Your answer shall be punctually obeyed by your most humble servant,

SAMUEL, PATTERSON.

To the Delaware Delegates in Congress, at Philadelphia.

RICHARD HENRY LEE TO GENERAL, WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, December 6, 1775.

DEAR SIR: The enclosed letter from Colonel Pendleton, came to hand two days ago, and as it will save a good deal of unnecessary writing, I send it to you. The proclamation there alluded to, we have seen. It proclaims martial law through Virginia, and offers freedom to all the slaves, calling their masters Rebels, &c. It seems this unlucky triumph over Hatchings, with his less than half armed militia, so dispirited the miserable wretches in that neighbourhood, that many have taken an oath of Lord Dunmore's prescribing, reprobating Congress, committees, &c. Long before this, Colonel Woodford, with eight hundred good men, must be arrived in those parts, and I make no doubt has forced his Lordship on board his ships again. All this would have been prevented if our troops could have crossed James River in proper time, but they were obstructed and forced to march high up by the men-of-war; and, indeed, such is the nature of our water-intersected country, that a small number of men provided with naval force, can harass us extremely. I have good reason to hope that, in a few weeks, the state of things in Virginia will be greatly altered for the better.

I thank you for your list of armed vessels, but at present no use can be made of them. I hope some of them will be fortunate enough to meet with prizes eastward.

I had not heard of your improvements on the Kanhawa being destroyed, and unless Mr. Lund Washington has received very accurate information on this head, I am yet inclined to doubt it; because I see in the treaty lately concluded with all the Ohio Indians, they first inform the Commissioners of the Kanhawa fort being burnt by some of their rash young men; but they promise to punish the offenders, and prevent repetition of the like offences. They are very precise in their information, and mention only the fort, as well as I remember. I hope, therefore, that your property may yet be safe. This treaty with the Indians is the more likely to last, as Connolly, with his little corps of officers, are now in close custody in Maryland, having been arrested there as they were stealing through the country to Pittsburgh, from whence they were to proceed to Detroit, and with the troops in those western parts, Indians, &c., he was to have done wonders. This wonderful man is now in close jail.

I congratulate you on the surrender of Montreal, and from General Montgomery's letter giving account of that event, I think we have room to expect that Quebeck is fallen before now. A Committee of Congress some time since sent to Canada, have directions to raise a regiment in that country, to invite delegates to this Congress, and to give the strongest assurances of protection to their civil and religious rights.

I am glad to hear of your getting Cobble Hill, and I hope it will prove useful to you. We are told that your enemy's troops are very uneasy on Bunker's Hill. God grant that their uneasiness may increase to their ruin.

No accounts yet from England; but ships are daily expected.

I am, with much esteem, dear sir, your affectionate and obedient servant,

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

EDMUND PENDLETON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Virginia, November 27, 1775.

DEAR SIR: For want of a Committee sitting, and as it is impossible to judge what will be the sentiments of the Convention on the several points, previous to an application to the Congress for assistance to this Colony, I can say nothing on the subject of your joint letter of the 14th, but that I will lay that and former letters before the Convention, at their meeting on Friday next. In the mean time I will mention what has happened below, according to the loose accounts I have had, which, perhaps, may be more fully related in the papers which will accompany this.

Eight companies, with some baggage, had passed the river at Jamestown, and were waiting at Cobham for the remainder with Colonel Woodford, who were obliged by the navy to go up the river to pass, and did not get over till Sunday sen'night. In the mean time, Colonel Joseph Hatchings, and some others in Princess Anne, raised about one hundred and seventy men, and were marching to meet and join Woodford's corps. The Governour, hearing of this, inarched out with three hundred and fifty soldiers, tories and slaves, to Kemp's Landing, and after setting up his standard, and issuing his proclamation, declaring all persons Rebels who took up arms for the country, and inviting all slaves, servants, and apprentices, to come to him and receive arms, he proceeded to intercept Hutchings and his party, upon whom he came by surprise, but received, it seems, so warm a fire, that the ragamuffins gave way; they were however rallied, on discovering that two companies of our militia gave way, and left Hutchings and Dr. Reid with a volunteer company, who maintained their ground bravely, till they were overcome by numbers, and took shelter in a swamp. The slaves were sent in pursuit of them; and one of Colonel Hutchings's own, with another, found him. On their approach, he discharged his pistol at his slave, but missed him, and was taken by them after receiving a wound in his face with a sword. The numbers taken or killed, on either side, is not ascertained. It is said the Governour went to Dr. Reid's shop, and after taking the medicines and dressings necessary for his wounded men, broke all the others to pieces. Letters mention that slaves flock to him in abundance, but I hope it is magnified. Young Goodrich, who brought in the powder, is sent to Boston. They have also taken the old man near the Capes, in his passage to the West-Indies, and, 'tis said, used him very ill; but had not particulars. We are told Matt Shripp was in Hutchings's party, and fought bravely, so that I hope he is not really fallen off. Present my compliments to your worthy colleagues, and to Dr. Shippen.

I am, dear sir, your most humble servant,

EDMUND PENDLETON.

To Richard Henry Lee.

To the Honourable the Continental Congress:

A MEMORIAL.

By the treaty at Easton, the Indians made choice of me to superintend their business, particularly to keep up the old friendship, &c.; and the messengers sent down from the Six Nations having represented that their brethren in Maryland (the Nantikokes) are desirous of going with them to live with their brethren in the Indian country, and they apprehending that the several tracts of land in Maryland, on which they now live, to be their own property, are desirous of selling the same for the value thereof, have sent a messenger to me with a string of wampum, requesting my interposition, and the Indians are now waiting for an answer. The necessity of doing every thing in our power to cultivate harmony with the Indians, must appear to every person concerned for our liberties. I feel myself happy in performing any services conducive to the publick good, but look upon myself as not authorized to give these people the assistance necessary, if not appointed by Congress. The Indians' appointment, and Commissioners answer, appear upon the treaty now before your honourable body.

JOHN BULL.

Philadelphia, December 6, 1775.

LORD STIRLING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Head-Quarters, Elizabethtown, December 6, 1775,

Two o'clock, P. M.

SIR: This moment a gentleman of this place is come over from New-York, who tells me, this morning, that a sloop arrived from Albany, after a very short passage, the master of which says that an express was at Albany, on his way to New-York, with an account that on Colonel Arnold's presenting himself before Quebeck the inhabitants threw open the gates and joyfully received him; that he has obtained the entire possession of that city, without the loss of a man; that General Carleton is on Lake St. Francis, between Montreal and Quebeck, and will not easily escape the vigilance of Colonel Arnold. I most sincerely congratulate you, and all the friends of America, on