recommended to them, still to continue their virtuous labours, for the good of the people, inculcating, by their publick ministry and private example, the necessity of religion, morality, and good order.

In Council, January 19, 1776.

Ordered, That the foregoing Proclamation be read at the opening of every Superior Court of Judicature, &c., and Inferior Common Pleas, and Court of General Sessions for the Peace within this Colony, by their respective Clerks; and at the annual town meetings in March, in each town. And it is hereby recommended to the several Ministers of the Gospel throughout this Colony, to read the same in their respective assemblies on the Lord's day next after their receiving it, immediately after Divine service.

Sent down for concurrence.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

In the House of Representatives, January 23, 1776

Read and concurred.

WILLIAM COOPER, Speaker, pro tem.

Consented to.

By order of the General Court:

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.

GOD save the King.

MAJOR-GENERAL HOWE TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH.

Boston, January 23, 1776.

MY LORD: The box containing your Lordship's despatches by the Centurion having been received on board when the Captain was on shore, by a mistake of the steward's, was put into a store-room, without the Captain's knowledge, which has occasioned my not getting them before this day.

The letters from your Lordship are your secret duplicate and separate, of the 5th September, one of the 15th, and one of the 22d, following.

Copies of letters from your Lordship to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of the 22d September, from Lord Rochford to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, of the 21st September.

Extracts from your Lordship to General Gage, of the 2d August; two from Governour Martin, of the 30th June, and 6th July; and one from Lord William Campbell, of 19th July.

A Letter from Mr. Secretary Pownall, of the 26th September, and a duplicate from him of the 8th; a list of Indian goods shipped on board the Grand Duke of Russia, the Grosvenor, and Harcourt, transports; the two first are arrived.

A list of store-ships for America, also a despatch from your Lordship to Governour Martin, which shall be forwarded by Captain Collet, who is daily expected from Halifax, and will proceed, without loss of time, to North-Carolina; he will, also, be the bearer to General Clinton of copies of the extracts of Governour Martin's letters of the 30th June and 6th July.

The matter contained in your Lordship's secret letter of the 5th September, having been notified to me in a former letter, I have only to add my wishes that a part of the foreign troops therein mentioned, at least eight thousand, may be sent to this part of America, although I fear they cannot arrive for the early operations of the campaign, upon which the future success of it so much depends; and your Lordship's despatch of the 22d October, having amply set forth the business contained in your letter of the 15th September, and which is answered in mine of the 16th instant, I do not trouble your Lordship with any thing further upon this subject. The other letters received in this package have already been answered from the early receipt of your Lordship's letters upon the same subject.

The enclosed memorial from the officers in the marine corps, serving in the army, I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's consideration; and if your Lordship should think with me, that there is not any impropriety in it, that you would be pleased to lay the same before His Majesty. It is my duty to add, that the officers concerned have acted here with the greatest spirit, diligence, and attention to the service.

By intelligence received this morning from the enemy's quarters, I learn that about the 1st of this month the Rebels, headed by Mr. Montgomery, made an assault upon Quebeck, and that they entered the town, but were repulsed with considerable loss by their own acknowledgment. Mr. Montgomery, with may other officers, and seventy men, were killed; Colonel Arnold and three hundred wounded and taken prisoners. Two deserters that have come over this day confirm the above intelligence, and further say that it has been published-in one of their newspapers.

I am, &c.,

W. HOWE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CORK (IRELAND) TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED JANUARY, 1776.

The following occurrence must give satisfaction to the friends of suffering America. When Colonel Ethan Allen, with about fifty other prisoners, arrived in the Solebay, two gentlemen went on board to inquire into their situation, and to assure them of the disposition of several gentlemen in this city to alleviate their distresses. Colonel Allen was so affected with this instance of unexpected generosity, that the expression of his gratitude could hardly find utterance.

His treatment on board the Solebay is far different from the barbarous and cruel usage he experienced in his passage from Quebeck, being then handcuffed and ironed in the most dreary part of the vessel, and basely insulted with cruel and unmanly reflections by some officers of the ship, whom he challenged in Cornwall without receiving satisfaction.

A subscription was begun this morning among some friends of the cause, and near fifty guineas collected to buy clothes for his men, and necessaries for himself; and, if liberty can be got of Captain Williams to put live stock on board, I can assure you Colonel Allen will be extremely well provided. We this day sent a hamper of wine, sugar, fruit, chocolate, &c., on board for his immediate use, and to-morrow intend to prepare the sundry articles of which he sent a list. I enclose you a rough copy of his answer to our letter. Should he have permission to come on shore, he will be entertained by some of the first gentlemen of this city. I have not been refused by a single person on the subscription.

Copy of Colonel Allen's Note.

GENTLEMEN: I received your generous present this day with a joyful heart. Thanks to God there are still the feelings of humanity in the worthy citizens of Cork towards those of their bone and flesh, who, through misfortune from the present broils in the empire are needy prisoners.*

Dated Cove, January 24, 1776.

SPOTTSYLVANIA COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Spottsylvania County, at the Town-House in Fredericksburgh, the 24th day of January, 1776, present, Fielding Lewis, Esq., Chairman, and nineteen Members.

The said Committee proceeded to the choice of Officers to command two Companies of Regulars to be raised in the said County, agreeable to an Ordinance of the honourable Convention; whereupon the following gentlemen were chosen by ballot, viz: George Stubblefield and Oliver Towles, Captains; Robert Dudley and Nathaniel Fox, First Lieutenants; Charles Tuft and Peter Minor, Second

* December 29, 1775.—Sailed from Portsmouth, Sir Peter Parker and Earl Cornwallis, with the Acteon, Deal-Castle, and Thunder-bomb, for Cork, to convoy the troops and transports there to America. The Acteon put in at Falmouth, and took on board Colonel Ethan Allen and his fellow-prisoners, who had been confined in irons in Pendennis Castle, in order to carry them back to America. No assistance was given to Allen in England; but when the ship arrived at Cork, a subscription for him was begun in Ireland, and an ample supply of necessaries given to him, of which he and his friends were in great need.