Rainbow; am still without your directions respecting said vessel and cargo.

Last evening, two officers passed through this town to head-quarters. I did not see either of them. This morning, twenty-two men, including prisoners, from the armed schooners Franklin and Speedwell, came to town from Winter Harbour, where they inform me they left two prizes—one a schooner of one hundred and thirty tons, with sundry stores and dry goods, from London, for the island of St. John's; the other a brig, and laden with dry fish, packed in hogsheads, bound from Nova-Scotia to the West-Indies. These vessels were taken by the two armed vessels cruising off the mouth of the river St. Lawrence, of which you will be particularly informed by the officers gone forward.

I must advise, from principle of security, that those vessels be ordered to this or some safe port, as soon as may be, not only from the danger of the enemy, but the distance from any place of sale for the cargoes, should they be deemed prizes. Were I warranted, under a slight pretence, should not hesitate at ordering them hither without delay. The risk I apprehend but trifling, the distance only twelve leagues. Fish, at this time, is much wanted here, to complete the cargoes of sundry vessels fitting out for the Continental and Provincial service. It will command thirteen shillings and four pence, per quintal, if it is good.

The bearer, John Lewis, belonging to the schooner Speedwell, applied for a supply to defray his expense here, and help him forward to head-quarters; which I thought justifiable, and have furnished him with three pounds eighteen shillings, lawful money. I shall wait further orders, and, on receipt thereof, immediately attend to them in the most secure and particular mode.

Captain Adams, of the armed schooner Warren, informed me that his number of men are reduced to thirty odd, owing to sickness, and has left a number on shore, two of which have died. If he is to be continued any time cruising, would it not be advisable to make up his complement? He is now out on a cruise.

Nothing further has occurred worthy of notice; which concludes me, respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant,

JOSH. WENTWORTH.

Stephen Moylan, Esq.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO COLONEL HOBART.

In Committee of Safety, December 3, 1775.

SIR: The pressing necessity of suddenly raising a number of men to guard our lines, left open by the Connecticut forces, make it necessary for us to desire you (laying all other business aside) to proceed, with all possible despatch, to the County of Hillsborough, and endeavour to raise a number of companies for that service.

We send you a number of inlisting orders, forms for the soldiers to sign, which we desire you to give out to such persons as you judge best for the service, of filling up the blanks when you deliver them.

We entreat your exerting yourself, as your country, and all we have, may depend upon the lines being manned by the 10th of December.

With great respect, in behalf of the Committee, I am your humble servant.

Colonel Hobart.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO COLONEL WALKER.

In Committee of Safety, December 3, 1775.

SIR: By express from General Sullivan, we are informed that the Connecticut troops, whose time by inlistment expired the last day of November, are about returning home. General Washington has desired New-Hampshire to send him thirty-one companies, to man the lines until the 15th of January next, and to be at Winter-Hill by the 10th of this month at farthest.

We send you enclosed several orders for inlistment, and forms for the soldiers to sign, and desire you to find persons you judge suitable for inlisting and commanding the companies, and then to fill up the blanks.

We earnestly request your utmost exertions in raising and forwarding the men, as our lines, being left open, may be of fatal consequence. The time is short; pray employ every moment to have some companies marched. The captains are desired to be careful in inlisting none but good men, properly equipped, as they cannot be mustered. They must take provisions from home to last them to the camp, for which the General engages to pay the money.

In behalf of the Committee,

I am, &c.

P. S. Your delaying one week in paying the troops will be no damage. Colonel Hobart has gone home on this business. James Shepherd, of Canterbury, has been recommended as a good man to raise a company.

Colonel Walker.

MAJOR-GENERAL HOWE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Boston, December 3, 1775.

MY LORD: By a letter received last night from Lieutenant-Governour Cramahe, which your Lordship has enclosed, there is too much reason to fear that, by a general defection of the Canadians, the whole Province of Quebeck will fall into the hands of the Rebels; and by a private letter from thence, of later date, by one day, I learn Montreal has surrendered; that General Carleton was on his way down the river in an armed vessel, and that there was little reason to believe the capital would be able to withstand the expected attack.

The Lieutenant-Governour of Quebeck, under those circumstances, has been induced to detain five transports sent from hence for forage, by which we not only lose the hay and corn expected, as per return in my separate letter of 2d instant, but are deprived of one thousand four hundred and sixteen tons of shipping, to be added to the quantity specified in the return of tonnage in my despatch of 26th November as wanting for the removal of this garrison, &c., at one embarkation. I hope that the transports to replace these, and to make up the deficiency in the return, may be ordered out early in the spring, and in consideration of the loss we have already sustained by the enemy, that they should come under convoy.

I learn the Nancy brigantine, an ordnance transport, having on board four thousand stand of arms complete, one hundred thousand flints, a thirteen-inch mortar, with other stores in proportion, was taken in the bay last week by the Rebels' privateers, and affords an instance for this necessity. The circumstance is rather unfortunate to us, as they are now furnished with all the requisites for setting the town on fire, having got a large quantity of round carcasses and other stores, with which they could not have been otherwise supplied. The particular manner whereby she was taken is not ascertained; but so many artifices have been practised upon strangers, under the appearance of friendship, false pilots, &,c, that those coming out with stores of any kind cannot be put too much upon their guard.

And I submit to your Lordship the necessity there may be of supplying the loss of arms, flints, &c., suffered on this occasion.

I am also to request your Lordship will be pleased to direct twice the quantity of engineer's tools contained in the enclosed return to be sent out in separate ships, for two divisions of the army, both of which may be employed in sieges. The date of this return will point out the time when the requisition was made.

From an apprehension that the advantages gained by the Rebels in Canada, and their good fortune here in possessing themselves of our stores, may encourage them to further attempts, I shall, with all despatch, send to Halifax the part of the Sixty-fifth now here under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce, who will command on his arrival; and with this reinforcement I must conclude that place will be in perfect security.

Upon this unfortunate event in Canada, and your Lordship's encouragement to mention my opinion, I beg leave to say, for the recovery of that Province as a primary object, the army to effect it should not consist of less than twelve thousand fighting men; at the same time I desire I may not be understood to give up the plan as set forth in my letter, No. 2, of the 26th November, as the enemy will feel more immediate distress by being attacked on the