which he brought from Providence, if not particularly appropriated.

I sincerely wish your Excellency every earthly blessing; and am, with the greatest respect, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

HENRY KNOX.

To His Excellency General Washington.

WILLIAM RICHMOND TO ADMIRAL HOPKINS.

Head-Quarters, Newport, April 21, 1776.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your very acceptable favour of ordnance and warlike stores from the Cabot. We are mounting them with all despatch possible, under the inspection of Sir. John Collins, who assures us that within four days he will have them all mounted. We have almost completed the fortification on the Point, where we can mount thirteen guns. To-morrow we go on Fort-Island, in order to put the old fort in a posture of defence; which, together with another on Brenton’s Point, we think will well secure the harbour: all which works we shall pursue with the utmost vigour till completed. We are informed you have sixteen more heavy guns for us. As they are without carriages, it may be necessary to send them along soon.

Before this can come to hand, you must have heard of the confusion we have lately been in, occasioned by the wild conduct and insanity of our late commander, (Colonel Babcock,) who is now under an arrest at Providence, and, we judge, must be discharged from the service: in consequence of which, the command, at present, devolves upon me—a heavy task.

I have the honour, sir, to be, with the greatest sincerity, your most obedient and most humble servant,

WILLIAM RICHMOND.

To Admiral Hopkins, Esquire.

ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO STEPHEN HOPKINS.

DEAR BROTHER: Since I wrote, nothing material has happened. We landed our sick, (which were one hundred and forty men in the fleet,) and got some new men out of the Army, and were ready to sail, when I received General Washington’s letter by express, a copy of which I have enclosed.

I sent out the Cabot in order to strengthen the town of Newport, where she is arrived, as you will see by Lieutenant Hinman’s letter, a copy of which you have enclosed. Two days past we were under sail to go out, but got ashore on the rocks near Fisher’s Island; but got off again without much damage, after about eight hours, and came in again, and ordered all the vessels in which I had under convoy— five of whom were at the risk of the Congress. The Fly is now out in order to learn the strength of the fleet. If they are not much stronger than we, shall go out the first fair wind.

We are much better manned now than we ever have been. My son (John B. Hopkins) is ashore, at Mr. Shaw’s, and getting better of his wounds; but do not expect he will be able to go on board his brig, to take the command, in less than three or four weeks.

To the Honourable Stephen Hopkins, Esquire, at Philadelphia.

P. S. I have obliged most of the sailors that I have taken out of the armed vessels to do duty on board. Should be glad to know if that is agreeable with the sentiments of the Congress, that I may still follow the same rule.

THOMAS BURKE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read May 2, 1776.]

Halifax, North-Carolina, April 22, 1776.

SIR: Expecting in our Province a scene of much business, which may require all our attention, we have thought it expedient to send the prisoners taken during the late commotion, some to Maryland, some to Virginia, and some to Philadelphia, for the more immediate disposition of the Continental Congress. These last are such as appear to us, from their rank and influence over an ignorant and restless part of our inhabitants, to be capable of doing us the most mischief.

We are sorry to be compelled to an act of such severity as this of sending these men at such a distance from their unfortunate families; but the security of our country makes it indispensably necessary, for should they have an opportunity of exerting their pernicious influence, at a time when we may be invaded by a powerful Army, the consequences might and probably would prove fatal. The hopes these men have given our enemies, we are assured, have induced the British Ministry to direct against us the first efforts of their arms; to them, therefore, are due the evils, expenses, and difficulties, which we encountered in suppressing them, and the calamities which they and their wretched families must now undergo. We shall not fail to extend to the latter the most humane attention, for we are always mindful that humanity distinguishes the brave.

We should not have sent off the prisoners, but that we could not secure them without engaging too many of our officers and soldiers from more important business; for while in the neighbourhood of their connexions, when the attention of every one would be drawn to the more important operations of the impending campaign, without strong guards a rescue would be inevitable.

We rely on the wisdom of Congress for disposing of them in such a secure manner that we shall have nothing to apprehend from their future machinations. We enclose you the list of their names, and we shall by the first opportunity transmit you a particular account of circumstances relative to each, extracted from the report of the Committee appointed by the Provincial Congress to inquire concerning them.

We are, with very great esteem and regard, sir, your most obedient, humble servants.

By order of the Committee of Secrecy, of War, and Intelligence, for the Congress of North-Carolina:

THOMASBURKE.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental Congress.

LIST OF PRISONERS DESTINED FOR PHILADELPHIA.

1. His Excellency Donald McDonald, Esq., Brigadier-General of the Tory Army, and Commander-in-Chief in North-Carolina.

2. Colonel Allan McDonald, (of Kingsbrough,) first in commission of array, and second in command.

3. Alexander McDonald, son of Kingsbrough.

4. Major Alexander McDonald, (Cowdrach.)

5. Captain Alexander McKay.

6. Captain John Leggate.

7. Captain James McDonald.

8. Captain Alexander McLeod.

9. Captain Alexander Morrison.

10. Captain John McDonald.

11. Captain Alexander McLeod.

12. Captain Murdoch McAskell.

13. Captain Alexander McLeod.

14. Captain Angus McDonald.

15. Captain Niel McArthur.

16. Captain James Meirs, of the Light-Horse.

17. Captain John McLeod.

18. Captain Thomas Wier.

19. Captain John McKinzie.

20. Lieutenant John Merchison.

21. Kennith McDonald, Aid-de-Camp to General McDonald.

22. Murdock McLeod, Surgeon.

23. Adjutant-General John Smith.

24. Donald McLeod, Quartermaster.

25. John Bethune. Chaplain.

26.Farquard Campbell. late a Delegate in Provincial Congress, Spy and confidential emissary of Governour Martin.

ORDERS BY GENERAL LEE TO THE COMMANDERS OF THE SEVERAL BATTALIONS.

Virginia, April 22, 1776.

SIR: You will please to give orders to the several recruiting officers of your regiment not to take any natives of Great Britain, or Ireland, as recruits, unless they have