CAPTAIN HULBERT TO JOHN McKESSON.

New-York, April 10, 1776.

SIR: As Captain Cooper, the bearer, is waiting, in order to get a permit to take on board a load of provisions; and the Committee of Safety not yet making a House, he requests of me to inform you of his character. The gentleman belongs to Southampton, and has, to my knowledge, been employed in the publick service, to carry provisions from this to the eastward for our Army. And whilst I acted as a Committee-man for the town of Southampton, he always appeared to act for the publick good; and I give it as a private opinion, that he will act with prudence and caution, if he should be permitted by your House to take on board provisions for the distressed inhabitants at Dartmouth, or the eastern parts, &c. If you can in any way assist him in getting a permit, should take it as a peculiar favour, although it is no concern of mine, only to oblige, as far as I can, in my small sphere, every honest man to serve himself and country, &c.

I am, sir, your humble servant,

JOHN HULBERT.

To Mr. McKesson.

JONATHAN LANDON TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Little Nine Partners, April 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In compliance with the request of the Committee of Safety, I applied to Mr. Moses Harris, who undertook to make discovery of some lead mines in the Nine Partners. Mr. McDonald and myself accompanied him to a limestone-kill, where, about twenty years since, a company of adventurers had sunk several shafts or pits, in quest of copper, as I am informed. Mr. McDonald made several trials and discoveries, both of lead and copper, and has drawn a report, the truth of which, as far as I could judge, may be depended on. We also applied to one Mr. Fish, on whose land Mr. Harris has made an advantageous discovery of lead, for leave to dig, but he would not gratify us; so that Mr. Harris’s chief discovery was not explored by Mr. McDonald.

I am told the mines are now the property of a company; and that some of the family of the late Colonel Horsman, a Mr. Bogart, and Tiebout, of New-York, are some of them, of whom it is probable the Committee may be informed of every particular.

I am, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

JONATHAN LANDON.

To the Committee of Safety for the Province of New-York.

COLONEL NICOLL TO JOHN McKESSON.

Fort Constitution, April 10, 1776.

SIR: I understand there are some new regiments to be raised in this Province. I have been some months in the service, and am still willing to be continued, if your body should think me a proper person. Enclosed you have a recommendation from Mr. Wisner, which he gave me to the Congress. After I received it, I understood that there had been so many applications that I thought it not worth my while to apply. If there should be any new regiments to be raised, I would be much obliged to you to mention my name to Congress, and make such use of the enclosed as you shall think fit.

From your humble servant,

ISAAC NICOLL.

To John McKesson, Esq.

GENERAL WOOSTER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read May 4, 1776.]

Holland-House, before Quebeck, April 10, 1776.

SIR: I arrived here about a week ago; and General Arnold, by his desire, sets off this morning to supply my place at Montreal.

By a return of the state of the Army, which General Arnold sent, about ten days since, to Mr. Deane, you will see what we have to rely upon. Our situation is truly very disagreeable. We have between two and three thousand mouths to fill, and not many more than half the number of men to do duty; and many of them expect to leave us the 15th instant. We are erecting two or three batteries; but our powder and artillery stores are so trifling, that I rather imagine no great results ought to be expected from them. Troops come in to our assistance but slowly; and a great part of those who have arrived have been but of very little service, on account of the small-pox.

In making out the arrangement of officers for the two regiments directed to be raised out of the broken corps in Canada, I promised them to write to the honourable Congress, to exchange them for two other regiments from the Colonies, which might be sent into this country, and their places in the Colonies be supplied by the two regiments raised here. As the troops who will compose these regiments have undergone great hardships, and have been from home near a twelvemonth, (which is much longer than they expected,) I think their request a reasonable one, and could wish to have it complied with.

I am, sir, with the greatest esteem and respect, your most obedient and very humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE CAPTAIN OF MARINES, ON BOARD THE SHIP ALFRED, DATED AT NEW-LONDON, APRIL 10, 1776.

Before this comes to hand, I make no doubt you will have heard of our arrival in this port, and of our engagement with the Glasgow man-of-war; but as I intend giving you an account of our cruise, must beg your patience for a while respecting that matter. The 17th of February, left Cape-Henlopen, and after a very pleasant passage of fifteen days, came to anchor off the Island of Abaca, about seventeen leagues distance from New-Providence, where we brought to several small vessels belonging to Providence, which gave the Commodore an opportunity of inquiring into the state of the Island, as to its defence; and found it very well supplied with warlike stores, and an object worthy of our attention, as it was not sufficiently manned to give us opposition. The vessels we then had in our possession were detained as transports, to carry the Marines over to Providence. We embarked, and made sail on Saturday evening, March 2, and on Sunday, at two o’clock, landed all our men (two hundred and seventy in number) under my command at the east end of the Island, at a place called New-Guinea. The inhabitants were very much alarmed at our appearance, and supposed us to be Spaniards, but were soon undeceived after our landing. Just as I had formed the men, I received a message from the Governour, desiring to know what our intentions were. I sent him for answer, to take possession of all the warlike stores on the Island belonging to the Crown, but had no design of touching the property or hurting the persons of any of the inhabitants, unless in our defence. As soon as the messenger was gone, I marched forward to take possession of Fort Montague, a fortification built of stone, about half way between our landing place and the town. As we approached the fort, (within about a mile, having a deep cove to go round, with a prodigious thicket on one side and the water on the other, entirely open to their view,) they fired three twelve-pound shot, which made us halt, and consult what was best to be done; we then thought it more prudent to send a flag to let them know what our designs were in coming there. We soon received an answer, letting us know that it was by the Governour’s orders that they fired. They spiked up the cannon and abandoned the fort, and retired to the fort within the town. I then marched and took possession of it, in which were found seventeen pieces of cannon, (thirty-two, eighteen, and twelve pounders,) and not much damaged; they were spiked with nails and spikes, which are easily taken out, I thought it necessary to stay all night, and refresh my men, who were fatigued, being on board the small vessels, not having a convenience either to sleep or cook in. The next morning by daylight we marched forward to the town, to take possession of the Governour’s house, which stands on an eminence, with two four-pounders, which commands the garrison and town. On our march I met an express from the Governour, to the same purport as the first. I sent him the same answer as before. The messenger then told me I might march into the town, and if I thought proper, into the fort, without interruption; on which I marched into town. I then drafted a guard, and went up to the Governour’s, and demanded the keys of the