some such method is taken, the poor soldiers receive no benefit from their pay, and starve in the midst of plenty, with their pockets full of money.

Yours, &c.,

B. ARNOLD.

To General Sullivan, Sorel.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN WHIPPLE.

Newport, June 16, 1776.

SIR: You are to go to sea with your ship as soon as possible, and cruise, till your provisions are out or you have weakened your ship by manning prizes so as to make it unsafe to cruise, in such places on our coast as you may think will be most likely to intercept the enemies of the United Colonies. And you are to take and send into port for trial all vessels belonging to or bound to Great Britain, and all other vessels with British property on board, and all vessels that you may suspect of having a design of supplying the British Army or Navy or the enemies to the United Colonies.

You are to send your prizes into the first port you can with most safety within the United Colonies, and transmit to the Marine Committee, or their agents, or to me, an account of your circumstances, as often as may be.

If you take any transports, you are to take the principal officers on board your ship. If by distress you are obliged to put into any port where the Congress have no agents, you are to draw on the Treasurers of the Congress, or on me, or on any of the agents, for what sum is sufficient to repair your ship, or for necessaries.

ESEK HOPKINS, Commander-in-Chief.

To Abraham Whipple, Esquire, Commander of the Ship Columbus.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN BIDDLE.

Newport, June 16, 1776.

SIR: You are to go to sea with your brig as soon as possible, and cruise, till your provisions are out or you have weakened your brig by manning prizes so as to make it unsafe to cruise, in such places on our coast as you may think will be most likely to intercept the enemies to the United Colonies. And you are to take and send into port for trial all vessels belonging to or bound to Great Britain, and all other vessels with any British property on board, and all vessels that you may suspect of having a design of supplying the Army or Navy of the enemies of the United Colonies.

You are to send your prizes into the first port within the United Colonies that you can with most safety, and transmit to the Marine Committee, or their agents, or to me, an account of your circumstances, as often as may be.

If you take any transports, you are to take the principal officers on board your ship. If by distress you should put into any port where the Congress have no agents, you are to draw on the Treasurers of the Congress, or on me, or on any of the agents, for what sum is sufficient to repair your brig, or for necessaries.

ESEK HOPKINS, Commander-in-Chief.

To Nicholas Biddle, Esq., Commander of the Brigantine Andrew Doria.

GENERAL WARD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, June 16, 1776.

SIR: Last evening I received Major Harrison’s letter of the 10th instant, and, agreeably to your desire, have directed Lieutenant. Martin to be ready as soon as possible to set out for New-York.

The 13th instant, at evening, I ordered five hundred men, with proper officers, a detachment of the train, with a thirteen-inch mortar, two eighteen-pounders, and some small cannon, under the command of Colonel Whitcomb, to take post on Long-Island, to annoy the enemy’s ships; the necessary works were thrown up in the night, and next morning our cannon and mortar began to play upon the pirates, which soon drove them all out of the harbour. The fleet consisted of thirteen in number: the Renown, of fifty guns, several smaller ships of war, and some transports with Highlanders on board. As near as we could judge, there were about eight hundred troops on board the transports. They blew up the Light-House as they went off, and then put to sea with their fleet. I think it probable they will leave some frigates to cruise in the Bay.

A number of the Colony troops and Militia were to have thrown up a battery the same night on Pettick’s Island and Nantasket Head, but by some unforeseen obstructions, they did not get their cannon ready in time; however, they gave the enemy a number of shot as the ships passed through the channel. Our shot cut away some of their yards and rigging, and several went into the ships’ sides; but the shells from the mortar terrified them most. They returned a few shot from the Commodore’s ship, without any effect, and got under sail with all expedition.

I have proposed to the General Court to anchor a decoy ship where the man-of-war lay, with a broad pendant, in order to draw in the transports which may be coming this way.

No Paymaster, nor money for the troops stationed here, have yet arrived, which delay has occasioned great difficulty, as there is now more than three months’ pay due to the men. I have endeavoured to borrow the money of the General Court, but have not succeeded, the Treasury being nearly exhausted by large demands.

I am your Excellency’s obedient, humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. Several invalids, belonging to the marching regiments, have applied to me to be turned over to other regiments, as they were not able to march, but I did not think myself authorized to comply with their request. I have discharged three or four, who were likely to be of no service, but a burden to the Continent.

P. S. June 17.—I have just received information that the Continental Privateers have taken and brought into Nan-tasket, in this harbour, a ship and a brig from Glasgow, with two hundred and ten Highland troops on board, with their baggage; the ship mounted six carriage-guns, and fought the Privateers some time before she struck. We had four men wounded; the enemy had three privates and a Major killed, and eight or ten men wounded. The prisoners are coming up to town, among whom is a Colonel. Any further particulars that may be of importance, I shall forward as soon as I can learn them.

EDMUND PENDLETON AND OTHERS TO VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

Williamsburgh, June 17, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The confusion which hath for some time happened amongst the people in the disputed lands between Pennsylvania and this Colony, and a representation to the Convention that a civil war was like to be the consequence if something was not done to prevent it, induced that body to take the subject into consideration, who were sorry to discover that a jealousy seemed to prevail in the governing powers of Pennsylvania of our intending the garrisons on the Ohio to influence that dispute, and to overawe their people; whereas we only mean by them to protect our people and those in the contested settlement from the danger they are exposed to of Indian ravages, without the most distant view to offer any injury to our friends and neighbours, with whom it is our inclination as well as interest to unite. A temporary boundary appeared to the Convention the only means of quieting the people, until we have leisure to refer the final decision to some arbitrating power between us; and in fixing that, they judged that to point a line which would most nearly leave the inhabitants in the country they respectively settled under, would be most likely to give general satisfaction; and having examined several gentlemen well acquainted with that country, who were of opinion that end would be answered by the line described in the enclosed resolution, they have resolved to propose that line to the Pennsylvania Assembly, and have commanded us to transmit it to you, requesting that you would negotiate the matter in such manner as you shall think most effectual.

We are, with great regard, gentlemen, your obedient, humble servants,

To the Honourable the Virginia Delegates in Congress.