Hartford, October 23, 1775.

Your memorialist, in behalf of himself and brother officers, now prisoners in Hartford, being deprived of every means whereby to get money, do request that your Honour and the honourable the General Assembly, now convened at New-Haven, will take their case into your most serious consideration, and that they may be supplied with cash, at least as much as their subsistence amounts to since their being here; they giving an order on their agent or Paymaster for their acceptance. This granted, shall esteem as a great favour done to your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM DELAPLACE.

To His Excellency Governour Trumbull, and the Honourable the General Assembly, now convened at New-Haven.

Hartford, June 27, 1775.

Whereas the Committee appointed by your Excellency and the honourable Assembly have come to a resolution to allow us, your memorialists, two dollars per week for our board, we beg leave to address your Honour, and the Committee of War, to take the matter into your serious consideration, as it is by no means adequate to our rank in the Army, nor can we, in the present situation of affairs, receive any assistance from our friends.

COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS TO THEIR DELEGATES IN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Watertown, November 11, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The manifest militation between the resolve which passed the honourable the American Congress on the 9th of June last, relative to establishing civil Government in this Colony, and the resolve which passed the Congress on the 18th last July, pointing to a method how the Militia should be regulated in the several United American Colonies, hath caused some altercation between the honourable House of Representatives and the Council. The House have claimed, by virtue of the last resolve, a right to a voice in the choice (with the Council) of the Militia Officers in this Colony. The Council have considered themselves bound to act in conformity to the last-mentioned resolve; but such is the prevailing sentiment of the House that they have a right to join in the election of military officers, that it will be difficult for the Council longer to stem the torrent of a measure so popular, unless absolutely directed thereto by the honourable Congress. The Council hope an order of that kind will not take place. They rather wish the representatives of the people may be gratified in this claim, as we think it will promote the peace of the Colony and the publick cause. You will think of the matter, and give us your advice, either with or without consulting your brethren of the Congress, as you shall judge best.

JAMES OTIS, President.

To the Massachusetts Delegates in Continental Congress.

COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS TO JOHN HANCOCK.

[Read November 20, 1775.]

Council Chamber, November 11, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Captain Robbins, from Ireland, bound to Boston, was taken, on Tuesday last, by one of our boats, and carried into Beverly. This vessel is loaded with provisions. He brought a number of letters for the officers in the Army and others.* We sent them to General Washington, for his perusal; and we now despatch a messenger (Revere) with them to the honourable Congress. In the name and by order of the Council:

JAMES OTIS, President.

Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read November 20, 1775.]

Cambridge, November 11, 1775.

SIR: I had the honour to address myself to you the 8th instant, by Captain Macpherson; since which, I have an account of a schooner, laden chiefly with firewood, being brought into Marblehead by the armed Schooner Lee, Captain Manly. She had on board the master, a Midshipman, two marines, and four sailors, from the Cerberus, man-of-war, who had made prize of this schooner a few days before, and was sending her into Boston.

Enclosed you have a copy of an act passed this session by the honourable Council and House of Representatives of this Province. It respects such captures as may be made by vessels fitted out by the Province or by individuals thereof. As the armed vessels fitted out at the Continental expense do not come under this law, I would have it submitted to the consideration of Congress to point out a more summary way of proceeding to determine the property and mode of condemnation of such prizes as have been or hereafter may be made, than is specified in this act. Should not a Court be established, by authority of Congress, to take cognizance of prizes made by the Continental vessels? Whatever the mode is which they are pleased to adopt, there is an absolute necessity of its being speedily determined on; for I cannot spare time, from military affairs, to give proper attention to these matters.

The inhabitants of Plymouth have taken a sloop, laden with provisions, &c., from Halifax, bound to Boston; and the inhabitants of Beverly have, under cover of one of the armed schooners, taken a vessel from Ireland, laden with beef, pork, butter, &c., for same place. The latter brings papers and letters of a very interesting nature, which are in the hands of the honourable Council, who informed me they will transmit them to you by this conveyance. To the contents of these letters and papers I must beg leave to refer you and the honourable Congress, who will now see the absolute necessity there is of exerting all their wisdom to withstand the mighty efforts of our enemies.

The trouble I have, in the arrangement of the Army, is really inconceivable. Many of the officers sent in their names to serve, in expectation of promotion; others stood aloof, to see what advantage they could make for themselves; whilst a number, who had declined, have again sent in their names to serve. So great has the confusion arising from these and many other perplexing circumstances been, that I found it absolutely impossible to fix this very interesting business exactly on the plan resolved on in conference, though I have kept up to the spirit, as near as the nature and necessity of the case would admit of The difficulty with the soldiers is as great, indeed more so, if possible, than with the officers. They will not enlist, until they know their Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, Captain, &c., so that it was necessary to fix the officers the first thing; which is, at last, in some manner done, and I have given out enlisting orders. You, Sir, can much easier judge than I can express the anxiety of mind I must labour under on this occasion, especially at this time, when we may expect the enemy will begin to act, on the arrival of their re-enforcement, part of which is already come, and the remainder daily dropping in. I have other distresses, of a very alarming nature. The arms of our soldiery are so exceeding bad, that I assure you, Sir, I cannot place a proper confidence in them, Our powder is wasting fast, notwithstanding the strictest care, economy, and attention, is paid to it. The long series of wet weather we have had renders the greater part of what has been served out to the men of no use; yesterday I had a proof of it, as a party of the enemy, about four or five hundred, taking the advantage of a high tide, landed at Lechmere’s Point, which, at that time, was in effect an island. We were alarmed, and, of course, ordered every man to examine his cartouch-box; when the melancholy truth appeared, and we were obliged to. furnish the greater part of

*WATERTOWN, November 13, 1775.—Wednesday last Captain Robbins, bound from Ireland for Boston, in a schooner laden with beef, tongues, butter, potatoes, and eggs, (all much wanted for the butchering assassins there, ) was taken by a privateer from Beverly, and carried in there. Captain Robbins, who has been brought to Town, informs us that he left Ireland the 24th of September; at which time five Regiments were embarking on board seven ships and one brig for Boston, and it was said that those were all the troops destined hence this fall, though a large re-enforcement was to be sent in the spring, to make up an army of twenty-two thousand five hundred men. Captain Robbins brought papers to the 16th of September, which are not come to hand. He likewise says the common people of Ireland were almost unanimous in favour of the Americans, and that only those in the service of Government appeared against us.