would not attend to it, as then the whole would be put in jail. These were encroachments, which, from the tenor of my parole, I by no means thought myself obliged to comply with; and well knowing if I refused I should be committed a close prisoner to jail, and fearing lest somebody should neglect to comply with this last resolve, and to avoid the miserable abode of felons, I absconded, and, unfortunately for me, was retaken, and committed close prisoner to jail, without even the liberty of a yard to walk in—an instance of cruelty never before practised to any officers, prisoners of war, in any civilized nation, much less to the only son of the heir to one of the first earldoms in the British realm; add to this my cloak and utensils, which are seized from me.

It rests, then, with you, sir, to release me from my place of confinement; and as I have a very near relation and many friends in Hartford, I beg you will please to direct that town for my confinement. And should you be pleased to put me on the parole that the prisoners there are, I shall most strictly comply, and shall be happy in acknowledging my sincerest thanks for my enlargement to Mr. Hancock, and the honourable members of the Continental Congress.

In hopes of obtaining your consent to my request, I have the honour to subscribe myself your most obedient, humble servant,

H. E. STANHOPE.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

It would not be doing justice to General Washington, were I to omit mentioning his friendship to me, instanced in part of two letters I received from his Excellency, which indicate to me the Committee’s encroachment on us.

“CAMBRIDGE, January 4, 1776.—His Excellency hopes that the gentlemen whom the fortune of war has thrown into our hands are treated with civility and respect; it is his desire your captivity may be made as light to you as possible”.

“CAMBRIDGE, March 12, 1776.—If you can mention anything to render your situation more comfortable, except being set at liberty, it will immediately meet with his concurrence”.

Both signed, Stephen Moylan.

E. E. WEBB TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read June 11, 1776. Referred to the Committee on Prisoners]

Northampton Jail, May 12, 1776.

SIR: Having been falsely accused before the Committee of this place, and, as they are pleased to say, convicted before them of declaring that the parole which I had given was not binding, &c., they have thought proper to confine me here a close prisoner, notwithstanding I have remained from the 22d of November, 1775, being the day of my first arrival at this place, to the 1st of May, 1776, the day of my commitment, without ever attempting to escape from the same. I must beg leave to assure you, sir, that the opportunities which I have had for making my escape since my being so unfortunate as to fall a captive into the Americans ’ hands have been many, and nothing could have prevented me from making the attempt but the strong ties which were, as I thought, brought on me by the parole I had given.

I should esteem it as a particular favour if you would take this matter into your consideration, which, with your determination, will entirely raise me in my thoughts on my present situation, as I must beg leave to say to Congress that I think it rather enforced by the hand of tyranny than of justice,

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient humble servant,

E. E. WEBB

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Honourable Continental Congress.

ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Court at St. James’s, the 17th day of May, 1776, Present: The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Whereas the time limited by his Majesty’s order in Council, of the 21st of February last, for prohibiting the exporting out of this kingdom, or carrying coastwise, Gunpowder, Saltpetre, or any sort of Arms or Ammunition, will expire on the 23d of this instant, May; and whereas it is judged expedient that the said prohibition should be continued for some time longer, except in those cases where (for the benefit and advantage of trade, and for the use and defence of ships trading to foreign parts, and of the transports and victualling vessels employed in his Majesty’s service) his Majesty, by his several orders in Council, of the 13th and 27th of October, and of the 6th and 22d of November, 1775, and of the 5th and 19th of February last, has thought proper to permit and allow the exportation of, and carrying coastwise, Gunpowder, Saltpetre, Arms and Ammunition, under certain conditions and restrictions mentioned in the said orders: His Majesty doth, therefore, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, hereby order, require, prohibit, and command, that no person or persons whomsoever, except the Master-General, Lieutenant-General, or principal officers of the Ordnance for his Majesty’s service, do, at any time during the space of three months, (to commence from the said 23d day of this instant, May,) presume to transport into any parts out of this kingdom, or carry coast-wise, any Gunpowder, Saltpetre, or any sort of Arms or Ammunition, or ship or lade any Gunpowder, or any sort of Arms or Ammunition, on board any ship or vessel, in order to transporting the same beyond the seas, or carrying the same coastwise, except in the cases comprised within the aforementioned orders in Council of the 13th and 27th of October, and the 6th and 22d of November, 1775, and of the 5th and 19th of February last, without leave or permission in that behalf first obtained from his Majesty or his Privy Council, upon pain of incurring and suffering the respective forfeitures and penalties inflicted by an Act passed in the twenty-ninth year of his late Majesty’s reign, intituled “An Act to empower his Majesty to prohibit the exportation of Saltpetre, and to enforce the law for empowering his Majesty to prohibit the exportation of Gunpowder, or any sort of Arms and Ammunition; and also to empower his Majesty to restrain the carrying coastwise of Saltpetre, Gunpowder, or any sort of Arms or Ammunition.” And the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High-Admiral of Great Britain, the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Master-General of the Ordnance, and his Majesty’s Secretary at War, are to give the necessary directions herein as to them may respectively appertain.

STEPHEN COTTRELL.

LETTER FROM JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.

Philadelphia, May 17, 1776.

I have this morning heard Mr. Duffield, upon the signs of the times. He ran a parallel between the case of Israel and that of America, and between the conduct of Pharaoh and that of George. Jealousy, that the Israelites would throw off the government of Egypt, made him issue his edict, that the midwives should cast the children into the river; and the other edict, that the men should make a large revenue of bricks without straw. He concluded that the course of events indicated strongly the design of Providence that we should be separated from Great Britain, &c.

Is it not a saying of Moses, “ Who am I, that I should go in and out before this groat people?” When I consider the great events which are passed, and those greater which are rapidly advancing, and that I may have been instrumental in touching some springs and turning some small wheels, which have had and will have such effects, I feel an awe upon my mind which is not easily described. Great Britain has at last driven America to the last step: a complete separation from her; a total, absolute independence, not only of her Parliament, but of her Crown, for such is the amount of the resolve of the 15th. Confederation among ourselves, or alliances with foreign nations, are not necessary to a perfect separation from Britain; that is effected by extinguishing all authority under the Crown, Parliament, and nation, as the resolution for instituting Governments has done, to all intents and purposes. Confederation will be necessary for our internal concord, and alliances may be so for our external defence.

I have reason to believe that no Colony, which shall assume a Government under the people, will give it up. There is something very unnatural and odious in a Government a thousand leagues off. A whole Government of our own