Proposals for raising an Army to the Westward, and for effectually obstructing a communication between the Southern and Northern Governments.

As I have, by directions from his Excellency Lord Dunmore, prepared the Ohio Indians to act in concert with me against His Majesty’ s enemies in that quarter, and have also despatched intelligence to the different officers of the militia on the frontiers of Augusta County, in Virginia, giving them Lord Dunmore’s assurance, that such of them as shall hereafter evince their loyalty to his “Majesty, by putting themselves under my command, when I should appear amongst them with proper authority for that purpose, of a confirmation of titles to their lands, and the quantity of three hundred acres to all who should take up arms in support of the Constitution, when the present rebellion subsided, I will undertake to penetrate through Virginia, and join his Excellency Lord Dunmore, at Alexandria, early next spring, on the following conditions and authority:

First. That your Excellency will give me a commission to act as Major commandant of such troops as I may raise and embody on the frontier, with a power to command to the westward, and employ such serviceable French and English partisans as I can engage, by pecuniary rewards or otherwise.

Secondly. That your Excellency will give orders to Captain Lord, at the Illinois, to remove himself, with the garrison under his command, from Fort George to Detroit, by the Auabache, bringing with him all the artillery, stores, &c., &c.; to facilitate which undertaking, he is to have authority to hire boats, horses, Frenchmen, Indians, &c., &c.; to proceed with all possible expedition on that route, as the weather may occasionally permit, and to put himself under my command on his arrival at Detroit.

Thirdly. That the Commissary at Detroit shall be empowered to furnish such provisions as I may judge necessary for the good of the service, and that the commanding officer shall be instructed to give every possible assistance in encouraging the French and Indians of the settlement to join me.

Fourthly. That an officer of artillery be immediately sent with me, to pursue such route as I may find most expedient to gain Detroit, with orders to have such pieces of light ordnance as may be thought requisite for the demolishing of Fort Dunmore and Fort Fincastle, if resistance should be made by the Rebels in possession of those garrisons.

Fifthly. That your Excellency will empower me to make such reasonable presents, to the Indian chiefs and others, as may urge them to act with vigour in the execution of my orders.

Sixthly. That your Excellency will send to Lord Dunmore such arms as may be spared, in order to equip such persons as may be willing to serve His Majesty at our junction, in the vicinity of Alexandria, &c., &c.

If your Excellency judges it expedient for the good of the service to furnish me with the authority and other requisites I have mentioned, I shall embrace the earliest opportunity of setting off for Canada, and shall immediately despatch Lord Dunmore’s armed schooner, which now awaits my commands, with an account of what your Excellency has done, and that I shall be ready, if practicable, to join his Lordship by the 20th of April, at Alexandria, where the troops under my command may fortify themselves, under cover of the men of war on that station.

If, on the contrary, your Excellency should not approve of what I propose, you will be good enough to immediately honour me with your despatches to the Earl of Dunmore, that I may return as early as possible.

Portsmouth, August 9, 1775.

I have safely arrived here, and am happy to the greatest degree in having so fortunately escaped the narrow inspection of my enemies, the enemies to their Country, to good order and Government. I should esteem myself defective in point of friendship towards you, should I neglect to caution you to avoid an over-zealous exertion of what is now so ridiculously called patriotick spirit; but, on the contrary, to deport yourself with that moderation for which you have been always remarkable, and which must, in this instance, tend to your honour and advantage. You may be assured from me, Sir, that nothing but the greatest unanimity now prevails at home, and that the innovating spirit amongst us here is looked upon as ungenerous and undutiful; and that the utmost exertions of the powers of Government, if necessary, will be used, to convince the infatuated people of their folly. I could, I assure you, Sir, give you such convincing proofs of what I assert, and from which every reasonable person may conclude the effects, that nothing but madness could operate upon a man so far as to overlook his duty to the present Constitution, and to form unwarrantable associations with enthusiast, whose ill-timed folly must draw upon them inevitable destruction.

His Lordship desires you to present his hand to Captain White Eyes, and to assure him that he is very sorry that he had not the pleasure of seeing him at the treaty, or that the situation of affairs prevented him from coming down.

Believe me, dear Sir, that I have no motive in writing my sentiments thus to you, further than to endeavour to steer you clear of the misfortunes which, I am confident, must involve, but unhappily, too many.

I have sent you an address from the people of Great Britain to the people of America, and I desire you to consider it attentively, which will, I flatter myself, convince you of the idleness of many declamations, and of the absurdity of an intended slavery.

Give my love to George, and tell him he shall hear from me, and I hope to his advantage. Interpret the enclosed speech to Captain White Eyes, from his Lordship. Be prevailed upon to shun the popular error, and judge for yourself; act as a good subject, and expect the reward due to your services.

I am, dear Sir, your sincere friend and servant.

JOHN CONNOLLY.

To Mr. John Gibson, near Fort Dunmore.

Brother Captain WHITE EYES:

I am glad to hear your good speeches, sent me by Major Connolly; and you may be assured I shall put the one end of the belt, which you have sent me, into the hands of our great King, who will be glad to hear from his brothers the Delawares, and will take a strong hold of it. You may rest satisfied that our foolish young men shall never be permitted to have your lands; but, on the contrary, the great King will protect you, and preserve you in the possession of them. Our young people in the country have been very foolish, and done many imprudent things, for which they soon must be sorry, and of which I make no doubt they have acquainted you. But I must desire you not to listen to them, as they would be willing that you should act equally foolish with themselves; but rather let what you hear pass in at one ear and out at the other, so that it may make no impression on your heart, until you hear from me fully, which will be so soon as I can give further information, who am your friend and brother.

Captain White Eyes will please to acquaint the Corn Stalk with these my sentiments, also, as well the chiefs of the Mingoes and the other Six Nations.

Your sincere friend and elder brother,

DUNMORE.

A true copy from the minutes:

UPTON SHEREDINE, Clerk pro tem.

JOHN HANCOCK AND THOMAS CUSHING TO THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Philadelphia, November 24, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Revere, the express, informs us this morning he is setting out for home, so that by his return we are not able to give you any advice with respect to the subject of your letter of the 11th instant. The determination of the question referred to in that letter, either one way or the other, so nearly affects the interests of, and will be so important in its consequences to the Colony we have the honour to represent, that we dare not venture our opinions what would be the sentiments of Congress upon such a measure as the House proposes, and therefore are clearly of opinion the matter ought to be laid before the Congress, and their sentiments taken upon the same; but we have been so crowded with the consideration of so many interesting and important matters since Mr. Revere’s