the other a fowling-piece. Will be obliged for direction what further to do. Meantime, I am, with the greatest respect, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

ANDREW BILLINGS.

To the New-York Committee of Safety.

ALBANT COMMITTEE TO COLONEL CURTENIUS.

Albany Committee-Chamber, April 11, 1776.

SIR: When we received your letter, we made the necessary inquiry, and find the enumerated articles extremely scarce, and not to be had at the prices you have set. However, we can inform you that Messrs. Henry, McClallen, & Henry, merchants in this city, have imported from Canada, this winter, a sufficient quantity of woollen cloth (blue, gray, and brown) to clothe two regiments; and also a good many bales of brown Russia, and Scotch sheeting, and osnaburghs. They have also a sufficient number of blankets, from two and a half points to four points. If the whole is taken, they promise to sell them at a reasonable advance. We would, therefore, advise you (as the prices of the above articles will exceed what you mention in your letter) to send up, or authorize some person to agree with them.

With respect to the guns you mention, we can inform you that the General has had out people to purchase all that could be found. The stockings are not to be had here. Would therefore advise you to send into Connecticut for them. We are, sir, your humble servants,

By order of the Committee:

ABRAHAM YATES, JUN., Chairman.

To Colonel Curtenius.

P. S. We want none of the articles mentioned, but the Russia sheeting and blankets. The last article is limited by the Continental Congress to sixteen shillings per pair Query. Whether the Province will pay what they cost more.

COLONEL SALTONSTALL TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, April 11, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: The Captains in the Third Regiment are inlisting and detaching one-third of their several companies, and shall soon be able to make returns of the companies to be formed, according to order. Am in doubt how to understand the following clause in your Honour’s orders of the 2d instant: “And appoint them one Captain, two Lieutenants, and one Ensign, to each company, observing the ranks which they now sustain in the Regiment.” Whether it is intended according to seniority of their several commissions, or that I may appoint such as are now Captains, Lieutenants, and Ensigns, at discretion, without special regard to the dates of their several commissions. Should esteem it a favour to be particularly directed in this matter. I do not apprehend the soldiers in the New-London companies will now amount to more than about two hundred and eighty men; and in Lyme, about two hundred and thirty; consequently, more than two companies will not be raised. The company under my command, stationed in this town, is augmenting with all possible despatch.

Your most obedient and most humble servant,

G. SALTONSTALL.

To Governour Trumbull

Newport, Rhode-Island, Monday, April 15, 1776.

Thursday last, towards night, the Ship Scarborough, of twenty guns, a transport ship of two hundred tons and sixteen guns, a brig loaded with provisions, and a sloop loaded with salt, came into this bay, and anchored between Goat-Island and Conanicut. In the evening, two row-galleys, commanded by Captains Grimes and Hyer, with a number of volunteers from the Army on this Island, took the brig and sloop. Afterwhich, a battery at the north part of this town, a battery at Brenton’s Point, and the galleys, played so briskly upon the ships, that they were soon obliged to move out of the reach of the batteries, and went under Conanicut. Captain Hyer, in one of the galleys, lay within musket-shot of the Scarborough, firing upon her, while Captain Grimes boarded and sent off the brig and sloop. The Scarborough did the galley some damage in her hull and rigging, and the musketry from her tops wounded one of Captain Hyer’s people very badly, which was all the injury received on the American side. This bold action, of taking two vessels close under the stern of a twenty-gun ship, may possibly convince our enemies that the Yankees are not such dastards as the Tories in this country have represented them.

There were seventeen hands taken in the above vessels, who inform that the ships were from Georgia, the transport having on board one hundred and forty soldiers; that the Scarborough was commanded by Captain Barclay, and had on board Sir James Wright, Governour of Georgia, his family, and some other Tories of that place. That the brig was from Philadelphia, taken going into Georgia; that the sloop was from some of the Islands, commanded by Captain Gregory Cozzens, of this place, and taken near Georgia; that they were bound to Boston, and had parted with several other prizes, one of which (a sloop) arrived here on Saturday, and anchored between the two ships.

Saturday night and yesterday morning, a battery at Conanicut so disturbed the quiet of the Scarborough, the transport ship, and the sloop, that they took advantage of a fair wind and pushed to sea; but, as they passed the mouth of the harbour, a battery on the east side, near Castle-Hill, hulled the Scarborough twice, and sent one eighteen-pounder through the sloop. The Scarborough returned a very heavy fire on both the batteries, without doing the least damage. Our bay is now free from Pirates.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL McKAY, (A PRISONER.)

New-Haven, April 11, 1776.

SIR: I received yours of the 9th instant, and could wish that it was in my power, consistently with the duty I owe to my country, to grant you the relief you desire. I have made repeated applications to General Howe for an exchange of prisoners, but he has not thought proper to return me any answer. It has been in his power to set you at liberty; and if you are still continued a prisoner, the blame must lie entirely upon him.

The situation of your family is indeed distressing; but such is the event of war; it is far from being singular. The brave Colonel Allen, an officer of rank, has been torn from his dearest connexions, sent to England in irons, and is now confined to the most servile drudgery on board one of the King’s ships. Your treatment, sir, and that of the other officers taken in arms against the liberties of America, has been very different; for the truth of this I appeal to your own feelings. Whenever it is in my power to release you by a mutual exchange, I shall do it with the greatest pleasure; and am, sir, your most obedient servant.

GENERAL WARD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, April 11, 1776.

SIR: I am to inform your Excellency that Colonel Glover applied to me for a warrant upon the Paymaster-General, to pay those men who are in the service of the Continent, on board the Continental privateers just arrived from a cruise; but I did not think myself authorized, by your instructions, to grant a warrant. He informed me the men would not be induced to go out again, unless they received their pay. I therefore directed him to supply the places of such men as might leave the privateers, out of his regiment, until I could receive your directions in the matter.

The agent for the privateers, at Beverley, Captain Barllett, has likewise applied for the same purpose. I must, therefore, beg the favour of your particular directions relative to the above-mentioned applications.

I have not been able to collect any material intelligence from the people taken on board the transport which Commodore Manly sent into Portsmouth. The general account they give is, that the enemy are going to Quebeck as soon as the river opens.

A fifty gun-ship, with three transports, lies in Nantaslcet Road. A man who made his escape from the ship informs, that the officers on board said they were to be there until the transports arrived, which are expected from Europe, and then to follow the fleet.

I am, your Excellency’s obedient, humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To General Washington.