ing they had been with the guard, I immediately forwarded them to the Committee. On the Committee's reception of them, they cleansed them by smoking them, and let them pass. One of them was Captain James Warden, who was taken in Major Mifflin's employ, who is very desirous of seeing the Major. Six of them are masters of vessels, and brought the enclosed account.

I am your most humble servant,

RICHARD DODGE, Captain.

To his Excellency General Washington.

N. B. Yesterday, one large mortar was carried over to Bunker-Hill. The troops are filling water, and carrying it on board the transports. Provision is very scarce; the officers say not more than enough to last them six weeks. One of the gentlemen says he dined with a man that dined with Lord Percy, a few days ago, upon horse-beef. This is from the men that came out of Boston last night.

This account I received from Boston this day, December 17, 1775:

Remarks for Tuesday, December 5, 1775:—Got into Boston; met with the ship Boyne, bound for London, which had on board thirty masters of vessels, passengers.

Thursday,7: The Foy, man-of-war, twenty guns, Montagu commander, brought in the brigantine Washington, one Martin dale commander, mounting ten guns and ten swivels, and seventy-two men. The Captain and all the men were put on board the Preston.

Monday last:—Prisoners were put on board the Tartar, man-of-war, to be sent home for trial as pirates.

The following is the price of provisions in Boston: Rum, twelve shillings per gallon; molasses, three shillings, by the hogshead; wood, four pounds, sixteen shillings and six pence, per cord; sea coal, four pounds, fourteen shillings, per chaldron; salt beef, four pounds, five shillings, per pound; Madeira wine, one pound eight shillings, per dozen; red porter, one pound four shillings, per dozen; hay, twenty pounds, per ton; geese, nine shillings; turkeys, ten shillings and six pence; fowls, four shillings and six pence; onions, six pence per pound; potatoes, ten shillings per bushel.

Soldiers' allowances, four pounds per week.

Orders from General Howe, to pull down the Old North Meeting-house, and one hundred wood houses. Morison, a Scotch minister, took bribe of a certain gentleman, of thirty-six shillings sterling, to get out of Boston, and seventy-two shillings to let him bring out a trunk of two hundred and eighty pounds in cash; which, when he had it in his power, seized the whole and carried it to Boston again.

The officers of the Fifty-ninth and Eighteenth regiments are sailed for home in order to recruit, and return in the spring. One regiment of Foot and three companies of the Light-Horse sail for Halifax this day.

I am credibly informed that the soldiers have nothing but the above four pounds of pork and bread dealt out to them.

RICHARD DODGE, Captain.

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Winter-Hill, December 17, 1775.

MUCH RESPECTED GENERAL: Agreeably to your order have again wailed on Major Rogers, and strictly examined him. Have seen his several permits, and think them genuine, and in every respect agreeably to the copy sent you. He says he left New-York about the 10th of October, being ill with the fever and ague, was ten days in getting to Albany; that there, and at the place called Stone Rabba, he tarried ten days more; he then passed through Hoosuck, Standford, Draper, and Hinsdale, in his way to his brother, who lives in Kent; he was three days in performing this route, and tarried with his brother five or six days more; he was then three days in going to Westminster, and in his way passed through by Dartmouth College, and saw Mr. Wheclock; from thence he went to his farm in Pennicook, where he tarried six or eight days; from thence he went to Newbury, and from thence to Portsmouth, and after tarrying there some few days, laid his permit before the Committee of Safety. He owns every thing in Mr. Wheelock's letter, except that of his having been in Canada, which he warmly denies, and says he can prove the route he took, and prove himself to have been in the several towns at or near the days he has mentioned. I asked him why he came to the camps, as he had no business with any particular persons, and had no inclination to offer his service in the American cause; to which he replied, that he had voluntarily waited upon the Committees of several Colonies, as he thought it a piece of respect due to them, and would probably prevent his being suspected and treated as a person unfriendly to us; that he likewise thought it his duty to wait on your Excellency, and acquaint you with the situation of his affairs, and if he could, to obtain your license, to travel unmolested.

These, sir, are the facts as handed to me by him. What may be his secret designs I am unable to say, and what steps are most proper to be taken respecting him your Excellency can best judge. I am far from thinking that he has been in Canada; but as he was once Governour of Michilimackinack, it is possible he may have a commission to take that command, and stir up the Indians against us, and only waits for an opportunity to get there; for which reason I would advise lest some blame might be laid upon your Excellency in future, not to give him any other permit, but let him avail himself of those he has; and should he prove a traitor, let the blame centre upon those who enlarged him. I beg pardon for intruding my opinion, and subscribe myself your Excellency's most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

His Excellency General Washington.

NORTH-CAROLINA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At a Provincial Council held at the Court House in the County of Johnston, the eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord 1775:

The Honourable the President, and ten Members appeared and took their seats in Council, to wit:

Samuel Johnston, Thomas Jones, Samuel Ashe, James Coor, Thomas Eaton, Abner Nash, John Kinchen, Whitmill Hill, Waightstill Avery, Thomas Person, Esquires.

The Council adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.

Tuesday, December 19, 1775.

The Council met according to adjournment.

Samuel Spencer, Esquire, one of the members of Council appeared, repeated and subscribed the Test, and took his seat.

The Sheriff of Halifax County brought before this Council a certain Walter Lamb, with several affidavits accusing him with sundry misdemeanors.

And whereas this Council thinking it proper that the witnesses should personally appear against the said Lamb,

Do therefore order, That Mr. Branch, the aforesaid Sheriff, take into his custody the said Lamb, unless he shall give sufficient security to appear before the said Committee of Safety, for the District of Halifax, by them to be tried, acquitted, or punished as they shall think necessary.

The Sheriff of Halifax County, brought before this Council a certain George Massingbird, with an affidavit accusing him of having made use of some words disrespectful to the cause of America.

And whereas this Council thinking it proper that the witnesses should personally appear against the said George Massingbird, and he appearing to be truly sensible of his past ill conduct, and having taken an oath satisfactory to the Council:

Do therefore order, That the said George Massingbird be discharged from custody.

The Council being informed that Roger Ormond, Esq., one of the members of the Committee of Safety for the District of Newbern is dead:

It is therefore resolved, That John Simpson, Esquire, of the County of Pitt, be, and he is hereby appointed a member of the said Committee, for the District aforesaid, in the room and stead of the said Roger Ormond, and that he, the said John Simpson, be admitted to take his seat accordingly.

The Council adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.