I am, sir, with the greatest respect and esteem, your most obedient and very humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President, &c.

EDWARD MOTT TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

February 13, 1776,

HONOURED SIR: The method that General Schuyler hath paid the northern troops off by is (counting the number of days they have been in the service, and then to count every thirty days for a month, which makes better than twenty pounds, lawful money, wages,) more to each company than the rolls made up by our Pay-Table; and, likewise, the billet-rolls he allows one dollar per week, which is one hundred dollars more to each company than is recovered by the rolls sent up from our Pay-Table; and, also, the money advanced to deserters, hath not been properly stated on the rolls that hath been sent up from said Pay-Table; all which makes about sixty pounds, lawful money, loss, to each company from this Colony, which is allowed to the troops from the other Colonies of the Northern Army; all which might be allowed, if properly applied for. Even on the rolls that have been settled, I dare say the General would allow the balance, if some proper person should be sent to represent the case and request the balance.

The whole of the difference., in the manner of making up the rolls, will, in my opinion, make two thousand pounds difference to this Colony.

The expense my subalterns were at when sent down with the sick, and the money stopped on account of what I received more than the Pay-Table mean to allow, I hope your Honour will not forget.

I am your Honour's most obedient and humble servant,

EDWARD MOTT.

To Governour Trumbull.

ROBERT H. HARRISON TO JAMES WARREN.

Cambridge, February 13, 1776.

SIR: I take the liberty to enclose you a letter which I received, a few days ago, from Captain William Wood, upon the subject of his parole and confinement to the County of Gloucester. As some of the captains, who have been taken by the Continental armed vessels, have been, and are, allowed a greater indulgence than what he is, he seems to be uneasy, and hopes that your honourable Court will permit the Committee to enlarge his parole. I have been long and intimately acquainted with Captain Wood, and in justice to him, beg leave to inform you, that I think him exceedingly worthy of any favours that you can do him, consistent with the good of the great cause we are embarked in, and that any further indulgences you may incline to grant him, he will gratefully acknowledge and not abuse. He would wish to have the liberty of going to some of the other towns, where some of his acquaintances are. If, sir, it shall not be incompatible with any determination of your honourable body, I could wish his request to be complied with. I shall be much obliged by a fine from you, that I may give him an answer, and pray, as this application is founded in principles of humanity, that you will excuse it.

I am, sir, with much esteem and regard, your most obedient servant,

ROBERT H. HARRISON.

To the Honourable James Warren, Esq.

Gloucester, February 1, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your kind treatment to me, in this unhappy situation, makes me more free to trouble you again for your kind assistance. When I saw you last, on my way down to this place, I did not know but the Court had given orders that I was to have my parole, as the rest of the captains; but to my great surprise, I am bound to the borders of this town, and not to go out of it, on any pretence whatever. This, I think, is very hard upon me, as I can assure you, had I my liberty to go even into Boston, I would not accept of it; as I would see the determination of the vessel, if it is in your power, by representing me to the Court, to get me my enlargement farther, such as going to Cambridge. As I want to see you, letting you know my case, which is in a very bad situation, the Committee, in this town, has used me, in every respect, like a gentleman, and desired me to write to you on this occasion. I am sorry to trouble you, but depend on it, your kindness at this time to me shall be paid with honour and never to be forgot. I make no doubt but you will do your endeavour for me, and shall be glad to hear from you by Captain Nellis, and believe me, in the interim, your obliged friend and very humble servant,

WILLIAM WOOD.

To Mr. Harrison.

IN COUNCIL, February 17, 1776.—Read, and

Ordered, That the said William Wood be permitted, on his parole, to pass and repass, at pleasure, from and to Cambridge and Newburyport.

PEREZ MORTON, Dep'y Sec'y.

MONSIEUR BEGOZZAT TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

St. Pierre, Martinico, February 14, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: As I never considered the American affairs otherwise but the endeavours of tyranny against the liberties of mankind, and looking upon the North of America as the sacred asylum contrived in this age by the Divine Providence against the despotick power, who has filled the three parts of this world with misery and poverty, I think I am honoured in being employed in so noble a cause. It is on this principle, gentlemen, I take the liberty to write you by the opportunity of Robert Parker, to offer my service to your Committee; you may be certain that nobody will serve your interest with so much zeal as I.

I gave Robert Parker a very short expedition. I intend every day to send away Captain Peverly. These two vessels will carry ten thousand pounds of gunpowder. I am loading now two other vessels, which I hope will depart very soon. We are expecting, every day, a vessel departed from France with about twenty thousand pounds of gunpowder; and I am in hopes that what we will receive from France this month will amount to sixty thousand pounds. I will advise you every month of the quantity expected.

Warlike provisions are not so common as they ought to be, on the account they have reported in Europe the American affair would be settled this Winter. Some vessels bring no ammunition, but by letters departed the 20th of January last, advising that the war will continue this year in America, there will be plenty in America in the months of Hay and June.

Ammunition is not the only article wanting by the Americans, viz: woollen and linen clothes, dress, pins and needles, a great quantity of goods the most necessary in private use of life, are wanting greatly, and you may be provided with those articles here. The purpose of this letter is to desire you to send the patterns of every thing wanting. I will send them to Old France, and our market will be provided with them in four or five months' time. I sent a memorial to the French Ministry concerning the trade we can settle here with New-England, but as your articles we usually consume here, viz: fish, lamp oil, spermaceti candles, pork, beef, hair, boards, and hoops, cannot amount to a great sum of money, I asked, in my memorial to the Ministry, to ship from hence to Old France, potashes, beaver, lamp oil in casks of sixty gallons, well hooped, to go to Old France. These articles, added to those, will produce a sufficient sum of money to maintain 'your exchange here.

For the Southern Colonies, I asked that Virginia tobacco, of which we consume thirty or forty millions pounds every year, be introduced to France by the way of Martinico. This article is very valuable, and will pay here a large quantity of goods wanted in America. Carolina indigo will find, likewise, great advantage in the French trade.

You may be certain, gentlemen, that Continental vessels will find always good protection in our ports. You will see, by the report I send you, of the frigate Argus attempting to search a Continental vessel loading, by me, with gunpowder. Any Continental vessel coming here will be safe.

If you have any particular or secret demands to our Go-