camp. It is of the greatest importance, that whatever is sent from the Colonies, should be here by the middle of March, at farthest, for, after that time, the gentlemen here inform me, it will be impossible to transport any thing from this place to Quebeck, on account of the river's being filled with ice, and water, of consequence, overflows the flat country. Therefore, if any of our wants can be supplied from your camp, I could wish that whatever is sent may be forwarded as expeditiously as possible.

I am, sir, with the greatest esteem and respect, your most obedient servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To General Washington.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, January 21, 1776.

SIR: Your favour of the 6th instant I received, and laid before the General Assembly. It had great weight; and 1 believe that no supplies to the enemy's ships would have been permitted, had it not appeared to us that the members of the Continental Congress were of opinion that they should be continued. The following is an extract of a letter from our Delegates on that subject: "A memorial from the town of Newport, forwarded to us by express, having been referred to the General Assembly, we now enclose that with the papers pertinent thereto. We should not do justice to the benevolence of Congress, or to the distressed situation of the town, if we did not acquaint you that all the gentlemen who spoke in this debate, expressed the most tender regard for the distressed people, and gave it as their opinion, that, as long as the ships-of-war now in the harbour could be supplied with fresh provisions, beer, and such like, necessaries for their own immediate support, consistently with the great principles of the general good and safety of America, the town ought to be permitted to furnish them; the greatest care being taken by Government that no more than the barely necessary supplies be furnished them, from time to time, lest the common enemy, in other parts of the Continent should, through them, obtain provisions." In consequence of which, the General Assembly have ordered that Captain Wallace should be supplied, as you will see by the enclosed vote. But, as he may cannonade, and even burn the town, a discretionary power, by a private vote, which it is designed should be kept a profound secret, is given to the commander of the forces on Rhode-Island, to permit supplies in cases of imminent danger, until the next session, to be holden on the last Monday in next month.

Similar measures to these taken by Connecticut, as mentioned in your letter, have been adopted by this Colony. Besides which, the commanding officer of any body of the Continental troops is empowered to impress carriages, &c.

The General Assembly ordered an address to the Congress, a copy of which I do myself the honour to enclose you. We are not without hopes that the Congress will take the whole brigade into their service, especially as the necessity arising from so powerful an invasion, of establishing the whole force we have ordered, is clear and manifest. From the nature of the war, and the circumstances of the Colonies, I think every idea of partial and colonial defence ought to be given up. There must be a supreme superintending power, to exert and direct the force of the whole for the defence and safety of all; otherwise the exertions and burdens will not only be very unequal, to the greatly endangering the union upon which the welfare of America depends, but Colony after Colony may be subdued, without the chance of making resistance. I shall only add, on this head, that unless the Continent enter upon the defence of the Colony, it must be abandoned, to the great detriment of the common cause. I beg the favour of your Excellency seriously to consider this matter, and to give us your assistance, with the members of the Congress, for procuring such a body of forces as the interest of this and the United Colonies, in general, shall require.

We had procured upwards of an hundred blankets, which were designed for the Army under your immediate command; but the descent upon Prudence obliged us to send forty of them to our troops upon that Island; and to supply the additional forces ordered to be raised, will demand every blanket that can be spared in the Colony.

I am, with great respect and esteem, sir, your Excellency's most obedient, and most humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

To His Excellency General Washington.

Colony of Rhode-Island, &c., in General Assembly,
January 17, 1776.

It is Voted and Resolved, That the Town Council of the town of Newport be allowed to supply Captain Wallace, so long as he shall remain peaceably within the Colony, without committing any depredations upon the Islands, or upon any of the lands in the Colony, weekly with two thousand pounds weight of Beef, and with Beer as usual, under the direction of the commanding-officer of the troops stationed on Rhode-Island; that he appoint the person to provide and deliver the said Provisions; and that no Member of either House of Assembly be appointed to deliver the same, or to go on board of either of the ships-of-war under said Wallace's command, on any occasion whatever.

And this Assembly considering the situation and defenceless state of the town of Newport, do advise, and strongly recommend it to the inhabitants of said town, forthwith to remove to some place of safety, all their aged people, women, children, and those who arc unable to assist in defence of the place, together with their valuable effects.

And do further, Vote and Resolve, That the sum of two hundred Pounds, lawful money, be paid out of the General Treasury, to the Committee hereinafter appointed, which shall be improved in removing such poor persons in said town, as are incapable of removing themselves, and for no other use whatever. That Messrs. John Collins, John Cooke, Thomas Freebody, George Irish, and Daniel Holloway, or the major part of them be, and they are, hereby, appointed a Committee for that purpose. That the said Committee be empowered to settle the price of the transportation of the effects of the inhabitants of the said town to the places where the)' shall be shipped; and, also, the price of transportation over the ferries; and that each of the said Committee be empowered to impress teams, horses, and cattle, to remove such effects at the prices which shall be so affixed.

A true copy:

HENRY WARD, Secretary.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Cambridge, January 2l, 1776.

SIR: In the hurry of my last despatches to you, of the 19th instant, I forgot to intimate, that for the encouragement of the regiment destined for Canada, a month's advanced pay will be allowed officers and soldiers by me, on behalf of Congress. At the same time, I think it but right that you should be apprized of the intention of this Government to advance their regiment another month's pay, to enable the men to provide for so long and fatiguing a march, and, in the mean time, have something for their families to subsist on during their absence.

I have no doubt but that this last advance will be pleasing to Congress, and that the money will be speedily refunded; but as I have no authority to direct it, and would not appear, by any act of mine, to put these three regiments intended for Canada, upon a different footing from those which have been raising for this Army, I only give you a hint of the intention of this Government, if you think proper that the regiment from your Colony may be placed upon the same footing, as I know all kind of distinctions are considered by troops with an evil and jealous eye.

Such necessaries, as are absolutely requisite for the march of this regiment, you will please to have provided upon the best terms you can, and a regular account, with vouchers thereof, left, that payment may be made. The importance of despatch will, I am persuaded, appear in so urgent and pressing a light to you, that I need add nothing on this Head, but shall be glad to hear what progress you make in the business, being with the sincerest regard and esteem, Sir, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Governour Trumbull.

[Same to the Honourable Matthew Thornton, New-Hampshire.]