manage the same. Winter is close at hand, yet considerable might be done, and is certainly the best season to give the change.

I am, Gentlemen, your very humble servant,

BENJAMIN BAKER.

To Messrs. Yates, Glen, and Silvester.

SILAS MARSH TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Amenia, Dutchess County, N. Y., October 95, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: You will observe, by my return of a former paper of this kind, or one returned by Roswell Hopkins, that Joel Harvey was returned on the back thereof, and Mr. Morse not returned at all, by reason the paper was never presented to him. Harvey since behaves like a true friend, and desires he may be entered among the faithful, and be entitled to their privileges; which desire he may.

I am your very humble servant,

SILAS MARSH.

Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq.

Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depend, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion that attend the dissolution of the powers of Government, we, the freeholders and inhabitants of Dutchess County, and Province of New-York, being greatly alarmed at the avowed designs of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scenes now acting in the Massachusetts-Bay, do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves, and do associate, under all the ties of religion, honour, and love to our Country, to adopt, and endeavour to carry into execution, whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention, for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principles, which we most ardently desire, can be obtained; and that we will in all things follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individuals and private property.

JOSIAH MORSE,       
JOEL HARVEY, JUN.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, October 25, 1775.

SIR: Captain Whipple returned here from his voyage to Bermuda on Friday last. He had received authentick intelligence of the arrival of the packet at New-York, be fore the first time limited for his cruise was expired, and immediately sailed for Bermuda. He had light flattering winds for several days, and when near the island met with a violent gale, which drove him three or four degrees to the southward, and occasioned his having a long passage. He put in at the west end of the island, where the inhabitants, taking him to be an armed vessel belonging to the King, were thrown into the utmost confusion, and the women and children fled into the country; but upon showing his commission and instructions, were satisfied, and treated him with great cordiality and friendship. They informed him that, upon the powder’s being removed, the Govern our had given General Gage an account of the part they had taken in the transaction, who had despatched a sloop of war and a transport of six hundred tons to take all the provisions sent to the island, (they then lay at George town, ) and treated the islanders as Rebels. Captain Whipple had five of the King’s Council on board his sloop, who all assured him that the inhabitants were hearty friends to the American cause, and heartily disposed to serve it. As the assistance they gave in the removal of the powder hath made them obnoxious to the enemy, and reduced them to a disagreeable situation, I think they ought to be treated with every mark of friendship. I submit to your Excellency the propriety of your representing their case to the Continental Congress, and recommending them to favour. We are fitting out Captain Whipple for a cruise to the eastward with all possible expedition; which I hope will prove more fortunate than his last.

I am, with acknowledgment of the polite treatment I received from you at Cambridge, and with great respect, Sir, your humble and most obedient servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

General Washington.

P. S. I enclose your address to the inhabitants of Bermuda.

COLONEL, JOSEPH REED TO COLONEL GLOVER AND STEPHEN MOYLAN, ESQ.

Head Quarters, October 95, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Your favour of blank date came safe to hand. We are much pleased that Captains Broughton and Selman are sailed, not only on account of their probably meeting with greater success in their destination, but on that of a piece of intelligence we lately had from Boston, viz: that a transport with twelve hundred barrels of powder on board, without a convoy or force, has been missing some time, and they expect has fallen into our hands. Captain Coit, with his Company, marched to Plymouth yesterday. We expect they will be out by Friday some time. There will be a large schooner, carrying ten carriage-guns, fitted out there by Sunday. I have given them the signals. Captain Adams was with me to-night. I hope to get him and his men off’ by Friday morning. Enclosed you have the instructions for the agents, signed by the General, which you will please to send to each of them nominated that way. They are exactly the same as those sent to Plymouth. I have given yesterday to Captain Glover orders for the things mentioned in your letters, which I hope he will procure, as I have not time to go after them myself. Transports arrive every day. We would wish you to apprize Captain Manly and Captain Adams of their preserving a good understanding with each other, and settling their signals, &c. As Adams is well acquainted with the coast farther eastward than Cape Ann, it may, perhaps, not be amiss for him to go there. I shall direct him to advise with you on this and other subjects; and am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

JOSEPH REED, Secretary.

To Colonel Glover and Stephen Moylan, Esq., at Salem or Marblehead.

P. S. We think you had best fix the Commissaries with the agents, and so make the instruction conformable where you are, and to those at a distance make them refer to these others, which will put all on a footing. It will be best to put any agreements in writing.

MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
[Read November 16, 1775.]

Watertown, October 25, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: You have here en closed nearly the amount of our disbursements, which have been paid by our Treasurer, before the 5th instant, for the support of the Army stationed in this Colony, and for pro viding necessaries to enable them to make a proper stand against the Ministerial forces.

The hurry with which we have been driven, the perplexities which have attended the sudden collection of an army, and the multiplicity of business which naturally arises, by attending to their various wants, together with a due attention to the distresses of our suffering friends in and about Boston, have prevented our perfecting such an account as your Honours might expect. But as soon as a settlement can be made with our several Committees, and our accounts adjusted, which are daily coming before us, we hope to be able to transmit to your Honours such an account as will appear satisfactory and reasonable. In the mean time, as the sum on the paper enclosed arises only from the purchasing articles absolutely necessary for support of the Continental cause, about ten thousand Pounds whereof is for provisions and other articles in store, before the arrangement of the American Army, which have been and are daily delivering to the Continental Commissary and Quartermaster-General, we trust you will be induced to grant us the same or such other sum, to supply our