which they now think it will require to subdue the Massachusetts Rebels. Gage says fifteen thousand more than he already has, and Burgoyne says twenty thousand more. But all the Generals, however, agree in desiring a large re-enforcement of artillery, and therefore orders were yesterday sent to Woolwich for four Companies to embark immediately for North-America, with a large train of field-pieces, &c., and a further supply of clothing more than I mentioned in my letter of the 15th, for the Canadians, which Government is assured by General Carleton he shall raise in the Province of Quebeck. Parliament is prorogued till September, and then will be further prorogued to meet the beginning of November. In the mean time, Lord North thinks he possesses power and credit sufficient to order more forces to America, and push matters to the greatest extremity, before winter sets in.

“I have been well assured, that if the Spanish Armada should not visit Gibraltar, which, from the repulse it is said they have met with, will be the case, Government propose composing that garrison of three-fourths Hanoverians, and one-fourth British troops, in order that they may send the remainder of the latter, now there, to America. But the secret (as they imagine) plan of operation they have at present in agitation, or which I, perhaps, might properly say actually determined on and transmitted to Boston, is as follows: With the assistance of Governour Tryon, who is much relied on for the purpose, to get immediate possession of New-York and Albany; to fill both of these Cities with very strong garrisons; to declare all rebels who do not join the King’s forces; to command the Hudson and East Rivers with a number of small men of war and cutters, stationed in different parts of it, so as wholly to cut off all communication, by water, between New-York and the Provinces to the northward of it, and between New-York and Albany, except for the King’s service; and to prevent, also, all communication between the City of New-York and the Provinces of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, and those to the southward of them. By these means, Administration and their friends fancy that they shall soon either starve out or retake the garrison of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and open and maintain a safe intercourse and correspondence between Quebeck, Albany, and New-York, and thereby afford the fairest opportunity to their soldiery and the Canadians, in conjunction with the Indians, to be procured by Guy Johnson, to make continual irruptions into New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and so distract and divide the Provincial forces as to render it easy for the British Army at Boston to defeat them, break the spirits of the Massachusetts people, depopulate their country, and compel an absolute subjection to Great Britain. Another good effect to be deduced from this extensive plan (as Government apprehend) is, that as New-York will, by this method, be prevented from supplying the Massachusetts Army near Boston, with flour, &c., as they heretofore have done, through the medium of Connecticut, and the New-Jersey and Pennsylvania people will not be able to transport provisions across the country; and as the Colony of Connecticut does not raise corn sufficient for the supply of herself and the Massachusetts-Bay, the inhabitants and troops of this Province must inevitably, of course, be in a short time destroyed by diseases and famine; and to this train of facts let me add that, in consequence of General Gage’s desire, brought by Captain Chadd, one hundred flat-bottomed boats are at present building at Deptford, &c., in order to be immediately sent to America; but for what particular purpose, I have not yet been able to learn. Many American gentlemen, however, have been asked by a Lord, high in the American department, what sized vessels can go loaded from hence to Albany; what is the depth of water at the Overslaugh—(I think that is the name of the shallowest place in the North River;) whether the ship belonging to Albany, in the London trade, is always obliged to unload part of her cargo before she can get to Albany, and what proportion of it; whether, if batteries were erected at the Highlands, they would not prevent vessels from going up and down the North River; and where would be the best places on that river to binder the New-Jersey people, &c., from sending flour, &c., in the winter, through Connecticut, to the Massachusetts Army.”

Extract of a Letter from LONDON, AUGUST, 7th 1775.

“The design, last Spring, was to have divided the troops sent out, as it is said, according to a plan of Governour Tryon’s, which he gave to the Ministers, for carrying on the American war; but Gage’s necessity has altered that plan for the present, and has obliged him to collect all the troops together at Boston, and Tryon, with all his malignity of heart, is compelled to sit still this season. As Tryon, for his conduct in North-Carolina, is in high estimation with the Ministry, his plan of attacking the different Colonies at the same time, is still to be followed, and the talk is, that troops will be sent to New-York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It is long since Carleton has received orders to enter the frontiers of the Northern Colonies with the Canadians, and, by his proclamation of martial law, he is endeavouring to put his orders into practice. It was part of Tryon‘s scheme to meet Carleton with the four Regiments that were ordered to New-York. This idea is not yet given up; for I understand it is intended, if the shipwrights can be forced or cajoled to work again, to construct a number of flat-bottomed boats here, so contrived, as when they touch the shore, to throw down a platform that will land at once six armed men, or may be used to fire field-pieces or swivel guns from. They are, when completed here, to be taken to pieces, and sent to Canada, to be used on the lakes. Besides the Armies on foot, every Colony should diligently attend to training their Militia, for their own internal defence. All valuable goods should be removed from Rhode-Island into the country, that the Island may not be surprised as Boston was. The same thing should be done in the City of New-York, and at the same time fortify some strong passes, to prevent any troops getting into the country. It would be a capital stroke to get possession of Tryon‘s person. Philadelphia must also look to itself in time.”

Ordered, That the Master of the Brigantine Mary have notice that he has leave to depart this Colony as soon as she is refitted and fit for sea.

A Letter from John Farmer, Clerk of a meeting of the Inhabitants of Great-Neck, Cow-Neck, and all such as lately belonged to the Company of Captain Stephen Thorn, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“At a meeting of us, the Inhabitants of Great-Neck, Cow-Neck, and all such as lately belonged to the Company of Captain Stephen Thorn, in Queen’s County, being duly warned on Saturday, the 23d of September, 1775, and taking into our serious consideration our distressed and calamitous situation, and being fully convinced of our total inability to pursue proper measures for our common safety, while we, in all cases, are considered as part of the Township of Hempstead, and being conscious that self-preservation, the immutable law of nature, is indispensable, do therefore

“1st. Resolve, That during the present controversy, or so long as their general conduct is inimical to freedom, we be no further considered as a part of the Township than is consistent with peace, liberty, and safety; therefore, in all matters relative to the Congressional plan, shall consider ourselves as an entire, separate, independent Beat or District.

“2d. Resolved, That Mr. Daniel Kissam, Mr. Henry Stocker, Mr. William Thorn, Mr. Benjamin Sands, Mr. William Cornwell, Mr. John Cornwell, Mr. John Mitchell, Sen., Mr. John Burtiss, Mr. Simond Sands, Mr. Martin Schenck, Mr. Daniel Whitehead Kissam, Mr. Peter Onderdonck, Mr. Adrian Onderdonck, and Mr. Thomas Dodge, be a Committee for this Beat or District.

“Attest:

JOHN FARMER, Clerk of meeting.”

“In Committee for the District of Great-Neck, Cow-Neck, &c., in Queen‘s County, the 4th of October, 1775:

“Present: John Cornwell, William Cornwell, Thomas Dodge, Simond Sands, Adrian Onderdonck, Daniel Whitehead Kissam, Peter Onderdonck, John Burtiss, and Benjamin Sands. Then proceeded and chose Benjamin Sands Chairman. Then adjourned to the 7th instant.

“In Committee according to adjournment.

“Present: the same members as before, and also Martin Schenck; when the following Resolves were passed, nem. con.: