of being the most imprudent and rash of all mortals, particularly when he is heated with wine, which, as reported, is a daily incident; that, in those moments, he blabs his most secret instructions even to the common men. This deserter, then, informs us, that the Captain, a few days ago, assembled the sailors and marines on the quarter-deck, and assured them, by way of encouragement, that they were to proceed, very soon, to New-York, where they were to be joined by His Majesty's most loyal subjects of White-Plains, Poughkeepsie, and Long-Island, and, at the same time, bestowed, abundantly, his curses on the Admiral and General, for their dilatoriness and scandalous conduct, in not availing themselves, sooner, of the invitation they had received from these worthy gentlemen.

The Congress will make what comments they please on this information, which, I must repeat, I thought it my duty to communicate. Upon the whole, sir, you may be assured, that it is the intention of the Ministerialists to take possession (and immediately) of New-York. The intercepted letters, the unguarded expressions of their officers, in their interviews with ours, on the lines, but, above all, the manifest advantages resulting to their cause from this measure, put their intention beyond dispute.

With submission, therefore, to the wisdom of the Congress, it behooves them, I should think, not to lose a moment in securing this important post, which, if in the hands of the enemy, must cut the Continent in twain, and render it almost impossible for the Northern and Southern Colonies mutually to support each other. This is not a crisis, when every thing is at stake, to be over-complacent to the timidity of the inhabitants of any particular spot. I have now under my command a respectable force, adequate to the purposes of securing the place, and purging all its environs of Traitors, on which subject I shall expect, with impatience, the determination of the Congress. Their orders I hope to receive before, or immediately on my arrival.

This instant, the enclosed express, from the Provincial Congress of New-York, was delivered into my hands; but, as these gentlemen, probably, are not fully apprized of the danger hanging over their heads, as I have received intelligence from camp that the fleet is sailed, and that it is necessary to urge my march, I shall proceed, with one division of the forces under my command, to that city. A moment's delay may be fatal.

The force I shall carry with me is not strong enough to act offensively, but just sufficient to secure the city against any immediate designs of the enemy. If this is to give umbrage, if the Governour, and Captain of the man-of-war, are pleased to construe this step as an act of positive hostility, if they are to prescribe what number of your troops, and what number not, are to enter the city, all I can say is, that New-York must be considered as the Ministers' place, and not the Continent's.

I must now, sir, beg pardon for the length of this letter, and, more so, for the presumption in offering, so freely, my thoughts to the Congress, from whom it is my duty simply to receive my orders, and, as a servant and soldier, strictly to obey, which none can do with greater ardour and affection than, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

CHARLES LEE.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental Congress.

In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 21, 1776.

SIR: The inhabitants of this city are much alarmed at various confident advices of your destination, with a considerable body of forces for active service here. Confident, however, as those advices may appear to people without doors, we cannot readily credit them, as we conceive it most probable that, were you preparing to execute any plan of that kind, it would be preceded by some intimations to us on the subject, from the Continental Congress, General Washington, or yourself. We, therefore, should not have troubled you with this application, had it not been to procure such information from you as may enable us, in a prudent use of it, to allay the fears of our inhabitants, who, at this inclement season of the year, will continue, as they have already begun, to remove their women and children, and which, if continued, may occasion hundreds to perish for want of shelter.

This Committee, and the Congress, whose place we fill in their recess, are, we flatter ourselves, as unanimously zealous in the cause of America, as any representative body on the Continent; so truly zealous, that both the one and the other will cheerfully devote this city to sacrifice, for advancing that great and important cause. But, to acquit ourselves in the judgment of the Continent, which, in point of publick aid, is deeply interested in the preservation of this metropolis, and to our constituents, who expect our prudent care of their lives and properties, we think it our indispensable duty to inform you, that, though we have advices that General Washington has been informed of the arrival of a large quantity of powder among us, we have not a sufficiency to enable you to act hostilely against the ships-of-war now in port. Our whole quantity of publick powder is less than three tons.

No works are erected to annoy the enemy in their present situation. Should it be practicable, at this juncture, to erect hasty works for that purpose, to what shift are we to betake ourselves, after our trifling supply of ammunition shall be expended? The commencement of hostilities, for which we are now so unprepared, will preclude the possibility of a supply, even for our musketry, in the ensuing campaign. The strict guard against the exportation of ammunition from the foreign ports in Europe, we have great reason to fear, will cut off all hopes of supply from that quarter, as well to us as the Continental Congress. We have sent sundry adventures thither, some of which have failed; for this reason, we are daily pushing adventures to the West-Indies, with the article of provisions, as a necessary expedient in the present uncommon scarcity of bullion. The ships-of-war give no interruption to our vessels despatched on those adventures, a favour we cannot expect should hostilities begin. And, even should we be fortunate enough to oblige the ships-of-war to quit this port, by expending the little powder we have, (an event which our most sanguine hopes cannot promise us,) the attention of our enemies will effectually prevent our expected importations.

For these reasons, we conceive that a just regard to the publick cause, and our duty, to take a prudent care of this city, dictate the impropriety of provoking hostilities at present, and the necessity of saving appearances with the ships-of-war till, at least, the month of March.

Though we have been unfortunate, in our disappointments, with respect to some of our adventures, yet, be assured, sir, we have not been idle. Our intrenching tools are almost completed to a sufficient number; we are forming a magazine of provisions for five thousand men, for a month, in a place of safety, and at a convenient distance from this city; we have provided ourselves with six good brass field-pieces, and have directed carriages to be made for our other artillery, and are raising a company of Artillery for the defence of the Colony, on the Continental establishment. These things, with other smaller matters, when accomplished, and, with the arrival of some powder, the prospect of which is not unpromising, will enable us to face our enemies with some countenance.

We, therefore, ardently wish to remain in peace, for a little time, and doubt not we have assigned sufficient reasons for avoiding, at present, a dilemma, in which the present entrance of a large body of troops into this city, will, almost certainly, involve us. Should you have such an entrance in design, we beg, at least, that the troops may halt on the western confines of Connecticut, till we shall have been honoured, by you, with such an explanation on this important subject, as you may conceive your duty may permit you to enter into with us, the grounds of which, you will easily see, ought to be kept an entire secret, and to assure you that we are, with great esteem and respect, sir, your most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee:

PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT, Chairman.

To Major-General Lee.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Lebanon, January 22, 1776.

SIR: Orders were just given for raising a regiment of seven hundred and fifty men, to go for the help of our friends in Canada, to serve till the first of November next, and