I have not heard anything from Colonel Wynkoop. I had him much at Ticonderoga.

Be pleased to present my compliments to the gentlemen of your suite.

I am, dear sir, with every affectionate wish, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington, &c., &c.

PHILIP SHEARMAN TO ADMIRAL HOPKINS.

Dartmouth, May 3, 1776.

SIR: We received yours of the 18th March, per Captain Jenne, together with the guns and shot. Permit us to return you our sincere thanks for your publick services, and in a particular manner for those necessary engines of defence sent us by Captain Jenne. The shot which will not answer for us, we shall convey, by the first opportunity, either to Providence or Howland’s Ferry.

We are your and the country’s most obedient and humble servants.

Signed in and on behalf of the Committee of Inspection for the town of Dartmouth, by

PHILIP SHEARMAN, Clerk.

To Commodore Eseck Hopkins, on board the Ship Alfred.

GENERAL WARD TO COLONEL WARREN.

Boston, May 3, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed is a copy of a letter I received this morning from Mr. Derby. If the General Court should send an express to Congress, I should be very desirous that he might come through Boston, to carry my despatches to the southward.

I am, sir, your obedient humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To Colonel Warren, Watertown.

Ipswich, May 2, 1776—5 o’clock P. M.

SIR: I am now on my way from Newburyport to Salem, from whence I proposed sending the following advice per express; but meeting with an opportunity by one of your officers, I embrace it, and inform you that about two o’clock this afternoon Captain John Lee arrived at Newbury, from Bilboa, in twenty-nine days, and informed me that on the 14th of last month, in longitude forty-five from London, he spoke a vessel from Plymouth in England, who informed him that, three days before, he parted with a fleet of sixty sail of transports, bound for Boston, under the command of Admiral Lord Howe, having on board twelve thousand Hessian troops. He saw and read the London papers down to the 12th March, from which, and by the Captain of the vessel, he learned that there were twenty-seven Commissioners on board this fleet, and that they were directed if possible to adjust matters; if not, they were ordered to risk everything to penetrate into the country; if not able to effect this, then to burn and destroy all in their power.

Burgoyne was near sailing, with four thousand Hanoverians, for Quebeck, and a number of regiments are gone to the Southern Colonies. The Ministry had quieted the Prussian Monarch by paying him all his demands. France and Spain had objected against any Russians coming this way. This is the purport of what I had from the Captain, who is a man of veracity. I advised the gentlemen at Newbury to collect what further they could and inform you. Please inform the Court of this matter.

To General Ward.

P. S. Captain Lee could not obtain leave to bring any English papers’, but only to read them.

GENERAL WARD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, May 3, 1776.

SIR: Yesterday afternoon a vessel arrived at Newbury from Bilboa, in twenty-nine days, the Captain of which informs that, on the 14th of April, in longitude forty-five from London, he spoke a vessel from Plymouth in England, who informed him that, three days before, he parted with a fleet of sixty sail of transports, bound for Boston, under the command of Admiral Howe, having on board twelve thousand Hessian troops; that twenty-seven Commissioners were on board this fleet; that they were directed, if possible, to adjust matters with the Colonies; if not, to penetrate, at the risk of everything, into the country; if this could not be effected, then to burn and destroy all in their power. That General Burgoyne was near sailing with four thousand Hanoverians for Quebeck; that a number of regiments are gone to the Southern Colonies; that the King of Prussia was made quiet by having all his demands complied with; and that France and Spain had objected against any Russians coming to America.

Commodore Manly declines going on another cruise until he has a larger ship; and he says he cannot recommend his First Lieutenant for the command of the vessel he last sailed in.

Frequent applications are made to me to appoint Commanders of the privateers, and for other matters, which no person here is authorized to transact.

I am, in great haste, your Excellency’s obedient humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To General Washington.

THOMAS CUSHING TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Watertown, May 3, 1776.

SIR: By order of a Committee of the General Court of this Colony, whereof I have the honour to be Chairman, I enclose you a copy of a piece of intelligence which is of the greatest importance, received by Captain John Lee, a gentleman who may be depended upon. We would humbly submit it to your Excellency whether, as the British troops left this Colony in disgrace, they will not return here to retrieve their character. On this occasion we take leave to suggest to your consideration whether it would not, considering the number which are gone out of this Colony, be for the publick safety to reinforce the detachment under General Ward’s command as soon as may be, as the regiments under his command are by no means full.

I am, with great respect, your Excellency’s most humble servant,

THOMAS LUSHING.

To His Excellency General Washington.

[At the bottom of the Letter, in Washington’s hand, and written with a pencil, are these words:]

General Washington would remark on this letter, that one of the five Regiments left at Boston was complete, and that the other four contained the average of those brought away.

THOMAS CUSHING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read May 10, 1776, and referred to the Committee on the stale of the Eastern Colonies.]

Watertown, May 3, 1776.

SIR: The General Court of this Colony have appointed a Committee, whereof I have the honour to be Chairman, to give you the following interesting intelligence:

Captain John Lee, a gentleman who may be depended upon, arrived at Newbury on the 2d instant, in twenty-nine days from Bilboa, and gives information, that on the 15th of April he fell in with a brig from Plymouth, bound to Newfoundland, the master of which informed him that, three days before, he parted with a fleet of sixty sail of transports, under the command of Lord Howe, having on board twelve thousand Hessians, bound to Boston, together with twenty-seven Commissioners; that General Burgoyne, with four thousand Hanoverians, sailed, or was to sail, about the same time for Quebeck. Lee says he read the English papers on board the brig, by which it appears that the Parliament had voted to pay foreign troops; and that the King of Prussia’s demands on Britain were complied with; that the people of England were very desirous of a settlement; and that the Commissioners were to use their utmost endeavours to effect it, which, if they failed in, the forces were to lay waste the whole country, if they could.

Mr. Guardoqui, of Bilboa, by his letter, dated 27th March last, writes to Isaac Smith, Esq., by Captain Lee, in these words: “No other news from England, but that seventeen thousand three hundred German troops were going to Boston and Quebeck, some of which were embarking about three weeks ago.”

This intelligence appears to the General Assembly of this Colony too important to the whole Continent not to be