that I am to be longer deprived of an opportunity to assure you personally of the regard with which I am your sincere and faithful humble servant,

HOWE

To Benjamin Franklin, Esq., Philadelphia.

P. S. I was disappointed of the opportunity I expected for sending this letter at the time it was dated, and have ever since been prevented by calms and contrary winds from getting here to inform General Howe of the commission with which I have the satisfaction to be charged, and of his being joined in it.

Off Sandy Hook, 12th of July.

LORD HOWE’S CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNOURS OF THE COLONIES.

SIR: Being appointed Commander-in-Chief of the ships and vessels of his Majesty’s Fleet employed in North-America, and having the honour to be, by his Majesty, constituted one of his Commissioners for restoring peace to his Colonies, and for granting pardons to such of his subjects therein as shall be duly solicitous to benefit by that effect of his gracious indulgence, I embrace this opportunity to inform you of my arrival on the American coast, where my first object will be an early meeting with General Howe, whom his Majesty hath been pleased to join with me in the said Commission.

In the mean time I have judged it expedient to issue the enclosed Declaration, in order that all persons may have immediate information of his Majesty’s most gracious intentions; and I desire you will be pleased forthwith to cause the said Declaration to be promulgated, in such manner and at such places in the Colony of Connecticut as will render the same of the most publick notoriety.

Assured of being favoured with your assistance in every measure for the speedy and effectual restoration of the publick tranquillity, I am to request you will communicate from time to time such information as you may think will facilitate the attainment of that important object in the Colony over which you preside.

I have the honour to be, with great respect and consideration, your most obedient, humble servant,

HOWE.

By RICHARD Viscount HOWE, of the Kingdom of IRELAND, one of the King’s Commissioners for restoring peace to his Majesty’s Colonies and Plantations in NORTH-AMERICA, &c., &c., &c.

DECLARATION.

Whereas, by an act passed in the last session of Parliament to prohibit all trade and intercourse with the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, and for other purposes therein mentioned, it is enacted, that “it shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons, appointed and authorized by his Majesty, to grant a pardon or pardons to any number or description of persons, by Proclamation, in his Majesty’s name; to declare any Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, or any County, Town, Port, District, or place, in any Colony or Province, to be at the peace of his Majesty; and that from and after the issuing of any such Proclamation in any of the aforesaid Colonies or Provinces, or if his Majesty shall be graciously pleased to signify the same by his Royal Proclamation, then, and from and after the issuing of such Proclamation, the said act, with respect to such Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, County, Town, Port, District, or place, shall cease, determine, and be utterly void.”

And whereas the King, desirous to deliver all his subjects from the calamities of war, and other oppressions which they now undergo, and to restore the said Colonies, to his protection and peace, as soon as the constitutional authority of Government therein may be replaced, hath been graciously pleased, by letters patent under the great seal, dated the 6th day of May, in the sixteenth year of his Majesty’s reign, to nominate and appoint me, Richard Viscount Howe, of the Kingdom of Ireland, and William Howe, Esq., General of his Forces in North-America, and each of us, jointly and severally, to be his Majesty’s Commissioner and Commissioners for granting his free and general pardons to all those who in the tumult of and disorder of the times may have deviated from their just allegiance, and who are willing, by a speedy return to their duty, to reap the benefits of the Royal favour, and also for declaring, in his Majesty’s name, any Colony, Province, County, Town, Port, District, or place, to be at the peace of his Majesty;—I do, therefore, hereby declare that due consideration shall be had to the meritorious services of all persons who shall aid and assist in restoring the publick tranquillity in the said Colonies, or in any part or parts thereof; that pardons shall be granted, dutiful representations received, and every suitable encouragement given for promoting such measures as shall be conducive to the establishment of legal Government and peace, in pursuance of his Majesty’s most gracious purposes aforesaid.

Given on board his Majesty’s ship the Eagle, off the coast of the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, the 20th day of June, 1776.

HOWE.

GENERAL CARLETON TO LORD GEORGE GERMAINE.

Montreal, June 20, 1776.

MY LORD: In a former letter I informed your Lordship that the troops were ordered to assemble at Three Rivers; they all pushed forward with great expedition, as fast as they arrived off Quebeck, by land or water, as best answered that end. The 8th instant the Rebels attempted a very bold enterprise indeed; they crossed over from Sorel. in fifty boats, better than two thousand men, landed at the Point du Lac before daylight, and marched to attack the troops at Three Rivers, disregarding the sloop Martin, some armed vessels, and transports full of troops, that were at anchor three miles above the town, otherwise than to keep out of reach of their cannon. They made some attempt to force the Sixty-Second Regiment; but whether they found Brigadier-General Frazer, who commanded at Three Rivers, too strong and too well posted, or that they were alarmed by Brigadier-General Nesbitt, who landed the troops from the transports behind them, ’tis certain they soon gave up offensive measures, and retreated with all speed up the river, keeping in the woods. The Brigadiers Nesbitt and Frazer pushed up likewise, but kept by the water-side, in hopes of getting their boats and cutting off their retreat—the first as far as La Chine, the latter to the Point du Lac. The sloop Martin and armed vessels sailed as high as the river Du Loup, and took two boats, but the rest were gone too far, as were their troops.

I know not the number of killed and wounded of the Rebels; about two hundred surrendered or were taken prisoners, amongst whom were their chief, Mr. Thompson, (who I think they call a Major-General,) and a Mr. Irwin, who was the second on this expedition, and some others. The killed and wounded of the King’s troops amounted to twelve or thirteen soldiers only.

The next day the troops were ordered to their former stations; all who had transports up re-embarked. Brigadier-General Frazer was ordered to march along the north shore with the troops whose transports had not been able to get up, and measures were taken to march a body of troops also by the south shore, had the wind continued unfavourable, for it seemed of great importance in this unhappy war that the Rebels should be driven from the upper part of the Province as soon as possible. The wind springing up fair the fleet sailed, and arrived off Sorel the evening of the 14th instant; the last of the Rebels had retreated from thence some hours before. The Grenadiers and Light-Infantry of the troops in this division immediately landed, supported by Brigadier Nesbitt and part of his brigade. The next morning more troops were sent on shore, and the command of this column given to Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, with instructions to pursue the Rebels up the river Sorel to St. Johns, but without hazarding anything till the column on his right should be able to co-operate with him. As soon as the regulations for the different transports could be made out, the remainder of the fleet sailed for Longueil, four leagues from Chambly, (Chambly is fifteen leagues from Sorel, by the river of that name;) and had not the wind failed, this column might have arrived at Longueil the same