesty is unwilling to suppose we can fail in them all, or that we shall not be able, at least, to maintain a post in one or other of the four Provinces in rebellion. But, supposing the worst to happen, St. Augustine, in all events, offers a secure retreat to the troops, until the season of the year will admit of their joining your Army.

Having fully explained to you the objects of the intended expedition, I have only to add, that it is not meant that it should prevent you in any measure of the like nature, which you may have had in contemplation, in consequence of my former despatches; on the contrary, the sending a detachment from your Army to any of the four Southern Provinces, where you see an opening for effecting any essential service, may have the consequence to give the greater facility and advantage to the present enterprise; and therefore it is the King’s wish that you should pursue that measure, if it can be effected without prejudice to your general plan of operation; of which, however, you must be the best judge, and therefore His Majesty leaves it entirely to your own discretion.

I am, &c.,

DARTMOUTH.

To Major-General Howe.

RICHARD HENRY LEE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, October 22, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I thank you for your obliging favour of the 13th, and I assure you that no man living approves the vigorous measures you mention more than myself. Great bodies, you know, move slow; and it is as sure that the most palpable and glorious events may be delayed, and the best causes finally lost, by slow, timid, and indecisive counsels. We must be content, however, to take human nature as we find it, and endeavour to draw good out of evil. You will no doubt have heard of the disgraceful conduct of Norfolk, in suffering Lord Dunmore, with a few men, to take away their printing press. It happened when the good men of that place were all away, and none but Tories and Negroes remained behind. Virginia is much incensed, and five hundred men are ordered immediately down to Norfolk. I expect by every post to hear of the demolition of that infamous nest of Tories.

By a vessel in twenty days from Quebeck, which I believe brings us later intelligence than you had from thence when the last express left camp, we learn that the Deputy-Governour had twelve Companies of Canadians in training, and that they were generally on their guard. But the same account says the Government was so suspicious of the attachment of its troops, that they were trusted with no more than four rounds of cartridges. This still gives us some hopes of success on that quarter. Before this reaches you will have heard of Colonel Allen’s unlucky and unwise attempt upon Montreal, nor have we from the last accounts much prospect of success from St. John’s. The Ministerial dependance on Canada is so great that no object can be of greater importance to North-America than to defeat them there. It appears to me that we must have that Country with us this winter, cost what it will. Colonel Stephen writes me from Fort Pitt, that the Indians on that quarter come slowly in to the Commissioners, and that they evidently appear to be waiting the event of things in Canada, when they will surely, according to custom, join the strongest side. We have so many resources for powder, that I think we cannot fail of getting well supplied with that most necessary article.

Remember me, if you please, to General Gates, and to all my acquaintances with you.

I am, with great esteem and sincerity, dear Sir, your affectionate and obedient servant,

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

P. S. Monday morning. ‘Tis with infinite concern I inform you that our good old Speaker, Peyton Randolph, Esq., went yesterday to dine with Mr. Harry Hill, was taken during the course of dinner with the dead palsy, and at nine o’clock at night died without a groan. Thus has American Liberty lost a powerful advocate, and human nature a sincere friend.

R. H. L.

COLONEL McDOUGALL TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

New-York, October 22, 1775.

SIR: We impatiently wait for intelligence from St. John’s, and have not had any from thence to be relied on since September, nor since the batteries were opened against it. The Viper, sloop-of-war, has aped the piratical conduct of the Ministerial ships to the eastward, by taking several of our vessels, inward bound, without so much as the least colour of their having violated any of the acts of trade. Nothing can more clearly manifest the absurdity and injustice of the present measures against this distressed Country, than the violations of those acts which they contend ought to bind the Americans, and which they come to enforce against them by every artifice their wicked hearts can. suggest. Will a God justice suffer such matchless wickedness to pass with impunity? Surely he will not.

This will be delivered to you by Mr. Richard Ray, of this place, whom I beg leave to introduce to you. He goes to the eastward to see the camp. If your attention to the publick service will permit you to show him the civilities due to a gentleman and a stranger, they will be gratefully acknowledged as done to, Sir, your humble servant,

ALEXANDER McDOUGALL.

Brigadier-General John Sullivan, Cambridge.

GENERAL MONTGOMERY TO GOVERNOUR CARLETON.

Camp before St. John’s, October 22, 1775.

SIR: I have received information from different quarters that the prisoners you have made are treated with cruel and unnecessary severity, being loaded with irons, and that Colonel Allen himself meets with this shocking indignity. Your character, Sir, induces me to hope I am ill informed: nevertheless, the duty I owe the troops committed to my charge lays me under the necessity of acquainting your Excellency that if you avow this conduct, and persist in it, I shall, though with the most painful regret, execute with rigour the just and necessary law of retaliation upon the garrison of Chambly, now in my possession, and upon all