allowing for the use of them, when I know it to be the opinion of Congress that every man shall furnish his own arms, or pay for the use of them, if put in his own hands; to do otherwise, is an indirect way of raising the pay. I again wish that the honourable Court could devise some method of purchasing.

I beg leave to return my thanks for the kind offer of fifty thousand pounds, for the Continental use. I will accept of a loan upon the terms mentioned, of half that sum, to secure payment of the Militia, whose time of service will be up the last of this month, till when I shall not have occasion to make use of the money.

I am, with great respect, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable General Court of Massachusetts-Bay.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MATTHEW THORNTON.

Cambridge, January 16, 1776.

SIR: The alarming and almost defenceless stale of our lines, occasioned by the slow progress in raising recruits for the new Army, and the departure of a great number of the Militia, which had been called in for their support till the 15th instant, rendered it necessary for me to summon the General Officers in council, to determine on proper measures to be adopted for their preservation. For this purpose they met at Head-Quarters yesterday and to-day, and finding that it was with the utmost difficulty and persuasion that such of the latter as are now here, have been prevailed to continue till the last of the month, (after which there is not the remotest probability of their staying a moment,) they have judged it expedient, and absolutely necessary, that thirteen regiments should be forthwith raised, equal to those of the new establishment, to be officered according to the usual mode of their respeciive Governments, which are to repair to this camp by the last instant, if possible, to be in readiness to act in such manner (till the 1st of April) as circumstances may require. Of this number, they apprehend the Massachusetts should furnish seven; Connecticut four; and your Government two; being agreeable to the proportion settled by Congress.

In order that each regiment may consist of a proper number of officers and men, I have enclosed you a list for their regulation, and of the Continental pay.

I must earnestly solicit your attention and regard to arms, ammunition, blankets, kettles, and clothing, that they may come as well provided with these necessaries as possible, particularly the first, as, from the amazing deficiency here, I shall not have it in my power to supply them.

The situation and exigency of our affairs calling for this assistance, I have the most pleasing assurance that your honourable body will exert themselves for complying with this requisition, with all possible despatch.

I am, sir, with much esteem and regard, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable Matthew Thornton.

MAJOR-GENERAL HOWE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Boston, January 16, 1776.

MY LORD: By Admiral Shuldham's arrival, on the 30th of December, I had the honour of your Lordship's despatches of the 22d October; a duplicate of the 25th September, from Mr. Deputy Secretary Pownall, covering a letter from Lord William Campbell, of the 19th July; a duplicate from your Lordship, of the 22d September, the originals of which are not yet received, with copies of despatches from the Earl of Rochford, of the 21st September, to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; also, a copy of a letter from your Lordship, of the 22d September, to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in which you are pleased to intimate that the stores of provisions contracted for by Messrs. Mure, Son & Atkinson, by the Lords of the Treasury, are intended as well for the fleet as the army; whereas, from there not being any mention made of the fleet sharing these stores, either in your Lordship's letters to me, from the Lords of the Treasury, or the merchants, the cargoes; arriving before Admiral Shuldham, were distributed solely to the army. But, since the sight of your Lordship's letter, that I might not appear to neglect the fleet, I have, though without a direct order from your Lordship, given a proportion of porter to the ships; at the same time, I beg leave to observe, the deliveries of provisions to the soldiers, for some weeks past, being without peas or rice, the want of bedding, and the unavoidable exposure to the weather, from the nature of the duty, which has been very severe, without enumerating further reasons, make them require these refreshments more than seamen, who are better provided.

I enclose, for your Lordship's information, an account of the deficiencies in the provision contract, with the Commissary's letter thereupon; and 1 shall send another to the Lords of the Treasury.

Having heard, from Governour Tryon, that there is a prospect of getting some provisions on the side of New-York, I have despatched a vessel to endeavour to procure it; and the victuallers for the navy, lately arrived, could conveniently afford us a supply for six weeks, if necessary, which relieves me from the necessity of putting the troops to short allowance, more especially as I am hopeful that the vessels mentioned in my despatch of the 19th December, may return from the West-Indies and Georgia, before the provisions in store, as per state, are consumed; so that our dependance is not wholly on the contractors' ships, one of which got in the 13th instant, with oats, flour, and peas; the last article affording most seasonable relief.

The necessary arrangements being made for the departure of Major-General Clinton to Cape-Fear, in consequence of your Lordship's despatches of the 22d October, he is ready to sail in the Mercury, ship-of-war, with the Falcon, sloop, and two transports, having on board two companies of Light-Infantry, and some Highlanders; the latter, I hope, may be useful in getting men in North-Carolina, if Governour Martin is not deceived in his expectations, of which I do not presume to judge, having received no direct intelligence from thence since General Gage's departure; nor have I received Governour Martin's letter, referred to in your Lordship's letter of 22d October.

It is much to be wished that the troops had sailed from Europe in time to have arrived at their destination by the middle, or latter end of November; but I am free to own my opinion to your Lordship, which has been, to leave the Southern Provinces in the fullest persuasion of their security, until the Rebels should have been defeated on the side of New-York; which event appears to me, more clearly than ever, of so much consequence, that our utmost strength should be exerted to accomplish it before designs of less importance are taken up, inconsistent with the general plan of operations for the ensuing campaign; and it is to be presumed the Southern Rebels would have been less able to defend themselves, had they not been roused by the conduct of their Governours, who have not, I fear, the power of suppressing them, or of reestablishing the interest of Government in any degree.

It is remarkable, that the destination of the regiments to the Southward, was promulgated here by private letters from England, that came in the same ship with your Lord ship's despatch relative to them; and I make no doubt of the Rebels being in possession of the intelligence very soon after it arrived. General Lee, I hear, is gone for the Army in consequence of it.

In Mr. Deputy Secretary Pownall's letter of the 22d September, I am to understand, that I may expect the King's commands from your Lordship, for the Seventeenth, Twenty-Seventh, Twenty-Eighth, Forty-Sixth, and Fifty-Fifth Regiments, to be sent to Quebeck, as early as possible, in the Spring, and to detach a sufficient force from this army for the security of Halifax.

These drains, added to that to the Southward, from whence I can promise myself little assistance to the main army, will reduce the expected strength for the campaign so considerably, that, if a respectable supply of troops from Europe does not arrive soon in the Spring, another defensive campaign, I conclude, will he the consequence; for, by the want of a force to act early, the Rebel Army will have full lime to intrench in every strong position their commanders may fix upon; in which case, though we should get possession of New-York without resistance, we must not expect to carry their intrenched camps but with considerable loss. Whereas, on the contrary, the army, at the opening of the campaign, being in force, would, pro-