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GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE.

Cambridge, December 5, 1775.

Sir: I have of late met with abundant reason to be convinced of the impracticability of recruiting this army to the new establishment, in any reasonable time, by voluntary inlistments. The causes of such exceeding great luke-warmness I shall not undertake to point out; sufficient it is to know that the fact is so. Many reasons are assigned; one only I shall mention, and that is, that the present soldiery are in expectation of drawing from the landed interest and farmers a bounty equal to the allowance at the commencement of this army, and that therefore they play off. Be this as it may, I am satisfied that this is not a time for trifling, and that the exigency of our affairs calls aloud for vigorous exertions.

By sad experience it is found that the Connecticut regiments have deserted, and are about to desert the noble cause we are engaged in; nor have I any reason to believe that the forces of New-Hampshire, this Government, or Rhode-Island, will give stronger proofs of their attachment to it, when the period arrives when they may claim their dismission. For, after every stimulus in my power to throw in their way, and near a month's close endeavour, we have inlisted but about five thousand men; fifteen hundred of which are to be absent at a time, on furlough, until all have gone home, in order to visit and provide for their families. Five thousand militia, from this Government and the Colony of New-Hampshire, are ordered to be at this place by the 10th instant, to relieve the Connecticut regiments, and supply the deficiency which will be occasioned by their departure, and of those on furlough. These men, I am told, by officers who have been eyewitnesses to their behaviour, are not to be depended upon for more than a few days, as they soon get tired, grow impatient, ungovernable, and of course leave the service. What will be the consequence, then, if the greatest part of the army is to be composed of such men? Upon the new establishment, twenty-six regiments were ordered to be raised, besides those of the artillery and riflemen. Of these, New-Hampshire has three, Massachusetts sixteen, Rhode-Island two, and Connecticut five. A mode of appointing the officers was also recommended, and as strictly adhered to as circumstances would admit of. These officers are now recruiting, with the success I have mentioned.

Thus, sir, have I given you a tine and impartial state of our situation, and submit it to the wisdom of your and the other three New-England Colonies, whether some vigorous measures, if the powers of Government are adequate, ought not to be adopted, to facilitate the completion of this army, without offering a bounty from the publick, which Congress have declared against, thinking the terms, exclusive thereof, greater than ever soldiers had. I have, by this conveyance, laid the matter before Congress; but the critical situation of our affairs will not await their deliberation and recommendation. Something must be done without further delay. I am, sir, &c.,

George Washington.

COLONEL MOTLAN TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF SALEM.

Cambridge, December 5, 1775.

Gentlemen: The brig Kingston Packet, Samuel Ingersoll, master, was taken at Barington, in Nova-Scotia, on suspicion of being engaged in business contrary to the Association of the United Colonies. His Excellency cannot be a competent judge of such matters; if he was, he has no time to attend to them. He therefore commands me to lay the papers which came to his hands before you, and whatever you determine on will meet the General's approbation. It is told his Excellency that the brig was to proceed to Cape Francois with her cargo; should she be permitted to proceed or not, you must be the judges.

I am, with great respect, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

Stephen Moylan, P. T. S.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO CAPTAIN PELEG WADSWORTH.

Cambridge, December 5, 1775.

Sir: I have it in command from his Excellency, Gen. Washington, to desire that you will examine the harbour of Cape-Cod, and see what fortifications may be necessary for the defence of its entrance, which, when you have with attention and accuracy executed, you will please to make a report thereof at Head-quarters.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

Stephen Moylan, P. T. S.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO WILLIAM WATSON.

Cambridge, December 5, 1775.

Sir: By people who came out of Boston yesterday, we have an account that the enemy are fitting out one of the transports, which is to carry a number of guns and a large number of men; that the guns are to be concealed in such a manner as not to be perceived until a vessel comes so close as it may not be in their power to get away. She is to carry every appearance of a transport, with hay, &c., on her quarters, in order to decoy one or more of our armed vessels into her clutches. If any of the armed vessels are in your port, and are to go out any more, (I mean if Martindale or Coit can get men for their vessels.) you will please to communicate this intelligence to them.

Captain Darby informs me that Captain Coit has unjustly seized on a schooner named the Thomas, from Fayal, bound to Salem. It is his Excellency's commands that she be immediately delivered up to him, and that Capt. Coit pay for any thing that the schooner may be robbed of. It is not the intention of the Continent to interrupt good citizens in their trade. That was not the intent of fitting out these armed vessels at the Continental expense; this Capt. Coit would know well if he consulted the instructions given him.

I am, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

Stephen Moylan, T. P. S.

To William Watson, Esq., Plymouth.

GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHDSETTS TO DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

Watertown, December 5, 1775.

Gentlemen: We are informed by his Excellency General Washington, that it is his opinion the paying our troops by the lunar month will throw the rest of the army into disorder, as the Continental Congress have resolved that it is the calendar month they mean to pay by, and that the difference between the two must be considered as a Colonial and not a Continental charge.

We are sensible it is unhappy when there is any limitation between the doings of any branch in a society and those of the whole, as it hath a tendency to produce a disunion and disorders consequent thereon; but such, we consider, may be the state of things, that, fully to prevent a diversity, consistent with a due regard to the greatest good, may be impossible.

The Congress have resolved that the men shall be paid by the calendar month, It may be unhappy for us, that previously we had taken a resolution diverse therefrom, with regard to our forces. You are sensible, gentlemen, that it hath been the invariable practice of this Colony to pay their troops by the lunar month, and it was with an expectation of this that our men inlisted. For us to have attempted an innovation after the service was performed, which would have been the case had we adhered to the resolution of the American Congress, we supposed would have produced such uneasiness in the minds of the people as could not easily have been quieted, and that it would have destroyed that confidence and esteem which every person in the community ought to have of the justice and equity of their rulers, a confidence never more necessary to be maintained than at the present day, for, without this, it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for us to have continued our forces in the field.

When these circumstances are taken into consideration, and that our establishment for the pay of the men was long before any resolution was formed in the American Congress to pay the troops upon any conditions, therefore cannot be considered as a design in this Colony to involve the United, Colonies in an undue expense in paying them. We trust that we shall meet with the approbation of the honourable Congress, and, if any inconveniences shall arise, they will be attributed to the necessity of the case.

With regard to the expense arising by the difference between the lunar and calendar months being Colonial