William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, Benjamin Huntington.

On motion by Captain Jonathan Wells, (present,) for directing, &c.,

Voted, That the Captain and other Officers and Sailors belonging to the armed vessel lately taken near St. John's, and now at Canaan, be disposed of by the Committee for taking care of prisoners, in such town or towns in the County of Litchfield as they shall judge most convenient, until further orders from the General Congress, or the Governour and this Council. Copy given.

Voted, That Captain William Hunter, Lieutenant John Smith, Dr. Thomas Sundon, John Kent, William Kent, and a servant of said Smith, who were lately taken at St. John's, and sent as prisoners to be quartered in this Colony, be allowed to reside within the town of Wethersfield, in this Colony, upon their parole of honour not to depart out of said town, until further orders from the Governour and this Committee, or from the Continental Congress. And the Committee for taking charge of and providing for prisoners, are hereby directed to provide for said Captain Hunter, &c., in said Wethersfield, in the same manner as Others of their rank are provided for. Copy given.

N. B. Said Lieutenant and Doctor were present, requesting the same favour, &c.

His Honour having received a letter from General Washington, informing that a number of Soldiers of General Putnam's Regiment, he, had deserted the service, challenging their term to be expired, &c.; that he had sent after them, Sic, and much resenting their conduct, and moving that they ought to be made examples of, &c., &c., the subject-matter thereof, and their conduct, was largely discussed.

It seems the opinion that their conduct is very reprehensible, and that they are deserters, but considering their term of inlistment was very nearly expired, that it is a critical time, about forming a new Army, that perhaps it is not so well within our Province to deal with them; that the law provides, &c., and that the Assembly will probably soon be called, &c., it is best to refer the matter to them; and a letter be wrote to General Washington expressing these things, and our resentment of their conduct, and holding forth the zeal and firmness of the Colony notwithstanding, &c. And a letter was accordingly prepared, and considered, and submitted to the Governour's correction.

And being night, the meeting was dismissed.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Cambridge, December 5, 1775.

SIR: Copies of the enclosed letter I have already written to the Governours of Rhode-Island and Connecticut, and shall do the same to the President of the Congress in New-Hampshire, as I conceive our affairs are in a very critical situation. It was mentioned to me yesterday, in conversation, that the militia of this Government which were ordered on to supply the places of the Connecticut troops, are allowed forty shillings per month of twenty-eight days. The first I highly approved of, because I was unwilling to see any invidious distinction in pay, the never-failing consequence of which is jealousy and discord. But, sir, if the General Court of this Colony have resolved on the latter, you must give me leave to add, that it aims the most fatal stab to the peace of this army that ever was given, and that Lord North himself could not have devised a more effectual blow to the recruiting service.

Excuse me, sir, for the strength of these expressions; if my information is wrong (I had it from General Heath, who says he had it from a member of your Court) they are altogether improper, and I crave your pardon for them; if right, my zeal in the American cause must plead my excuse.

I am, with great respect,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

The Honourable James Otis, Esq., President of the Council of Massachusetts-Bay.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE.

Cambridge, December 6, 1775.

SIR: Your favours of the 28th and 30th ultimo, I received, and am to inform you that from the good character you gave of Mr. Adorn, I ordered the agent in whose care his vessel was, to deliver her up to him. There were other circumstances, too, that were favourable to Mr. Aborn, and that induced a belief that he was not inimical to our cause.

I am much obliged by your kind attention to my two letters of the 15th and 18ih of November, and for your promise to lay the matters mentioned in the first before the General Committee, and ordering the troops which were on BlockIsland to this camp.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Hon. Nicholas Cooke.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO SALEM COMMITTEE.

Cambridge, December 6, 1775.

SIR: The representation of the Committee of the town of Salem was yesterday laid before his Excellency. He orders me to assure you, that it will give him great pleasure to contribute towards the particular safety of the town and inhabitants of Salem, when he can do it consistent with that attention he must pay to the defence of the whole.

The shot taken on board the prize is very much wanting at camp; what are in cases cannot possibly be spared. What are loose in the hold are two sorts, twelves and sixes; of these they may have the small assortment demanded; they giving an obligation to repay the same, or their value, in order that the Continent or their captors may not be deprived of their right. On showing this to Captain William Bartlett and Captain John Glover, agents for the prize, they will deliver the shot conformable to the conditions above mentioned.

STEPHEN MOYLAN

To Timothy Pickering, Esq. Chairman of the Committee of Safety and Correspondence of the Town of Salem.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO WILLIAM BARTLETT.

Cambridge, December 6, 1775.

SIR: I send you by the bearer two thousand dollars to defray the expense attending the military stores. Do you pay all the charges, and keep vouchers, that we may not be troubled with a multiplicity of accounts.

I am yours,

STEPHEN MOYLAN.

To Captain William Bartlett, Beverly.

JAMES SULLIVAN TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

Watertown, December 6, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I this evening received your important letter by Major Scammel, and have just returned from a conference with Genera] Washington on the subject-matter of it. As to our paying our troops to the first of August by lunar months, it was our engagement with them to do it when we inlisted them, and we can by no means go from it; but I believe we shall be content to make it a Provincial charge rather than have uneasiness with the other Colonies.

I am uneasy at the backwardness of our men to engage in the ensuing campaign, and there will be nothing left undone that our Court has in its power to do, in order to facilitate the raising a new army. I have been this evening drawing a plan to lay before our Court in the morning. It is yet incorrect, but you have here a copy of it:

"The prevailing uneasiness in the army seems to arise more from a disposition in the soldiers to rule, and their opinion of their own importance, than any unjustness in their pay or treatment. This, if long subsisting, will daily obtain in their minds, and have the most probable tendency to break up the army, and therefore should be rooted out as soon as possible. But, as some of the persons who now command as subalterns, were lately neighbours to, and on a level with, the privates they command; and as the soldiery in this country are by no means dependant on the army for a living, this must be done with the greatest delicacy.

"The paying our soldiers by lunar months, or giving them a bounty, will so much enhance the expense of war, that the Southern Colonies, who bear a great part of the