ROBERT H. HAHRISON TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF NORTHAMPTON.

Cambridge, November 16, 1775.

SIR: I have it in command from his Excellency General Washington to inform you that Charles Elder, George Corwie, John Dunsier, Edward Webb, and William Carthew, officers of the British fleet, having given their paroles of honour to go to your Town, and not remove more than five miles from thence, or hold any correspondence, directly or indirectly, with any person, without communicating the same to your Committee of Safety, it is his desire that they be treated with civility and respect, they demeaning themselves as becometh.

I am, Sir, your humble servant,
                                                                                                                  R. H. HARRISON, Aid-de-Camp.

To the Chairman, &c., of the Committee of Northampton.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Cambridge, November 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR: My last to you was the 5th instant. I have since received your most agreeable favour and its enclosure, of the 7th. The surrender of St. John’s is a most pleasing presage of the reduction of Quebeck, in effecting which I hope Colonel Arnold will co-operate. The last account from him is dated the 13th of October, at the second portage from Kennebeck to the Dead River, from whence he had despatched an express to you, and expected your answer at Chaudiere Pond, where he expected to be in eight or ten days. By your not mentioning to have heard from him, I apprehend the express has been intercepted.

I am in very great want of powder, lead, mortars, cannon, indeed of most sorts of military stores. For want of them, we really cannot carry on any spirited operation. I shall, therefore, be much obliged to you to send me all that can be spared from your quarter, Mr. Henry Knox, an experienced engineer, will set out for your place, and inform you of those articles that are most immediately necessary; but as this gentleman goes first to New-York, you will please to get in readiness for transportation such guns, mortars, and ammunition, as you can, and Mr. Knox will, on his arrival, send them forward. There is nothing of consequence to acquaint you of from this quarter, except the arrival of a train of artillery, and part of five Regiments, from Ireland, to re-enforce the Ministerial Army at Boston.

I am, with great regard and esteem, dear Sir, your most assured humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Schuyler, Northern Department.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Cambridge, November 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I wrote you this day by express, and informed you therein the great necessity I was in for ordnance stores and ammunition, and that I would send Henry Knox, Esq., to New-York, to procure there as much as can be spared; from thence to proceed to you. That gentleman will deliver you this letter. I recommend him, and the business he goes upon, to your attention. Should he find more money than be carries with him necessary, you will please to supply him.

I am, with great esteem, dear Sir, yours, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Schuyler, Northern Department.

EPHRAIM BOWEN TO COLONEL JOSEPH REED.

Plymouth, November 16, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: I expected long before this to have had Captain Martindale out on his cruise; but the weather has been so extremely bad for a fortnight past that we have not been able to do any thing of consequence. Have at length got him almost complete, and expect he will sail to-morrow morning, if the weather is suitable.

I shall proceed to Cambridge as soon as this vessel is ready to sail. In the mean time I am, Sir, your faithful servant,

EPHRAIM BOWEN, JUN.

To Colonel Joseph Reed.

SPOTTSYLVANIA COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

The Freeholders of the County of Spottsylvania being assembled for the purpose of choosing a Committee, agreeable to an Ordinance of the Convention, chose the following gentlemen, viz: Edward Herndon, Joseph Herndon, Fielding Lewis, Joseph Brock, Mann Page, Jun., John Lewis, attorney, John Herndon, Beverly Winslow, Oliver Towles, George Stubblefield, Mordecai Buckner, Mann Page, John Craig, James Tutt, Thomas Colson, Charles Washington, Francis Thornton, William Parker, George Thornton, James Wegglesworth, and Hugh Mercer.

ALEXANDER DICK, Clerk.

Fredericksburgh, November 17, 1775.

MARYLAND COUNCIL.

At a Council held at the Governour’s, on Friday, the seventeenth day of November, in the fifth year of the Dominion of the Right Honourable Henry Harford, Esquire, Anno Domini 1775, were present: His Excellency Robert Eden, Esq., Governour; the Hon. Daniel Dulany, the Hon. John Ridout, the Hon. J. Beale Bordley; William Fitzhugh, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Philip Thomas Lee, Esquires.

His Excellency is pleased to acquaint the Board that he is apprehensive of being laid under the greatest difficulty in getting proper persons to act as Sheriffs, in the several Counties, for the ensuing year; several whose times are not expired having, on account of the present unhappy disturbances, begged leave to resign their offices; therefore his Excellency requests the advice of the Board upon this occasion.

Whereupon, the Board recommend to his Excellency to endeavour to prevail on the present Sheriffs, whose times are not expired to continue to act; and, where their times are out, to appoint such proper persons as he can find willing to act as their successors.

The absolute necessity of having Sheriffs, as preservers of the peace in the several Counties, is too obvious to require their further remarks. And it will be in the Governour’s power to gratify such persons, on future occasions, by reappointment to that office, as soon as consistent with the law, as a reward for their trouble in executing it during the present times.

His Excellency informs the Board that he intends, with their approbation, to prorogue the General Assembly, from day to day, for some time after the present term of prorogation expires, with a view, that should any opportunity offer, likely to prove beneficial to the Province, it may be readily embraced. To which proposal the Board gave their approbation.

The Hon. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esq., the Lord Proprietary’s Agent, lays before the Board the following extracts from a Letter of the 29th of August last, which he had received from Hugh Hamersley, Esq., and humbly requests their advice thereon.

“The guardians being at present dispersed in the country, I can give no directions as to any payments to be made to the Governour, in aid of the deficiency of the twelve pence per hogshead. Would it not be better to write a formal, separate letter for this purpose, when the event happens, and the Governour makes his demand upon you; and in the mean time, in this, as in every other matter of doubt, pray the advice of the Council, and act accordingly. As to the Congress coinage, you cannot be too cautious how you deal in it, for fear of being left in the lurch in case of pacification; for I am still willing to persuade myself the Southern Colonies will never go the lengths of the more Northern ones.

“Though I have recommended caution, yet I wish you to consult the Governour and Council what you are to do in respect of the receipt of the quit-rents. Their written advice will be the best support to your proceedings, which, without it, may be liable to different constructions; and in times like the present, much must be left to your united discretion.”

With respect to the first extract, relative to the Governour’s salary, it is the advice and opinion of this Board, that, agreeable to the twenty-third article of the Governour’s private instructions, the Agent ought to pay, or cause to be