for not attending in his Beat on fatigue, be stayed, until further order of this Committee.

To Captain De Witt, and the other Officers of his Beat.

Colonel Lott came into the Committee, and returned Elias Brevoort, Esquire, to be Captain of the Company of Militia of Foot, in Beat No. 26, in the Third Regiment,

find General Lee is ordered to Canada, to take command of the Army in that country; and a General Schuyler to have command at this place. Lee has pulled down the north curtain of the fort, and is now intrenching what is called the Bowling Green. The Privateers, it is said, have certainly sailed from Philadelphia.

I am, sir, with great esteem, your most obedient servant,

A. PARKER.

To Molineux Shuldham, Esq., Rear-Admiral of the White, Boston.

BLOOMINGDALE, January 22, 1776.

From what motive can any person who is so pre-eminently distinguished for the goodness of their disposition, cause so much painful anxiety to an affectionate friend, as you do, my dear Oliver, I am at a loss to conceive. It wants not many days of half a year since you last did me the favour of writing a line, and you are convinced, my son, how very essential it is to my happiness to hear from you; and that, in these times of possible danger, the mind of an anxious and tender friend is busy in assigning such reasons for your total silence as must needs be distressing. For God’s sake, my dear Oliver, remove my anxiety, if it is happily in your power. All your family lament your silence. I hope you enjoy as much health as they all do, exclusive of your father, who has been for ten days past confined to his room with the gout. The pain of it is in general better sustained, as’ tis said to be instrumental in carrying off other disorders.

One ought in all things to have superior fortitude in these times. I think they appear very threatening; but you are not to expect any intelligence from me, though I should imagine every person free to write on pub-lick transactions. Mr. Washington’s colleague, Colonel ice, is expected to-day in New-York. It is imagined he is going to Philadelphia, which I believe is a right conjecture. He seems so fond of writing, that I could wish he had turned author, as the most harmless profession, though mischief has often happened from the pen as well as the sword. I wish the latter was never to be drawn in America, and that the re-establishment of publick tranquillity would be proclaimed. Till that blest period arrives, I shall not know a moment’s peace. It is no small diminution of my happiness that Government does not permit any more packets for New-York. That of September was the last. It is very unfortunate for me to be deprived of the comfort which I usually received from the letters of my dear children and worthy friends. There is not in America an individual so much hurt by the unhappy affairs in America as I am. If I had the desirable happiness of being near you, I could easily, my dear Oliver, convince you of the truth of my assertion. I fear my numerous letters are rather unacceptable to you, or you would give me some encouragement to follow my inclination of expatiating largely on many subjects. That of my extreme tenderness for you is too near my heart to be silent, when I know of a conveyance; and must again repeat my earnest entreaties for a letter the earliest opportunity. It you love me I shall expect your indulgence. Consider, my dear Oliver, it is your affectionate mother that thus solicits, and that she is deprived of too many comforts in the evening of her life.

I was unhappy last week to hear that a Jersey Battalion was gone to Long-Island, as your dear brother resides there; but it was only to disarm a County, not near him. These things will happen at such a period. How I wish for peace.

Our septennial Assembly is now dissolved, and will be re-elected next month. I hear four of our Delegates are candidates for this city, and that Oliver De Lancey will offer himself for the Borough of Westchester. So I presume he has done with the Navy. If you hear from England, pray let me know, for, next to hearing from you, it is my great object, and I see no prospect of any direct conveyance from there. I have now only to add my most earnest request that you will take all imaginable care of yourself. Consider how nearly I concern myself in your health and happiness; and there are many others who are almost as tenderly attached to you, and are ever anxious for your safety. I need not point out to you to fortify your mind with pious philosophy, as I have every reason to be convinced that you act from the best principles; and may you walk before God with a perfect heart, and enjoy perfect happiness.

Adieu, my dearest Oliver, and preserve in remembrance the tenderness of your affectionate mother and friend,

P. DE LANCEY.

To Captain DeLancey, of the Seventeenth Regiment of Light Dragoons, Boston.

Your father, brothers, and sisters, most heartily salute you. harlotte was near going to England, but the vessel was too crowded. You will doubtless hear the Quebeck intelligence. Pray write to me. Mrs. Jones’s kind love to you. I hope you are warm and comfortable.

ASIA, NEW-YORK, February 21, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have the pleasure to inform you that I have uncommon success considering my situation; the which I have fully laid before his Excellency General Howe. Lee and his ragamuffins have so changed the face only of affairs here, that I have not been able to see Mr. Mensie; but expect to have that pleasure soon. I have directed Mr. Mensie to move my family to Long-Island with his own. I understand they are all to be turned off the farms they now possess, if their persons are not injured. I would willingly compound with the loss of what moveables we left behind us. Governour Tryon has promised to recommend Mr. Thomas Lysten as my Ensign; he is brother-in-law to Mr. Mensie. Any interest you can make for him will be gratefully acknowledged by him and your humble servant. I have got near forty recruits, and I make no doubt I shall have upwards of one hundred before I can have an answer from Boston. Arms and ammunition, cash and clothing, will be much wanted. Since I wrote his Excellency, I understand Lee goes to command in Canada. I make no doubt you have heard the disaster the Rebels have met with before Quebeck; and Schuyler comes to take the command here. Please acquaint his Excellency therewith, though I make no doubt Governour Teyon, who has greater opportunities of getting intelligence, will give his Excellency the fullest information, though I think it my duty to do my utmost in every respect for the good of the service. Pork, flour, and beef, might be had here, if we had some cruisers to scour the channel between Long-Island, the main, and Hudson‘s River. I am afraid the Rebels will destroy all the provisions along the sea-coast before either cruisers or troops arrive. The friends to Government are much harassed at present; and many of the poorer sort are forced into their service for want of other employment whereby to support themselves and families. I am afraid I have encroached on your time, and therefore shall add no more.

I am, dear sir, your most obliged, humble servant,

ALEXANDER GRANT.

For Captain Robert McKensie, Secretary to General Howe, Boston.

P. S. Upon being ordered on board here, I waited on Captain parker, but found he had no instructions about me. I have bespoke a fine parcel of Newtown pippins, for his Excellency and other friends at Boston. I wish the Rebels may not destroy them. I have no where to put them in my present situation.

ASIA, NEW-YORK, February 21, 1776.

DEAR SIR: The alteration here since I left this place last, has impeded my business much, though I have got between thirty and forty fine recruits. If we had a convenient vessel, I make no doubt I could get as many as she would contain in a few weeks. I have not had an opportunity of seeing any of the people you sent messages to by me. I shall take the first opportunity of acquainting Mrs. McDonald of your intended favour; though I am apprehensive she will be puzzled to find any person that dare accept of her bill. I have acquainted his Excellency with my own state, as well as the state of publick affairs, as far as comes within my prescribed circle. Arms, ammunition, cash, clothing, and provisions, would at present be very acceptable to the recruits. Lachlan McDonald went along with General Clinton, with eighteen recruits. The Glasgow packet got into the Hook several days after us, but did not come up to town. The opportunity by which this goes to you, is so suddenly ordered for that service, that I am obliged to be more concise than I would incline. My best respects to you, Major Skene, and other acquaintances; and I am, with respect, dear sir, your much obliged humble servant,

ALEXANDER GRANT.

For Major John Small, of the Royal Highland Emigrants, Boston.

I had the honour of answering your Excellency’s letter by the way of New-Orleans, the 12th of June last; since which time we have had a prodigious number of Sacks and Renards, and several other nations who inhabit the banks of the Mississippi and the Bay. The oldest inhabitant never remembers to have seen such numbers. In one week there were not less than five hundred. They attacked a party of the Indians in this country on their summer hunt in the prairies; killed and took prisoners, men, women and children, sixty; in consequence of which they have been obliged to fly down the Mississippi, being no longer able to maintain their ground against such powerful enemies. I have recommended to them to settle on the English side of the Miss ssippi, believing they might be of service to the new settlers, by furnishing them with meat. I also wrote to the Superintendent, recommending them to his protection, as a quiet people, well attached to the English. I hope your Excellency will approve of my conduct with regard to these unhappy people. The inhabitants are extremely alarmed at the thoughts of changing their old neighbours, the Illinois, for some of the other nations. The Sacks and Renards told me in council that it was their intention to settle here as soon as they had accomplished their design of driving out of the country all the Illinois and Peoria Indians, which I believe to be done; so that perhaps next spring they may take possession. I wish they may be as quiet neighbours as the Illinois, although I greatly fear otherwise, as these people are, when the weakest, always civil, and when strongest, always as surely the reverse. I shall do all in my power to give them a favourable opinion of us. I expect every moment a party of one hundred and fifty; some of the inhabitants saw them last night near the village. Your Excellency must not be surprised that such large parties, and so frequent, should greatly increase the expenses in the Indian Department; and also augment the consumption of provisions; notwithstanding I shall do all in my power to satisfy them with little, at all times a difficult task, and frequently impossible. I send this by the way of New-Orleans; no opportunity offering by any other mode. There has not come here any one from Fort-Pitt since the Shawanee war ended. By the last boats from New-Orleans there came a report that the Ohio was again shut up, and a number of families in consequence detained at Fort-Pitt.

I have the honour to be, with all possible respect, your Excellency’s most obedient, and most humble servant,

HUGH LORD.

To His Excellency the Honourable Lieutenant-General age, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesty’s Forces in North-America, at Boston.

NEW-YORK, February 26, 1776.

DEAR SIR: You will excuse my troubling you with the enclosed bill,* which I beg you will receive in a sterling bill of exchange, if to be had, and remit it to Mr. Benson Fearon, Merchant, in London, advising me of it by the first opportunity. I must not omit mentioning to you, that the first bill was remitted to Mr. Harry Lloyd, who never acknowledged the receipt of it; and therefore it probably miscarried. Your negotiating this matter will lay me under a great obligation; but in return, you know, if I can render you any service this way, you have only to command me. I have not had one line from you since the affair at Lexington; nor from Sukey since she left us. Mrs. Foxcroft and my little girls are well. She joins me in sincere regards to you and family.

I am yours, as ever,

JOHN FOXCROFT.

To Tuthil Hulbart, in Boston.

P. S. Should be glad to hear how your office accounts stand. If

*The bill referred to in this letter was taken out by Captain Ache, who was per mitted by the Congress, as appears by his certificate.