ideas of the possible advantage that is to be expected from it. I say of the possible advantage, because the effect of it is very precarious.

If, however, it should succeed, according to the assurances that have been given us, in encouraging the friends of Government to stand forth in the defence of the Constitution, and in enabling them to wrest the sword out of the hands of the Rebels, it will be a great point gained. But even if it should fail of that consequence, it can have no effect to weaken the operation to the northward, as there are many situations in the Southern Provinces where the Army may be posted with great security, and with every advantage of a healthy climate, until the season arrives for their joining the body of forces under your command—a junction that will be made with greater advantage, and at a much earlier period than it could be from England.

I am, &c.,

DARTMOUTH.

HANOVER COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting appointed and held for Hanover County, at the Court-House, on Wednesday, the eighth day of November, 1775:

This Committee being apprehensive that the enemies of America may be supplied with Provisions, by transporting the same by water: therefore it is hereby directed and ordered, that no person within their jurisdiction be allowed to carry any Grain, or other Provision, from landing to landing, without a permit from John Syme, William Johnson, Benjamin Anderson, William Anderson, (son of Nelson,) and Barttelot Anderson, Gentlemen, or any two of them; and that the persons praying such permit do give bond and security, payable to the Committee of Safety for the time being, or their successors, in such sum as shall be adjudged necessary by the above gentlemen, to comply with such orders as they shall direct.

Ordered, That a copy be transmitted to the printers, to be publishesd.

W. BENTLEY, Clerk.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Cambridge, November 8, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I mean but to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22d ultimo; for, as I expect this letter will be handed to you in Philadelphia, to recite the contents of my letter to the Congress would be little more than idle repetition. I should be very glad if the Congress would, without delay, appoint some mode by which an examination into the captures made by our armed vessels may be had, as we are rather groping in the dark till this happens.

I sincerely condole with you on the loss of our good old Speaker; and, with respectful compliments to the good family you are in, your brother, &c., I remain, dear Sir, your most affectionate humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Richard Henry Lee.

P. S. Tell Doctor B. Shippen that I was in hopes that his business would have permitted him to come here Director of the Hospital. Advices from England would be very agreeable; we have none here.         G. W.

MAJOR BROWN TO GENERAL MONTGOMERY.

Sorel, November 8, 1775.

SIR: This minute received your letter of yesterday, via Colonel Warner and Captain Grant. The row-galley has not, as yet, arrived; should she arrive timely, we will attack Mr. Carleton in his retreat, you may be sure. This morning opened our battery on the shipping; gave them at least twelve rounds. The snow was within two hundred yards of the battery, at the commencement of the fire; we plumped her through in many places, before she could tow off; she slipped her cable, and has made the best of her way down the river, out of sight. The Negroes on board cried out, “O Lord! O Lord!” &c. She fired briskly on us, or rather on the Town, until she got off. We are entirely at leisure; having swept land and sea. We wrote particularly to the General yesterday, &c.

Your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN BROWN, Major, per order.

To General Montgomery.

GENERAL GATES TO THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Head-Quarters, November 8, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I send you, by order of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, Lemuel Cox, late of Boston, a supposed spy from the Ministerial Army. I send, also, such evidence as can be immediately produced against him; others there are, at some distance in the country— I think at Marlborough —but Captain Forster will inform you. What you think proper to do with the prisoner should be done as soon as convenient. There is no doubt of his having been in and out of Boston twice, if not thrice, since the battle on Bunker’s Hill. His distant removal from the camp will at least be absolutely necessary.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

HORATIO GATES, Adjutant-General.

To the Hon. James Otis, Esq.

JAMES OTIS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Council Chamber, November 8, 1775.

SIR: Agreeable to your request, signified to the Board by your Excellency’s Aid-de-Camp, Mr. Harrison, we have caused Mr. Smithwick to be apprehended, and herewith send him to wait your Excellency’s order, under custody of the Sergeant’s guard who brought Mr. Cox here this morning.

In the name and by order of the Council:

JAMES OTIS, President.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Cambridge, November 8, 1775.

SIR: The immediate occasion of my giving the Congress the trouble of a letter at this time, is to inform them that in consequence of their order, signified in your letter of the 20th ult., I laid myself under a solemn tie of secrecy to Captain Macpherson, and proceeded to examine his plan, for the destruction of the fleet in the harbour of Boston, with all that care and attention which the importance of it deserved, and my judgment could lead to; but not being happy enough to coincide in opinion with that gentleman, and finding that his scheme would involve greater expense than (under my doubts of its success) I thought myself justified in giving in to, I prevailed upon him to communicate his plan to three gentlemen of the Artillery, in this Army, well acquainted in the knowledge and practice of gunnery. By them he has been convinced, that inasmuch as he set out upon wrong principles, the scheme would prove abortive. Unwilling, however, to relinquish his favorite project of reducing the naval force of Great Britain, he is very desirous of building a number of row-galleys for this purpose; but as the Congress alone are competent to the adoption of this measure, I have advised him (although he offered to go on with the building of them, at his own expense, till the Congress should decide) to repair immediately to Philadelphia with his proposals, where, if they should be agreed to, or vessels of superior force (agreeable to the wishes of most others) should be resolved on, he may set instantly about them, with all the materials upon the spot. Here they are to collect. To him, therefore, I refer for further information on this head.

A vessel, said to be from Philadelphia, and bound to Boston, with one hundred and twenty pipes of wine, (one hundred and eighteen of which are secured,) stranded at a place called Eastham, in a gale of wind on the 2d instant; another, from Boston to Halifax, with dry goods, &c., amounting, per invoice, to about two hundred and forty Pounds, lawful money, got disabled in the same gale, near Beverly. These cargoes, with the papers, I have ordered to this place; the vessels to be taken care of till further orders. I have also an account of the taking of a wood sloop, bound to Boston, and carried into Portsmouth, by one of our armed vessels; particulars not yet come to hand. And this instant, of two others, from Nova-Scotia to Boston, with hay, wood, live stock, &c., by another of our armed schooners; these are in Plymouth. These accidents and captures point out the necessity of establishing proper courts, without loss of time, for the decision of property and the legality of seizures; otherwise I may be involved in inextricable difficulties.