Ransler and others, have fled to the westward, supposed to gather the Indians, and go down the St. Laurence River and meet the King’s forces.

Upon mature consideration, with advice of Doctor Whiting, I proceeded no farther with the money, but committed it into the care of Colonel Hopkins, until I might have advice from the Council whether to proceed and deliver the money to any other person besides Mr. Schuyler, as there are Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Trumbull in Albany. If I must proceed to the Lake, I must have a strong guard. I wait with hopes of speedy instructions and orders what to do. It gives me pain to have the care of so much money.

Query. Whether it is advisable to send the money until a further discovery or examination into the hellish plot be made, though I doubt not but the money is much wanted with the soldiers.

With the highest regard, sir, I am your Honour’s most humble servant,

ELDAD TAYLOR.

To the Hon. Benjamin Lincoln, or the Hon. Joseph Palmer, at Watertown or Boston.

To the Honourable Council and the Great and General Court of the Colony of the MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, in NEW-ENGLAND:

These may inform your Honours, that whereas Stephen Parker went from Machias, with letters of recommendation from the Chairman of the Committee, to procure, if possible, provisions for Machias aforesaid; and being then in great want, he proceeded to Philadelphia, as he informs, and proves by letters brought, without any success; and on his return back, being at Nantucket, he met with one Mr. Timothy Fitch, with whom he says he agreed to send provisions to Machias and take lumber therefor, in case that liberty could be obtained for the said Fitch to send the lumber from Machias to the West-Indies. On account of which he, the said Parker, says that he sent from Nantucket to Watertown in order to obtain liberty of your Honours to trade to the West-Indies, but was advised not to mention it; and then he, the said Parker, returned back to Nantucket, and engaged to take a brig belonging to the said Fitch and proceed with her to Cape Passue, in the Province of Nova-Scotia, and there to sell off the provisions and buy a load of fish for the said brig, and procure a Nova-Scotia register; which, he says, he went to Halifax and obtained, and then ordered the said brig to proceed to Jamaica. But as there was some dispute about provisions being carried out of Nantucket without a permit from some of the Committees on the continent, said Parker applied, as we have been informed, to the Committee of Falmouth for a permit, which was granted accordingly, for the said Parker to bring provisions to Machias aforesaid, and then he proceeded to Cape Passue as aforesaid, and dealt as aforesaid, without, as he saith, any intent of bringing the said provisions to Machias, except his commissions on the cargo, which he has actually brought in the whole or in part.

And for the aforesaid reasons we have thought proper to take the said Parker’s notes of hand, which he had by him, into our possession, and them safe to keep for security that he should not depart this place until your Honours’ pleasure is known; and therefore we take this opportunity to inform your Honours of our proceedings, and hope your Honours will give us further directions, as you, in your wisdom, shall think best for the peace and welfare of the United Colonies. The securities taken amount to one hundred and eighty-seven pounds fifteen shillings and nine pence. We thought best to inform your Honours, and not to send the person without it is required; and we shall be always ready and will cheerfully obey your Honours’ commands; and any advice your Honours may think fit to give us will be gratefully acknowledged by your humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

WILLIAM TUPPER, Clerk.

Machias, May 25, A. D. 1776.

Whitehall, June 24, 1776.

The following letter from General Carleton to Lord George Germaine, was this morning received by Lieutenant Fooks, of his Majesty’s ship Lizard, arrived from Quebeck in the Hope transport:

On board the Maria, opposite St. Ann’s, May 25, 1776.

My Lord: I have this moment received an account from Captain Forster, that he, with a detachment of the Eighth Regiment, some Canadians, and a number of Indians, had taken, the 19th instant, a fort at the Cedars, two pieces of cannon, and three hundred and ninety Rebels, prisoners at discretion. The day following, a party of one hundred and twenty Rebels crossed from the Island of Montreal to Kinchin; those were attacked by Messrs. Lo-rimer and Mongtiny, defeated and taken.

The small force that is already arrived is drawing nearer to the Rebels, to see if any assistance can be given to the King’s good subjects above, who have begun rather sooner than I could have wished. The Rebels are still numerous in the Province, and talk of large reinforcements.

Lieutenant Fooks sailed from Quebeck on the afternoon of the 26th of May, and gives an account that before his departure some Indians had arrived from the party at the Cedars, about eight leagues from Montreal, who informed him that the Indians of the Western Confederacy were in motion to join the King’s troops, and that a very large body of them were within three days’ march of the Cedars. He adds, that the same night he left Quebeck he met the transports with the British Regiments from Ireland, under convoy of the Carrysfort and Pearl, and had no doubt of their arriving at Quebeck the next morning; and that, on his arrival at the Isle of Coudre on the 28th, he found the transports with the Brunswick troops, under convoy of the Juno and Blonde, at anchor, waiting the return of tide, in order to proceed up to Quebeck, the wind being then unfavourable; but that Lieutenant-General Burgoyne was gone before in the Surprise frigate, and probably would land at Quebeck on the evening of the 26th.

EDMUND PENDLETON TO MARYLAND CONVENTION.

Williamsburgh, May 26, 1776.

SIR: On Wednesday last Lord Dunmore and the fleet at Norfolk quitted that station and fell down into Hampton Roads, where they remained till yesterday evening, when they got under way, apparently intending out to sea; but this morning were discovered by our look-outs to have turned up the bay, and had passed the mouth of York River. I this moment received the intelligence, and thought it might be useful to communicate it to you by express, that you might not mistake it for some other armament. We have reason to believe they are much in want of provisions, and also that they are but weakly manned, as they burnt several small vessels before they left Norfolk, and three of a large size just before they quitted the road.

The Roebuck is returned from Delaware, and is with this fleet.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient,

EDMUND PENDLETON.

To the Hon. the President of the Convention of Maryland.

THOMAS DORSEY TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

May 26, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: When I was at Annapolis a few days past, there was a memorial lodged with the Convention by Mr. Henry Ridgely, reflecting greatly on my honour. I returned home to get acquainted with the charge, that I might have the charger summoned to support his assertion; the Convention rising before I could return, I apprehend the business will lay before your Honours. It is of such a nature that I hope it will not pass unnoticed by your Honours. If the charge alleged should be fixed, I shall expect to be treated with ignominy and dishonour. The charge is infamous. You will be pleased to let me know when it will be taken under consideration, that I may prepare to defend myself. The sooner your Honours will bring it to issue, the more thankful I shall be. I shall be greatly obliged for a copy of the memorial.

I am, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

THOMAS DORSEY,

To the Honourable Council of Safety of Maryland.