would be destroyed; and that it was generally thought their destination is Halifax.

The account given by Captain Irvine, as to the embarkation, and their being about to leave the town, I believe true. There are other circumstances corroborating; and it seems fully confirmed by a paper signed by four of the Selectmen of the town, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose you, which was brought out yesterday evening by a flag, and delivered to Colonel Learned by Major Basset, of the Tenth Regiment, who desired it might be delivered me as soon as possible. I advised with such of the General Officers upon the occasion as I could immediately assemble; and we determined it right (as it was not addressed to me or any one else, nor authenticated by the signature of General Howe, or any other act obliging him to a performance of the promise mentioned on his part) that I should give it no answer; at the same time that a letter should be returned, as going from Colonel Learned, signifying his having laid it before me, with the reasons assigned for not answering it. A copy of this is sent.

To-night I shall have a battery thrown up on Nuke-Hill, (Dorchester-Point,) with a design of acting as circumstances may require, it being judged advisable to prosecute our plans of fortification as we intended before this information from the Selectmen came. It being agreed, on all hands, that there is no possibility of stopping them, in case they determine to go, I shall order look-outs to be kept upon all the headlands, to discover their movements and course, and moreover direct Commodore Manly, and his little squadron, to dog them, as well for the same purpose as for picking up any of their vessels that may chance to depart their convoy. From their loading with such precipitancy, it is presumable they will not be in the best condition for sea.

If the Ministerial Troops evacuate the town, and leave it standing, I have thoughts of taking measures for fortifying the entrance into the harbour, if it shall bp thought proper, and the situation of affairs will admit of it.

Notwithstanding the report from Boston that Halifax is the place of their destination, I have no doubt but that they are going to the southward of this, and I apprehend to New-York. Many reasons lead to this opinion. It is in some measure corroborated by their sending an express-ship there, which, on Wednesday week, got on shore, and bilged at Cape Cod. The despatches, if written, were destroyed when she was boarded. She had a parcel of coal, and about four thousand cannon-shot, six carriage-guns, a swivel or two, and three barrels of powder.

I shall hold the Riflemen, and other parts of our troops, in readiness to march at a moment’s warning, and govern my movements by the events that, happen, or such orders as I may receive from Congress, which I beg may be ample, and forwarded with all possible expedition.

On the 6th instant, a ship bound from London, with stores for the Ministerial Army, consisting of coal, porter, and krout, fell in with our armed vessels, (four of them in company,) and was carried into Portsmouth. She had had a long passage, and of course brought no papers of a late date. The only letters of importance or the least interesting that were found, I have enclosed.

I beg leave to mention to Congress that money is much wanted. The Militia from these Governments, engaged till the first of April, are then to be paid; and if we march from hence, the expense will be very considerable, must be defrayed, and cannot be accomplished without it. The necessity of making the earliest remittance, for these purposes, is too obvious for me to add more.

When I wrote that part of this letter which is antecedent to this date, I fully expected it would have gone before now by Colonel Bull, not deeming it of sufficient importance to send a special messenger; but he deferred his return from time to time, and never set off till to-day. These reasons I hope will excuse the delay, and be received as a proper apology for not transmitting it sooner.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most humble servant,:

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the President of Congress.

To His Excellency GENERAL WASHINGTON, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United Colonies:

In obedience to your Excellency’s orders, we have considered the matters referred to us, and beg leave to recommend the following Signals to be given from Roxbury, in case of any movement of the enemy to distress our people at Dorchester-Hill.

Signal in case the enemy begin to embark: a flag on Roxbury Meeting-House. If they actually land at Dorchester, two flags, one over the other. In case the number of the enemy exceed two thousand men, a flag at the east, and another at the west end of that Meeting-House. In case a reinforcement in addition to the two thousand are seen embarking, a flag on the east, a flag on the west, and a flag in the middle of that Meeting-House. In case the enemy begin to retreat, three flags, one above the other. In case the enemy carry the works, the flags are to be struck.

We further beg leave to recommend to your Excellency, that should it appear from the signals at Roxbury, or in any Other way, that an attack may be made upon Boston with good probability of success, we recommend that four thousend men embark at the mouth of Cambridge River -two thousand of them to be furnished from Cambridge, and two thousand from Prospect and Winter Hills; one thousand from each of those Hills. The two thousand from Cambridge to be commanded by Brigadier-General Sullivan, and the other two thousand by Brigadier-General Greene. The whole to be commanded by Major-General Putnam.

Signal for the embarkation: a pendant hoisted on Prospect-Hills.

The first division, under Brigadier-General Sullivan, to land at the Powder-House. The second division, under Brigadier-General Greene, to land at Barton’s Point, or rather to the south of it, Those who land at the Powder-House, to gain possession of Beacon-Hill and Mount-Whoredom. Those who land at Barton’s Point, to gain possession of Copp’s Hill, and after securing that post, proceed to join the other division, and force the enemy’s works and gates at the Neck, by which means the Troops from Roxbury may be let in to assist in the reduction of the town.

The two divisions to consist of eight Regiments of five hundred men each, the men to be chosen, the arms to be well examined, and the officers to be the best, most resolute, and experienced.

The three floating-batteries here to go in front of the other boats, and keep up a heavy fire on that part of the town where the landings are to be made.

ISREAL PUNTAM,
JOHN SULLIVAN,
NATHANIEL GREENE,
HORATIO GATES.

Boston, March 8, 1776.

As his Excellency General Howe is determined to leave the town with the troops under his command, a number of the respectable inhabitants being very anxious for its preservation and safety, have applied to General Robertson for this purpose, who, at their request, has communicated the same to his Excellency General Howe, who, has assured him that he has no intention of destroying the town, unless the troops under his command are molested during their embarkation, or at their departure, by the armed force without, which declaration he gave General Robertson leave to communicate to the inhabitants. If such an opposition should take place, we have the greatest reason to expect the town will be exposed to entire destruction. As our fears are quieted with regard to General Howe’s intentions, we beg we may have some assurances that so dreadful a calamity may not be brought on by any measures without. As a testimony of the truth of the above, we have signed our names to this paper, carried out by Messrs. Thomas and Jonathan Amory, and Peter Johonnot; who have, at the earnest entreaties of the inhabitants, through the Lieutenant-Governour, solicited a flag of truce for this purpose.

JOHN SCOLLAY,
TIMOTHY NEWELL,
THOMAS MARSHALL,
SAMUEL AUSTIN.

Roxbury, March 9, 1776.

SIR: Agreeably to a promise made to you at the lines yesterday, I waited upon his Excellency General Washington,