missioners, who then arrived. May I take the liberty, my dear General, to urge the necessity of their being speedily sent. I believe the route by the way of New-York will be as speedy as any, and give more ease to the soldiers, as they can be conveyed from thence to this place in sloops.

General Thomas leaves here to-morrow, and I shall accompany him to Ticonderoga.

I am, my dear General, with every sentiment of esteem and affection, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To General Washington.

GENERAL THOMAS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, April 7, 1776.

SIR: I arrived at Albany in five days after I left the camp at Roxbury, at which place I have been detained to this time, by reason of the lake’s being impassable. The troops here and at Lake George are about eleven hundred, and I hear some few are at Ticonderoga and Crown-Point —prevented going forward, as the lakes are partly blocked up. What number are in Canada I cannot ascertain, but am sensible from the best intelligence, will be much short of an equal number, as I find the regiments are very incomplete. General Schuyler thinks they will be much short of five thousand; and should the Ministerial Troops there be reinforced, and Quebeck remain in their hands, so small a number must be thought to be inadequate for the defence of that quarter. Your Excellency will judge whether a reinforcement will not be necessary. The last intelligence from Canada was about the 25th of March, at which time things there remained in statu quo.

Doctor Franklin and others, of the Committee of Congress, arrived here this morning. As the weather this day or two is moderate, I am in hopes the lake may be passed in a few days. I determine to set off for the lake to-morrow.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

JOHN THOMAS.

To General Washington.

WALTER LIVINGSTON TO PRESIDENT OF NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Albany, April 7, 1776.

SIR: By intelligence from York, I am informed that Major-General Lee has ordered four thousand barrels of pork from Connecticut to New-York, for the Army in Canada. I have long been in expectation of that pork arriving here. There is no pork to be purchased in Canada, and a large Army gone thither, which has induced General Schuyler (notwithstanding General Wooster has appointed contractors to furnish the Army under his command) to order me to write to New-York, to have the four thousand barrels sent up immediately; and if they are not arrived at New-York, to have other pork sent instead thereof, and to be replaced out of that which is ordered by General Lee. I know of nobody or person to whom I can apply for assistance, in this critical situation, that can give such effectual relief, as your House. I must, therefore, entreat you, sir, to request the House to give such orders as will be the means of forwarding the pork with the utmost despatch. Could I have learnt who was ordered to ship the pork from New-York, I should not have troubled the Congress. As the Service requires despatch, I hope the Congress will deem it a reasonable excuse for my troubling them.

I am, sir, with esteem, your very humble servant,

WALTER LIVINGSTON, Deputy Com’y General.

To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq.

WINTHROP SARGENT TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Gloucester, April 7, 1776.

SIR: The bearer of this has under his guard a number of prisoners and Tories, taken by Commodore Manly and Captain Waters. The prize is sent to Portsmouth. I make no doubt you have had an account of the capture before this reaches your Excellency. Their names you have below. There are two women and some children left here, which are not able to travel. Should be glad your Excellency would send me an answer to what I wrote you last about Captain Watts’s goods, and what I am to do with the prisoners, for I have thirty here now upon expense.

I remain your humble servant,

WINTHROP SARGENT, Agent.

P. S. Since I wrote the above, Captain Tucker has carried the prisoners to Marblehead, whence they will be sent to Head-Quarters. Will not carry the women and children, for fear of the small-pox; so I am forced to provide for them here. Should be glad of your order in regard to the above.

EDMUND PENDLETON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Caroline, April 8, 1776.

DEAR SIR: On Friday last General Lee arrived safe in Wittiamsburgh, in a very rainy day, and much fatigued. We consider him as a valuable acquisition, and esteem it a favour in Congress to spare him to this department, where most people here think the gentry who found Boston too hot for them, will come, and be joined by the much-talked-of powerful force from Europe. However, I am not of that opinion, and think they either mean a descent upon some other part of New-England they like better, or, perhaps, by dividing our Army, may purpose to return to Boston with greater advantage, or else to go to Halifax, and wait for the season to go up to Quebeck. General Lee thinks if they come here, they will certainly make Williamsburgh their object; and on that supposition he is going to intrench it. I hear, since I came away, he has ordered all the battalions from their stations to that place, which has made the people in town very happy, but I fear will be very alarming to other parts, particularly the Northern Neck, who were before uneasy on the appearance of tenders in Potomack and Rappahannock.

It was mentioned in Committee before I came away, it would be proper to request our Delegates to transmit all publick proceedings of Congress, to be laid before the Convention at their meeting. They will probably have written on the subject, but I mention it lest they should from hurry overlook it.

I have seen your resolves about reprisals. Is it considered as a law we are now to execute, by granting commissions or must we wait for a confirmation by our Convention? Elections are coming on. It seems Colonel Francis and Mr. Carter are left out, by the bulk of the freeholders being absent, and not expecting a contest.

I am, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

EDMUND PENDLETON.

To Richard Henry Lee, Esq., at Philadelphia.

JOSEPH BEALL TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Bladensburgh, April 8, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 29th ultimo I received yesterday. I have examined the powder according to your request, and find there are twenty-six barrels of coarse powder, including one that was brought on board the vessel, and four barrels and twenty kegs of fine powder, though there seems to be something of a mixture throughout the whole.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

JOSEPH BEALL.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

COLONEL HASLETT TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read 9th April, 1776. Referred to the Committee on Prisoners.]

SIR: I am honoured with your letter of the 3d of April, and beg leave to inform you that, being well acquainted with the defenceless situation of the County of Sussex, on the first information of the Roebuck’s being in the road of Lewes, two companies of the battalion under my command were directed to do duty there, where they still continue.

The Council of Safety for this Government ordered the Militia arms of this County into the hands of the Continental