Colony those provisions they were so willing to purchase. I thought proper, sir, to give you this information; and through you, Colonel Woodford and myself beg leave to submit it to the consideration of your honourable Board, whether we are to show any indulgence to those people, and, if we are, to what bounds we are to extend it.

Major Ruffin, and about one hundred and eighty Minute-Men, arrived last night; it was a seasonable relief to our soldiers, almost worn out with duty this very bad weather.

I was honoured with your letter yesterday, and are made happy to find our proceedings are approved of. The orders it conveys, and all others which we may receive, we shall endeavour to execute with the greatest punctuality.

POST-OFFICES UNDER THE CROWN DISCONTINUED.

General Post-Office, New-York, December 25, 1775.

Whereas, the Provincial Convention at Annapolis has passed a Resolve, "That the Parliamentary Post (as they are pleased to term it) shall not be permitted to suffer or travel in, or pass through that Province with any mail, packages, or letters;" and, in consequence of that Resolve, have taken His Majesty's mail from the Post-Office at Baltimore, with the letters contained therein. The Committee at Philadelphia having also taken the mail containing all the last packet letters to the Southward, opened many of them, to the great hurt of individuals; and signied to the Postmaster their intention of stopping all others for the future; and other of His Majesty's mails having been taken and obstructed, notice is hereby given to the publick, that the Deputy Postmaster-General is obliged, for the present, to stop all the Posts. They are also hereby desired to take notice, that for the safety of the letters coming by the next or any future packet, they will be kept on board, and the names of those who shall have letters will be advertised, that they may either apply themselves, or write to their friends in this city to take them up. An order in writing from the person to whom any letters may be directed will be necessary.

FRANCIS DASHWOOD, Secretary.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Cambridge, December 25, 1775.

SIR: I had the honour to address myself to you the 19th instant, since which I have received undoubted information, that the genuine instructions give to Connolly have not reached your hands, that they are very artfully concealed in the tree of his saddle, and covered with canvass so nicely, that they are scarcely discernable; that those which were found upon him are intended to deceive, if he were caught. You will most certainly have his saddle taken to pieces in order to discover this deep laid plot.

Enclosed is a copy of General Howe's letter in answer to the one I wrote him the 18th instant; the conduct I am to observe towards Brigadier Prescott, in consequence of these letters, the Congress will oblige me by determining for me.

The gentlemen by whom you sent the money are arrived; the sum they brought, though large, is not sufficient to answer the demands of the Army, which at this time are remarkably heavy. There are three months' pay due, one month's advance, two dollars for each blanket, the arms which are left by those who are dismissed to be paid for, besides the demands which are on the Commissary and Quartermaster-Generals. You will, therefore, see the necessity of another remittance, which I beg may be as soon as you conveniently can. I will take the opportunity of the return of those gentlemen, to send Colonel Kirkland to you for examination, and that you may dispose of him as to you may seem proper.

A Committee from the General Court of this Province called on me the other day, informing me that they were in great want of ordnance for defence of the Colony; that if what belonged to them, now in use here, was kept for the Continent, they will be under the necessity of providing themselves with others; of course what is kept must be paid for. There are many of the cannon of very little use; such of them as are good I cannot at present part with. Perhaps when I receive the supply from New-York and Canada, it may be in my power to spare them.

Mr. Wadsworth has sent in his report respecting Cape-Cod harbour, a copy of which you will receive herewith; also a letter received from a Mr. Jacob Bayley, put into my hands by Colonel Little; it contains some things that may not be unworthy the consideration of Congress.

We have made good progress in the works on Lechmere's Point; they would have been finished ere this, but for the severity of the weather, which prevents our people from working.

I received a letter from Governour Cooke, which expresses the fears of the people of Rhode-Island, lest the ships, which we had information were sailed, with some troops on board, were destined for Newport; I sent Major-General Lee there, to point out to them such defence as he may think the place capable of. I sincerely wish he may be able to do it with effect, as that place, in its present state, is an asylum for such as are disaffected to American liberty.

Our returns of inlistments to this day amount to eight thousand five hundred men.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

P. S. Enclosed is an estimate of the demands of the Army.

PELEG WADSWORTH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

December 16, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: Agreeable to your orders of the 5th instant, I have examined the harbour of Cape-Cod, and give it as my opinion that Cape-Cod makes a very extensive harbour with any winds from the west to north and northeast, and shipping may conveniently ride out of the reach of cannon, although the whole shore was lined with them. But the Cove, which may be strictly called the harbour, might be pretty well commanded from an eminence on the shore. This might deprive art enemy of the most commodious part of the harbour, prevent their watering, rendezvous, &c., &c.

I am, with due respect, your Excellency's humble servant,

PELEG WADSWORTH.

To His Excellency General Washington,

GENERAL HOWE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, December 21, 1775.

SIR: In answer to your letter of the 18th instant, I am to acquaint you that my command does not extend to Canada; nor having received any accounts wherein the name of Allen is mentioned, I cannot give you the smallest satisfaction upon the subject of your letter; but trusting Major-General Cartoon's conduct will never incur censure upon any occasion, I am to conclude in the instance of your inquiry, that he has not forfeited his past pretensions to decency and humanity. It is with regret, considering the character you have always maintained among your friends, as a gentleman of the strictest honour and delicacy, that I find cause to resent a sentence in the conclusion of your letter, big with invective against my superiors, and insulting to myself, which should obstruct any further intercourse between us.

I am, sir, with due respect, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM HOWE.

To George Washington, Esq.

COLONEL JACOB BAYLEY TO COLONEL LITTLE.

Newbury, November 24, 1775.

SIR: Means have been taken, I do not doubt, to secure the conquest at Canada, and also to connect the Colony with ours; yet as I am nigh to it, and somewhat acquainted with that country, would beg leave to let you know my thoughts of the matter. I say to you as I need some one of my acquaintance who may be able to assert my sincerity; I am not able any other way to improve the one talent I have, being settled in so remote a part of the country, and since the war, applying myself wholly in carrying on the settlement of this country, so that of late, I have had