take place, have added a new weight to a burden, before too great for me to stand under with the smallest degree of comfort to my own feelings. My mind is now fully disclosed to you, with this assurance sincerely and affectionately accompanying it, that whilst you are disposed to continue with me, I shall think myself too fortunate and happy to wish for a change.

Dr. Morgan, as director of the hospital, is exceedingly wanted at this place, and ought not to delay his departure for the camp a moment—many regulations being deferred, and accounts postponed, till his arrival. The method you have suggested concerning the advanced pay, I very much approve, and would adopt it, but for the unfortunate and cramped state of our treasury, which keeps us forever under the hatches. Pray urge the necessity of this measure to such members as you may converse with, and the want of cash to pay the troops for the months of October and November; as also to answer the demands of the Commissary and Quartermaster, and for contingencies. To do all this, a considerable sum will be necessary. Do not neglect to put that wheel in motion which is to bring us the shirts and medicines from New-York; they are much wanted here, and cannot be had, I should think, upon better terms than on a loan from the best of Kings, so anxiously disposed to promote the welfare of his American subjects.

Dr. Church is gone to Governour Trumbull, to be disposed of in a Connecticut jail, without the use of pen, ink, or paper, to be conversed with in the presence of a Magistrate only, and in the English language. So much for indiscretion, the Doctor will say. Your account of our de-pendance upon the people of Great Britain, I religiously believe. It has long been my political creed, that the Ministry would not have dared to go on as they did, but under the firmest persuasion that the people were with them. The weather has been unfavourable, however, for the arrival of their transports; only four Companies of the Seventeenth Regiment and two of the Artillery are yet arrived, by our last advices from Boston.

Our privateersmen go on at the old rate, mutinying, if they cannot do as they please. Those at Plymouth, Beverly, and Portsmouth, have done nothing worth mentioning in the prize way, and no accounts are yet received from those farther eastward. Arnold, by a letter which left him the 27th ultimo, had then only got to the Chaudiere Pond, and was scarce of provisions. His rear division, under the command of Colonel Enos, had, without his privity or consent, left him with three Companies; and his expedition, inasmuch as it is to be apprehended that Carleton, with the remains of such force as he had been able to raise, would get into Quebeck before him, I fear is in a bad way. For further particulars I refer you to Mr. Hancock, to whom are enclosed copies of Arnold’s and Enos’s letters. The last-named person is not yet arrived at this camp.

I thank you for your frequent mention of Mrs. Washington. I expect that she will be in Philadelphia about the time this letter may reach you, on her way hither. As she and her conductor, who I suppose will be Mr. Custis, her son, are perfect strangers to the road, the stages, and the proper places to cross Hudson’s River, by all means avoiding New-York, I shall be much obliged by your particular instructions and advice to her. I imagine, as the roads are bad and the weather cold, her stages must be short, especially as I presume her horses will be fatigued, as, when they get to Philadelphia, they will have performed a journey of at least four hundred and fifty miles— my express having found her among her friends near Wil-liamsburgh, one hundred and fifty miles below my own house.

My respectful compliments to Mrs. Reed; and be assured that I am, dear Sir, with affectionate regard, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Joseph Reed.

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

November 20, 1775.

SIR: As the present seems the suitable season for endeavouring to procure a stock of powder, your Excellency will indulge a few thoughts on this important subject, even though they should not be wholly pertinent. I beg leave to propose to your Excellency’s consideration, that a good schooner (a prime sailer) should proceed, as soon as may be, to Havre-de-Grace, in the English Channel, with a suitable person on board, (your agent,) who should, immediately on his arrival there, go to Paris or Versailles, about one hundred and twenty miles, with letters from your Excellency to the Prime Minister of France, requesting an immediate supply of ten thousand barrels (quintals) of powder, with one hundred tons of lead; for the payment of which the Continental Congress will make provision. Your reasons to induce the French Minister to grant this supply will so strongly coincide with the national politicks of France, it seems highly probable he will be glad of the opportunity of supplying or even of giving it, though in some covered way. If your agent succeeds, he can easily procure, under the auspices of the French Minister, five or six vessels (good sailers) of one hundred tons each, to bring the powder and lead from Brest, or whencesoever the same may be shipped. Each of those vessels should have a pilot from the schooner, which, for that purpose, should be doubly manned with the best men; your agent instructing the masters and pilots of the said vessels how to conduct on falling in with our coast. The reason for going to Havre-de-Grace is to have the shortest and directest communication with the French Minister. The same advantage cannot be had so well in Spain, as Madrid is so distant from the sea-port. But another schooner, alike circumstanced, might be sent to Cadiz, and the business, perhaps, negotiated with the Spanish Governour for a like quantity of powder and lead. If not, your agent might proceed to Madrid, about three hundred miles, and settle the business with the Prime Minister, by whose favour he could procure at Cadiz the powder and lead, and vessels necessary to bring.them. Your Excellency will probably think that your agent should treat only with principals, as sub-managers are scarcely to be trusted in so important a business. Two schooners, well fitted, manned, &c., might be happily employed in this manner during the winter months. It might procure the freight of the powder on easier terms, if the French and Spanish vessels were allowed to carry off with them American produce. The lead would answer for ballast. The agents should conduct with great circumspection, to prevent their business being even guessed at. Should it be known to the English Consul at Cadiz, or the Ambassador at Madrid or Paris, or through any other channel transpire, the vessels will be stopped or taken by English cruisers, which will be sent to intercept them. If both applications should succeed, and the powder and lead arrive in consequence, the quantity of each will probably be little enough for the ensuing campaign; as Ministry seems to intend it shall be a vigorous and extensive one. Your Excellency knows whether fire-arms, flints, or tinplates for making cartridge-boxes, will be wanting. The same application will probably procure them.

I have the honour to be, with the most perfect regard, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble servant,

A FRIEND TO AMERICA.

An Estimate of the cost, according to the best information to be had here, viz:

ADDRESS OF THE ROYAL BURGH OF SELKIRK.

Address of the Magistrates and Town Council of the Royal Burgh of Selkirk, presented to His Majesty by Sir James Cockburn, Baronet, their Representative in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.