order. Should thirty-five men be drafted from my regi­ment, exclusive of the Minute-men, many farms must go to waste.

I do not think that any of our men, whether Militia or Minute-men, can be prevailed upon to march, unless they are allowed their own officers. I think if a Captain and one Lieutenant were commissioned for the above-said Minute-men, it would be sufficient.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

ABRAHAM LENT.

To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President of the honourable Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE.

Cambridge, March 17, 1776.

SIR: I have the pleasure to inform you that this morning the Ministerial Troops evacuated the town of oston with­out destroying it, and that we are now in the full possession; upon which event I beg leave to congratulate you, and sincerely wish (if the Ministry persevere in the same uncon­stitutional and despotick measures which too long have marked their conduct) that our opposition and resistance in every quarter may be crowned with the success they have been here.

Where their destination is, or what plans they have in view, is altogether unknown; most probably the next at­tempt will be against New-York, or some more southern Colony. However, I should think (though I do not believe they have any design against Rhode-Island) that it will be advisable to keep a strict look-out; and submit it to you, . whether it may not be proper, against the time you appre­hend they might arrive, to call in a number of the Militia, and have them posted in proper places. I do not mean to direct the measure, but only mention it for your consideraion; to me it appears worthy of attention.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable Governour Cooke.

N. B. March 19.—The fleet is still in King and Nantasket Roads.

JOHN LANGDON TO GENERAL. WASHINGTON.

Portsmouth, March 17, 1776.

SIR: This moment arrived a small vessel from the est-Indies with about six thousand weight of powder, belonging to the Continent; and as I thought it might be wanted at Head-Quarters, have despatched Major Gaines with this information to your Excellency; and should it be wanting, (in part or all,) shall immediately forward it on receiving your direction. The bearer will inform what intelligence the Captain brings, who I should have sent up had it not been necessary to keep him on board his vessel. The Captain informs that, at Martinique and Guadaloupe, there is at least ten thousand French Troops making great pre­parations for war; this, he says, may be depended on. Yesterday we had a small parcel of powder (about five thousand weight) arrived, belonging to the Colony. We have several vessels more at St. Lucia, who are taking in powder.

Please to accept of the best wishes of your most obedient servant,

JOHN LANGDON.

To His Excellency General Washington.

R. HOOE TO COLONEL JOSHUA BEALL.

Alexandria, March 18, 1776.

SIR: I have gone through every store in this town, and find but few whole pieces of B. cloths of the kinds that are wanted. However, if Colonel mallwood would send over an officer, I think, by taking different colours, and parts of pieces, they may pick up a good deal; but as they do not answer the directions Mr. Harwood gave me, I thought it best to decline a purchase till I heard further about it. There are some rugs in town, but they are large, and at twenty shillings, Virginia currency, apiece; plankets are not to be had at all; but there are in one store several pieces of woollen, of a kind between a flannel and Kendall cotton, that I think would answer the end. The two casks of medicine you will be pleased to receive, and send a receipt for them.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

R. HOOE.

To Colonel Joshua Beall, at Bladensburgh.

I have sent a memorandum of such woollens as are to be had. Be pleased to write Colonel mallwood that I will purchase them up, and pay the cash for them if I can have orders directly.

R. H.

THOMAS TILLARD TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Pig-Point, March 18, 1776.

GENTELMEN: I this day received a line from Mr. Duvall, of the 13th of February, requesting that I would inform you what quantity of Gunpowder is in my hands, and where stored. Two hundred and one pounds is what I was paid for, at two shillings and six pence per pound. Two hun­dred pounds of Mr. Brogden were also lodged with mine-being, in the whole, four hundred and one pounds stored in our store at this place; three hundred and five pounds of which, per your order, were delivered to Mr. Isaac Harris; the remainder, by order of the Committee, into the hands of the Militia.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

THOMAS TILLARD.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

CALVERT COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

On motion, Resolved, To consult the honourable the. Council of Safety concerning the propriety of stationing an additional number of thirty men in different places in this County, to watch the motion of the Ships-of-War and Ten­ders, and to prevent them from harassing the Militia by fre­quent and unnecessary alarms.

Resolved, That application be made to the honourable the Council of Safety for two barrels of Gunpowder and fifty stand of Arms, complete, for the use of this County, as we have not received the Powder ordered from Charles County. Per order:

JOSEPH WILKSON, Clerk Committee.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL THOMAS WRIGHT.

SIR: We have received your favour of the 12th instant, enclosing commissions of officers in the Militia who have refused to accept them; and now transmit you others to supply their places. The same motives which led you to withhold them so long, (which we think you are highly commendable in doing,) we hope will induce you still to persist in your efforts to settle and quiet the minds of the people at this alarming crisis of our affairs, and to reconcile them to the appointments of Field-Officers in your County, which the last Convention thought proper to make; and we cannot but flatter ourselves, when they reflect seriously on the consequences which will inevitably result from the mea­sures they have adopted, they will no longer pursue them. If our expectations should not, however, be answered in a short time, and they should obstinately persevere, it will then become our indispensable duty to pursue different (though disagreeable) expedients, and to exert the powers which we are invested with for the publick good, with a view to that end. We have fixed the station of the troops for your County at lunts Ware-House, on Kent-Island, and shall order them to repair there as soon as they can be supplied with provisions, which we imagine will be by the last of next week at farthest; and are, &c.

To Colonel Thomas Wright.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO WILLIAM HINDMAN.

Sir: As it will be some time before we can have our new emission struck and ready for circulation, and drafts are coming in pretty quick upon us, we find it necessary to call for some of the unsigned bills of credit now in your hands. We desire, therefore, you will send by Mr. Charles