General Heath, Brigadier-General Spencer, Brigadier-General Sullivan, Brigadier-General Greene, Brigadier-General Gates.

The Commander-in-chief laid before the Council a slate of the regiments in the Continental Army, the consequent weakness of the lines, and, in his judgment, the indispensable necessity of making a bold attempt to conquer the Ministerial troops in Boston, before they can be reinforced in the Spring, if the means can be provided, and a favourable opportunity offer, and then desired the opinion of the Council thereon.

The Council agreed, unanimously, that a vigorous attempt ought to be made upon the Ministerial army in Boston, as soon as practicable, all concurring circumstances favouring the wished-for success; and advised His Excellency to request from this, and the neighbouring Colonies, thirteen regiments of Militia to his aid, to be at Cambridge by the 1st of February, and to consist of the same number of men and officers, as those upon the Continental establishment, and to remain (should occasion require) until the last of March, application to be made to the General Court of the Massachusetts-Bay for seven of those regiments; to Connecticut, for four; and to New-Hampshire, for two; exempting Rhode-Hand from their quota of men, on account of the repealed insults of the enemy's ships of war, and the exposed situation of the sea-coasts of that Colony.

His Excellency also informed the Council of the great deficiency of arms, and the small prospect of a supply, (the Recruiting Officers having signified to him, that the recruits would not bring arms without an allowance for the use of them, and be assured they might carry them home at the expiration of their services.)

The Council, thereupon, advised the General to procure arms upon those terms, as there seemed no probability of getting imported arms, and the service must be put to the utmost hazard without.

Cambridge, January 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The enclosures herewith sent, convey such full accounts of the sad reverse of our affairs in Canada, as to render it unnecessary for me, in my present hurry, to add ought to the tale. Your spirited Colony will, I have no doubt, be sufficiently impressed with the expediency of a vigorous exertion to prevent the evils which, otherwise, must follow from the repulse of our troops. It does not admit of a doubt but that General Carleton will improve this advantage to the utmost, and if he should be able to give different current of sentiment to the Canadians and Indians, than those they seemed inclined lo adopt, words are unnecessary lo describe the melancholy effect that will, inevitably, follow. I am persuaded, therefore, that you will exert yourselves to the inmost, to throw in the reinforcement, (by the route mentioned in General Schuyler's letter,) that is now required of your Colony, as the doing of it expeditiously may prove a matter of the utmost importance. You will perceive, by the Minutes of the Council of War enclosed, that the regiment asked of you for Canada is one of the number applied for in my letter of the 16th instant, and that the only difference with respect to the requisition, is the length of time, and place of service, as no good would result from sending troops to Canada for a shorter period than the Continental Army is raised for, to wit: till the 1st of January, 1777.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the General Court of Massachusetts-Bay.

A Letter similar to the preceding was sent to the Governments of Connecticut and New-Hampshire.

January 19, 1776.

The Committee of both Houses, appointed to take into consideration his Excellency General Washington's Letter to this Court, of the 15th instant, have attended that service, and report as followeth, viz:

That his Excellency be informed that it is the opinion of this Court, there would be a general supply of fire-arms brought into the camp, if he would give publick notice that if the recruits would come well armed, they should be allowed for the use of their arms, and, if lost in the service, the just value of them should be paid; and that their arms shall not be detained from them when their time of service shall expire. And that, to detain the arms of the Militia, without their consent, would neither promote the good of the service, nor facilitate the arming the forces, as it would produce a general uneasiness through the country. And that his Excellency be also informed, that this Colony have in store, but about two hundred fire-arms, part of which are out of repair; such as will do for the service, although provided for the particular use of this Colony, we shall be ready to deliver, if they shall be needed, and do all in our power to aid his Excellency in arming the troops.

By order:

JAMES PRESCOTT.

In Council, January 16, 1776: Read and sent down.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

In the House of Representatives, January 16, 1776: Read and accepted, and thereupon, Ordered, That the Committee appointed to wait upon His Excellency General Washington, on the subject of his Letter of the 10th current, be a Committee to present him a copy of the within Report. Sent up for concurrence.

JAMES WARREN, Speaker.

In Council, January 16, 1776: Read and concurred.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

A true copy.—Attest:

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

His Excellency, the Commander-in-chief, having been pleased to order an advertisement in the several newspapers of this and the adjoining Colonies, commanding "all Officers, non-Commissioned Officers, and Soldiers, new absent upon any leave or pretence whatsoever, to join their respective Regiments, at Roxbury and Cambridge, by the 1st day of February next, and all Officers neglecting to pay due obedience thereto, will be forthwith cashiered, and every non-Commissioned Officer and Soldier, failing therein, to be tried and punished as Deserters,"the Colonels, and Commanding Officers of Regiments and Corps, are now positively ordered not to grant any more furloughs, or leaves of absence to any Officer, non-Commissioned Officer, or Soldier, any former order or permission heretofore given notwithstanding. His Excellency, therefore, expects every Colonel, and Commanding Officer of Regiments and Corps, will direct all those absent from their Regiments or Corps, to pay strict obedience to this Order, that no person may plead, or be allowed to plead, ignorance thereof.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, January 13, 1776.

To prevent any misconception of the Order of yesterday, it is declared, that the Commanding Officers of Regiments are not restrained from sending out as many recruiting officers as can be spared from the duties of their respective Regiments, but that those officers, together with such as are now out with their recruits, be positively ordered to be in camp by the last of this month, that our real strength may be fully and clearly ascertained.

The Colonels, and Commanding Officers of Corps, to recommend it, immediately, to their recruiting officers, to get all their recruits armed in the country; or, at least, as many as it is possible to have supplied with arms from thence.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, January 14, 1776.

A General Court-Martial to sit to-morrow morning in Cambridge, to try such prisoners as shall lie brought before them. All evidences and persons concerned to attend the Court. The Court to assemble at Mr. Pomeroy's, at ten, in the forenoon.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, January 15, 1776.