changing a soldier for a citizen; but there is something so cruelly distressing in regard to this gentleman, that I dare say you will take it under your consideration.

I am, with great respect, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

JAMES LOVELL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Provost Prison, Boston, November 19, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I wish at this time to waive the expression of my veneration of your character, in a still lively hope that Providence will bless me with the opportunity of attempting it by the united sincere language of my eyes and lips, though even that must prove inadequate. Personally a stranger to you, my sufferings have yet affected your benevolent mind, and your exertions in my favour have made so deep an impression upon my grateful heart as will remain till the period of my latest breath.

Your Excellency is already informed that the powers of the military government established in this town have been wantonly and cruelly exercised against me, from the 29th of June last. I have in vain repeatedly solicited to be' brought to some kind of trial for my pretended crime. In answer to a petition of that sort, presented on the 16th of October, I am directed, by Captain Balfour, Aid-de-camp to General Howe, to seek the release of Colonel Skene and his son, as the sole means of my own enlargement. This proposition appears to me extremely disgraceful to the party from which it comes, and a compliance with it would be pregnant with dangerous consequences to my fellow-citizens. But while my own spirit prompts me to reject it directly with the keenest disdain, the importunity of my distressed wife, and the advice of some whom 1 esteem, have checked me down to a consent to give your Excellency this information. I have the fullest confidence in your wisdom, and I shall be perfectly resigned to your determination, whatever it may be. I must not, however, omit to say, that, should you condescend to stigmatize this proceeding of my enemies by letter, the correction might work some change in favour of myself, or at least of my family, which must, I think, perish through want of fuel and provision, in the approaching winter, if it continues to be deprived of my assistance.

I have the honour to be, your Excellency's devoted friend and servant,

JAMES LOVELL.

To His Excellency General Washington.

JAMES LOVELL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston Prison, December 6, 1775.

SIR: I address your Excellency upon a matter greatly important in its consequences to more than myself. And though I am personally unknown to you, I shall proceed without any other ceremony, than just to beg you would not attribute my abruptness to the consideration of the channel by which my letter will be conveyed, but to my embarrassment in an aim to express, by words, my real veneration of your publick character.

Charged with being a "spy, and giving intelligence to the Rebels," I have been suffering the pains and indignities of imprisonment, from the 29th of June last, without any sort of trial.

Captain Balfour, Aid-de-camp to General Howe, some time ago, directed Mrs. Lovell to tell me, from the Commander-in-chief, that I must obtain the exchange of Colonel Skene and his son, as the only condition of my enlargement; and I have waited weeks from that, in a vain hope of being enabled to write with more precision to your Excellency.

I have no argument, but of a private nature, to make use of upon this occasion, and it is addressed to your Excellency's humanity, which 1 am well satisfied will attend the decisions of your wisdom. I myself am reduced to such a risk of life, and my family to such miseries, by my imprisonment, as to make both the objects of compassion to all who are not learnedly barbarous and cruel.

I am, your Excellency's devoted servant,

JAMES LOVELL.

To General Washington.

Intercepted Letters transmitted to Congress by Goner d Washington, with his Letter dated December 18, 1775.

GOVERNOUR TONYN TO GENERAL GAGE.

St. Augustine, September 30, 1775.

SIR: I have this moment the honour of your Excellency's letter of 29th April last, with a circumstantial account of the unhappy affair that happened on the 19th April, between His Majesty's troops and the people of the Province under your Excellency's Government.

Had the account arrived in any reasonable time, it would have prevented a great deal of anxiety and uneasiness here, but so many things have happened since, to the astonishment of all mankind, that one is actually bewildered in the madness of the times.

Your Excellency's account of the attack on the heights of Charlestown will probably be as long on the road here as the last; but I hope some system of a more quick communication will soon take place, I must confess I do not think that has been sufficiently attended to; I am sure it was a matter of more importance than in general it seemed to be imagined.

Wishing your Excellency all imaginable success, with a share of good health and spirits, in proportion to the great fatigues you must necessarily undergo and the most arduous command His Majesty has been pleased to entrust to your Excellency's conduct, I have the honour to be, with very great esteem and regard, sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

PATRICK TONYN.

GOVERNOUR TONYN TO ADMIRAL GRAVES.

St. Augustine, October 3, 1775.

SIR: On the 14th of last month I had the honour to write to you; which letter is now on board the transport, with troops for Virginia, and this will go by the same opportunity.

Yesterday the St. Lawrence, schooner, arrived in this harbour. She will be of great use to this Province. I am very thankful to you for this mark of your attention to His Majesty's service in this Province. I shall endeavour to make the service here as agreeable to Captain Graves as possible.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

PATRICK TONYN.

JOHN STUART TO GENERAL THOMAS GAGE.

St. Augustine, September 30, 1775.

SIR: I have by this opportunity written to your Excellency, and fully communicated what I know of Indian affairs. I have not as yet received any answer to my letters and messages, sent to the Indian nations by expresses upon my first arrival here. I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency with this, by Colonel Moses Kirkland, of the South-Carolina militia, who, for his attachment to Government, is obliged to fly; he visits your Excellency to communicate the situation of affairs in the back parts of the Southern Provinces, where he is well acquainted and very popular. I know him to be an enterprising, active man, and may possibly be useful in bringing back the people of Carolina to their duty, or keeping up a party for Government. Lord William Campbell has desired me to furnish him with some money to defray his expenses; which I have done accordingly, and have given him a small bill on my agent at New-York.

I most cordially congratulate your Excellency on the signal advantage obtained over the Rebels by the troops under your command at Bunker's Hill, and wish it may have been followed by such further success as may facilitate the restoration of publick tranquillity, upon terms glorious to your Excellency, and honourable to the nation.

I am, with the utmost respect and truth, sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

JOHN STUART.

P. S. The last letter which I have had the honour of receiving from your Excellency is dated 11th of March.

JOHN STUART TO GENERAL THOMAS GAGE.

St. Augustine, October 3, 1775.

SIR: Last night I had the honour of receiving your Ex-