A proclamation of General Howe, issued a few days before his departure from town, having fallen into my hands, I have enclosed you a copy, which probably has been the occasion of large quantities of goods being carried away; and the removal of many persons, which otherwise would not have happened.

Colonel Warren, Paymaster-General, finding the Army likely to be removed from hence, informed me the other day, that the situation of his affairs and engagements in the business of the Colony are such as to prevent him from personally attending the Army, and offered, in case it should be required, to resign. This was rather embarrassing. To me it appears indispensably necessary that the Paymaster-General, with his books, should be at or near Head-Quarters. Indeed, it is usual for the head of every department in the Army, however dispersed that Army may be, to be with the Commanding-General, keeping deputies in the smaller departments. On the other hand, Colonel Warren’s merit and attachment to the cause are such, that I could do nothing less than desire (as some money must be left for the pay and contingent charges of the Army which will remain here) he would wait here till Congress shall be pleased to give their sentiments upon the matter, sending, in the mean time, some person in whom he could confide with the money, (but little of which there will be to carry, though great the demands, as nine of the regiments which have marched to New-York have only received five hundred pounds each, towards their pay for the months of February and March, and six others not one farthing.) I hope, therefore, this matter will be considered by Congress, and the result transmitted me as soon as done.

I would also mention to Congress that the Militia Regiments, which were last called upon, in making up their abstracts, charged pay—the officers from the time they received orders to raise companies, and the privates from the time they respectively engaged to come, or were called upon; though they did not march for a considerable time after, some not within three, four, to twenty days, and during all which they remained at home about their own private affairs, without doing anything else than preparing for the march, as they say by way of plea. This appeared to me so exceedingly unreasonable, and so contrary to justice, that the publick should pay for a longer time than from the day of their march to that of their return, that I ordered the abstracts to be made out accordingly, and refused to give warrants on any other terms. They say that the inlisting orders which went out from their Governments, give them the pay they claim. The fact may be that something in these may seem to authorize it. But I must submit it to Congress, and wish for their decision whether the Continent must pay it.

I am, with great esteem, sir, your most humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

Providence, April 1, 1776.

SIR: I yesterday wrote your Excellency that I had information, by express, from Newport, that a large part of the Ministerial Fleet and Army were near that harbour. Since which, by the intelligence I have further received, I am inclined to believe that the Fleet was not seen as was reported. The alarm was given upon the following occasion: Three of the soldiers being upon a rising ground, near the town, were positive they saw a fleet within Seconet Point, and counted distinctly twenty-one sail. Immediately upon this, the Sheriff of the County of Newport dispatched an express with the information. One of the Ensigns also says that three large ships were seen off the Light-House from Conanicut yesterday, at eleven o’clock, A. M. After having taken all the measures that appeared necessary to collect a sufficient force to oppose the enemy, I sent a person in whom I could confide to Newport, who has just returned, and informs me that it seems to be the general opinion that no fleet was descried, but that the persons were deceived by the weather, which was very thick and foggy, and has so continued ever since. I think it my duty to acquaint your Excellency of this by my son, who goes express; and am, with great esteem and respect, sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, April 2, 1776.

General Ward to send a Regiment to-morrow morning, at ten o’clock, out of Boston, to relieve Colonel Larned’s Regiment upon Dorchester-Heights. Colonel Larned’s Regiment to prepare to march on Thursday morning.

Head-Quarters, Cambridge, April 3, 1776.

The Brigade under the command of Brigadier-General Spencer to march to-morrow morning at sunrise. Carriages will be provided this afternoon by the Assistant Quartermaster-General; and the Adjutant-General will send the marching orders to the Colonels commanding Divisions.

General Spencer will receive his orders this afternoon at five o’clock, at Head-Quarters.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Cambridge, April 4, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 26th ultimo came to my hands last night, by the post; but as I am upon the point of setting out for New-York, (by the way of Providence and Norwich,) I can do little more than acknowledge the receipt of it, and thank you for the proceedings and ordinances of the Virginia Convention, which came safely to hand.

At present the lakes are in an impassable state, neither being clear of ice, nor covered with such as will admit of transportation; at present, also, our troops are at different stages, on their march from hence to New-York; nor is it possible for me, till I get there, (as the Congress have annexed conditions to my sending the four battalions to Canada,) to tell whether they can be spared or not, as I am unacquainted with the number of men or strength of the works at that place. No time shall be lost in forwarding three battalions, if there is a possibility of doing it with safety, as no person can be more sensible of the importance of securing Canada than I am. A letter of the 27th ultimo, from General Schuyler, informs me that there are many men now stopped at Albany on account of the state the ice is in on the lakes.

I thank you for your friendly congratulations on the retreat of the King’s Troops from Boston. It was really a flight. Their embarcation was so precipitate, their loading so confused, (after making greater havock of the King’s) stores than Dunbar did upon Braddock’s defeat, which made so much noise,) that it took them eleven days to fit their transports, adjust the loads of them, and take in water from the Islands in Nantasket Road, after they had fallen down there. The coast is now clear of them, except the Renown, (a fifty-gun ship,) and one or two frigates, which remain here for the protection of such transports as shall be bound to this port.

I pray you to make my best wishes acceptable to the good Doctor, his lady, and family, &c.; and believe me to be, as I really am, dear sir, your affectionate and obedient humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Richard Henry Lee.

GENERAL CHARLES LEE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Williamsburgh, April 5, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I most sincerely congratulate you, I congratulate the publick, on the great and glorious event of your possession of Boston. It will be a most bright page in the annals of America, and a most abominable black one in those of the Beldam Britain. Go on, my dear General, crown yourself with glory, and establish the liberties and lustre of your country on a foundation more permanent than the Capitol Rock. My situation is just as I expected. I am afraid that I shall make a shabby figure, without any real demerits of my own. I am like a dog in a dancing school—I know not where to turn myself, where to fix myself. The circumstances of the country, intersected by navigable rivers; the uncertainty of the enemy’s designs and motions, who can fly in an instant to any spot they chose. with their canvass wings, throw me, or would have thrown Julius Cæsar, into this inevitable dilemma. I may possibly