Voted, That Captain Thompson be enabled to build a cheap Barrack near Black-Rock, for the use of the Company there, employing his own men to do the labour, and to expend for Timber, Boards, and Nails, &c., not exceeding £25.

(Order given accordingly.)

Allowed an Account of Captain Thompson’s for many sundries of Timber, Plank, Rum, &c., for and about building the Fort, &c., to the amount of £74 10s. 8d.

(Order given. Delivered said Thompson. )

And also Voted, An Order for Mr. James Rice, for £200, to be accounted for on settlement of his Account, for sundry services about the Galley, &c. (Order given.)

Dismissed.

At a meeting of the Governour, &c., at Hartford, June 20, 1776:

Present: His Honour the Governour, the Honourable Deputy-Governour, E. Dyre, Jabez Huntington, William Williams, Richard Law, Titus Hosmer, B. Huntington, Jedediah Huntington, Esquires.

Voted, That six tons of nine-pound Shot be cast at the Furnace at Salisbury.

That two and a half tons of one and one-and-a-half-pound Shot, sorted to the Swivels, be also cast.

That the Pigs cast there lie undisposed of for the present.

Ordered, That Captain Tinker, of the Crane galley, proceed directly for New-London.

Settled the Account of Colonel Sears; having before allowed, (as per page 129,) £776 3s. 6d. , which, being a partial account, the remainder, being £ 197 14s. 6d. , is now allowed, and ordered to be drawn for, his whole Account being £1298 10s. 8d., York money, equal to £973 18s. , lawful money; the rest, being in lawful money £197 14s. 6d. , as above, now allowed, and order drawn.

An Account of Colonel Jonathan Fitch, for sundry purchases for Stores, &c., for the Brig Defence, had been laid and referred to a sub-Committee, and examined, amounting to £640 5s. 11d. , he having before received of the Treasurer £500; the balance is now allowed, and ordered to be drawn for, being £140 5s. 11d.

(Order drawn, and delivered said Fitch at Hartford. )

Dismissed.

At a meeting of the Governour, &c., at Hartford, June 21, 1776:

Present: His Honour the Governour, the Honourable Deputy-Governour, Colonel Dyre, Colonel Huntington, William Williams, and Richard Law, Esquires.

Voted, That an Order be drawn on Colonel Pitkin’s Powder-Mill for two hundred pounds of Powder, in favour of the Selectmen of . . . . . ., they to account with the Governour and Council, for Colony use, at such price as said Governour and Council shall affix.

(An Order given.)

Dismissed.

THOMAS RICHARDSON TO COMMODORE HOPKINS.

New-London, June 18, 1776.

SIR : I came to this place on Sunday evening, and was much surprised to learn that Mr. Hollingsworth had not returned from Hartford, where he went on Thursday last to demand the cannon of Governour Trumbull, in consequence of the order of Congress. When he saw his Honour, he could not obtain the cannon until the Assembly met, which was appointed on Saturday. When they met, they could not come to any determination until the western post arrived, by whom they expected an answer from Congress to the remonstrance they sent forward in consequence of the first demand we made when we presented your order. The post came in without any answer, and on Sunday evening they determined to send six of the heaviest cannon, and detain the remainder until they should hear the fate of their remonstrance. We have shipped the six cannon on board of a vessel of Mr. Shaw’s, which the Governour gave us an order for, and are now preparing to get part of our way towards York this evening. I am much afraid the delays we have met with, and at last being obliged to return with little better than half of our errand, will be as disagreeable to those that sent us as to ourselves; but as we are not conscious of neglecting any part of our duty, we hope to meet the approbation of our employers. We learn by some vessels which left this port on Sunday evening, that there is a sloop tender cruising off Montauk Point, which was the occasion of their putting back again. We make no doubt but you have, or will forward the Fly, as soon as you possibly can, consistently with safety, as we shall wait with the greatest impatience in York for her arrival. Congress have demanded of this Colony seven thousand troops to be raised immediately, in consequence of information that an attempt is to be made on New- York by the British troops in a very few days; this ought, in our opinion, to hurry the cannon, that, in case they cannot be got further, they may be appropriated to the defence of that place in the present emergency.

I am, with the greatest regard, your very humble servant,

THOMAS RICHARDSON.

To Commodore Esek Hopkins.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN WHIPPLE.

Providence, June 18, 1776.

SIR: I have received advice that the British ships are driven out of Boston Bay. I think that harbour the safest to send any prizes you may take anywhere to the eastward of the Shoals. There was a ship and a brig taken by the Connecticut brig and four schooners, yesterday, with two hundred and ten soldiers on board. The ship had ten six-pounders, and fought well. I am, in haste, your friend,

ESEK HOPKINS.

To Abraham Whipple, Esq., Commander of the Columbus.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN JONES.

Providence, June 18, 1776.

SIR : I have received orders that you proceed to Boston in the room of Newburyport. You are to make all the despatch there you can. The ships of war are driven out of that Bay, and I believe that port is the safest to send in prizes of any on the Continent. I am your friend,

ESEK HOPKINS, Com. in Chief.

To John P. Jones, Esq., Commander of the Providence; Newport.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN BIDDLE.

Providence, June 18, 1776.

SIR: I have received intelligence that the British ships are driven out of Boston Bay, and that two transports are taken with two hundred and ten soldiers on board. I think it will be best, if you should take any prizes eastward of the Shoals, to send them to Boston.

Should the Providence not get to Boston, where she is ordered, you will call on Mr. John Bradford, and take a vessel loaded with coal, and convoy it to the Capes of Philadelphia, or into the river. I am your friend,

ESEK HOPKINS.

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

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO JOHN BRADFORD.

Providence, June 18, 1776.

SIR : I received your letter of the 17th instant. I had before given Captain Jones, of the Providence, orders to sail for Newburyport. I shall send an express immediately to Newport, if she is not sailed, to proceed directly to Boston. There being no coal to be had in this Government, 1 think it will be best to bring what you can with you.

Please to send a line to Captain Jones, of the Providence, to Newburyport, to come to Boston, or where you think best, if he has sailed before my express arrives at Newport.

You will be good enough to supply any of the Continental vessels under my command with any necessaries they may want.

I am, with great respect, your humble servant,

ESEK HOPKINS.

To Mr. John Bradford, Agent for the Fleet at Boston.