Congress, and by taking up the old one might do injustice to those who the Congress have in view more particularly to provide for. Captain Bruyn, I believe, is the next oldest Captain who continued in Canada, and, from my brother’s character of him, well deserves the post which his rank will entitle him to. He is a young man of education and fortune, and bears an unblemished character. I wish and believe young Platt may be properly provided for in this regiment. He was with Major Dubois and Captain Bruyn at Point La Caile, at the engagement between our people and a number of Canadians, in which the latter were defeated, and behaved well, as Major Dubois can testify.

We have just received the disagreeable intelligence from Canada of the defeat of part of our Army under General Thompson, and of his being taken, &c., &c., which you must have had before it reached us. We seem unfortunate in that quarter; but we must learn to bear the sound of bad as well as good news. Indeed it would be unreasonable to expect the chance of war always in our favour.

We have nothing new here worth communicating; whenever we have you may expect to hear from me. I mean this scroll for my friends Treadwell and Hubbel, as well as you, not having time to write to either of them. My best compliments to them; and believe me to be yours most affectionately,

GEORGE CLINTON.

To John McKesson, Esq.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, June 25, 1776.

SIR: Your letter of the 21st instant by Mr. Bennett, with the enclosure, were duly received and laid before Congress, as you will perceive by the enclosed resolves, to which I beg leave to request your attention.

Although the Commissioners have undoubtedly mistaken the intention of Congress, yet the terms in which the resolve is conceived, viz: “That the General be empowered to employ in Canada a number of Indians, not exceeding two thousand, ” may, at first view, seem to confine their employment to the limits of that Province, and to give a latitude of construction as to the place in which they are to be raised; and in this sense they must have been understood by General Schuyler and the other Commissioners. I am, however, to request you will give orders to have a stop put to raising the Mohegan and Stockbridge Indians as soon as possible. I shall write Governour Trumbull to the same purpose.

The conduct of the Quartermaster-General in detaining the tents sent from this place to Massachusetts-Bay is a stretch of office which, though it may be well meant, is certainly a very extraordinary one. You will, therefore, be pleased to order them to be delivered up, and forwarded to the Massachusetts-Bay as soon as possible.

The other resolves, herewith transmitted, calculated to suppress insurrections and to promote good order and obedience to laws in the United Colonies, are so full and explicit that I need not enlarge. It is sufficient to observe, that internal convulsions do always extremely weaken the force and springs of Government, and must necessarily render its operations against foreign enemies less vigorous and decisive.

Application having been made to Congress with regard to victualling the flying camp, I am directed to request you will inform them what is the cost of a ration as furnished by the Commissary-General.

The several matters in your letters are before a Committee. The proposal respecting a troop of horse is liked; and as soon as the Committee bring in their report, and it is considered, you shall be made acquainted with the result.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington, New-York.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Philadelphia, June 25, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: The Congress being informed, by letter from General Washington, that General Schuyler and the other Commissioners for Indian Affairs had come to a determination of taking into Continental pay the Mohegans and Stockbridge Indians, I am directed by Congress to request you will give orders to have a stop put to raising them as soon as possible; and that no proceedings be had by the Commissioners till the further direction of Congress.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Honourable Governour Trumbull, Connecticut.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO CONVENTION OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

Philadelphia, June 25, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Since my last of the 21st instant, I have nothing further in charge from Congress except the enclosed resolves, which are so full and explicit that I need not enlarge. You will perceive they are calculated to prevent insurrections, and to introduce good order and obedience to laws throughout the United Colonies—objects of the greatest importance in our present situation, since all internal convulsions, while they weaken the force and springs of Government, must necessarily render its operations against foreign enemies less vigorous and decisive.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Convention of New-Hampshire.

(Same to the Assembly of Massachusetts-Bay, Assembly of Rhode-Island, the Assembly of Connecticut, and to the Convention of New-York. )

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO CONVENTION OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

Philadelphia, June 25, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The Congress have this day come to the enclosed resolves, which I have the honour of transmitting in obedience to their commands.

You will there find they have come to a resolution to augment the number of men destined for Canada four thousand. I am therefore to request you will send immediately one regiment of your Militia by way of augmentation of the troops destined for that department; and at the same time earnestly to entreat you to be expeditious in raising and equipping your troops, and to provide them with clothes, tents, and other necessary camp equipage, for which the United Colonies will engage to reimburse you.

In my letter of the 4th instant, in which were enclosed sundry resolves of Congress with regard to your sending a part of your Militia into Canada, I took the liberty of suggesting everything that occurred to urge you to a speedy compliance with the same. If the complexion of our affairs in that quarter was disagreeable at that time, it has since altered extremely, and become much more alarming.

The arrival of General Burgoyne with a large reinforcement, the defeat of General Thompson with the troops under his command, and his being made prisoner, are so many striking circumstances that render it absolutely necessary to be more expeditious in our preparations for the defence of that Province, as well as to increase our force there. The present is not a time for delay. Everything we have a right to expect from that quarter depends upon expedition. Without it, we shall inevitably be ruined. Remember your own safety and the security of Canada are exactly one and the same thing. If our enemies are not opposed at a distance, we must engage them in our borders. One idea should be forever on our minds—that, in the conduct of political affairs, every moment is precious. A week, a day, even an hour, has often proved decisive; and by an attention thereto, the liberties of a country have either been established or destroyed forever.

I must repeat again to you that, in all human probability, the fate of America will be determined the ensuing campaign. Much depends on your Colony. I cannot, therefore, help once more pressing you to be expeditious in equipping and sending forward your troops. As an additional encouragement, the Congress have resolved that a bounty of ten dollars be given every soldier who shall inlist for three years.

May the Great Disposer of all human events animate