continues to circulate his proclamations and intelligence through the country. It is said that Colonel Henry, with a large body of men, is gone against him; and a General from the American camp, at Cambridge, in Massachusetts-Bay, is expected on the same service.

A gentleman, who lately passed this way from South-Carolina, said that Lord William Campbell, Governour of that Province, and his Secretary, were still on board the Tamer, sloop-of-war. The Governour's lady remained at his house in Charlestown. Mr. Stuart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who had fled to East-Florida in May last, lately held a Congress with a great number of Indians, near St. Augustine, but they had not learnt, at Charles-town, what had been done by him and them. The Government of South-Carolina has been, for some time, in the hands of a Council of Safety, consisting of thirteen, and a General Committee of ninety-nine, who permitted several vessels to carry rice to the West-Indies, on condition of their bringing arms, ammunition, clothing, and other necessaries in return; and so strictly do they adhere to the General Continental Association, that a quantity of clothing, shipped from a foreign Island, being discovered to be of British manufacture, was sent back in the vessel that brought it. Some of the fire-arms, which were French, had, on trial, been found good for nothing. They have two regiments of Foot and one of Horse in actual pay, besides a great number of Volunteer Companies daily training, exclusive of the Militia, all which are under the command and direction of the Council of Safety.

An attack on Charlestown has been for some time expected, by an armament from England, on which account many of the inhabitants have left the town, almost all the merchandise and valuable effects are removed, and the Provincial records are, by order of the Council of Safety, carried to Dorchester, about twenty miles up in the country. A scheme was formed, and some vessels purchased, in order to attack and seize the Tamer, sloop; but, when the vessels were fitted out and armed, some misapprehension or misunderstanding arose among the several companies destined for the service, and the design was given up or postponed. It was said that the sum of one million pounds, currency, issued by the Congress last Summer, was nearly expended in putting the Colony in a state of defence; cash was very scarce, and many persons were issuing their own notes.

CAPTAIN BELLEW TO COLONEL HOWE.

Ship Liverpool, off Norfolk, December 30, 1775.

SIR: As I hold it incompatible with the honour of my commission to suffer men, in arms against their Sovereign and the laws, to appear before His Majesty's ships, I desire you will cause your sentinels, in the town of Norfolk, to avoid being seen, that women and children may not feel the effects of their audacity; and it would not be imprudent if both were to leave the town.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

HENRY BELLEW.

To Robert Howe, Esq.

COLONEL HOWE TO CAPTAIN BELLEW.

Norfolk, December 30, 1775.

I am too much of an officer to wish you to do any thing incompatible with the honour of your commission, or to recede, myself, from any point which I conceive to be my duty. Under the influence of reciprocal feelings, consequences may ensue which either, perhaps, would choose to avoid. Our sentinels have received orders not to fire at your boats, or any other, unless approaching the shore in a hostile manner. If they exceed this order, we would punish them ourselves; or, if you do it, we shall thank you for it. If, however, your resentment extends farther than merely to them, I should wish the inhabitants of the town, who have nothing to do in this matter, may have time to remove with their effects. And, as to the rest, I should be unworthy of the respect of a man of your character, if I consulted any thing but my duty.

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

ROBERT HOWE.

To Henry Bellew, Esq.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS-BAY.

Cambridge, December 29, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Having never considered the four independent companies which have been doing duty at Brain-tree, Weymouth, and Hingham, in the same point of view as the rest of the Army, (although some orders may have gone to or for them, through the hurry of business,) nor included them in my Returns to Congress, according to the Brigade-Major's Report from Congress, I do not think myself authorised to direct pay for them without first laying the matter before Congress, which I shall do by enclosing a exact transcript of your representation of the case, with this single remark: that, as they were not regimented, and were doing duty at some distance from these camps, 1 did not know whether to consider them as part of the Continental Army, and, therefore, had not of ordered them payment heretofore.

With respect to the other requisition contained in your Resolve of the 20th, I do not think myself at liberty to extend the guards of this camp beyond Squantum and Chelsea, both fit places for observation. This was my sentiment of the matter when the Committee did me the honour to call yesterday; but as it appeared to be of some importance to this Government, I did not care to determine upon it without asking the opinion of some of the principal officers in this Army, whose sentiments, I am happy to find, coincide with my own.

This might be assigned as one, among other reasons, to show that I did not consider these four companies as part of the Continental troops; that there were times, in the course of the past Summer, when I should not have suffered them to have remained at the places they were posted, if I had considered myself vested with power to have withdrawn them.

I would not have it inferred, from hence, that I do not think it my duty, and with the greatest cheerfulness shall undertake, to march troops, if these lines are not to be exposed by it, to any place in this or the neighbouring Governments, to oppose an invasion. But, whilst the body of the Ministerial troops continue in Boston, and the circumstances of this Army remain as they are, it must be my first object to guard these lines.

I am, with great respect, gentlemen, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

GENERAL GATES TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

Head-Quarters, Friday night, 8 o'clock,

December 29, 1775.

SIR: I am commanded by his Excellency General Washington, to acquaint you that he is just informed that you propose to execute the project to-night, which, by some mischance, was delayed last night. If no Intelligence of your intention has already reached the enemy, there is no doubt they were sufficiently informed, by the firing, by the tracks this morning they discovered in the snow, and other circumstances, that they are acquainted with your design. His Excellency, therefore, orders me to say, you had better wait a more favourable opportunity, when the absence of the moon, the light afforded by the snow, and weather more suitable to prevent discovery, correspond to give success to your undertaking.

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

HORATIO GATES, Adj't General.

To Brig. Gen. Sullivan, Winter-Hill

WINTHROP SARGENT TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Gloucester, December 29, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: At the request pf Messrs. Jacob Green if Co., owners of the sloop Speedwell, —Cory, Master, lately taken by Captain Broughton and sent into this harbour, we have maturely considered the within enclosed account, so far as it is carried out, and are of opinion that the charges are reasonable, and that the losses were sustained; and are further of opinion, that the captors, in justice, should pay it, with the remainder of the account, when the same can be ascertained. And we do recommend to your Excellency the same, hoping