General Sullivan for said purpose; and if they are not, and cannot be mostly raised there, under the proposed officers, to consider whether the officers appointed by this Court will be likely better to effect the purpose of raising the regiment.

Likewise wait on General Washington, and lay before his Excellency all the letters received from General Sullivan, on the subject, and represent to him the difficulties that have, and likely may arise by General Sullivan's doing things that this Colony suppose ought to be done by their legislative authority. And, if it is absolutely necessary to advance a month's pay to said regiment, you may engage it. You are desired to inquire whether the people, that came in on the Lexington alarm, are likely to be paid by the Continent. Also, in what manner commissions and processes issue in the Massachusetts Colony.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO COLONELS MOREY AND BELLOWS.

In Committee of Safety, January 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: You are desired, immediately, to procure on the best terms the following articles, for the use of the regiment now raising on the frontiers of this Colony, to march into Canada under the command of Colonel Timothy Bedel, there to join the Northern Continental Army, and to deliver to each soldier his proportion of the same, of the provisions, at the rate of one pound of pork, and one pound of bread, and half a pint of peas, each day, for their march from Connecticut River, through the woods to Onion River, which it is estimated will be fifteen days at least; and you are to keep an exact account of the delivery of the whole:

Twelve thousand pounds salt pork, at seven pence; 400 bushels of wheat, to be ground into flour; 500 pair of men's shoes; 50 moose skins for moccasins; 720 pair rackets or snow shoes; 688 hatchets, or tomahawks; 688 blankets, at fifteen shillings, to be allowed each soldier; if the blanket cost more, the soldier to pay the overplus, if less, to be made up to him; 120 tin camp kettles; gunpowder; musket balls; flints; ground ginger; 200 gallons rum; 200 yards coarse cloth, for Indian leggins; 200 yards coarse cloth, for shirting; 200 yards coarse cloth, for men's clothes.

By order of the Committee:

MESHECH WEARE, Chairman.

To Colonel Morey and Colonel Bellows.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO COL. WAITE.

In Committees of Safety, January 21, 1776.

To JOSEPH WAITE, Esq.:

You being appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of a Regiment of Rangers, to be commanded by Timothy Bedel, Esq., to serve in the Northern Continental Army, you are hereby authorized and desired immediately to proceed on the inlisting the said Regiment; the several Companies to consist of eighty-six able-bodied, effective men, including four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drummer, and one Fifer, well accoutred with arms and blankets, until the 1st day of January next, unless sooner dismissed. And you may assure them they shall have the same pay as the other Continental troops.

By order of the Committee:

MESHECH WEARE, Chairman.

JONATHAN COLCORD'S LICENSE FOR CLEARANCE OF THE SCHOONER DOLPHIN.

Colony of New-Hampshire, Exeter,
December 27, 1775.

To all Masters or Commanders of Vessels in the service of the UNITED CONTINENTAL COLONIES, or well-wishers to their cause—GREETING:

We, the subscribers, Members of the honourable Congress for said Colony, now sitting at Exeter, aforesaid, being a Committee appointed for this purpose, do certify, that Jonathan Colcord, of New-Market, in the County of Rockingham, and Colony aforesaid, yeoman, hath obtained permission from the said Congress to export to Passamaquoddy two four-year old steers, two heifers, and eight sheep, in a schooner belonging to Messrs. Clark and Wallace, and it is the pleasure of the said Congress, that said Colcord do pass unmolested.

Witness our hands, this 27th day of December, 1775.

WISEMAN CLAGGETT,

THOMAS TASK.

Passamaquoddy, January 22, 1776.

To the Honourable Gentlemen of the Congress, now sitting at EXETER, in the Colony of NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

These may certify, that the within named Messrs. Clark and Wallace, have landed the cattle and sheep herein mentioned in the cocket; and these may likewise certify, that it is the pleasure of us, as a Committee, that the said vessel pass to Piscataqua unmolested, and desire all masters of vessels in the Colonies' service to protect the said schooner to Piscataqua aforesaid.

ROBERT WILSON,

JAMES COCHRANE,

Committee of Safety.

MAJOR-GENERAL HOWE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Boston, January 22, 1776.

MY LORD: I have the honour to inform your Lordship that His Majesty's ship, Centurion, arrived the 18th instant, and that she spoke three weeks ago with the Argo, transport, having three companies of the Forty-Sixth Regiment on board, in good health at that time.

Major-General Clinton sailed the 20th, in the morning, in the Mercury, frigate, the Falcon, sloop, being before sent directly to Cape Fear to wait the arrival of the transports. A copy of your Lordship's despatch of the 22d October, is given as the principal guidance of his conduct, while local circumstances, and good intelligence, determine him in pursuing the main objects of his expedition. He has blank commissions for his officers, in case it should be found at any time advisable to embody Provincials for the service; and I have sent commissions to three gentlemen who have been long in North-Carolina, to secure the attachment of the Highlanders settled in that Colony, on a promise from General Gage, that they should have appointments in the Second Battalion of Royal Highland Emigrants, to be formed as soon as the first was known to be completed, which it has been for some time, as appears by collecting all the returns received in their dispersed situation.

In prosecution of General Gage's intentions, I have likewise issued commissions to two Captains in this corps, who have actually raised their companies in Nova-Scotia, and to two others who have been employed on the regiment's duty, and whose complement of men appears, also, to be raised. However, I shall proceed no further in forming the Second Battalion, until more certain accounts of their success in recruiting are received; and as I am furnished with no particular instructions concerning this corps, I could wish to be honoured with His Majesty's commands relative thereto.

Robberies, and housebreaking in particular, had got to such a height in this town, that some examples had become necessary to suppress it. Two soldiers, late of the Fifty-Ninth Regiment of Foot, have been tried, convicted, and sentenced to suffer death, for breaking into and robbing the store-houses of Messrs. Nathaniel and William Coffin; one of them has suffered; the other, Thomas Owen, as a young offender, and having other circumstances to plead in his favour, I have thought proper to reprieve, conforming to the power expressed in my commission, as follows: "We giving you power to reprieve any person under sentence until our pleasure be known." And I humbly entreat your Lordship to recommend the said Thomas Owen for His Majesty's Royal pardon.

I am, &c.,

W. HOWE.

ADDISON MURDOCH TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

January 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have been honoured by the Convention with the enclosed commission, which I now return to you, with a prayer to be excused from accepting it. The precarious and declining state of my health renders me incapable of executing the office, either with benefit to my