them with fresh ammunition. The damage done at the point was the taking of a man who watched a few horses and cows; ten of the latter they carried off. Colonel Thompson marched down with his Regiment of Riflemen, and was joined by Colonel Woodbridge, with a part of his and a part of Patterson’s Regiment, who gallantly waded through the water, and soon obliged the enemy to embark, under cover of a man-of-war, a floating battery, and the fire of a battery on Charlestown Neck. We have two of our men dangerously wounded by grape-shot from the man-of-war; and, by a flag out this day, we are informed the enemy lost two of their men.

I have the honour to be, with my best respects to the Congress, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Hon. John Hancock.

ORDERS BY GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, November 9, 1775.

To prevent any false alarm, notice is hereby given that the Rifle Battalion will discharge their arms to-morrow at twelve, noon.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, November 10, 1775.

The General thanks Colonel Thompson, and the other gallant officers and soldiers, (as well of other Regiments as the Riflers, ) for their alacrity yesterday, in pushing through the water to get to the enemy on Lechmere’s Point. He is informed that there were some (names as yet unknown) who discovered a backwardness in crossing the causeway; these will be marked, if they can be discovered. The General was much surprised and concerned to see the order in which many of the arms, in several of the Regiments, appeared; he had not time to inquire the names of the particular officers to whose Companies they belonged, but desires that this hint may be received, as an admonition, by such officers as are conscious of their neglect of this duty, as other methods will be fallen upon, if it is not.

In the sixteenth year of the reign of GEORGE the Third,King, &c.

An Act for encouraging the fixing out of Armed Vessels to defend the Sea-Coast of AMERICA, and for erecting a Court to try and condemn all Vessels that shall be found infesting the same.

Whereas the present Administration of Great Britain, being divested of justice and humanity, and strangers to that magnanimity and sacred regard for liberty which inspired their venerable predecessors, have been endeavouring, through a series of years, to establish a system of despotism over the American Colonies, and, by their venal and corrupt measures, have so extended their influence over the British Parliament, that, by a prostituted majority, it is now become a political engine of slavery; and whereas the military tools of these our unnatural enemies, while restrained by the united forces of the American Colonies from proceeding in their sanguinary career of devastation and slaughter, are infesting the seacoasts with armed vessels, and daily endeavouring to distress the inhabitants, by burning their Towns, and destroying their dwellings with their substance, plundering live stock, and making captures of provision and other vessels, being the property of said inhabitants: And whereas their Majesties, King William and Queen Mary, by the royal Charter of this Colony, “for themselves, their heirs, and successors, did grant, establish, and ordain, that in the absence of the Governour and Lieutenant-Governour of the Colony, a majority of the Council shall have full power, by themselves, or by any chief commander, or other officer or officers, to be appointed by them from time to time for the special defence of their said Province or Territory, to assemble in martial array and put in warlike posture the inhabitants of their said Province or Territory, and to lead and conduct them, and with them to encounter, expulse, resist, and pursue by force of arms, as well by sea as by land, within or without the limits of their said Province or Territory; and also to kill, slay, destroy, and conquer, by all filling ways, enterprises, and means, whatsoever, all and every such person and persons as should at any time thereafter attempt or enterprise the destruction, invasion, detriment, or annoyance of their said Province or Territory, and to lake and surprise, by all ways and means whatsoever, all and every person and persons, with their ships, arms, ammunition, and other goods, as should, in a hostile manner, invade or attempt the invading, conquering, or annoying of their said Province or Territory:” And whereas it is expressly resolved by the Grand Congress of America, “that each Colony, at their own expense, make such provision, by armed vessels or otherwise, as their respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Committees of Safety, shall judge expedient and suitable to their circumstances and situations, for the protection of their harbours and navigation on the seacoasts against all unlawful invasion, attacks, and depredations, from cutters and ships of war;” and it is the duty and interest of this Colony to exert itself, as well for the purpose of keeping supplies from the enemy, as for those mentioned in the paragraphs of the Charier and Resolve now recited:

Therefore, for the more effectually carrying into execution the purposes aforesaid, Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all armed and other vessels which shall be brought into this Colony, and have been found making unlawful invasions, attacks, or depredations on the seacoasts or navigation of any part of America, or improved in supplying the Fleet and Army which have been or shall at any time be employed against the United Colonies, or employed by the said enemy in any respect whatsoever; and also all vessels, whose masters or supercargoes shall have had designs of carrying supplies of any kind to the enemy, or that shall be returning from the enemy after having carried such supplies, and shall be convicted thereof, as is herein provided, such vessel or vessels, with their appurtenances and cargoes, shall be deemed forfeited, and shall be disposed of as is by this act hereafter ordered and directed.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Council of this Colony, or the major part of them, shall be fully empowered to commission, with letters of marque and reprisal, any person or persons, within this Colony, who shall at his or their own expense fix out and equip for the defence of America any vessel, as also any person who shall, by the owner of such vessel, be recommended therefor: and that all such persons, so commissioned as aforesaid, shall have full power, with such other persons as they shall engage to their assistance, to sail on the seas, attack, take, and bring into any port in this Colony, all vessels offending or employed by the enemy as aforesaid; and also to retake, and bring in as aforesaid, any vessel or vessels that may be taken from any person or persons by said enemy.

Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the master or owner of such vessel shall, at the time he receives such commission, enter into bond, with one sufficient surety at least, for the faithful discharge of his office, and observing the law of this Colony relating to armed vessels; which bond shall be in the form following, viz:

“Know all men by these presents, that we, A B and C D, of—, &c., are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto the Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Colony aforesaid, in the full and just sum of —, to be paid unto the said Treasurer and Receiver-General, or to his successor in said office; to the true payment whereof we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, the — day of —, Anno Domini 17—. The condition of the aforewritten obligation is such, that whereas the said A B hath, on the day of the date hereof, received a commission to command an armed vessel called the —, burden about — tons, — to make reprisals of all armed and other vessels that shall be found supplying the enemy or acting counter to a law of this Colony, entitled ‘An Act for encouraging the fixing out of Armed Vessels to defend the Sea-Coast of America, and for erecting a Court to try and condemn all Vessels that shall be found infesting the same.’ If, therefore, the said A B shall and do in and by all things, well and truly observe and fulfil such instructions as he shall receive from the Council of this Colony, and shall in all respects conform himself to the directions given in and by the act