are ever near my heart. If I live, and regain my liberty, I may still be serviceable to them; if not, oh God! how I anticipate their distress; but inform them not where I am, or my situation, for distraction itself would be ease and peace to me, compared with the sight of them in my present circumstances. You, who know the inmost recesses of my heart, will readily discover my perturbation and uneasiness of mind, from every sentence of this incoherent epistle, but believe me, I at present am incapable of any thing better, and must conclude, with a firm reliance on your humanity and friendship.

Dear sir, your sincere and affectionate,

JOHN, Earl of DUNMORE, Viscount FINCASTLE, Baron MURRAY of BLAIR, of MONLIN and of TILLIMET, Lieutenant and Governour-General of His Majesty's [SEAL.] Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, and Vice-Admiral of the same, to JOHN CONNOLLY, Esquire.

By virtue of His Majesty's Royal Commission and instruction, appointing me Lieutenant and Governour-General, in and over this his Colony and Dominion of Virginia, with full power and authority to appoint all officers, both civil and military, within the same, I, reposing especial trust in your loyalty, courage, and good conduct, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you, John Connolly, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Queen's Royal Bangers. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant, by exercising and well disciplining both the officers and soldiers under your command; and you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from his Majesty, myself, or any other, your superior officers, according to the rules and discipline of war, and in pursuance of the trust hereby reposed in you.

Given on board the Ship William, under my hand and seal at arms, this 5th day of November, and in the 16th year of his Majesty's reign, 1775.

DUNMORE.

Fredericktown, Maryland, December 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I have more to say to you than I will commit to paper. I mentioned you in proper terms to General Gage; and had done something to your honour and advantage could I have got up safely to Detroit.

Captain Lord, who was to have acted under me, will now be in danger at the Illinois. I have, therefore, desired him to push down the Mississippi, and join the Earl of Dunmore and the Fourteenth, at Norfolk. Assist the bearer with a canoe, gun, &c., which make a charge of, and send an Indian express with my letter to Captain Lernoult, at Detroit.

Pray give Mrs. Connolly any assistance she may want, and throw it into the Indian Department, for which I have authority to direct you.

God bless you, adieu, I write in bed, with two sentinels at the door, with hourly apprehensions of death.

JOHN CONNOLLY,

To Alexander McKee, Pittsburgh.

From confinement in Frederick, Maryland, December 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Just snatching the opportunity of pen and ink, of which I am generally debarred the use of, I write you by the bearer, Doctor Smith, who will inform you fully of every circumstance relative to what you were to have performed. I am now a prisoner, and the whole scheme at an end. You must, therefore, agreeable to General Gage's order, and Lord Dunmore's, proceed down the Mississippi, and join Lord Dunmore at Norfolk, and the Fourteenth, who are now there. Lose no time, for fear the Rebels should be upon you from Pittsburgh. All the General's orders are as Doctor Smith will inform you.

Adieu, my compliments to all the gentlemen under your command. Things wear a shocking aspect in America.

Yours, &c.,

JOHN CONNOLLY.

To Captain N. Lord.

P. S. Draw upon General Howe for two hundred dollars, in favour of the bearer.

J. C.

Frederick, Maryland, December 16, 1775.

SIR: From the strictest confinement, I venture to write to you, having accidentally got pen, ink and paper, of which I have been debarred for some time.

I was made prisoner on my way through this Government, to your port, where I expected to have afforded you some assistance, and to have ordered Captain Lord of the Eighteenth, from the Union, to join us there also. I am now to inform you, that I much fear His Majesty's enemies may attack you early in the Spring, and as Montreal is in their hands, I dread the consequences. Let this thing . . . . to give you notice of such intentions, and whether upon that account, you might not judge it expedient to evacuate the garrison, and, with Captain Lord, move down the Mississippi, and join the Earl of Dunmore at Norfolk. The Fourteenth Regiment have lately had a skirmish with the Rebels, in which Captain Fordice was killed.

I can say no more, as I write every moment expecting to be surprised. Your orders, which I had from the General, are . . . . they would have been satisfactory to you. You were ordered to raise all the French you could, which I hope you have done.

I am sir, your most obedient servant,

JOHN CONNOLLY.

To Captain Lernoult, or Officer commanding at Detroit.

N. B. Take care that there is not an improper correspondence carried on between your post and Pittsburgh.

Fredericktown, Maryland, December 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Though your remote situation may have prevented you from hearing many particulars relative to the state of the Colonies, you yet must know enough to discover your own dangerous situation. You were to have joined me at Detroit, by the Ouabache communication, and it was expected, by your advice and assistance, that we would have been able to penetrate through the Colony of Virginia, and thus divided the Southern from the Northern Governments. You were formerly ordered by the General to put yourself immediately under the command of General Carleton, but, for obvious reasons, you were desired to receive your directions from the Earl of Dunmore.

The orders are now—— You are therefore, as you was directed, to move yourself and all garrison stores, ordance, &c., immediately down the Mississippi to New-Orleans, or wherever you can procure a conveyance for Norfolk, Virginia, where you will join his Excellency the Earl of Dunmore and the Fourteenth Regiment. You had full power to make all expenses, so that you need not be apprehensive on that score. The sooner you get down the better, as I much fear you will be attacked from Pittsburgh very soon. Draw a bill in favour of the bearer, for two hundred dollars, and, also, take him with you to Norfolk. The Fourteenth have just had a skirmish with the Virginians, in which Captain Fordice, of that regiment, was killed, and Lieutenant Batut taken prisoner. I am safely watched here, and now write in bed, with two sentinels at the door. Adieu. God bless you. Remember me to Connolly, and all the gentlemen.

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

JOHN CONNOLLY.

To Captain N. Lord, or Officer commanding at Illinois.

[Fredericktown, Maryland, December 16, 1775.]

I wrote to you before, but as that letter was to pass the inspection of the Committee. I could not speak free. I am now to desire you not to write to me, or you may be assured that every word will be known before I can see it, as they will open all directed to me. I have wrote to Captain McKee, to let you have what you want, and charge it in the Indian account. Make yourself easy. I don't know where I am to be sent yet. I thought to have had you here, but the Committee altered their opinion, after the man had his horses saddled, to go for you and the child. Lord Dunmore has had a skirmish lately, and had a Captain of the Fourteenth Regiment killed. Give my love to Sally. Keep this secret, for I am not allowed pen or ink.

Yours affectionately,

JOHN CONNOLLY.

To Mrs. Susanna Connolly, Pittsburgh.