leave to enclose you. I shall write General Schuyler respecting the tender of service made by the former, and not to call for their assistance unless he shall at any time want it, or be under the necessity of doing it, to prevent their taking the side of our enemies.

I had the honour of writing you on the 19th November, and then informed you of having engaged two persons to go to Nova-Scotia, on the business recommended in your letter of the 10th, and, also, that the state of the Army would not then admit of a sufficient force being sent for carrying into execution the views of Congress respecting the dock-yards, &c.

I would now beg leave to mention, that if the persons sent for information should report favourably of the expediency and practicability of the measure, that it will not be in my power to detach any men from these lines; the situation of our affairs will not allow it. I think it would be advisable to raise them in the eastern parts of this Government. If it is attempted, it must be by people from the country.

A Colonel Thompson, a member of the General Court, from the Province of by the Court, and who is well spoken of by the Court, and a Captain O'Brien, have been with me; they think the men necessary may be easily engaged there, and the measure practicable, provided there are not more than two hundred British troops at Halifax. They are willing and ready to embark in the matter, upon the terms mentioned in their plan, which I enclose you. I would wish you to advert to the considerations inducing them to the expedition, as I am not without apprehension, should it be undertaken upon their plan, that the innocent and guilty will be involved in one common ruin. I presume they do not expect to receive more than five or ten thousand pounds, mentioned in their scheme, and to be at every expense. If we had men to spare, it might be undertaken for less than either, I conceive. Perhaps, if Congress do not adopt their proposition, they will undertake to raise men for that particular purpose, which may be disbanded as soon as it is effected, and upon the same terms that are allowed the Continental troops in general.

Whatever may be the determination of Congress upon the subject, you will please to communicate it to me immediately, for the season most favourable for the enterprise is advancing fast, and we may expect, in the Spring, that there will be more troops there, and the measure be more difficult to execute.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

The Talk of sundry Sachems and Warriors of the CAUGHNAWAGA NATION, with His Excellency General WASHINGTON, the 3lst JANUARY, 1776.

Jean Baptist or Ogaghragighte, the Chief, present:

We were sent by the Five Tribes of Canada Indians, consisting of the Caughnawagas, &c., &c., to see General Schuyler, at Albany, and then to come to you, to inquire into the cause of the quarrel between the people of England and our brothers in this country.

This is a treaty of peace, entered into between General Schuyler, &c., and our people, and we shall be very glad if you will put your name to it, and certify that you like it, and the promise mentioned in it. [This being done.]

We are very glad that a firm peace is now made between us and our brothers. We now look upon ourselves to be free, and like our brothers of New-England. The rest of our people staid at home, to take care of our Castle and publick concerns, and sent us to do this work, which they will abide by, and hold as strong as if they had been all here.

I am now in my own country, where I was born, [being a New-Englander taken prisoner in his infancy,] and want liberty to raise men to fight for its defence. We wish that you would give us a letter to General Schuyler, and inform him that if he wants men to call upon us, and we will join him.

Another of the Chiefs:

St. Luke La Come is a very bad man, and we shall be very glad if he was sent from Canada; he is always making mischief there.

A Talk of one of the ST. JOHN'S TRIBE, attended by two of the PASSAMAQUODDY INDIANS, with His Excellency General WASHINGTON, JANUARY 31, 1776.

We are very glad to see you, and that we have met our Caughnawaga friends here. The English people are mad, and very cross, and want us to fight against the New-England people. God is on the side of our brothers, and they will beat them. There is a Providence in our meeting our Caughnawaga friends at this lime, who have come so far from Canada.

We want to go home quick, to tell our friends what we have seen and done here, and next Spring many of our Nation will come and help the New-England people.

We are in much want of powder to hunt with. The old English people will not let us have any, unless we will fight against our brothers and countrymen.

PLAN PROPOSED BY COLONEL THOMPSON AND CAPTAIN O'BRIEN.

For the expedition purposed, one thousand men including officers, four armed vessels, and eight transports, the men to be raised at the Eastward, the fleet to be made up at Machias, and then proceed to Windsor, captivate the Tories, make all the proselytes we can, and then proceed to Halifax. If possible, destroy the King's dock-yard, and town, if thought proper. It may be undertaken for five thousand pounds, lawful money, and all that can be pro cured from the Tories, or ten thousand, and the one-half of what is taken from them. At Windsor, we understand, there is abundance of goods, which is the next capital town to Halifax. We are lately informed that there is not to exceed two hundred British troops in Halifax.
A true copy:

STEPHEN MOYLAN, P. T. S.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, January 26, 1770.

The Captains, or commanding officers of the Militia Companies, are to have their pay abstracts ready by the first of February, in order for payment, the General having borrowed as much money as will answer this purpose, rather than suffer them to return without. In making up the pay abstracts the following method is to be observed: Upon one side of an entire sheet of paper is to be the roll, (or names of the officers and men of the whole company,) on the other side (or back of this) is to be the pay abstract, in the usual form; at the foot of the abstract is to be a deduction of the money which has been advanced to any of the companies, and proof annexed of the justice of the demand; this being necessary for the General's satisfaction in drawing the warrants.

The Captains, &c., are to be particularly careful not to charge pay for any of their men who have inlisted into any of the regiments, after such inlistment took place, as the pay of those men will be drawn by the Colonel of the regiment they are now in, or respectively belong to. The form of the oath and warrant (as it would take too much time to draw the whole at Head-Quarters) may be had at the Adjutant-General's office, for each Captain to copy.

The New-Hampshire Militia are to be allowed (by the Commissary) one penny a mile, coming and going, in lieu of rations, as this allowance has already been made by the Massachusetts Government to their Militia.

Brigadier-General Thomas, with the three Colonels of his brigade, now at Roxbury, to wit: Learned, Bailey, and Ward, are to repair to Head-Quarters, to-morrow by eleven o'clock, to have the commissions for those regiments issued.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, January 27, 1776.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, January 28, 1776.

As the General is consenting to, and desirous of the Militia drawing the same pay as the Continental troops, the officers of those companies are hereby informed, that since the first of January, their pay will be the same as those officers of equal rank upon the new establishment, but before