opportunity of making choice of such of their arms as shall be found fit for the use of the new army.

I am not without my fears, that if they are apprized of the intention, some of the best arms will be secreted. For this reason I desire you will say nothing of the matter till the regiment (in your brigade) is paraded, and then, in company of the field-officers of it, make choice of all the arms that are good, taking the names of the proprietors of them, that they may be lodged, valued, and paid for agreeably to the general order of the 23d ult.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Brigadier-General Sullivan, Winter-Hill.

ROBERT H. HARRISON TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS.

Cambridge, December 8, 1775.

SIR: I have it in command from his Excellency to inform you that it is very agreeable to him that Captain Hazleton should fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Doctor Chapin, especially as he seems to have been neglected before this by some oversight, and to be deserving, from the recommendation mentioned in your favour of this date.

I am, &c.,

R. H. HARRISON, A. D. C.

COLONEL MOYLAN TO SALEM COMMITTEE.

Cambridge, December 8, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: What is the breach of the Association, or what is not, the General has not time, nor indeed does he think himself a competent judge to decide upon; that surely comes under the cognizance of Committees of Safety.

The General thinks the officers on board the armed vessels have deviated from the line of their instructions, though perhaps not from the spirit of them, by taking this brigantine.

From this principle, which his Excellency is of opinion is a just one, he delivers up to the owner his vessel and cargo.

Your most humble servant,

STEPHEN MOYLAN, P. T. S.

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

COLONEL MOYLAN TO JOHN GLOVER.

Cambridge, December 8, 1775.

SIR: I am commanded by his Excellency to desire you will put Mr. Richard Derby in the proper road to get his brig Kingston Packet, and her cargo, into his possession. Whether she is to proceed on her intended voyage to the West-Indies or not the General cannot himself determine; that is the business of Committees of Safety. The General is determined to have no further trouble with this vessel. You will, therefore, sir, manage the matter so as Head-quarters may hear no more of her. I beg you will be attentive to Mr. Callbeclc's goods. Let him have every thing that he has been so cruelly pillaged of. The potatoes on board the Scotch vessel should be sold.

I am truly yours,

STEPHEN MOYLAN.

To Colonel John Glover, Marblehead

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Winter-Hill, December 8, 1775.

MUCH RESPECTED GENTLEMEN: Your favour, signed by Colonel Whipple, is now before me. But previous to the receipt thereof, common fame, with his usual readiness, had proclaimed your vigorous exertions, and the noble spirit of your people. General Washington, and all the other officers, are extremely pleased, and bestow the highest encomiums on you and your troops, freely acknowledging that New-Hampshire forces, for bravery and resolution, far surpass the other Colonies; and that no Province discovers so much zeal in the common cause. Though I wish the troops may all arrive before the 10th instant, yet none will be refused on account of their being a few days later. I applaud Colonel Burnham's zeal, and shall show him every mark of esteem in my power.

I am, gentlemen, with gratitude and esteem, your most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

Honourable Committee of Safety.

PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOUR LEGGE.

By his Excellency FRANCIS LEGGE, Esquire, Captain-General and Governour-in-chief, in and over His Majesty's Province of NOVA-SCOTIA, and its Dependencies, Vice-Admiral of the same, &c., &c., &c.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas great mischiefs and inconveniences may and are like to ensue from permitting strangers, who may be in the interest of the Rebels, to resort to the town of Halifax, and by that means obtaining and conveying to them intelligence which may prove highly prejudicial to His Majesty's service:

I do therefore hereby strictly order and command all persons, not settled inhabitants of this place, who, since the 30th day of September last, have, or who hereafter shall, come into the town of Halifax, to repair themselves immediately to Thomas Procter, or Thomas Bridge, Esquires, two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Halifax, to signify their names and places of abode, together with the occasion of their coming into town; upon pain of being considered and treated as spies, if they remain therein the space of two hours without their repairing to either of the Justices aforesaid.

And I do likewise strictly order and command all tavern-keepers, keepers of publick houses, and all persons who shall receive any stranger or strangers after the publication of this Proclamation, to report the name, place of abode, with the occasion of their coming, in like manner to one or other of the persons aforementioned, within two hours after the coming of such stranger or strangers, upon the like pain and peril as herein before expressed.

And whereas it has been reported that sundry strangers have been landed in the Northwest arm, and by that means have come into this town in the night season, and that the same may be of dangerous consequences:

I do therefore hereby order and strictly forbid any ship, boat, or other vessel, entering into that part of this harbour, either by day or night, without first obtaining license from me, or from such persons as I shall appoint for that purpose; upon pain of being considered and treated as spies.

Given under my hand and seal at arms, this 8th day of December, in the sixteenth year of His Majesty's reign.

FRANCIS LEGGE.

By His Excellency's command:

RICHARD BULKELEY.

GOD save the King.

London, December 9, 1775.

There is now a bill in the House of Commons which will finally pass there next Tuesday, and will most assuredly pass all the branches of the Legislature of England. A copy of this bill perhaps may reach America by this opportunity, or some other, before it is sent over in the formal manner by Government. By this bill all intercourse whatsoever, by sea, is cut off and prohibited from America, or any part thereof, with the rest of the world. And all ships, in any harbour in the Thirteen United Colonies, are thereby made liable to seizure, and a legal prize, with every thing on board, let the property be British, foreign, or American. All ships or vessels, the property of whatsoever nation, bound to or from America, are liable to the same penalty. This act empowers the K—g to send over Commissioners to treat with America; the Ministers have already settled the powers with which they are to be entrusted. They certainly go no further than authorizing them to receive the unconditional submission of any separate Province, Town, or County, and issue proclamations, and grant pardons, excepting to particular persons; but the secret object of their embassy is to sow dissensions among the Provinces, and the members of the General Congress, by bribery and every artifice; of which they entertain great hopes of success, from the supposed cool-