appears by their confessions. Hope your Honours will excuse me for desiring the original of each to be sent back, as their names were subscribed by their own hands, and may be useful on their trials, which will come on in a few days. I was present with the Committee at each examination; and, with advice and assistance of them, have been able to forward the plan of sending a vessel on a cruise to the Island. She set out this morning with a fair wind, and I am in hopes she will soon return with her desired cargo.

I have, with advice of the Committee, sent fresh orders to Newtown, from whence I am in expectation of receiving some persons of no small consequence.

Nothing further has transpired concerning an eminent character in this Colony, who was mentioned in my last. I have communicated the affair to nobody but Mr. Stoddard, who has been helpful to me as scribe in my very great hurry. As he is a young gentleman with whom I have had an intimate acquaintance since here, I doubt not but I may rely upon him, as I believe him a man of integrity and honour, for which I refer you to Mr. Burr, and also to Captain Smedley, of the Defence. Am hopeful your Honour will be tender in exposing that certain great character, as I have found nothing as yet so conclusive against him, as I am under strong apprehensions I shall in a few days. Hawley’s confession was perfectly voluntary, (as indeed were the rest,) being frequently cautioned by Mr. Sturges and myself not to say anything but that to which he could make oath, and especially avoid traducing the reputation of any innocent man. I am fully convinced a little perseverance will develop a scheme of the blackest dye, and make notorious a catalogue which once would have exceeded all credibility.

The brig Defence is so well known in this part of the Sound, that I apprehend it would have been in vain to have sent her out on the present affairs. Accordingly, with the advice of the Committee, took the sloop Discovery into service, gave the command of her to Captain Smedley, subalterns were appointed from among respectable gentlemen of this town, and manned her with forty of my own people. Hope your Honour will excuse the liberty on this pressing emergency. Should imagine it would be of consequence, by some small cruisers, to cut off entirely the communication between the main and the island, unless sufficient certificates for a passport were first obtained from Magistrates or the Committee: however, submit the whole to your Honour’s judgment. In the mean time, as your Honour in Council was pleased to vote that I should have orders to cruise on the high-seas for a while, hope I may not be disappointed. I await your Honour’s further commands, and shall cheerfully fulfil them with my best abilities. As my own desire was, I joined Commodore Hopkins at New-Lon-don, after the enemy had left the coast. I obtained leave to pursue your Honour’s first orders; have touched at several places, and have now near a hundred men; should have been now ready to proceed on a cruise to sea had not these new affairs turned up. Notwithstanding I mentioned my desires of going to sea, am, however, all submission to future orders.

The enclosed letter to Colonel Cook has been opened by some of our friends, that by means of this carriage it might come to your Honour’s knowledge. Colonel Cook will know the well-intended design, as it was done by advice of his good friends. Am desired to forward it, which I accordingly do. When I arrived at this place, found the Committee industriously employed in examining Tories. As I imagined matters were not fully ripe, I desired them to suspend their examination till next Tuesday, at which time hope to have something particular from your Honour. Shall communicate everything of consequence, as occasion may require.

In the mean time have the honour to be, with great respect, your Honour’s most obedient and humble servant,

SETH HARDING.

To the Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.

By the Honourable JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Governour of the ENGLISH Colony of CONNECTICUT, in NEW-ENGLAND, in AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION FOR AN EMBARGO.

Whereas the General Assembly, at their session in May instant, passed an Act that no Rum, Sugar, Molasses, Salt, or other West-India goods, shall be exported out of this Colony, by land or water, on or before the first day of November next, under the same penalties and forfeitures as are already expressed in and by one statute of this Colony, entitled “An Act to enable the Governour to lay an embargo, and for rendering the same, when laid, effectual,” or shall be otherwise punished by forfeiting the value of such goods so put on board, shipped, or exported; and that all offenders shall be proceeded against in like manner and form as in and by said statute is provided; and that his Honour the Governour be desired forthwith to issue his Proclamation prohibiting such exportation accordingly: Provided, nevertheless, That any West-India goods necessary for the use of the Continental Army, upon application made to his Honour the Governour, by the Continental Congress, or his Excellency General Washington, may be permitted to be exported by the license of his Honour, anything in said act notwithstanding.

I therefore do hereby strictly enjoin and require all persons within this Colony that they carefully, circumspectly, and strictly observe, obey, and conform themselves to the act aforesaid, in every particular, upon the pains and penalties thereof.

Given under my hand, in the Council Chamber, in Hartford, the 16th day of May, Anno Domini 1776.

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

REV. JAMES LYON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, May 16, 1776.

SIR: Notwithstanding the favourable reception of a former letter, and the obliging answer it procured, which I gratefully acknowledge, I feel unwilling a second time to trouble your Excellency, or interrupt the interesting business which continually engages your attention, though only for a moment. But my zeal for the safety and honour of my country, and an opinion that every individual of this new and rising state ought to exert himself to the utmost during our present struggle, must be my sole apology for seeming once more to step aside from the peaceful and salutary paths in which my profession naturally leads me.

To be as little tedious as possible, I shall venture to give your Excellency my sentiments of the necessity and importance of an immediate expedition against Nova-Scotia, in as few words as I can.

If our late intelligence from Great Britain can be relied on, I apprehend none of our troops in Canada can be spared, whether Quebeck is or is not in our hands. Nova-Scotia has heard of our intention to reduce that Province as soon as we can call Quebeck our own, and that the troops now in Canada are to be sent against them; consequently they are now in profound peace. No ships of war are now in the bay of Fundy, except the Martin, stationed at Annapolis, nor have the King’s troops taken much pains to fortify Halifax as yet. But as soon as they hear of the reduction of Quebeck, they will immediately make themselves as strong as possible. Nova-Scotia will not readily be given up, and if Annapolis and St. Johns river are strongly fortified, the eastern part of this Colony, as far as Penobscot, will be ruined; it is almost ruined already, and should Machias break up, which lies about ten leagues from the boundary line of Nova-Scotia, an infant and once flourishing country, of upwards of one hundred miles in extent, will probably be deserted, and become again a wilderness or a prey to enemies.

Now the whole Province may possibly be taken by surprise, if proper secrecy can be observed. Nine-tenths of the inhabitants, who amount to twelve or fourteen thousand souls, wish for nothing more, and would join us instantly. A few pieces of cannon, which might easily be conveyed across the country, either by land or water, properly planted on a hill nearly opposite the town of Halifax, would soon demolish the town and navy-yard, and destroy or drive the shipping away. Some variation from the plan already laid before your Excellency would doubtless be necessary. Five thousand men would not be too many to ensure success.

If this is the proper time to strike a decisive blow in that quarter, the importance of an immediate expedition is selfevident, and victory will add to the other Colonies a territory of great extent and immense value.

I have meddled thus far. I have, I trust, done my duty. I now, with the greatest deference and pleasure, submit the