the large ship and the brig from Antigua, if he finds them going very much under their value. It is not above two or three years since the ship cost three thousand pounds sterling; she is, to be sure, something worse for the wear, and, I believe, is not remarkably well found at present, as she has been pillaged for the use of our armed vessels, which must make a considerable abatement of her value. The brigantine is, I suppose, in the same predicament. But a good judge will easily know their value. William Watson, Esquire, of Plymouth, advises that the prizes Norfolk and Happy-Return are condemned, and desires I would appoint a day for the sale of them and their cargoes. This you will please to do, letting them be advertised in the papers at least a fortnight before the sale.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Ward.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THOMAS CUSHING.

New-York, May 9, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour of the 3d instant, on Tuesday evening, covering that of the Committee of Salem to your honourable Court; and judging the intelligence interesting and important, I immediately forwarded copies of both to Congress by the express, for them to give such order and direction respecting it as they might think proper and requisite. I am not yet favoured with their answer; as soon as it comes 1 will send it to you by the express, and whatever measures they direct me to pursue, I will attempt to put in execution with all possible despatch. The account having come through different hands, I hope is exaggerated; it appears inconsistent and impossible in part. Certainly there is a mistake either as to the number of troops or the ships; there must be more of the latter or fewer of the former; sixty vessels could not bring twelve thousand men, unless they are much larger than usual, besides provisions and stores; nor, should such a fleet and armament be coming, do I think it altogether probable that an account of their destination and views would be so distinctly and accurately given to the Master who informed Captain Lee; I should rather suppose that they would wish to take us by surprise. For these reasons, and as their destination may be elsewhere, and as the Army here is greatly weakened and reduced by ten of the strongest regiments being ordered to Quebeck, I could not think myself authorized to detach any reinforcement from hence without the direction of Congress, lest, by dividing the Army into small parties, we should have no place secure and guarded; assuring you, at the same time, I shall be always ready and happy to give you every assistance in my power against our common enemies, when it can be done consistently with the publick good.

I am, sir, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable Thomas Cashing, Esquire.

Orders for Colonel Dayton, commanding one of the Battalions of the Continental Troops, raised in the Province of NEW-JERSEY.

It is his Excellency General Washington’s orders, you proceed to Albany, where you will receive and obey the orders of Major-General Schuyler, with respect to joining your Regiment upon their march to Canada, and to the assistance he thinks proper to order you to give in transporting ammunition, artillery, stores, and provisions, to Quebeck. As the service requires despatch, his Excellency depends upon your utmost diligence in forwarding every part of it that you are, or may be hereafter commanded to execute.

Given by his Excellency’s command, at Head-Quarters, in New-York, this 9th May, 1776.

HORATIO GATES, Adjutant-General.

To Colonel Dayton.

ABRAHAM LIVINGSTON TO NATHANIEL WOODHCLL.

New-York, May 9, 1776.

GENTELMEN: I am exceedingly anxious to have my contract totally settled; it is therefore I again trouble you on that subject. Although the contract cannot be taken from me but by purchase, yet as the Continental Congress are of opinion that my agreement with you is a very extravagant one, and as a Committee of that body has reported that Commissary-Generals be directed to supply all the troops, I would by no means choose that any censure lay on this Colony on my account. I will therefore most cheerfully resign the contract on such terms as no reasonable person can have any objections to. I have been at a vast deal of trouble, and have hitherto given almost universal satisfaction to the few troops I have supplied. These considerations, added to that of my having lost by the contract the most genteel office in the power of the Continental Congress to give me, I doubt not but you will mention to our Convention.

Enclosed is a copy of a letter I wrote by yesterday’s post to the President of the Continental Congress. I send it for your perusal, and to show you that I mean to take no advantage of the publick. As I am determined to retire into the country as soon as possible, I must earnestly entreat that something speedy may be determined on. It has long been a burden on my spirits, and am now heartily sick of this very disagreeable affair.

I am your humble servant,

ABRAHAM LIVINGSTON.

To Messrs. Nathaniel Woodhull, Isaac Roosevelt, Abraham Yates, Jun., Morris Graham, William Paulding.

ALBANY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE.

Albany Committee Chamber, May 9, 1776.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Board that Abraham C. Cuyler, Stephen De Lancey, and John Monier, are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, and that they be cited to appear before this Board; and, upon appearance, that the new Association be tendered them.

May 11, 1776.

Abraham C. Cuyler, Esq., in pursuance of a citation, appeared before this Board, and refused to sign the new Association: Thereupon

Resolved, That the said Abraham C. Cuyler be disarmed, and that the Arms so taken be deposited in the hands and custody of the Chairman.

Stephen De Lancey, Esq., also appeared, and declared that he would not sign the Association, as it was not done by the whole County; and refused to hear the same read: Thereupon

Resolved, That the said Stephen De Lancey he disarmed, and the Arms also lodged with the Chairman.

John Monier also appeared before this Board, and refused to sign the Association, declaring he was a King’s officer: Thereupon

Resolved, That the said John Monier be disarmed, and the Arms also lodged with the Chairman.

Extract from the Minutes :

MATTHEW VISSCHER, Secretary.

EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY AT DESCHAMBAULT, FORTY-EIGHT MILES ABOVE QUE-BECK, DATED MAY 9, 1776.

I have but just time, by an express that goes to New-York, to acquaint you of our unfortunate, and, I must add, disgraceful retreat; the circumstances of which, as far as I am able, I will inform you of.

When I arrived within nine miles of Quebeck, with the six companies of our regiment, I was hailed by an officer on board of a vessel belonging to us, and informed that our whole Army was retreating with the utmost precipitation, and advised to retreat with the regiment as fast as possible, which you must be well assured I could not think of doing unless absolutely obliged to it. I then immediately put to shore, and ordered the regiment to wait my orders before they moved from that place. I accordingly set out, and ran for about six miles, meeting the roads full of people, shamefully flying from an enemy that appeared by no means superior to our strength. The General and officers halted here, and held a council of war, to determine whether they should stop the troops and engage the enemy. It was determined almost unanimously against the proposal, although I was of opinion, from the best accounts I received from the officers, that the British troops might have been driven back into the town. In vain was every argument of disgrace