EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK TO HIS FRIEND IN HARTFORD, DATED JUNE 27, 1776.

You have no doubt heard of a most horrid conspiracy lately discovered in this place. I have had no opportunity to examine the evidences in support of the fact; but from the weight of the persons who have appeared to prosecute the inquiry, and the circumstances that have been mentioned, I have no doubt of the truth of the general charge. The substance of it I take to be this, that Govemour Tryon in this, and other similar emissaries in all the other Governments, have been for a long time using all the influence that the command of the Ministry and Treasury in England could give them, to bribe and cajole our principal people in all the Colonies to act in concert with their plans; that by degrees they have brought numbers fully to co-operate with them; and, after being led on too far to recede, stick at nothing, however villanous and horrible, to accomplish their designs; that the principal emissaries have, by pursuing the same methods that were successfully practised upon themselves, drawn in those beneath them, so as to take in all degrees, from the prince to the scavenger; that a distribution of money and arms has been secretly made from the greater to the least branches; that there were schemes to distinguish who were in the plot, without speaking; that when all was ready for execution, the most vigorous efforts were to be made in different parts at once to land the troops and push their operations; at the same time all our most important posts were to be seized by the conspirators on shore; among ourselves all our important men were to be seized or murdered, together with all that were friendly attached to the cause of American rights and liberty, and might be likely to obstruct their views or give them trouble. General Washington was among the first that were to be sacrificed, and the rest in succession, according to their importance. A number of the General’s Guard have already been taken up, were bribed to murder him, and have for some time received double pay for that purpose, one of whom was yesterday condemned to be hanged.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM NEW-YORK TO A GENTLEMAN IN BOSTON, DATED JUNE 27, 1776.

Our Mayor, who has been till lately confined in a private house, has been removed to the common jail. This looks badly.

The Jersey Convention have voted for a new Government; elected new Delegates for the Continental Congress, whereof Dr. Witherspoon and Judge Stockton are two; given them (I am informed) warm instructions; made it death for any of the inhabitants of the United Colonies to be found in arms against them, &c. New-Jersey, it was thought, would be among the last to alter their Government—nothing more than a bare majority was expected in favour of it; but the plot against the General has wrought wonders—there were but four dissenting voices.

The Committee of Frederick County, in Maryland, have published some resolves which bear a little hard upon their Provincial Convention for the part they have acted respecting a change of Government. I think it likely that that Convention will be dissolved.

Some vessels arrived at the Hook yesterday and the day before. Do not learn how many, what they are, nor from whence.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. [Read July 1, 1776.]

New-York, June 27, 1776.

SIR: I this morning received, by express, letters from Generals Schuyler and Arnold, with a copy of one from General Sullivan to the former, and also of others to General Sullivan, of all which I do myself the honour to transmit you copies. They will give a further account of the melancholy situation of our affairs in Canada, and show that there is nothing left to save our Army there but evacuating the country. I am hopeful General Sullivan would retreat from the Isle-aux-Noix without waiting for previous orders for that purpose, as, from Generals Schuyler and Arnold’s letters, it is much to be feared, by remaining there any considerable time, his retreat would be cut off, or be a matter of extreme difficulty. I would observe to Congress that it is not in my power to send any carpenters from hence to build the gondolas and galleys General Arnold mentions, without taking them from a work equally necessary, if not more so, here of the same kind; and submit it to them whether it may not be advisable, as it is of great importance to us to have a number of these vessels on the Lake to prevent the enemy passing, to withdraw the carpenters for the present from the frigates building upon the North River, and detach them immediately, with all that can be got at Philadelphia, for that purpose, and carrying on these here.

I have the pleasure to inform you of another capture made by our armed vessels, of a transport, on the 19th instant, with a company of Highland Grenadiers, on board. The enclosed extract of a letter from General Ward, by last night’s post, contains the particulars, to which I beg leave to refer you.

I have been honoured with your favour of the 21st and 25th instant, in due order, with their important enclosures, to which I shall particularly attend. I have transmitted General Schuyler a copy of the resolve of Congress respecting the Mohegan and Stockbridge Indians, and directed him to put an immediate stop to the raising the two companies.

The Quartermaster-General has been called upon for stopping the tents designed for Massachusetts-Bay, and ordered to forward them immediately. He means to write Congress upon the subject, and hopes his conduct will not appear to deserve their reprehension. Of this they will judge from his relation of the matter.

Being extremely desirous to forward the intelligence from Canada to Congress, well knowing their anxiety about our affairs there, 1 must defer writing upon some other matters I want to lay before them till the next opportunity, which I hope will be to-morrow, when I will inform them fully upon the subject of rations, having desired the Commissary-General to furnish me with some things necessary in that instance.

I have the honour to be, with sentiments of great respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

Albany, June 25, 1776—1 o’clock A. M.

DEAR GENERAL: About an hour ago General Arnold, who is arrived here from Canada, sent me a letter from General Sullivan, enclosing one from General Arnold to him, another of Colonel Hazen, and a third from Lieutenant-Colonel Antill; copies of all which I do myself the honour to enclose. The grief I feel on the evacuation of Canada by our troops is greatly alleviated by the little loss sustained in the retreat, and the hope I have that we shall maintain a superiority on the Lakes.

Your Excellency will observe that General Schuyler intimates that farther than the Isle-aux-Noix he could not retreat without your Excellency’s or my orders; previous to which he observes that the Council of War were unanimous for coming to Crown Point. I do not hesitate to say that I wish he had retreated, at least as far south as Point-au-Fer or lsle-la-Motte, as I am afraid the enemy will throw themselves between him and the broad part of Lake Champlain, and render it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to send on a supply of provisions, as they can, with light cannon, and even with wall-pieces, command the waters from shore to shore in most places, for six miles south of Isle-aux-Noix, and in many even with musketry.

Did not the danger of remaining there, especially with an Army broken and spiritless, and who wish so much to come further south, that the officers (as General Arnold informs me) have already in a body entreated him to come away, appear to me too great to admit of the delay of waiting your Excellency’s orders, I should not send mine for a further retreat until your pleasure could be known; but I trust I shall be justified in doing it, and yet I believe the order will meet the Army on this side of Isle-aux-Noix.

Be pleased to order up six anchors and cables for the gondolas that are constructing, of the size of what is called the small anchor and cable of an Albany sloop.

I shall immediately write to Govemour Trumbull to procure fifty ship carpenters, if he can, and send for a like number to the Massachusetts-Bay.

If any Dutch mill-saws can be procured at New-York, be pleased to order up four dozen, with six dozen of files for