will not have the less weight for being entirely destitute of any friends to support it with their interest. Actions have been laid to my charge very unjustly, and behaviour which I scorn, as unworthy of a gentleman. But I would beg leave to assure you that I have been greatly misrepresented. So far am I from reflecting on or insulting any person, that I absolutely disclaim and despise every party or personal prejudice, pique or resentment; I also utterly disavow all knowledge of setting the Indians on the defenceless inhabitants. That, and every other kind of cruelty, I deprecate and abhor. Devoted to Britain, and a friend to America, I most fervently wish for a reconciliation on the firm and lasting basis of true constitutional principles, that peace may again be restored to this once happy country; and lament the effusion of blood on both sides with unfeigned concern. No man would more cheerfully than I venture his life for America against any power but Britain, for which education and nature, inspire me with a reverential attachment. I never wished the liberty of a British subject to be abridged throughout the wide extended empire, and was so far from thinking some of the obnoxious acts of Parliament right, or from disapproving of a steady but constitutional opposition, that nothing could have induced me to be active on either side, but the impossibility of remaining neutral. I then engaged in favour of the country to which I was attached by nature and birth, but with the melancholy and painful reflection that even victory in reality is loss, and with ardent wishes for a speedy and amicable adjustment. These are and ever have been my true and undisguised sentiments, which I thus clearly express only to exculpate myself from misrepresentation.

I again must take the liberty to assure you that I have suffered greatly by this very close confinement, particularly in my health, which is almost entirely destroyed with a complication of dangerous complaints, any one of which is enough to reduce me to the lowest ebb. For this reason I hope you will be so kind as to grant this earnest request of enlargement on parole, and, whatever others do, it shall be most inviolably adhered to, by, sir, with due respect, your most obedient and most humble servant,

J. SMYTH.

P. S. I wrote with a pencil last month to Mr. Duane, by Doctor McLean, nearly to the same purport, to lay before the Congress, but have not heard the least thing of it since, and have been daily growing worse.

DOCTOR CADWALLADER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read 13th May, 1776. Referred to the Committee on Prisoners.]

Philadelphia, May 13, 1776.

SIR: I was called on yesterday to visit Mr. Cameron, in the jail. He was taken on Saturday night with a violent cholera-morbus, accompanied with a very bad pain in his breast and head; he has also a constant fever and swellings in his legs; his complaints may be imputed to a long and close confinement in a room with the windows nailed down, that will admit of no fresh air into it. I am of opinion no medicine will be of use to him without the benefit of the pure free air.

Messieurs Connolly and Smyth, in the same room, labour under various complaints, proceeding from the same cause— a stagnant putrid air.

I am your most humble servant,

THOMAS CADWALLADER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO ISAAC SEARS.

New-York, May 13, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour of the 2d instant, and am fully of opinion with you that the resolves of Congress should be strictly adhered to. As the regulation of the price of tea, or any other article, is quite foreign to my department, I shall leave such matters to the Provincial Congress, before whom I will this day lay your letter, and I doubt not they will take such steps as will put a stop to the evil you are apprehensive of.

I am, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Mr. Isaac Sears.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR COOKE.

New-York, May 13, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour of the 6th instant, for which and its several enclosures I return you my thanks. Agreeable to my promise, on the 30th ultimo I wrote Congress respecting the state of your Colony, importuning their attention to it, and that proper measures should be adopted for its relief and defence; a copy of the letter you have enclosed for your perusal and further satisfaction.

It gives me much pleasure to hear there is so much unanimity among you, and that the inhabitants of Newport have come to the laudable and necessary resolution you mention. If united, your exertions most probably will have the desired effect; and if they should not be so fully answered as men of our sanguine dispositions hope and expect, yet they will be productive of great benefits and advantages to the Colony, and at the same time promote the publick good.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Governour Cooke.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL WARD.

New-York, May 13, 1776.

SIR: Your favour of the 4th instant, with the return of the division of the Army under your command, is come to hand. The account you give of your progress in fortifying the town and harbour of Boston, is very agreeable. When the works are completed, I think you will have but little to apprehend from the enemy, should they incline to pay you another visit.

Enclosed is a petition from Colonel Varnum, which I beg you will attend to. If the facts are as set forth therein, he must be redressed; for if such practices as he complains of are given the least countenance to, it will have the worst of consequences, by encouraging soldiers to shift from one regiment to another, and throw the whole Army into confusion.

I have had no advice from Congress relative to your resignation. I shall write them this day, to know whom they may think proper to appoint to the command in your State. When I receive their answer, you shall be informed thereof.

Enclosed is a copy of a resolve of Congress respecting the cannon in the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Ward, Boston.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO COLONEL WATERBURY.

New-York, May 13, 1776.

SIR: Governour Trumbull has been pleased to mention you to me as a proper person to succeed to the command of the regiment lately General Arnold’s. If you incline to engage in the service again, I should be obliged to you for signifying as much, in order that I may lay the matter before Congress for their approbation.

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Colonel David Waterbury, of Stamford.

RICHMOND COUNTY COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Richmond, May 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Enclosed you have a copy of the conduct of Mr. William Dunn, whom our Committee recommended to the Congress as a proper person to serve as Lieutenant in the Continental Company to be raised in this and Kings County. We thought proper to send it to you, that you might lay it before the Congress before he is commissioned. He has caused us a great deal of trouble, and to no purpose.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

CHRISTIAN JACOBSON.

To Messrs. Conner and J. Journey, Esquires, Deputies for the County of Richmond, in New-York.

Richmond County, May 7, 1776.

On the 6th of this instant, the Chairman of the Committee was informed that William Dunn had apprehended