publick service whilst I am absent; and if any very interesting advices should be contained therein, either from the eastward or northward, forward them on to Philadelphia, after regulating your conduct thereby.

I must again beg that your particular attention be turned to our powder magazines, to see that that valuable article is properly placed and secured. I also beg that no time or means be neglected to make as many cartridges as possible.

Given under my hand at Head-Quarters, in the City of New-York, this 21st day of May, 1776.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Putnam, New-York.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

New-York, May 21, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have enclosed for your perusal copies of two informations and a letter I received on Saturday last from the Committee of King’s District, by the hands of a Martin Bebee, who says he is their clerk, and was sent express. From these you will readily discover the diabolical and insidious arts and schemes carrying on by the Tories and friends to Government to raise distrust, disjunction, and division among us.

Having the utmost confidence in your integrity, and the most incontestable proof of your great attachment to our common country and its interest, I could not but look upon the charges against you with an eye of disbelief and sentiments of detestation and abhorrence; nor should I have troubled you with the matter, had I not been informed that copies were sent to different Committees and to Governour Trumbull, which I conceived would get abroad, and that you, should you find that I had been furnished with them, would consider my suppressing them as an evidence of my belief, or at least of my doubts, of the charges.

The confidence and assurance I have of the injustice and infamy of the charges against the Convention, obliged me also to lay the matter before them, lest my not doing it should be construed a distrust by them of their zeal, and promote the views of the Tories, who, to excite disorder and confusion, judge it essential to involve those in high departments in a share of the plot, which is not unlikely to be true in some parts; believing that our internal enemies have many projects in contemplation to subvert our liberties.

Before I conclude, I would mention that some officers called upon me a few days ago, having your permit to go to Pennsylvania, and settle some affairs there. This license, when there is really business, is certainly countenanced by humanity and generosity, but nevertheless should not be indulged, and I hope will not be granted in future, as it gives them an opportunity of getting intelligence of our operations, of forming opinions of our strength, the places proper for attack, and settling a channel of correspondence with the disaffected, by which our enemies may and will be furnished with full accounts of our designs, and everything that can promote their service and injure ours. There is but little reason to believe, nay, we are certain, they will not conduct themselves upon principles of the strictest honour for the favours done them, but will, when in their power, exercise every matter that can operate to our prejudice.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To General Schuyler.

GENERAL PUTNAM TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

DEAR GENERAL: Captain William Goforth arrived here about an hour since with the enclosed letters, express from Canada, which I mean to forward on to Amboy very early in the morning, and beg your Excellency’s particular answer in regard to what you would have forwarded from this place. Captain Goforth commanded the schooner in the river St. Lawrence; he says that not more than one hundred men are taken prisoners, and these all sick; the frigate gave him chase; he crowded all sail possible, but found it in vain; he then quitted with his crew, save a son of Colonel McDougall’s, and one more, who were so obstinate they would not leave the vessel, and were taken prisoners. He further says that he did not see a single man land from the ships that came up, nor does he believe the enemy sallied out on our troops; of this he is confident, that not a gun was fired but between the frigate and himself. The troops from the Island of Orleans, Point-Levi, and all out-guards, had got safe off, and joined General Thomas.

Misfortune on misfortune. A vessel from France arrived yesterday on the back of Long-Island, and came to anchor, loaded with twelve tons of powder, five hundred small arms, and dry goods. The English Captain, with a boat’s crew, came on shore for assistance to land his goods; soon after, the French Captain, who was on board, saw a small sloop to leward beating up to him; it is supposed he thought them friends; he immediately weighed anchor and bore down for them, when, unluckily, it proved to be one of the Asia’s tenders, who took and carried her into the Hook. I have seen the Captain; he was owned by Mr. Brown, of Providence; she was seen coming into the Hook this morning, in company with the tender, so that there can be no doubt of the truth of it.

The Committee this evening applied to let the armed periaugur cruise off the back of the Island, to protect a number of vessels which are hourly expected in with arms and ammunition. She is a very swift sailer and draws but little water, and probably may be of great service to us in this way; this request I shall comply with, unless otherwise ordered by your Excellency.

I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble servant,

ISRAEL PUTNAM.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Long-Island, May 21, 1776.

DEAR SIR: From the last accounts from Great Britain it appears absolutely necessary that there should be an augmentation of the American forces, in consequence of which, 1 suppose, there will be several promotions. As I have no desire of quitting the service, I hope the Congress will take no measure that will lay me under the disagreeable necessity of doing it. I have ever found myself exceeding happy under your Excellency’s command. I wish my ability to deserve was equal to my inclination to merit. How far I have succeeded in my endeavours I submit to your Excellency’s better judgment. I hope I shall never be more fond of promotion than studious to merit it. Modesty will forever forbid me to apply to that House for any favours. I consider myself immediately under your Excellency’s protection, and look up to you for justice. Every man feels himself wounded when he finds himself neglected; and that in proportion as he is conscious of endeavouring to merit attention. I shall be satisfied with any measures that the Congress shall take that have not a direct tendency to degrade me in the publick estimation. A measure of that sort would sink me in my own esteem and render me spiritless and uneasy in my situation, and consequently unfit for the service. I wish for, nothing more than justice, either upon a principle of merit or rank, and will at all times rest satisfied when your Excellency tells me I ought to be. I feel myself strongly attached to the cause, to the Continental Congress, and to your Excellency’s person; and 1 should consider it a great misfortune to be deprived of an opportunity of taking an active part in the support of the one and in the promotion of the other. But should anything take place contrary to my wishes, which might furnish me with a sufficient reason for quitting the service, yet I will not do it until the danger and difficulties appear less than at present.

Believe me to be, with the highest respect, your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

NATHANAEL GREENE.

To His Excellency General Washington.

COLONEL LIVINGSTON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort Constitution, May 21, 1776.

MAT IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I am induced to trouble your Excellency with this letter, lest you should be deceived by the information I gave you with respect to the depth of the river opposite to this fort, which was very erroneous, owing entirely to want of recollection in the gentleman from whom I had my information. He had taken its depth,