Colonel Prescott's Regiment, tried at a late General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Hutchinson was President, for desertion, is found guilty by the Court, and sentenced to receive twenty lashes upon his bare back. The General approves the sentence, and orders it to be executed, at such time and place as Colonel Prescott shall think proper.

James McCormick, of Captain Farrington's Company, in Colonel Sargent's Regiment, tried at the above Court-Martial, for assaulting, beating, and robbing Samuel Marston, Sergeant in Colonel Poor's Regiment, is found guilty by the Court, and sentenced to receive thirty-nine lashes, and orders four pounds to be stopped out of his pay, to reimburse Sergeant Marston, what the prisoner robbed him of.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, February 12, 1776.

The General, being informed that several of the Militia are coming in without arms, orders that the Brigadiers, to those Brigades they are joined, do examine into this matter, and discharge every man who has not arms, as they come in, keeping an account thereof, to deliver when called for.

It is with no small degree of astonishment that the General observes, by the returns of last week, that seventeen men have been dismissed the service, out of which number Colonel Whitcomb alone has discharged seven. He is, therefore, called upon to be at Head-Quarters tomorrow morning, at ten o'clock, to account for his conduct in this instance. At the same time, it is declared, and particular attention will be paid to it, that, if any Colonel or commanding officer of a Regiment presume, in future, to discharge a man, without proper authority for so doing, he will be put in arrest, and tried for disobedience of orders. To have men inlisted one day, and discharged, as it were, the next, without any action or apparent cause to disqualify men for service, must have a bad appearance in the returns sent to Congress, especially when the list of deserters comes to be added to it.

To remedy these evils as far as possible, it is directed, in cases where discharges are really necessary, that the commanding officer of the Regiment do produce the man soliciting the discharge, to the Brigadier-General of his Brigade, who is to examine accurately into the matter, and not to give a discharge for sickness of a temporary duration.

In case of desertion, the commanding officer of the regiment or corps is immediately to report the deserter or deserters to his Brigadier-General, giving an exact description of the man, the town he comes from, &c., who is to cause proper steps to be taken for apprehending him. A reward of five dollars will be paid to any person, or persons, who shall apprehend and bring a deserter into the camp, upon obtaining a certificate from the Brigadier of the service performed.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, February 13, 1776.

The Regiments of Militia lately arrived at Roxbury and Cambridge, are immediately to be furnished with fifteen rounds of powder and ball per man. The Adjutant-General will, upon application, give orders upon the Commissary-General for that quantity. The Regiments now at Roxbury may apply to Major-General Ward, who will give orders accordingly.

Captain Peleg Wadsworth is appointed Aid-de-camp to Major-General Ward during the absence of Samuel Osgood, Esq.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, February 14, 1776.

The General Court-Martial, of which Colonel Hutchinson is President, is dissolved.

Benjamin Mumford, in Colonel Bond's Regiment, tried at the above Court-Martial for theft, is acquitted by the Court. The General orders the prisoner lo be released. The Provost-Martial is, by his instructions, ordered to suppress all riots, to be particularly attentive to the behaviour of all the Sutlers in and about Cambridge, and see that they shut up their houses at tattoo-beating, and do not offer, upon any account, to sell a drop of liquor after that hour. All officers are strictly enjoined to be aiding and assisting to the Provost, in the due execution of his office, which the late shocking proceeding of some of the Suttlers makes absolutely necessary.

JOHN LANGDON TO MESHECH WEARE.

Portsmouth, February 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have just received a letter from Philadelphia, informing me of one of the vessels belonging to the Continental service having arrived with sixty tons of saltpetre, thirteen tons of powder, one thousand three hundred stand of good arms; on which important news I have the honour to congratulate you. My letter is dated the 3d inst.; the vessel arrived the day before.

I am, with all respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servant

JOHN LANGDON.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL JOHN VEAZY.

SIR: In consequence of a letter received this day from Mr. John Thompson, dated 1st February, the Council of Safety have determined to purchase the whole of the gun-powder imported by Nathaniel Rumsey in partnership with a gentleman of Philadelphia; or, if that cannot be done, then so much as you can agree for; and request you would make the contract for the use of the Province. They have sent by Captain Craigg, five hundred pounds, currency, to pay for the ton already engaged, but do not intend the whole ton for the separate use of your County. They will take care you shall be plentifully supplied, in proportion to other Counties. You will purchase upon the most reasonable terms. The price, we expect, will not exceed twenty-five pounds, currency, per hundred weight, unless the Committee of Philadelphia should give more. The balance of cash shall be immediately paid to your order, as soon as the powder is landed, and put into your custody or power. We are, &c.

To Colonel John Veazy.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: By a resolve of the Convention, the Committee of Observation were directed to purchase all the sulphur they could meet with in their several Counties, at a price not exceeding six pence per pound, and to have the same lodged in the store of Messrs. Lux and Bowley, in Baltimore Town. We desire you will let us know what has been done in your County, in consequence of that resolve. We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County.

GUSTAVUS SCOTT TO DANIEL OF ST. THOMAS JENIFER.

Princess.Anne, February 15, 1776.

SIR: I am directed by the Committee of Observation of this County, to inform you, that the Independent company raised for this County, and commanded by Captain Gunby, will be collected at this place on Tuesday next; and they are desirous some way should be pointed out for supplying them with provisions and other necessaries. If I remember right, the mode of victualling the troops is left entirely in the breast of the Council of Safety; and I presume you have taken some order in it before this time.

There is certainly a necessity that provisions and fire-wood should be immediately procured by some person or other for the several companies, or the probable event will be, that they will, or at least many of them, leave their place of station. If a particular person in each County should be appointed, either by the Council of Safety, or the Contractor-General, I would beg leave to mention to you Mr. James Geoghegan, a merchant of this town, both willing and capable of executing the business. I beg some immediate order may be taken in this matter; and am, for the Committee, sir, your most obedient servant,

GUSTAVUS SCOTT.

To Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esq.