A Return of Colonel GOOSE VAN SCHAICK’S Regiment of Forces of the United Colonies, in the Colony of NEW-YORK, for the service in CANADA.

Of Captain McCracken’s Company, one Lieutenant and fourteen Privates arc on command at Crown Point, one Private at St. John’s, one at Ticonderoga, one on command at Albany, and one Sergeant and two Privates at Fort Edward.

Of Captain Finch’s Company are on command, one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, two Corporals, and twenty Privates, at Saratoga; and two Privates at Fort Edward.

Of Captain Hicks’s Company are on command, one Sergeant and eleven Privates at Fort Meller, one Private at Fort Ed-ward, and one Sergeant and two Privates on command at Albany.

Of Captain Wrights Company, the Captain, one Sergeant, two Corporals, and Fifer, sick in quarters, and the Ensign on recruiting service.

One Company of the above Regiment is at Ticonderoga, three are gone on to Canada.

The above Return is made from the Returns of each Company of the 18th, transmitted me yesterday by Colonel Gansevoort.

ALBANY, June 20, 1776.

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

For His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL WARD TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Boston, June 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: As the enemy are driven out of this harbour, * I would submit to your consideration whether it might not be proper to station a large ship in Nantasket, with a broad pendant, as a decoy to the enemy’s vessels, who may fall in, not knowing the men-of-war are gone. The transport-ship lately brought into this port I think might answer for this purpose, if the General Assembly should think proper to adopt such a measure, giving security for the ship to the agent for the Continent.

Mr. Cushing desired my opinion with respect to the cannon which we have in and near this town, whether any of them could be spared for the defence of other sea-port towns; in answer to which, I informed him that I did not apprehend we could, with safety to this town and harbour, spare any of the cannon now in our possession, as it is of vast importance to the whole Colony, and to all the United Colonies, to have this place well secured, and a safe retreat for ships.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To the Honourable Council of Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

In the House of Representatives, June 15, 1776.

Whereas, by reason of the difficulties raised through the wicked designs of the enemies of our liberties, an interruption took place in the administration of civil distributive justice in this Colony; and, by a necessary act of the General Court for the removal of all officers from their offices, many civil suits, which had been before commenced in the several Counties of this Colony, and were pending at the Superior Court, and other actions, which had been appealed from the respective Inferior Courts in the several Counties, have not been prosecuted to final judgment, and much injury will happen if an adequate remedy is not provided:

It is Resolved, That all causes which were pending at the Superior Court, in any of said Counties, and on which judgment has not been given, shall be brought forward at the next term of said court for each respective County, and the same proceedings had thereon as though such causes had been regularly continued to such term from the term where the same were pending when such interruption took place; and in any causes appealed from any Inferior Court, and not entered at the Superior by reason of said interruption, the appellants may have liberty, if they see cause, to enter

* BOSTON, Thursday, June 20, 1776.—Last Thursday the inhabitants of this town were made acquainted, by beat of drum, that an expedition was to be undertaken against our enemy’s ships in Nantasket Road, and for erecting proper fortifications in the lower harbour. Accordingly, detachments from the Colonial Regiments, commanded by the Colonels Marshall and Whitney, and battalion of Train, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Crafts, were embarked on board boats at the Long Wharf, together with cannon, ammunition, provisions, intrenching tools, and every necessary implement, and proceeded for Pettick’s Island and Hull, where they were joined by some Continental troops and sea-coast companies, so as to make near six hundred men at each place; a like number of the militia, from the towns in the vicinity of Boston harbour, with a detachment from the Train and some field-pieces, took post at Moan Island, Hoff’s Neck, and Point Alderton. At the same time, a detachment from the Continental Army, under the command of Colonel Whitcomb, with two eighteen-pounders, one thirteen-inch mortar, with the necessary apparatus, intrenching tools, &c, were embarked for Long-Island to take post there. The troops did not arrive at their several places of destination till near morning, occasioned by a flat calm; notwithstanding, such was the activity and alertness of our men, that they had the cannon planted, and a line of defence hove up on Long-Island and Nantasket-Hill in a few hours, when a cannon shot from Long-Island announced to the enemy our design; upon which a signal was immediately made for the whole fleet, consisting of eight ships, two snows, two brigs, and one schooner, to remove and get underway. The Commodore {Banks) bore our fire, and returned it with spirit, till a shot from Long-Island pierced the upper works of his ship, when he immediately unmoored or cut his cables and got under sail; and happy for him that he did so, for in a small space of time afterwards a shell from our works fell into the very spot he had but just before quitted. Unhappily, our cannon did not arrive at Pettick’s Island and Nantasket as soon as might have been wished, but the fire from the latter place, being properly pointed against the Commodore’s ship, who came to in the Light-House channel, is apprehended to have done considerable execution. In short, the enemy were compelled once more to make a disgraceful, precipitate flight; and we have it now in our power to congratulate our readers on our being in full possession of the lower harbour of Boston; and had the wind been to the eastward, we are confident we should have had the much greater pleasure of giving them joy on our being in the possession of many of their ships. Through Divine Providence, not one of our men was hurt.

It is worthy of special notice that the 14th of June, 1774, was the last day allowed for trading -vessels to leave or enter the port of Boston, through the cruelty of a British act of Parliament; and that the 14th of June, 1776, through the blessing of God upon the operations of a much injured and oppressed people, was the last day allowed for British men-of-war, or Ministerial vessels, to remain or enter within the said port but as American prizes. Thus has Providence retaliated.

We hear the Independent Battalions in New-York arc taken into Continental pay, and are beating up for volunteers, to make their complement of men complete; their number is to be twelve hundred and sixty for the City and County. Their Delegates in Continental Congress have informed their Provincial Convention that the question of a Declaration of Independence will soon be agitated there, desiring their opinion.

Last Sunday night two transports, (a ship and a brig,) from Scotland, with two hundred and twenty Highlanders on board, were chased by three or four of our Privateers into Nantasket, where, instead of finding protection from British pirates, they were both obliged to strike to the American flag. The ship, mounting six six-pounders, with about one hundred and thirty soldiers, besides sailors, maintained an engagement of several hours, in which she had about seventeen killed and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, and a considerable number of other officers, all belonging to the corps of Highlanders, are among the prisoners. Major Mac Kenzie, of the same corps, was killed in the engagement. His remains were interred here with military honours the day following. Four men on board the Privateers were wounded, one or two of them it is feared, mortally, but not one lulled.

On Tuesday last another Scotch transport-ship, with one hundred and twelve Highlanders on board, was brought into Nantasket by our Privateers. She was taken a small distance from the Light-House, and made no resistance.

*