Lake George to-morrow night, where I am much wanted, and from whence I shall again do myself the honour to write you.

Be assured, my dear General, that I shall do everything in my power to forward the troops and supply the Army; and I hope, notwithstanding difficulties, that all will go well.

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

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington, &c.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO NORTH-CAROLINA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

GENTLEMEN: We received yours of the 23d of April, enclosing list of prisoners to be safely kept in this Province; also, list of others to be conveyed to Pennsylvania. We have given the necessary orders on the occasion. The expenses we shall defray for the present, not doubting but our Province will hereafter be reimbursed.

We have since received a letter from your Congress, with a list somewhat different from yours; we shall transmit copies to Pennsylvania. You will be pleased to send us a written memorial, or state of their case, so far as relates to the prisoners to be confined here, that we may know how to treat them properly.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Safety of North-Carolina.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO NEWCASTLE COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: We send you enclosed a list of the prisoners from North-Carolina, as also copies of the letters we have received from the Congress there and Committee of Safety. You will please give the necessary orders for having the prisoners conveyed safe to Philadelphia, or to such place as may be directed by the honourable Continental Congress or Committee of Safety for the Province of Pennsylvania. Be pleased, also, to send copies of the letters forward by express.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Newcastle County.

JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.

Philadelphia, May 12, 1776.

Yours of 21st April came to hand yesterday. I send you regularly every newspaper, and write as often as I can; but I feel more skittish about writing than I did, because, since the removal of head-quarters to New-York, we have no express, and very few individual travellers, and the post I am not quite confident in; however, I shall write as I can. What shall I do with my office? I want to resign it for a thousand reasons. Would you advise me?

There has been a gallant battle in Delaware River between the galleys and two men-of-war, the Roebuck and Liverpool, in which the men-of-war came off second best; which has diminished, in the minds of the people on both sides of the river, the terror of a man-of-war.

I long to hear a little of my private affairs; yet I dread it too, because I know you must be perplexed and distressed. I wish it was in my power to relieve you. It gives me great pleasure to learn that our rulers are, at last, doing something towards the fortification of Boston. But I am inexpressibly chagrined to find that the enemy is fortifying on George’s Island. I never shall be easy until they are completely driven out of that harbour, and effectually prevented from ever getting in again. As you are a politician, and now elected into an important office, that of Judgess of the Tory ladies, which will give you, naturally, an influence with your sex, I hope you will be instant, in season and out of season, in exhorting them to use their influence with the gentlemen to fortify upon George’s Island, Lovell’s, Pettick’s, Long, or wherever else it is proper. Send down fire-ships and rafts, and burn to ashes those pirates. I am out of patience with the languid, lethargick councils of the Province, at such a critical, important moment, puzzling their head about two-penny fees, and confession bills, and what not, when the harbour of Boston is defenceless. If I was there, I should storm and thunder like Demosthenes, or scold like a tooth-drawer. Do ask Mr. Wibird and Mr. Weld and Mr. Taft to preach about it. I am ashamed, vexed, angry, to the last degree. Our people, by their torpitude, have invited the enemy to come to Boston again, and I fear they will have the civility and politeness to accept the invitation.

ENSIGN CLAYES TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

May 12, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I make bold to acquaint your Excellency that, being the officer of the guard at the old City-Hall over the prisoners confined by order of the Provincial Congress, I was very disagreeably surprised by a very tumultuous noise, occasioned by the mob bringing a certain Charles Oliver Bruff, on suspicion of being a Tory, who is now in my custody; but as I have no orders to receive him the said Bruff, most humbly refer the matter to your Excellency for further orders. Your Excellency’s complying with my request will greatly oblige your Excellency’s most devoted, humble servant,

PETER CLAYES,
Ensign in Colonel Nixon’s Regiment.

To His Excellency George Washington, Esq.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ELEAZER CLEGHORN, FIRST LIEUTENANT IN CAPTAIN STODDARD’S COMPANY, DATED SOREL, MAY 12, 1776.

I arrived here this day, and am in perfect health, though something lame in my feet, occasioned by my sudden and unexpected retreat; of which I am unable to give you a very particular account, being in the utmost hurry. We arrived at Quebeck the last of March, and the whole company were soon taken with the small-pox. We lay in plain sight of the city, where we could see their motions; they kept up a heavy fire the greatest part of the time; our Army seemed totally neglected; we were wanting of men, and had not sufficient provisions for those that were present, and our supply of warlike stores was very inconsiderable. On Monday morning last the enemy were reinforced with three men-of-war and their tenders; upon which orders were given to make a speedy retreat, and about one o’clock in the afternoon the enemy sallied out upon us, and, knowing the situation of our little distressed Army, determined to drive all before them. The whole of our Army fled that were able to travel; the sick we left behind to share the fate of being killed or taken prisoners. About twenty-three of our company are left behind, among whom are Lieutenant Convers and Ensign Holcomb. Sergeant Whitney and Elijah Collins, of our company, and Joseph Mosely, of Captain Stanton’s company, are dead. Our battalion came forty miles from Quebeck, where our rear made a stand.

ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, May 12, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: By Captain Jones, of the Providence, I have sent you as many of your officers and soldiers as I could collect; but some of them that I took on board are sick, and some have left the fleet, for what reason I cannot tell. Shall collect as many of those that are left behind as possible, and send them by the first opportunity, and advertise the remainder as deserters, though the officers tell me they believe some are set out by land to join their regiments.

I am, with great respect, your humble servant,

ESECK HOPKINS.

To His Excellency General Washington.

ADMIRAL HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN BIDDLE.

Providence, May 12, 1776.

SIR: You are to take as many men out of the Alfred as will make your complement eighty-five, and proceed on a cruise against the enemies of the United Colonies, for three or four weeks, in such places as you think will most annoy the enemy, if you do not take as many prizes as you can well man sooner. You are also to endeavour to keep company