detained as well as all others; and I do suppose that Charles Carroll, Esquire, must know that was the case. However, soon after the Otter was here, Mr. William Lux was going to Annapolis, and I requested him to let you know that my brig was detained, and the cargo ready to put on board her, and requested your further instructions. On his return he told me that you had not any further orders to give me; but if you had any further you would send them to me here-after; on which account I thought it was unnecessary to give you any more trouble, but resolved to load the vessel as soon as possession was given me, unless orders had come from you to the contrary. Last Monday they gave me possession, and I now have nine hundred barrels on board her, and I shall have her ready for sea this week; and I hope in the end shall give you every necessary satisfaction, though you seem to think, by what you say in your letter, that I have not laid out the publick money properly. If I had been one of those kind of men, Mr. Thomas Jones, of this town, would not have given me a letter to any friend he had, and that time I contracted with you, to give me a few lines to Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esquire, your President. However, I must confess I was to blame to trust to any man, and see now I should have written you in preference of sending by Mr. Lux; but if he has deceived me I cannot help it now, but shall, for the future, never depend on him or any other man on such business.

I am, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

GEORGE WOOLSEY.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

BALTIMORE COMMITTEE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, May 6, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: We return you the following list of Companies of Militia formed in this County agreeable to the resolves of the late Convention, viz:

In Gunpowder, Upper Hundred: Captain, James Gittings; Zaccheus Onion, First Lieutenant; Sutton Gudgeon, Second Lieutenant; Philip Chamberlain, Ensign— containing eighty-three men, officers included.

In Middle River, Lower: Captain, John Tully Young; John Gorman, First Lieutenant; Philip Colvin, Second Lieutenant; William Galloway, Ensign—containing seventy-five men, officers included.

In Back River, Lower: Captain, Job Garretson; John Long, First Lieutenant; William Groves, Second Lieutenant; Joseph Stansbury, Ensign—containing sixty-three men, officers included.

In Back River, Lower: Captain, John Mercer; Benjamin Buck, First Lieutenant; William Clark, Second Lieutenant; Benjamin Stansbury, Ensign—containing fifty-five men, officers included.

In Polapses, Lower: Captain, Josias Bowen; William Maccubbin, First Lieutenant; Vincent Green, Second Lieutenant; Job Smith, Ensign—containing sixty-one men, officers included.

In Gunpowder, Upper: Captain, John Standiford; Edward Oldham, First Lieutenant; James Ogelvie, Second Lieutenant; Shadrach Green, Ensign—containing fifty-three men, officers included.

The above Companies, together with Captain William Cromwell’s, and Captain James Bosley’s, already returned, we recommend to compose one Battalion.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

We are, gentlemen, your most humble servants,

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

PREESON BOTVDOIN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, May 6, 1776.

SIR: Captain Matthews was some time last fall sent a prisoner by Lord Dunmore, in a sloop from Norfolk bound to Boston; but on the passage was retaken by the Lee privateer, and carried into some port in New-England. This gentleman, since his return to Virginia, told me that he had informed your Excellency that the sloop in which he was retaken had been partly the property of myself and brother; but unjustly seized by Captain Collins, and that you told him if I would prove the property you would have her paid for. This I shall be able very amply to do, by some papers I expect from Virginia next post. If your Excellency can find time from your more important business, shall esteem it a favour if you will inform me whether it will be necessary for me to come to New-York myself, or whether sending the papers will do.

Your answer will much oblige, sir, your most obedient servant,

PREESON BOWDOIN.

To His Excellency General Washington, at New-York.

JOSEPH TRUMBULL TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

New-York, May 6, 1776.

SIR: I have this day drawn on you in favour of Mr. Matthew Irvine, for ten thousand dollars, payable at six days sight, it being the one half of the twenty thousand dollars ordered by Congress to be placed in my hands for the purchase of two thousand barrels of pork, for the subsistence of the Army going into Canada; which I hope will meet your approbation and payments.

I am, most respectfully, sir, your most humble servant,

JOS. TRUMBULL.

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

COLONEL McDOUGALL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

New-York, May 6, 1776.

SIR: The officers of the four battalions raised last year in this Colony have been allowed but a single ration; nor have they had any allowance for billeting money even while they were recruiting. The expenses they were exposed to in the northern campaign were great, far beyond those in the English Colonies, owing to the high charges attending the carriage of the necessaries they wanted on that service, which they were subject to, as there were not boats sufficient on the lakes to transport stores for them. This occasioned them to fall a prey to the avarice of the Suttlers. They are making frequent application to the Convention, Committee of Safety, and to me, for an allowance of rations, or billeting, to compensate for those expenses, or to put them on the same footing with the other Continental troops who served at Cambridge; but we are utterly at a loss how to settle with them for this demand, as we are destitute of any rule for it. I must, therefore, beg your Excellency to inform me what rations were allowed at Cambridge to the officers of the Army, in order that the settlement with the officers of those battalions may be made.

It is with no small reluctance I trouble the General with this request; but I hope the pressing nature of the case (as a settlement of this matter will be advancive of the reputation of the service) will be a sufficient apology for your Excellency’s very humble servant,

ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL.

To His Excellency General Washington.

COLONEL RITZEMA TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Monday, May 6, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The daily complaints for the want of pay of Captain Hutchings’s men, and their disorderly behaviour in consequence thereof, give me the utmost uneasiness; it being impolitick to act en militaire with soldiers who have large arrears due to them. Some of these men say they have three months’ pay due.

Mr. Van Zandt directed me to pay no moneys to Captain Hatchings, as he had received several sums at different times from the Committee, besides fifty pounds from me for blankets. As this matter, gentlemen, is of the utmost importance, I shall be extremely happy in your settling it without delay; and if you have been imposed upon, or the soldiers defrauded, that the delinquent be punished with the utmost severity. If the fault is in the soldiers, they shall have their reward at the hands of a Court-Martial.

The mustering of my regiment being put off last Saturday for the incomplete state of Captain Riker’s Company, and the absence of Captain Pearce, your direction respecting the former, as the regiment is to encamp to-morrow, and