regiments from the Massachusetts Government, raising the flying-camp with all possible despatch, and engaging the Eastern Indians.

July 5.—General Mercer arrived here on Tuesday, and the next morning was ordered to Paulus Hook, to make some arrangements of the Militia as they came in, and the best disposition he could to prevent the enemy crossing from Staten-lsland, if they should have any such views. The distressed situation of the inhabitants of Elizabethtown and Newark has since induced me, upon their application, to give up all the Militia from the Jerseys except those engaged for six months. I am hopeful they will be able to repel any incursions that may be attempted. Generals Mercer and Livingston are concerting plans for the purpose. By a letter from the latter last night, I am informed the enemy are throwing up small works at all the passes on the north side of Staten-lsland, which it is probable they mean to secure. None of the Connecticut Militia are yet arrived, so that the reinforcement we have received is very inconsderable.

A letter from General Schuyler, with sundry enclosures, of which Nos. 1, 2, and 3, are exact copies, this moment came to hand, and will no doubt claim, as they ought to do, the immediate attention of Congress. The evils which must inevitably follow a disputed command are too obvious and alarming to admit a moment’s delay in your decision thereupon; and although I do not presume to advise in a matter now of this delicacy, yet as it appears evident that the Northern Army has retreated to Crown Point, and mean to act upon the defensive only, I cannot help giving it as my opinion that one of the Majors-General in that quarter would be more usefully employed here, or in the flying-camp, than there; for it becomes my duty to observe, if another experienced officer is taken from hence in order to command the flying-camp, that your grand Army will be entirely stripped of Generals who have seen service, being in a manner already destitute of such. My distress on this account, the appointment of General Whitcomb to the Eastern Regiments, a conviction in my own heart that no troops will be sent to Boston, and the certainty of a number coming to this place, occasioned my postponing from time to time sending any General Officer from hence to the eastward heretofore, and now I shall wait the sentiments of Congress relative to the five regiments in Massachusetts-Bay before I do anything in this matter.

The Commissary-General has been with me this morning concerning the other matter contained in General Schuyler’s letter, respecting the business of that department. He has, I believe, in order to remove difficulties, recalled Mr. Avery, but seems to think it necessary in that case that Mr. Livingston should be left to himself, as he cannot be responsible for persons not of his own appointment. This matter should also be clearly defined by Congress. I have already given my opinion of the necessity of these matters being under one general direction, in so full and clear a manner that I shall not take up the time of Congress to repeat it in this place.

I have the honour to be, with great esteem, sir, your obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Extract of a Letter from General Greene, dated July 4, 1776.

General Scott being appointed to examine prisoners, I this morning sent four that were taken last night at the Narrows. The following is a copy of their examination. They were taken separate, and agreed in their account in every-thing except the number of men. The Captain’s account was the least, and, I believe, the rightest, and I apprehend not much from the truth.

The fleet sailed from Halifax the 10th of June, and arrived the 29th. The fleet consisted of one hundred and twenty sail of topsail vessels, and they have on board one thousand troops received at Halifax, besides some of the Scotch Brigade that have joined the fleet on the passage. The troops from the West-Indies joined the Army at Halifax, and were there received with them.

A list of the Generals: Howe, Pigot, Percy, Grant, and Jones.

A list of the ships of force: Asia 64, Centurion 50, Chatham 50, Phenix 40, Greyhound 30, Rose 20, Swan 16, Senegal 16.

Four days before the fleet sailed from Halifax, a packet arrived from England, that brought an account of Admiral Howe’s sailing, with a fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, on board of which were twenty thousand troops; the fleet sailed a few days before the packet; they are expected in here every day.

General Carleton’s Regiment went from Halifax to Quebeck; the Niger ship that went from Halifax in April to Canada, met Burgoyne going up the river, with thirty-six transports, and six thousand troops on board.

General Carleton’s son went into Quebeck painted like an Indian.

The people of Staten-lsland went on board the fleet as they lay at the Hook, several boat loads of them.

Albany, July 1, 1776,

DEAR GENERAL: On Friday evening I received a line from General Sullivan, copy whereof I have the honour to enclose. By the contents, your Excellency will perceive that we have reasons to believe the next will announce his arrival at Crown Point.

Yesterday morning General Gates introduced a Mr. Avery to me, who applied for money to carry on the Commissary-General’s Department here. I asked if Mr. Livingston was superseded, and begged to see how he (Avery) was authorized to act here. He showed me a commission from Mr. Trumbull, the Commissary-General, with instructions annexed, appointing him Deputy Commissary in Canada, and the instructions were correspondent to such appointment. I told him his commission did not by any means supersede Mr. Livingston’s; and until that was done, that I must consider Mr. Livingston as the Deputy Commissary-General here, and that all warrants for money to carry on that department here must be drawn up in his favour, unless Mr. Trumbull himself was present. He assured me that it was Mr. Trumbull’s intentions that he (Avery) should have the sole management, and that Mr. Livingston was only to be considered as a contractor. I sent for Mr. Livingston, who produced a letter of the 25th ultimo from Mr. Trumbull, directly contradictory to what Mr. Avery had asserted; upon which he declared that Mr. Trumbull had informed him that Congress had given him full power to make any arrangement he thought proper, and displace whom he pleased; and that it was his intention by giving him (Avery) that commission to supersede Mr. Livingston. To which Mr. Livingston answered, that although Mr. Trumbull had no power to remove him unless authorized so to do by Congress, as he held his commission immediately from that body, yet if Mr. Trumbull had expressed any such intention, that he would immediately resign, and he would put the question to Mr. Trumbull. I observed to Mr. Avery that nothing in his commission or the instructions annexed, authorized him to say what he did; that Mr. Trumbull’s letter to Mr. Livingston flatly contradicted it; that if he remained with the Army, provided it was not in Canada, he must be subordinate to Mr. Livingston, and obey his orders; which he chose not to do, and is now going down. I advised him to remain until the affair was determined; and candidly told him that I should try to keep Mr. Livingston in the employment, if he chose it, because, admitting that their abilities and integrity were perfectly equal, Mr. Livingston’s conduct has met my approbation, and that his great family connexions in this country had enabled him to carry on the service when others could not have done it, of which I gave instances. General Gates was present, and acquiesced in the propriety of what I observed; I was, therefore, greatly surprised to be informed that he should tell Mr. Avery that he had nothing to say here, hut that as soon as he came to the Army he would employ him—I say I was greatly surprised, because General Gates knew that the Army was no longer in Canada, and because I did not know that he then claimed a right to control my orders with respect to the Army, even if it should be at Crown Point; nor could I imagine he thought so, as your Excellency’s instructions to him gave, as I conceive, not the least colour for it. Your last letter to me holds up a contrary idea, and so does every resolution of Congress hitherto transmitted to me. But that General Gates conceived, and still does, that the Army is immediately under his command, I had, a very few hours after, the most convincing proof of, as your Excellency will observe from the enclosed paper, which I hastily drew immediately after the discourse, and which I desired General Gates to read, that no misunderstanding might arise for want