the General’s desire of having it complete in every respect, will much oblige, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

RUD. RITZEMA.

To the Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York.

RETURN OF PRISONERS IN JAIL, NEW-YORK, MAY 6, 1776.

In health: Officers, 5; Sailors, 2; Pilots, 2: Inhabitants, 2.

Sick, in Jail: Sailors, 2.

Sick in the Alms-House: Sailors, 1: Farmers, 1.

Total: Officers, 5; Sailors, 5: Pilots, 2: Farmers, 1; Inhabitants, 2.—15.

Officers in Jail: Joseph Woolcomb, William McDermont, William Alder, Thomas B. Harris, William Medcalf.

Sailors, in health, in Jail: Francis Chimes, Jeremiah Readon.

Sailors, sick, in Jail: Michael Conry, Cæsar Freeman.

Sailor, sick in Alms-House: John Gibbons.

Farmer, sick in Alms-House: Peter Burnett.

Pilots, in Jail: Henry Kilgrove, Ryner Vanhousen.

Inhabitants, in Jail: Thomas Varnom, Belshazzer Creamer.

The Jailer has been threatened by the prisoners: he wants a guard. Doctor Van Buren heard them.

JACOBUS SWARTWOUT TO COLONEL GEORGE CLINTON.

Rombouts Precinct, May 6, 1776.

SIR: Agreeable to your request and General Washington’s order, we have secured the arms brought to this Precinct, with Ensign Duncan Campbell, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, to the following amount, viz: Seven fowling fusils, one double-barrel fusil, four regimental fusils, with four bayonets: one French musket, one gun-barrel, six steel-mounted swords, two silver-mounted swords, one silver-mounted hanger, one silver-mounted pistol, one Highland pistol, four pouches with belts, three sword-belts, one powder-horn, (engraven,) one powder canteen, one hand-saw. We shall wait his Excellency General Washington’s orders where to have them directed.

I am, sir, in behalf of the Committee of Rombouts Precinct, your very humble servant,

JACOBUS SWARTWOUT, Chairman.

To Colonel George Clinton, in Ulster County.

PHILIP VAN RENSSELAER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, May 6, 1776.

SIR: I think it my indispensable duty to acquaint you that the small arms now in store, unfit for service, cannot be made fit for service this season by the armourers in this place, and the neighbouring places. I applied to General Thompson for his armourers, but he was of opinion that they would be wanted in Canada. I therefore give you this early notice, and beg that some armourers may be sent as soon as possible to repair the publick arms. Great numbers of the troops that come from New-York have arms unfit for service, and numbers without any at all.

I am your most humble servant,

PHILIP VAN RENSSELAER.

To General Washington.

GENERAL THOMPSON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort George, May 6, 1776.

SIR: I arrived at this place the 4th instant, and have since been detained by bad weather and contrary winds. Greaton, Patterson, and Bond’s Regiments have been gone from here some days. Greaton’s and Patterson’s have left Ticonderoga; and I expect Bond’s will be also gone from there before Poor’s can reach that place. I hope to set out to-morrow morning, with the last of my party, and expect in ten days to be in or near Quebeck.

General Schuyler does everything, indeed much more than I thought was in the power of man to do, in forwarding the troops and provisions. A number of Poor’s Regiment, and six or seven men of Captain Nelson’s Company, have deserted on the march.

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

WILLIAM THOMPSON.

To His Excellency General Washington.,

COMMISSIONERS IN CANADA TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read May 18, 1776, and referred to Mr. Livingston and Mr. Jefferson.]

Montreal, May 6, 1776.

In our letter of the 1st instant, we informed you of the lowness of the Continental credit in this Province, and the necessity of a speedy supply of hard money. Unless this very essential article arrives soon, our forces will suffer exceedingly from the want of many necessaries, particularly flour, which might be laid in much cheaper here than it could be supplied from New-York, provided gold or silver could be procured to purchase it. It is very difficult to keep soldiers under proper discipline without paying them regularly. This difficulty increases in proportion to the distance the troops are removed from their own country. The want of money frequently constrains the commanders to have recourse to violences in providing the Army with carriages, and other conveniences, which indispose and irritate the minds of the people. We have reason to conclude that the change of sentiments, which we understand has taken place in this Colony, is owing to the above mentioned cause, and to other arbitrary proceedings. If hard money cannot be procured and forwarded with despatch to Canada, it would be advisable, in our opinion, to withdraw our Army, and fortify the passes on the lakes, to prevent the enemy, and the Canadians, if so inclined, from making irruptions into, and depredations on, our frontiers. We have given orders for the return of Mr. Fraser to this city; and we now have under consideration the confinement of the other gentlemen particularized in our instructions.

At Fort George we had an interview with the Deputies of the seven Indian tribes of Canada to the Great Council at Onondaga; they were on their return home from this Council. They informed us that the result of their deliberations was to maintain a perfect neutrality during the present contest. That they had received the hatchet from Colonel Guy Johnson; but being a sharp weapon, and liable to wound their bosoms, they were resolved no longer to keep it, but to deliver it up to us. Since our arrival in this city, we have had another conference with the same Deputies, which terminated in a confirmation of their former promises—not yet complied with, but delayed only to give time for the assembling of all their tribes, that the hatchet may be given up with the consent of the whole, and with greater solemnity. We judged it expedient to make them a small present; and we think it will be necessary to make them another more considerable when the hatchet is delivered up.

We are informed that our debts in this Colony amount to ten thousand pounds, exclusive of what is due to Mr. Price. We have hitherto obtained a list amounting only to between three and four thousand. It will be necessary to appoint persons to settle these accounts.

With great respect to yourself and the Congress, we have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient humble servants,

To the Hon. John Hancock, President of Congress.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, May 6, 1776.

SIR: Your Excellency’s favour, in which you assure me that you will recommend this unhappy Colony to the Continental Congress, hath been laid before the General Assembly, to whom it gave great satisfaction.

I enclose you a copy of Colonel Babcock’s dismission. The office of Brigadier-General is still kept vacant, in hopes that the brigade will be put upon the Continental establishment, and that a Commander-in-Chief will be appointed by Congress.

I also enclose a copy of an act discharging the inhabitants of this Colony from allegiance to the King of Great Britain, which was carried in the House of Deputies, after a debate, with but six dissentient voices, there being upwards of sixty members present. I may also inform your Excellency that the Delegates from this Colony are instructed and authorized to join with the major part of the Delegates in entering into treaty with any Prince, State, or Potentate, for the security of the Colonies, and to adopt any other measures that may be thought prudent and effectual. This instruction passed nem. con. The Lower House afterwards