the Militia and Minute Companies) Abraham Dolson, First Lieutenant; Nathan Sayre, Second Lieutenant, and Asa Wisner, Ensign; and hope your honourable body will issue commissions accordingly.

I am, in behalf of the Committee, your most obedient and humble servant,

JOHN HATH0RN, Chairman.

To the New-York Congress.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER AT FORT GEORGE, DATED APRIL 20, 1776.

We came here two days ago, and found the lake still closed with ice; yesterday it all vanished, when Dr. Franklin and the other Delegates immediately embarked on board batteaus, and crossed the lake. Our regiment, with sundry other troops from New-England and the Jerseys, set out at daybreak to-morrow morning. The whole of the troops that are now on the lake and here, will amount to upwards of fifteen hundred men; so that I think we shall make a very respectable figure before Quebeck when we all arrive; and I hope we shall not lay long there, but endeavour immediately to see what the inside is made of.

LIEUTENANT HACKER TO ADMIRAL HOPKINS.

SIR: These are to inform you that, according to your order, I proceeded to Newport as fast as possible, and arrived there yesterday, at one o’clock, and went on shore, and found the Cabot at Mr. Holmes’s wharf, getting out the guns. I advised Captain Hinman to go up the river as soon as he could, as there was a report that there were three ships in the offing. He told me that he intended it. I put out at three o’clock, with the wind at west-southwest, and flood tide, and beat out to the Light-House; but the wind being small, we bore away into Franklin’s Ferry; came to and lay till four o’clock; then got under way, and beat as far as the Half-way House, between Point-Judith and Watch-Hill, where we saw a ship lying, a-hull. We still beat, in hopes of getting by her; but she made sail, and stood in to windward of us. We stood for her awhile, but soon bore away. She immediately bore away after us, but made no more sail than her topsails and courses. She stood after us till we got round Point-Judith, where we lowered all sail to wait for her. She hauled away under the lee of Block-Island. I should have taken her for one of our ships, but Captain Hinman was chased before from the same place, within a mile of the Light-House, and a small sloop yesterday, within a few rods of the shore; which makes me cautious how I go too near a ship. I thought proper to run into Franklin’s Ferry, and send Captain Brown as fast as possible to acquaint you.

I am, with respect, yours to serve,

HOYSTED HACKER.

To Eseck Hopkins, Esq., Commander-in-Chief of the American Fleet, (per favour of Captain Brown,) at New-London.

COLONEL WATERBURY TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Hartford, April 20, 1776.

DEAR SIR: After my best wishes to your Excellency, praying God may preserve you through the many dangers and difficulties that attend the calling you are now engaged in; hoping your Excellency, and the Army under your command, may be the means, under God, to the saving of our land from ruin: I received your Excellency’s favour of the 13th instant, and can answer the request: that is, I should take it as an honour done to me to be an officer under your command; but as I am well assured that your Excellency delights to see justice done to every officer and soldier in your Army, your Excellency must know that I have not had justice done me. I never had a Continental commission offered me, although it is said, since I returned home, that I refused one while in Canada. I never had the offer, although I took such an active part in the Northern expedition last fall. There were but four small companies that went down with the Generals, besides me and my regiment. When we first took the ground at St. John’s, never man laboured through an expedition with more fatigue and hard ship than I did; and now, to take rank under those that were but Lieutenant-Colonels at that time, and others that were Colonels, that ranked under me, I should think it would look as though I had done something that was not to my honour, in being set back. If your Excellency sees cause to lay the case before the honourable Congress, and they see cause to give me my proper rank, I shall cheerfully accept your Excellency’s offer, and ever make it the height of my ambition to render my services acceptable to your Excellency and my bleeding country; and if not, and your Excellency is attacked, I shall come to your assistance as a volunteer, upon the shortest notice.

And am, with every sentiment of respect and regard, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

DAVID WATERBURY, JUN.

To General Washington.

P. S. My being at Hartford instead of being at Stamford, is the reason of my not answering your Excellency’s favour sooner.

W. READ TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Reading, April 20, 1776.

SIR: I have your favour of the 11th of April, by order of the honourable Council of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, to which an immediate answer is requested.

Sir, I am very sensible of the great honour done me in this appointment, to be one of the Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature, fee, for that Colony, and of the duty which I owe my country, and should be glad to render it any service; but my present, and, for some time, low state of health, and the situation of my affairs, render it impossible for me to undertake such an arduous office, which I esteem beyond my abilities in my best condition. Please to present my duty to the honourable Board, and acquaint them herewith, and that I beg the favour to be held excused.

I am, with the highest respect to the honourable Board, their very humble servant,

W. READ.

To the Honourable the Council of Massachusetts-Bay.

WILLIAM MILLER TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Newburyport, April 20, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: About three months ago your Honours were pleased to order me to be confined to this town. I should now be glad to be released from that restraint; and as my employ in the Customs has been at an end for nigh a year, during which time I have been entirely idle, I should therefore be glad of liberty to return to Great Britain, as an opportunity now offers from this place.

I am, honourable gentlemen, your most humble servant,

WILLIAM MILLER *

To the Honourable the Council, at Watertown.

WILLIAM LUX TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, April 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have received an order, by Mr. Quin, to attend your honourable Board to-morrow, which I should very willingly obey; but as our Committee is to meet, for the purpose of laying taxes on Non-Associates, and we have appointed the attendance of all our members, I presume to hope it w ill plead my excuse for deferring it till Tuesday, when you shall be waited on by, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM LUX.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

GALLOWAY (NEW-JERSEY) COMMITTEE TO DELEGATES OF MASSACHUSETTS IN CONGRESS.

GENTLEMEN: We, the Committee of Galloway Township, have received your favour of the 17th instant, and,

* IN COUNCIL, April 23, 1776.—Read; and Ordered, That the said Miller’s request be referred to the Committee of Newburyport, who are hereby authorized and empowered to permit him to go to Great Britain, under such restrictions and conditions as their discretion shall point out to be necessary.

PEREZ MORTON, Deputy Secretary.