To the Committee of Safety and Protection for the County of ALBANY.

The Petition of the Committee and Militia Officers of King’s District, in conjunction with some of the Committee of the east part of Claverack District, as also of the east part of Manor Rensselaer, humbly showeth:

That your Petitioners live in that part of the County of Albany that borders on the Massachusetts line, and that the good people inhabiting said part of the County have vigourously exerted themselves, since hostilities have been committed in our land, in defending their country against the British Troops; and that there did go into actual service, the last year, many companies of men from said part of the County, and some of them yet remain in service.

That this part of said County yet manifests a freedom to adventure their lives and fortunes in the general cause of our distressed land; and have made application to us, (the Committee and Militia Officers before-said,) that we would use our influence that they might be imbodied and officered as a Battalion in the Continental Army, to go to the defence of the country wherever wanted, &c.; on which your Petitioners did meet on the 25th day of March instant, to take into consideration the aforesaid application; and, on inquiry, it did appear to your Petitioners that there might be raised a Battalion for the Continental service, of friendly and well-disposed men in the parts before-mentioned, if officered from those parts; and as your Petitioners understand that the Battalion ordered to be raised by the Province are officered, and, consequently, that your Petitioners, as a matter of right, want to be heard in the honourable Continental Congress, therefore, your Petitioners humbly pray that your Board would please to give them your assistance in recommending your Petitioners’ aforesaid matter to the said honourable Continental Congress, or any other body that has a right to answer the prayer of your Petitioners, if the same shall seem just and meet for the good of the Continent, and the same appear just to your Board; and as your Petitioners are bound in duty, to pray.

Signed in the name and by order of the aforesaid Committees of Militia Officers.

MATT. ADGATE, Chairman.

Dated King’s District, March 27, 1776.

Your Petitioners further pray, that, if you see fit, in your wisdom, to answer said prayer, the following men might be appointed to fill the places of the Field-Officers, namely: Asa Waterman, Colonel; George White, Lieutenant-Colonel; Joel Pratt, Major; and that this Committee, with the said Field-Officers, under your inspection, might be allowed to nominate the other officers for said Battalion.

In Committee, MARCH 29, 1776:Resolved, That the prayer thereof cannot be granted.

A true copy from the Minutes:

MAT. VISSCHER, Secretary.

MAJOR BARBER TO MOSES GILL.

Watertown, March 27, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed is the state of the North Battery, according to the promise I made you. You will please present the same, with my most respectful compliments, to the honourable Council for this Colony; and be assured that I am, with grateful acknowledgments, honourable sir, your most obedient and obliged servant,

NAT. BARBER.

To the Hon. Moses Gill, Esq.

P. S. Please make my compliments to John Pitts, Esq. I hope I shall be remembered. If any imperfection is in the letter and statement enclosed, I hope you will be so kind as to make my excuse, as I assure you it was not for want of respect.

State of North-Battery, March 20, 1776.

Breastwork and Platform destroyed and stolen.

Flag-Staff cut in three pieces.

Part of Chimney knocked down; Iron Bar stolen.

Small Stores and Shot stolen.

Eight Cannon, trunnions broken; two Cannon spiked—10.

Eight carriages destroyed, some old; two Carnages, good, stolen—10.

Two Flags and the Halyards stolen.

Watertown, March 27, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: Above is a true state of the North-Battery in Boston, which I had the honour to command until I was obliged to escape from said town. I thought it my duty to acquaint your Honours of its situation. There remain a fine stone foundation in front and on two sides, a large house and a good magazine. I have at all times exerted myself for the good of the cause, and stand ready, on every occasion, to do all in my power for the service of the Continent in general, and this Colony in particular.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, honourable gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

NAT. BARBER.

To the Honourable Council of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, March 27, 1776.

SIR: I take the earliest opportunity to acquaint you that the men-of-war and transports with the Ministerial Troops, sailed this afternoon from Nantasket Harbour.

In consequence of this movement, I have ordered a brigade to march to-morrow morning for New-York, and shall follow with the remainder of the Army as soon as I can receive certain information of the fleet being clear off the coast, and that we are in no further danger of their returning to attack us at a disadvantage. I shall leave a few regiments at Boston, to protect the Continental stores, and to assist in fortifying the town and harbour agreeable to the directions that may be given by the General Assembly of this Colony.

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

GEORAGE WASHINGTON.

To His Honour Governour Cooke, of Rhode-Island.

[Same to Governour Trumbull, of Connecticut; to Lord Stirling, and to Brigadier-General William Thompson, New-York. ]

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Received April 6. Referred to Committee of the Whole House]

Cambridge, March 27, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour of the 1lth instant by Saturday night’s post, and must beg pardon for not acknowledging it in my last of the 24th. The hurry I was then in occasioned the neglect, and I hope will apologize for it.

I now beg leave to inform you that I just received intelligence that the whole of the Ministerial Fleet, besides three or four ships, got under way this evening at Nantasket-Road, and were standing out for sea; in consequence of which, I shall detach a brigade of six regiments immediately from hence for New-York, under the command of Brigadier-General Sullivan, (Brigadier-General Heath having gone with the first,) which will be succeeded by another in a day or two, and directly after I shall forward the remainder of the Army, except four or five regiments, which will be left for taking care of the barracks and publick stores, and fortifying the town, and erecting such works for its defence as the honourable General Court may think necessary, and follow myself.

Apprehending that General Thomas will stand in need of some Artillerists in Canada, I have ordered two companies of the train to march immediately, and two mortars, with a quantity of shells and shot to be sent him. He set out on the 21st instant.

Enclosed you have a copy of the return of ordnance Stores left in Boston by the enemy. In it are not included the cannon left at the Castle, amounting to one hundred and thirty-five pieces, as reported, all of which, except a very few, they have destroyed and rendered useless by breaking off the trunnions and spiking up.

I beg leave to transmit you the copy of a petition from the inhabitants of Nova-Scotia, brought me by Jonathan Eddy, Esq., mentioned therein, who is now here with an Acadian. From this it appears they are in a distressed situation; and from Mr. Eddy’s account, are exceedingly apprehensive that they will be reduced to the disagreable alternative of taking up arms and joining our enemies, or to flee their country, unless they can be protected against their insults and oppressions. He says that their Committees think