soldiers with not rating them as deserters, viz: James Dement, Andrew Ingersoll, and Edmund Parsons, belonging to Captain Warner’s Company, in Colonel Little’s Regiment, who went out in the Cabot, and two of them came back in the prize ships sent in by the Cabot a few days ago; and they tell me as soon as the ship is discharged they will return to the regiment. They have behaved so well, should be sorry they should lose any wages that may be due to them. Should be glad of your directions in that matter; whether I must send them back directly, or continue them on service here.

I am, with regard, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

ESEK HOPKINS.

To Nathanael Greene, Esq., Brigadier-General of the Continental Troops, at New-York.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN WHIPPLE.

Providence, June 20, 1776.

SIR: Herewith I send a letter directed to you from the Congress. Should it reach you, hope you will immediately take such steps as you may be able, to satisfy the Congress with your conduct. Captain Saltonstall and myself are both ordered there to account for our conduct. Shall take pleasure in your company.

Must beg you to be exact in your state of the ship and people on board her; and as the ship cannot go on a cruise, you will land the men you had of Colonel Richmond.

I am your friend and humble servant,

ESEK HOPKINS,

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

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN BIDDLE.

Providence June 20, 1776.

SIR: I have just received orders from Congress to repair to Philadelphia immediately, and as I believe Captain Saltonstall and Captain Whipple are likewise ordered there, the command of the fleet devolves on you, as oldest officer. Should be glad you would take the most prudent steps to conduct the same in such a manner as will be most for the publick good. Be careful that you take no steps with the ships till further orders from Congress.

You are likewise to transmit to me immediately an account of the state of your brig’s stores, of every kind of provisions, a list of the effective and non-effective men, and, in short, everything relative to the vessel under your command. And likewise you will order the other commanders, Captain Jones and Captain Hacker, to do the same, and you will transmit them with your own as soon as in your power.

I am your friend, &c,

ESEK HOPKINS.

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

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, June 20, 1776.

SIR: It is with great pleasure that I do myself the honour to transmit to your Excellency the enclosed vote of the General Assembly.

The putting the Colony Brigade upon the Continental establishment, for which we esteem ourselves so much indebted to your Excellency, gave the highest satisfaction. Mr. Hopkins sent me the commissions, with power to fill up those for the Captains and subalterns as should be thought best here, but added, that &#.147;as the Field Officers will be appointed, or at least approved, by Congress, I could wish that you would transmit to me the names of such gentlemen as you may think most capable to fill those offices.” The General Assembly have not nominated any persons to those offices. I most earnestly request your Excellency’s attention to the troops in this Colony, and to the necessity of appointing an officer of ability and reputation to command them, which is most ardently wished by everybody.

I am, with great respect, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

To His Excellency General Washington.

It is Voted and Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the thanks of this Assembly be given to his Excellency George Washington, Esq., Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the United Colonies, for his favourable representation of the state of this Colony to the most honourable the Continental Congress, and interposition in procuring the Colony’s Brigade to be taken into Continental pay, and that his Honour the Governour be requested to transmit to his Excellency a copy of this vote.

A true copy. Witness:

HENRY WARD, Secretary.

GENERAL WARD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Boston, June 20, 1776.

SIR: I have to inform you that the Continental privateers brought into this port, the 18th instant, another Scotch transport, with a Highland Company of Grenadiers on board, consisting of upwards of a hundred, with their officers, with a few arms more than what belonged to the company. Each transport brings a considerable quantity of provisions for the troops. The prisoners are going into the country towns, agreeable to the order of Congress.

The Colonel mentioned in my last is Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, commander of one of General Frazer’s Battalions of Highlanders. He is a member of Parliament, and a gentleman of fortune.

I must repeat my earnest request to be relieved immediately, as I have been so very ill for some time past as to be confined to my chamber, and have no prospect of recovering my health until I have a relaxation from business.

I am your Excellency’s obedient, humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To His Excellency General Washington.

JOHN BRADFORD TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Boston, June 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I thought it my duty to acquaint you that your Colony brig Defence is now in this port, after being concerned in taking two ships and a brig, with three hundred and thirty privates and officers. Your worthy commander is now sick at my house, where the best care shall be taken of him. His disorder was a violent seizure of a cold. He has had two physicians; they have given him an emetic, and taken some blood from him. This morning he is so much relieved that I make no doubt he will be abroad tomorrow. If, in the interim, anything should appear which calls our cruisers out, I shall endeavour to get the brig among them to share in the emolument. If at any time I can render your Colony any services, it will give me the highest pleasure; being, with great truth, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

J. BRADFORD,
Navy Agent for the Colony of Massachusetts.

To the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., and the Committee of Safety.

LORD HOWE TO DR. FRANKLIN.

Eagle, June 20, 1776.

I cannot, my worthy friend, permit the letters and parcels which I have sent, in the state I received them, to be landed without adding a word upon the subject of the injurious extremities in which our unhappy disputes have engaged us.

You will learn the nature of my mission from the official despatches, which I have recommended to be forwarded by the same conveyance. Retaining all the earnestness I ever expressed to see our differences accommodated, I shall conceive, if I meet with the disposition in the Colonies which I was once taught to expect, the most flattering hopes of proving serviceable in the objects of the King’s paternal solicitude, by promoting the establishment of lasting peace and union with the Colonies. But if the deep-rooted prejudices of America, and the necessity of preventing her trade from passing into foreign channels must keep us still a divided people, I shall, from every private as well as publick motive, most heartily lament that this is not the moment wherein those great objects of my ambition are to be attained, and