my business to asperse them; on the contrary, I have condemned loudly the illiberal, impolitick, and unjust reflections I have heard frequently thrown out. I should not have taken the liberty of troubling you with the opinion, good or bad, which an unimportant individual like myself may entertain of so respectable a body as your Committee, or Congress, had not this particular paragraph of your letter thrown the temptation in my way.

I am, sir, your most obedient, and devoted servant,

CHARLES LEE.

To Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL LEE.

Cambridge, January 23, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour of the 16th instant, and am exceedingly sorry to hear that Congress countermanded the embarkation of the two regiments intended against the Tories On Long-Island. They, I doubt not, had their reasons; but, to me, it appears that the period is arrived, when nothing less than the most decisive and vigorous measures should be pursued. Our enemies from the other side of the Atlantick, will be sufficiently numerous; it highly concerns to have as few internal ones as possible.

As Congress seem to have altered their views in this instance, and the men which went with you from Connecticut are upon a very different footing from what I expected, it will be right to give Congress the earliest notice of your proceeding, and to disband your troops as soon as you think circumstances will admit of it.

In consequence of the melancholy reverse of our affairs in Canada, an application was made to me for succour, and happy should I have been if the situation of this Army could have afforded it. All I could do, was, to lay the matter before this, and the Governments of Connecticut and New-Hampshire, and urge the expediency and necessity of their sending a reinforcement of three regiments there immediately. Mr. Trumbull, and his Council of Safely, had anticipated my request; the other two Colonies have adopted the measure. The three regiments are now raising, and, I would willingly hope, will arrive in time to reinstate matters in that quarter, and give them a more agreeable aspect than they now have.

I shall be much obliged, by your pressing Colonel McDougall to forward the shells mentioned in his letter of the 2d instant, as they are much wanted; and, also, to spare me some powder, if he possibly can. You know our stock of this necessary article is small and inconsiderable, and you know, too, that we have a demand for a further supply.

The progress in raising recruits for the new Army being very slow, I have applied to this Colony, Connecticut, and New-Hampshire, for ten regiments of Militia, to continue in service till the 1st of April next, which they have granted me. As soon as they come in, and I can get provided with proper means, I am determined to attempt something. Of this, I would have you take no notice.

Within a few days past, several persons have come out of Boston; they all agree that General Clinton has gone upon some expedition. Some say he has between four and five hundred men; others, part of two regiments. What his force consists of is not precisely known; but, I am almost certain he has gone with some. His destination must be south of this, and, very probably, for New-York.

I thought it necessary to give you this information, that you may be upon your guard, and prepared to receive him as well as you can.

I shall be glad to hear from you frequently, and to be informed of any occurrences you may think material,

I am, dear sir, with great regard, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Lee.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO JOSEPH REED.

Cambridge, January 23, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Real necessity compels me to ask you, whether I may entertain any hopes of your returning to my family. If you can make it convenient, and will hint the matter to Colonel Harrison, I dare venture to say, that Congress will make it agreeable to you in every shape they can.

My business increases very fast, and my distresses, for want of you, increase with it. Mr. Harrison is the only gentleman of my family that can afford me the least assistance in writing. He, and Mr. Moylan, whose time must now be solely employed in his department of Commissary, have, heretofore, afforded me their aid; and I have hinted to them, in consequence of what you signified in some former letter, that, as they have really had a great deal of trouble, each of them should receive one-third of your pay, reserving the other third, contrary to your desire, for yourself.

My distress and embarrassment are in a way of being very considerably increased by an occurrence in Virginia, which will, I fear, compel Mr. Harrison to leave me, or suffer considerably by his stay. He has written, however, by the last post, to ascertain if his return cannot be dispensed with. If he should go, I shall really be distressed beyond measure, as I know no persons able to supply your places in this part of the world, with whom I would choose to live in unbounded confidence.

The business, as I hinted to you before, is considerably increased, by being more comprehensive, and, at this time, perplexed, by the great changes which are happening every day; so that you would want a good writer, and a methodical man, as an assistant or copying clerk. Such a one, I have no doubt, will be allowed, and the choice I leave to yourself, as he should be a person in whose integrity you can confide, and on whose capacity, care, and method, you can rely.

At present, my time is so much taken up at my desk, that I am obliged to neglect many other essential parts of my duty. It is absolutely necessary, therefore, to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders. As it may be essential that the pay of the under secretary should be fixed, that you may, if you incline to return, and should engage one, know what to promise him, I have written to Colonel Harrison and Mr. Lynch on this subject. I am &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Joseph Reed, Esq.

COLONEL HARRISON TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

Cambridge, January 23, 1776.

SIR: I have it in command from his Excellency to inform you, that General Gates handed him your letter of the 22d instant, containing a gross estimate of the pay you supposed would be due the New-Hampshire Militia, when the time they are engaged for shall expire.

His Excellency says, that he cannot possibly give a warrant on this estimate, and that each Captain must make out a particular list of their respective companies, noticing the time when any of their men inlisted in the regiments, (if that shall have been the case,) and, on the other side, an abstract of the pay due. There is a necessity for this, because the list and abstract are vouchers for, and the foundations of, the warrant annexed to them; the time when any of the men inlisted in the regiments must be mentioned, and pay only drawn till then, as they will be, from thence, included in the regimental abstracts.

Having made out lists and abstracts in this way, the Captains will give credit for the money they have received.

It is, also, necessary that each Captain should subjoin an affidavit to the foot of his abstract, similar to the copy enclosed. This mode has been, and will be, invariably pursued, respecting the Militia of this Colony. It is necessary, and founded on the difference between the regiments which continue in the service, and the Militia, which do not. In the abstract for the pay of the former, an affidavit is not material, because, if there should be any mistake or error in them, it may, and can be discovered, and rectified at a future day. It is otherwise with the latter; after they are gone, this cannot be done, and, therefore, their abstracts should have some authenticity; not that any intentional mistakes are apprehended to be made, but that the publick may be satisfied.

When the lists are made out in the manner directed, and the time of their engagement expired, his Excellency will give the proper warrants for payment. He would not have