Assembly the loan of any number you can possibly spare, to put into our forts, which are now mostly completed, and but few cannon to mount therein. Your laying our request before your General Court, and transmitting their result thereon, will be esteemed a great favour.

By order of the Council and Assembly.

I am your most humble servant,

MESHECH WEARE, President.

STEPHEN SMITH TO MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

Machias, June 22, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: When your Honours were pleased to appoint me Truckmaster for the Indians, I was not apprised of the task I had to perform, the numbers of them far exceeding my expectations; and the offers they have from the factors of Nova-Scotia causes them to be very troublesome.

The sum of four hundred pounds, lawful money, granted by your Honours to supply at least one thousand men, exclusive of their families, is but small. Your Honours cannot expect that I can satisfy them, and keep them friends, with that sum; and I was obliged to credit near two hundred pounds for their spring hunt, which they have not yet paid. The news of the defeat at Quebeck has reached them: that, with the advice of General Washington, obliges me to put up with many insults.

I have given the bearer, Major Francis Shaw, Jun., a power of attorney to receive any further sum your Honours may be pleased to grant, with directions to purchase such articles as are most wanted. As soon as they come in with their spring hunts, I shall send the fur up; in the mean time I am in much want of many articles for them.

With Major Shaw comes up ten chiefs of the different tribes. Knowing the trouble and expense they would be at, we endeavoured, with all our art, to detain them, without effect; as they had letters from your Honours and his Excellency General Washington, they were determined either to proceed or rely on the assistance of Nova-Scotia. Of the two evils I have endeavoured to choose the least, and have accordingly prevailed on Major Shaw to take the charge of them, which I hope will meet your Honours’ approbation.

The Indians that were at Court last winter have received a supply; and one has since refused to pay, as he says his Excellency General Washington told them they should be paid for coming up, as well as for carrying letters to the Mickamack tribe.

I am likewise much troubled with the inhabitants supplying them with rum, &c., as it makes them very troublesome and quarrelsome. I should be glad your Honours should give some order they might not have liberty to sell or give, as they take their furs for much less than their value, and detain them longer than is needful. I have hitherto given eight shillings for beaver, to hinder their trading with Nova-Scotia, and shall do it until I hear from your Honours; this I do, as I am sensible, from the best accounts from Nova-Scotia, that they take every measure to defeat your Honours’ plans, and to bring them against the new settlements in this country.

As Major Shaw has been here, and witness to their proceedings, I refer your Honours to him for any further intelligence; and remain, with much respect, your Honours’ much obliged humble servant,

STEPHEN SMITH.

To the Honourable Council and House of Representatives for the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.

DAVID REED TO MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

Boothbay, June 22, 1776.

In obedience to the orders of Congress, the year last past I was appointed by the Committee of this town to go to Damariscotta Island, in my sloop, and bring from thence what cattle and sheep were on said island, which I performed, and delivered the said stock to the owners, who before had removed from said island; after a short space, the said owners, viz: Daniel Knight and John Wheeler, transported a number of sheep to said island, without taking advice of the Committee, where said sheep remained some days, till Captain Mowat, in one of George’s ships, with some transports, anchored between Damariscotta and Boothbay, when Joseph Wheeler, son of the abovesaid John, whether by free will or constraint is not in my power to determine, went on board Mowat’s ship, and went from thence ashore with the men belonging to the navy of Britain, on the said island, and carried the greater part of the sheep on board the man-of-war; for which sheep, it is reported, said Wheeler received two dollars per head; but of this no certain evidence as yet can be had. The house which was on said island was at the same time burnt. After getting a recruit of fresh provisions, the ship went to Falmouth, carrying with them the said Joseph, who was set at liberty, after the cabin was burnt, though it is no ways likely said Wheeler gave any assistance in the abominable act.

I am informed Daniel Knight is about to send a petition to your Honours for redress; I therefore think it my duty to acquaint you with the true state of the matter, as far as comes within the limits of my penetration.

I am your most obedient, humble servant,

DAVID REED.

To the Honourable the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts-Bay.

N. B. The house, as I suppose, might be worth about thirty pounds. Swine they also carried off, not worth more than five dollars each. It is possible there may be had evidence of the said Joseph Wheeler receiving the money for the said sheep, as information to that purpose is just come to hand.

I remain yours, &c.

WILLIAM LUX TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Snow-Hill, June 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: On my arrival here, I made inquiry after Mr. Brown, and found him an inhabitant of the town. He is a young man under thirty, but very hearty, and was brought up in the train; came to America in that service, with a certificate of his qualifications from General Conway, and was promised preferment, but another being put over his head, he resigned. He is by birth a Hibernian, and related to Captain Thomas Ewing. If, therefore, you could place him there, it would, I presume, be most agreeable; but as he must understand the profession superior to any of that corps, I should think him the fittest for Captain Fulford’s First Lieutenant. The people here speak well of him, as a sober, modest man, and being on all occasions ready to give them information.

I am, with due deference, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM LUX.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

CAPTAIN MONTAGU TO GOVERNOUR EDEN.

SIR: I have the happiness to acquaint you that last night I arrived here, with his Britannick Majesty’s ship the Fowey under my command, agreeable to an order from Captain Hammond, of his Majesty’s ship the Roebuck, and senior officer of his Majesty’s ships at Virginia. And in consequence of your application to him, I have hoisted the flag of truce at my foretopgallantmast-head, to show that I have not come in a hostile manner, and of which I desire you will be pleased to acquaint the inhabitants, that they may not offer any insult to my officers and boats; and, on my part, I shall hold the truce most sacred.

I have the pleasure to acquaint you that every accommodation the Fowey can afford is at your and your friends’ service, and that my boat shall at any time be ready to attend your coming off, and sent for your property.

I am, sir, your very humble servant,

GEORGE MONTAGU.

To His Excellency Robert Eden, Esq.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JOSEPH MIDDLETON.

SIR: You are desired to proceed up the bay, and give intelligence to any outward-bound vessels you may meet with that are coming down, that the man-of-war is at her