to believe that some companies of regulars might be instantly raised in these two Counties of Northampton and Accomack, and that the greatest part of the militia might be drawn into service in case of alarm. But as matters at present stand, this Committee having little authority, and we should not be surprised if exports are immediately opened to the West-Indies. This the people of Norfolk have already determined upon, and that County affords great quantities of lumber. This place can, and we fear may be obliged to supply them with grain, if some effectual measures are not taken to prevent it. We have, in this critical and alarming state, in which the general interest of America, the safety of our persons, and all others here who are well affected to the cause, are so deeply interested, thought it most proper to lay this information before your honourable Board, not only as it is a matter of Continental concern, but as troops (in case you should judge it necessary to send any here) can be drawn much quicker and with more safety from the northward than from the western shore of Virginia. Until some active step is taken, this Committee must put up with several enormities; but when they can be properly adjusted or supported, your honourable Board may rely upon their acting with zeal and unanimity; and we hope, if any troops are sent, such directions may be given, that it may appear that this Committee possess the confidence of your body, and have acquitted themselves in the best manner their dangerous and critical situation would admit of.

His Lordship’s landed force, exclusive of the Norfolk and Princess Anne volunteers and the negroes, is not considerable. His naval force at present consists of four ships, from sixteen to twenty-two guns each, and a number of sloops, schooners, and boats. His small vessels are often Scattered, and at a distance from the ships; and since he has attempted expeditions on shore, we learn that part of the men belonging to the vessels are often absent from their duty on board.

We impatiently wait the result of your deliberation, and in the mean time we are, with the greatest respect, your obedient humble servants. By order of the Committee:

SAMUEL S. MC CROSKEY, Chairman.
GRIFFIN SEITH, JUN., Clerk,

We, the inhabitants of Princess Anne County, being fully sensible of the error and guilt into which this Colony hath been misled, under colour of seeking redress of grievances, and that a set of factious men, styling themselves Committees and Congresses, have violently, and under various pretences, usurped the legislative and executive powers of Government, and are thereby endeavouring to overturn our most happy Constitution, and have incurred the guilt of actual rebellion against our most gracious Sovereign; we have, therefore, taken an oath, abjuring their authority, and solemnly promising, in the presence of Almighty God, we bear faith and true allegiance to his sacred Majesty George III; that we will, to the utmost of our power and ability, support, maintain, and defend his crown and dignity, against all traitorous attempts and conspiracies whatsoever.

And whereas armed bodies of men are collected in various parts of this Colony, without any legal authority, we wish them to be informed that, however unwilling we shall be to shed the blood of countrymen, we must, in discharge of our duty to God and the King, and in support of the Constitution and laws of our Country, oppose their marching into this country, where their coming can answer no good end, but, on the contrary, must expose us to the ravages and horrours of a civil war; and for that purpose we are determined to take advantage of our happy situation, and will defend the passes into our country and neighbourhood, to the last drop of our blood.

Whereas a set of factious men, under the names of Committees, Conventions, and Congresses, have violently, under various pretences, usurped the legislative and executive powers of Government, and are thereby endeavouring to overturn our happy Constitution, and have incurred the guilt of actual rebellion against our most gracious Sovereign, I, A B, do therefore abjure all their authority, and solemnly promise, in the presence of Almighty God, to bear faith and true allegiance to his sacred Majesty George III, and will, to the utmost of my power and ability, support, maintain, and defend his crown and dignity, against all traitorous attempts and conspiracies whatsoever. So help me God.

GENERAL HOWE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Boston, November 26, 1775.

On the 9th instant, by His Majesty’s ship Phenix, I had the honour of your Lordship’s separate letter, of the 5th of September, with duplicates of your Lordship’s letters of the 2d August, to General Gage and myself; also, a letter from Mr. Secretary Pownal, of the 8th September, containing two enclosures, and a copy of a secret letter of the 5th September, intended for your Lordship’s signature.

The removal of the troops from hence before the winter season should set in, being the principal object of your Lordship’s letter of the 5th September, it is with great reluctance I am to inform you, that His Majesty’s intentions in this particular, from the late arrival of the orders, cannot be carried into execution.

By the estimate, No. 1, your Lordship will observe the insufficiency of the tonnage of transports now in port, to carry the troops, the artillery, the stores of all denominations, the well disposed inhabitants, with their effects, and such merchandise as it may be thought prudent to remove. If all our vessels were in port, the whole could not have gone at one embarkation, by a deficiency of eleven thousand six hundred and two tons, even with the addition of the ships and small craft to be procured in the harbour. And when I reflect upon a division of the Army for two embarkations, in its present weak state; upon the situation this garrison and the troops sent to New-York would be in, with respect to the enemy, it appears to me, that more would be hazarded than prudence could justify, especially as I should, in that case, be dependant upon the return of transports, at a season when the navigation on this coast, from the violence of northerly winds, is so very precarious.

The Generals Clinton, Burgoyne, and Lord Percy, concurring in opinion with me, upon the inexpediency of evacuating this place before the spring, I am encouraged to hope my determination to remain here will not meet with the King’s displeasure.

We are not under the least apprehension of any attack upon this place from the Rebels, by surprise or otherwise, as taken notice of in your Lordship’s letter; on the contrary, it were to be wished that they would attempt so rash a step, and quit those strong intrenchments to which alone they may attribute their present security; but when I say this, I must add that, from sickness, the extended defence of this Town and collateral posts, our force for the winter will not be adequate to any other undertaking of consequence to His Majesty’s service, such as the possession of Rhode-Island, New-York, Philadelphia, or Charlestown, in South-Carolina; yet, in the course of the winter, should any operations, from exchange of circumstances, be thought advisable, the opportunity will not be neglected.

Having transmitted to the Treasury, by this conveyance, several returns, specifying what may be wanted for carrying His Majesty’s commands into execution in the spring, I have, for your Lordship’s information, sent copies of them in a separate letter. And for the operations of the ensuing campaign, after receiving from your Lordship His Majesty’s pleasure upon that head, I beg leave to propose, that the part of the Sixty-Fifth Regiment here be sent to Halifax in the spring, which, with Lieutenant-Colonel Goreham’s corps, now there, and some recruits of Lieutenant-Colonel Maclean’s, added to the militia intended to be raised in that Colony, by information received on the 15th October, from Governour Legge, will, I hope, put the dock yard and Town in perfect security from any attacks. By my last accounts from thence, of the 18th October, the temporary works intended to strengthen the dock were very forward, and it was proposed to have an intrenchment and blockhouses upon the Citadel-Hill, for the future protection of the Town, if it could be done before the winter.

The detachment of the Fourteenth Regiment now at