I learn that the recruiting parties I have sent out, meet with little success. The troops of Fort-George and Ticonderoga, have only seventeen days more to serve, and I fear they will come away as soon as their time of service is expired.

All the prisoners are not yet arrived here. The moment they come in, I shall send them to Esopus, as well the officers as men; for Colonel Wolcott informs me that Governour Skene, as well as his son, have fled, and that two Frenchmen are also gone, one of which is Orillat, whom Mr. Brook Watson recommended to Major Shirreff to get exchanged. The vicinity of Hudson river to Newtown and Bridge field (the two tory towns in Connecticut) favours their escape. I have given such orders to Colonel Wynkoop, that, if they are properly executed, I shall be under no apprehensions for those that go to Ulster County. Wynkoop is a spirited and good officer.

The river here is closed. The prisoners are to march by land. I propose keeping the French seigneurs until I can move them at a less expense. Perhaps, too, if Quebeck should fall into our hands, General Montgomery may beg of Congress to permit them to pay a visit to their families.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Honourable John Hancock, Esq., &c.

JOSEPH HOPKINS'S REPORT ON LEAD-MINES.

To the Honourable General Assembly, convened at NEW-HAVEN, on the 14th DECEMBER, 1775:

Whereas Captain Samuel Forbes and the subscriber were appointed by your Honours, at your sessions in October last, a Committee to examine and explore a lead-mine at New-Canaan, in the Province of New-York, and to report, &c.

The said subscriber begs leave to report that, on the 7th of November last, on my journey to said New-Canaan, I expected said Captain Forbes to join me; but he being ill, and unable to assist in said business, advised me to proceed; with which advice I complied, and repaired to said New-Canaan, where I found said mine, the vein of ore in which appears about fifty or sixty rods in length, lying north and south in a ledge of rocks or lime-stone, mixed with white flint, at the south end of which the ground falls about twenty-six feet, below which the water cannot be drawn off by a level; which vein I found had been opened about one rod in length, and about three or four feet deep, where I employed a skilful miner to blast the rock, but found no continued or adherent vein, but found the ore in bodies, in different shapes, about three or four inches in diameter, lying about three or four feet distant. The said miner also opened the vein in several place's where it had not before been tried, and it appeared to lie in the same manner. I also smelted about eight ounces of said ore, and found, when it was well refined, it weighed five ounces, and was very malleable and good. All which is submitted.

Your Honours' most obedient, humble servant,

JOSEPH HOPKINS.

N. B. The mine aforesaid lies in a tract of land called the King's District, where the fee has never been granted, or patent, to any person, and the inhabitants claim to hold by possession only; and I employed the miner aforementioned, with others, to labour in said mine seven days, about half of which time was spent in preparing to open the vein, and by the other half of the labour was raised one hundred weight of ore.

GENERAL WASHING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Cambridge, December 14, 1775.

SIR: The two French gentlemen who will appear before you with this, brought recommendations to me from Governour Cooke, of Providence; their names are Messieurs Penet and De Pliarne. They propose a plan for supplying this Continent with arms and ammunition, which appears to me very eligible. As I am not acquainted with the extent of schemes, already formed by Congress for the attainment of these necessary articles, I have declined entering into any engagements with them, but have prevailed with them to proceed, at the publick expense, to Philadelphia, and there, through you, to lay their proposals before Congress, or a Committee of Congress, to whose attention I beg leave to recommend them, and the important business they come upon.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress.

P. S. I have given these gentlemen reason to expect that they can get back to the Capes as commodiously and speedily from Philadelphia as they could from Providence, in which I should be very sorry if they were disappointed.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read December 23, 1775.]

Cambridge, December 14, 1775.

SIR: I received your favour of the 2d instant, with the several resolves of Congress therein enclosed. The resolves relative to captures made by Continental armed vessels, only want a court established for trial to make them complete. This, I hope, will be soon done, as I have taken the liberty to urge it often to the Congress. I am somewhat at a loss to know whether I am to raise the two battalions of marines here or not. As the delay can be attended with but little inconvenience, I will wait a further explanation from Congress, before I take any steps thereon. I am much pleased that the money will be forwarded with all possible expedition, as it is much wanting; also, that Connolly and his associates are taken; it has been a very fortunate discovery. I make no doubt but that the Congress will take every necessary measure to dispossess Lord Dunmore of his hold in Virginia. The sooner steps are taken for that purpose, the more probability there will be of their being effectual.

Mr. William Aspenwall and Mr. Lemuel Hayward were appointed surgeons at Roxbury, in the first formation of the army. They were confirmed by Dr. Church, who promised them to write to the Congress in their behalf. They applied to me during his confinement here, at a time that I had notice of Dr. Morgan's appointment. I referred them to his arrival, and enclosed you have his sentiments relative to them; also of Dr. Rand, surgeon to the small-pox hospital, and his mate. I have to remark to you that when we had some time past got the better of the small-pox, Dr. Rand applied to me for a continuance of him in that department, which, from a principle of not multiplying officers, I declined. He is at present wanting, and says that by only attending occasionally, he loses his country practice—of course his livelihood. You will please to lay these matters before Congress for their consideration.

I was happy enough to anticipate the desire of Congress respecting Mr. Crafts and Mr. Trott. They both declined. The latter did not choose to serve. The former's ambition was not fully gratified by the offer made to him of a Majority, and higher rank must have turned out Colonel Burbeck or Major Mason, who had served in those characters in that regiment to acceptation. I hope Col. Knox will soon finish the business he is upon, and appear here to take the honourable command conferred on him by the Congress. I will make application to General Howe, and propose an exchange for Mr. Ethan Allen. I am much afraid I shall have a like proposal to make for Captain Martindale, of the armed brigantine Washington, and his men, who, it is reported, were taken a few days past by a man-of-war, and carried into Boston. We cannot expect to be always successful.

You will doubtless hear of the barbarity of Captain Wallace, on Conanicut Island, ere this reaches your hands. About one hundred and fifty more of the poor inhabitants are come out of Boston. The small-pox rages all over the town. Such of the military as had it not before, are now under inoculation. This, I apprehend, is a weapon of defence they are using against us. What confirms me in this opinion is, that I have information that they are tearing up, the pavement, to be provided against a bombardment. I wrote you this day by Messieurs Penet and De Pliarne, who will lay before the Congress, or a committee thereof, proposals for furnishing the Continent with arms and ammunition. I refer you to themselves for further particulars.