CAPTAIN BROUGHTON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

SIR: By unfavourable winds and weather, we have been able to make but little head since our last. The 31st of October, some way off this harbour, we saw a vessel standing to the northward, which Captain Selman and I gave chase to. The wind springing up suddenly to a heavy gale, she bore away for this harbour for safety. We pursued her directly in, and found her to be a sloop belonging to Enoch Rust, of Boston, who last spring had the sloop cleared out from Halifax, with provisions, for Quebeck. The sloop has since taken a cargo of provisions from Louisburgh for the West-Indies, contrary, as we apprehend, to the Association of the United American Colonies. The owner, now at Canso, we have reason to believe is not a favourer of our cause, as the Captain (James Hawkins) told us he was lately undetermined whether he should go to Boston this fall or not. The smallest intention of going to that den of mischievous violators of the rights of humanity must carry in the bosom of it, as we conceive, the idea of friendship to their infernal intentions. We, upon the whole, conceive ourselves bound, in obedience to your Excellency’s instructions, to send the vessel to a friendly port in New-England. Upon her arrival your Excellency will have the vessel’s papers laid before you, and will do respecting vessel and cargo as you may please. The master will be sent to New-England the first opportunity after this.

Captain Hawkins, about the middle of September, saw a ship and a brigantine going up the River St. Lawrence, but did not speak with either. The master informs that there was no vessel of force at Quebeck the beginning of September, and that he knows of none going up since. He likewise says that a large brigantine was lately (and he believes is not yet sailed) loading with coal at Spanish River, on the Island of Louisburgh, for Boston; that three or four score Boston men have been digging coal there for the Ministerial Army for the season. We shall hoist sail directly, the wind breezing rather favourably, and pursue our course.

From your most obedient and very humble servant,

NICHOLSON BROUGHTON.

To his Excellency General Washington.

ADDRESS OF THE NOBLEMEN, ETC., OF THE COUNTY OF PERTH.

Address of the Noblemen, Justices of the Peace, Freeholders, and Commissioners of Supply of the County of Perth, presented to His Majesty by the Hon. Colonel James Murray, their Representative in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

The Address of the Noblemen, Justices of the Peace, Freeholders, and Commissioners of Supply of the County of PERTH.

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Noblemen, Justices of the Peace, Freeholders, and Commissioners of Supply of the County of Perth, beg leave, with all humility, to express to your Majesty the deep and unfeigned sorrow with which we have beheld sedition in America artfully fomented by designing and wicked men there, until it has burst forth into open rebellion.

Having reason to apprehend that our deluded fellow-subjects in America have been misled into a belief that their resistance to the supreme authority of the Parliament, and the disobedience of the laws, are agreeable to the sentiments of many of your Majesty’s subjects in Great Britain, we think it our indispensable duty to make this publick declaration, that we detest and abhor such practices and such principles, so repugnant to the spirit of our excellent Constitution, and destructive of true liberty, which can only subsist in conformity to and under the protection of the laws; we therefore, upon this serious and important occasion, respectfully approach your Majesty’s throne with the warmest and most solemn assurances that we will, in our respective stations, exert every means in our power to strengthen the hands of your Majesty’s Government.

May your Majesty, whose arms have heretofore been crowned with victory, still, by the blessing of the Almighty, triumph over all your enemies. May our fellow-subjects in America soon return to a proper sense of their duty. May your Majesty long reign over a free, grateful, and united people; and may the British Dominions be transmitted to your Majesty’s latest posterity, entire and undivided.

At Perth, this 3d day of November, 1775. Signed in the presence and by the appointment of the meeting.

KINNOULL, Præses.

ADDRESS OF THE FREEHOLDERS, ETC., OF THE COUNTY OF KINROSS.

Address of the Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply of the County of Kinross, presented to His Majesty by Mr. Adams.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply of the County of Kinross, beg leave to approach your royal person, in order to express our grateful sense of the happiness which we enjoy under the Government of a Prince whose administration hath been uniformly distinguished by a sacred regard to the Constitution and to the welfare of his people.

Conscious of the many blessings which every part of the British Empire derives from your Majesty’s mild and equitable Government, it is with deep concern that we have observed the attempts of domestick faction to disturb the tranquillity of your reign; and with astonishment, that we now behold the rebellious spirit which hath excited the deluded people of America to take arms in opposition to your Majesty’s just authority and the supreme jurisdiction of Parliament.

At such a juncture, we should deem ourselves inexcusable, if we did not join our voice to that of our loyal fellow-subjects, in declaring our detestation of those seditious principles which have alienated the Colonies from their duty, and in professing our fixed purpose of supporting your Majesty’s Government and supremacy of Parliament to the utmost of our power.

May your Majesty’s reign, over a happy and grateful people, be long and glorious.

Signed in our name, and by our appointment, at Kinross, the 3d day of November, 1775.

MICHAEL MALCOLM, Præses.

ADDRESS OF THE TOWN OF COLCHESTER.

Address of the Mayor, Recorder, Deputy Recorder, Aldermen, Assistants, Common Council, Free Burgesses, Gentlemen, Clergy, and Inhabitants of the Town of Colchester, in the County of Essex, presented to His Majesty by Charles Gray and Isaac Martin Rebow, Esqrs., their Representatives in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Mayor, Recorder, Deputy Recorder, Aldermen, Assistants, Common Council, Free Burgesses, Gentlemen, Clergy, and Inhabitants of the Town of Colchester, in the County of Essex, beg leave to address your Majesty, on occasion of the unhappy disturbances in your Majesty’s Colonies, which have at length broke out into actual and open rebellion.

While we sincerely lament the fatal effects of this unnatural contest, we do with all humility assure your Majesty, that we are firmly resolved, on every occasion, to pay a due obedience to the legislative authority, and to support and defend your Majesty’s person and Government to the utmost of our power.

May the Divine Providence bless your Majesty’s Councils with speedy success in defeating the designs of all the enemies of their Country, and in restoring peace and good order in every part of your Majesty’s Dominions.

AFFIDAVIT OF MOSES COTTER.

SOUTH-CAROLINA, Ninety-Six District:

Personally appeared before me, Jason Mayson, one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the District aforesaid