prevent their ever being able, by breaking up directly after passing the said resolve.

This is the state we at present lie in; and unless something is instantly done to regulate our affairs, the consequences may be dreadful. We have now a large and respectable representation, amounting to one hundred and eight Members from the different Counties; and as the Assembly hath broken up and deserted its trust, the inhabitants have now no other body than the Conference to look at or apply to for conducting and superintending our military operations, and restoring order and confidence throughout the Province, and this opportunity ought not to be passed over. It signifies but little what our particular sentiments respecting modes and forms may be, because it is our safety and not our opinions that is most at stake.

Philadelphia, June 20, 1776.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
[Read June 24, 1776, and referred to the Board of War.]

New-York, June 20, 1776.

SIR: I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favours of the 14th and 18th instant, and the interesting resolves contained in them, with which I have been honoured.

The several matters recommended to my attention shall be particularly regarded, and the directions of Congress and your requests complied with in every instance as far as in my power.

The instituting a War Office is certainly an event of great importance, and in all probability will be recorded as such in the historick page. The benefits derived from it, I flatter myself, will be considerable, though the plan upon which it is first founded may not be entirely perfect. This, like other great works, in its first edition may not be free from error; time will discover its defects, and experience suggest the remedy, and such further improvements as may be necessary. But it was right to give it a beginning, in my opinion.

The recommendation to the Convention of New- York, for restraining and punishing disaffected persons, I am hopeful will be attended with salutary consequences; and the prohibition against exporting provisions appears to have been a measure founded in sound policy, lest proper supplies should be wanted wherewith to subsist our armies.

I have transmitted General Schuyler the resolves about the Indians, and the others on which he is to act, and have requested his strict attention and exertions in order to their being carried into execution with all possible despatch.

I note your request respecting Mr. Hancock; he shall have such directions as may be necessary for conducting his office, and am happy he will have so early a remittance for paying the troops in his department.

The silver and paper money designed for Canada will be highly serviceable, and I hope will be the means of re-establishing our credit there in some degree with the Canadians, and also encourage our men too, who have complained in this instance. When it arrives I will send it forward under a proper guard.

I have communicated to Major-General Gates the resolve of Congress for him to repair to Canada, and directed him to view Point-au-Fer, that a fortress may be erected if he shall judge it necessary; he is preparing for his command, and in a few days will take his departure for it. I would fain hope his arrival there will give our affairs a complexion different from what they have worn for a long time past, and that very essential benefits will result from it.

The kind attention Congress have shown to afford the Commander-in-Chief here every assistance, by resolving that recommendatory letters be written to the Conventions of New-Jersey, New- York, and the Assembly of Connecticut, to authorize him to call in the Militia in cases of emergency, claims my thankful acknowledgments, and think, if carried into execution, will produce many advantages, in case it may be expedient at any time to call in early reinforcements. The delays incident to the ordinary mode may frequently render their aid too late and prove exceedingly injurious.

I this evening received intelligence of the 19th instant from Captain Pond, of the armed sloop Schuyler, of his having taken, about fifty miles from this, on the south side of Long-Island, a ship and a sloop bound to Sandy-Hook. The ship from Glasgow, with a company of the Forty-Second Regiment, had been taken by one of Commodore Hopkins’s fleet, who took the soldiers out and ordered her to Rhode-Island; after which he was retaken by the Cerberus, and put under convoy of the sloop. As Captain Pond informs, there were five commissioned officers, two ladies, and four privates, on board; they are not yet arrived at Head-Quarters. Enclosed is an invoice of what they have on board.

General Wooster having expressed an inclination and wish to wait on Congress, I have given him permission, not having any occasion for him here. He set out this morning.

I have been up to view the grounds above King’s Bridge, and find them to admit of seven places well calculated for defence; and esteeming it a pass of the utmost importance, have ordered works to be laid out; and I shall direct part of the two battalions from Pennsylvania to set about (he execution immediately, and will add to their number several of the militia when they come in, to expedite them with all possible despatch. Their consequence, as they will keep open the communication with the country, requires the most speedy completion of them.

I have the honour to be, with great esteem, sir, &c,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

New-York, June 20, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I herewith transmit you sundry resolves of Congress respecting the Indians, the fortifying Fort Stan-wix, &c, and for rendering more easy and commodious our passes into Canada. As the resolves are of an interesting and important nature, I must request your particular attention to them, and most aetive exertions for accomplishing and carrying the whole into execution with all possible despatch.

I am hopeful the bounty Congress have agreed to allow, as you will perceive by the last resolve, will prove a powerful inducement to engage the Indians in our service, and their endeavours to make prisoners of all the King’s troops they possibly can. You will use every method you shall judge necessary to conciliate their favour; and, to this end, you are authorized to promise them a punctual payment of the allowance Congress have determined on for such officers and privates belonging to the King’s Army as they may captivate and deliver us.

June 21.—I have this moment received your favours of the 15th and 17th, and the post being about to depart have not time to answer them fully. I shall only add, that Lady Johnson may remain at Albany till further directions.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To General Schuyler.

CAPTAIN CREGIER TO THOMAS RANDALL.

SIR: After my due respects to yourself and honourable House, I am to inform you that on my passage here from Barnegat, I saw three sail of vessels plying to the northeast—they appeared to be three ships. I immediately hauled my wind to speak to them, the wind about north by west. After standing for them some time, I found one of them to be a very large ship, and was soon convinced she was a ship of war of about fifty guns. I then bore away for this harbour, where I arrived this morning. I cruised in and out of Barnegat five days, in hopes of meeting some vessels bound into that inlet, as I was informed two vessels were to put into that place. This information I received by a person who was on board of a sloop that was driven on shore by the Lively frigate, on the 11th of June. She came from the West-Indies, having on board about three hundred bushels of salt, with other goods. The owners were one Schenck & Vanvechten. The ship’s boats, after she struck the beach, immediately boarded her, but the inhabitants coming to them, quitted her without plundering. They endeavoured to set fire to her, but to no effect, as timely