During the session, and soon after the rising of the Assembly, your favours of the 11th, 14th, and 19th of June came to hand. The exportation of salted beef and pork was prohibited by act of Assembly, and all the salted pork in the stores of merchants and others, except provisions for the use of families, ordered to be purchased on the Colony's account, antecedent to the receipt of the resolve of Congress on that subject.

As an extraordinary bounty is given to the two battalions raising for the Northern Department, it would be attended with difficulty to exchange their destination, and send the battalion ordered to be raised in May last that way instead of one of them. Indeed, I suppose the largest part of that battalion are now on their way to New-York. The Continental, or Colonel Ward's regiment, is not filled. To alter its first destination may create uneasiness. Will it not be best that the Militia desired to be sent to Boston in their room be forwarded to New-York, and a battalion ordered from thence of such as have passed through the small-pox? Not one in twenty of our soldiers have had it.

This, I trust, will be considered as complying fully with the spirit and intention of the resolves of Congress of the 19th and 25th of June last.

The small-pox is a more terrible enemy than the British troops, and strikes a greater dread into our men who have never had it. Might not some of our troops be sent to New-York, and serve there, instead of the York or Jersey battalions, which have generally passed through that distemper? Such an exchange would be very agreeable, and greatly facilitate the filling up our regiments. Our intelligence from Crown-Point shows the infection to be very great in our returning army.

I have received information by several persons that the inhabitants on the New-Hampshire Grants, on the northern frontier of the Province of New-York, are in the highest consternation on the retreat of the Army from Canada, from an apprehended attack of the savages. Some of their settlements are breaking up, and all are in danger of being soon deserted. Should they fall back on the older plantations, the enemy would derive great advantages from their improvements and buildings, to fall on and distress the frontiers; and the inconvenience they may bring with them, and the terror they will spread, may produce the most unhappy consequences. May I not venture to suggest the expediency of raising a battalion of troops, in the pay of the Continent, upon those Grants? The inhabitants, inured to hardship, and acquainted with the country, may rival the Indians in their own mode of making war, will support that frontier, and leave the more interior settlements at liberty to assist in the general defence of the Colonies. If they are not put under pay, their poverty is such they can hire no labourers to carry on their farming business in their absence. Should they go out as Militia without pay, the failure of one crop would effectually break up their settlements.

As to your requisition respecting a regiment of Militia for the Northern Department, if you mean it in addition to the two battalions now raising by us for that destination, the one for Boston, and seven for New-York, I am constrained to say, although we wish to comply with every requisition of your wise and honourable body, and to make every exertion for the salvation of the United Colonies in our power, it seems impossible to comply, as we have now more than fourteen thousand men from this Colony in Continental and Colonial service, by sea and land, and especially in this extreme busy season, when the fields languish for want of labourers, and inevitable famine and nakedness will be the consequence of stripping them any more.

I am, with great truth and regard, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To the Honourable President Hancock.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Lebanon, July 5, 1776.

DEAR SIR: The bearer, Captain Winslow, is one of the head carpenters I mentioned in my last, and now waits on you with his party to enter into your service. You will find him a man of integrity, and well calculated for your purpose. I find by him that his men are doubtful whether, in case of sickness, they are to receive hospital allowance, as customary for sick soldiers. They would think it so hard to be deprived of that allowance, that he would be obliged to release them all at Albany if it should appear to be your intention not to make it. I must earnestly recommend it to you to make them every allowance of that kind which you can think consistent with honour and justice. Captain Lester's company are in the same circumstances, and will merit to be treated in the same manner.

I am, sir, with great esteem and regard, your most obedient humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To the Honourable Philip Schuyler, Esq.

COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS TO WALTER SPOONER,

Watertown, July 5, 1776.

SIR: Whereas Captain Welden, commander of the brig Rising Empire, has received orders from the Board, dated the 27th ultimo, directing him, when properly armed, to proceed to Boston to take his complement of provisions, &c, the Board request you will direct Captain Welden, when he is ready to proceed for Boston, to take under his convoy all such vessels as are ready for sailing by the 20th instant, and them convoy into latitude 38° 30´ north, and longitude 67° west from London; after which he is to proceed as directed by his instructions, dated the 27th of last month.

In the name and by order of the Council.

To the Honourable Walter Spooner, Esq.

PROCEEDINGS AT HANOVER, NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

At a meeting of several adjacent Towns at the College Hall, on Friday, the 5th day of July, 1776, viz: Lyme, Hanover, Lebanon, Thredford, Norwich, and Hartford:

Chosen, Amos Robinson, Clerk.

Chosen, Deacon Nehemiah Estabrook, Moderator.

Voted, To have fifty men, exclusive of officers, to repair to Royalton, to fortify in that town, and scout from thence to Onion River and Newbury.

Voted, To appoint one Captain and two Subalterns.

Voted, To appoint Mr. David Woodward Captain.

Voted, To appoint Mr. Joshua Hazen 1st Lieutenant.

Voted, To appoint Mr. Abel Lyman 2d Lieutenant.

Voted, To appoint a Committee of three men to direct the building of the Fort at Royalton, and furnish said Fort with all necessary supplies.

Chosen, Esquire Joel Marsh, Mr. Isaac Morgan, and Major John Slapp, to be said Committee.

Voted, To raise two hundred and fifty men, exclusive of officers, to go to Newbury, to fortify, scout, and guard there for three months, unless sooner discharged.

Voted, To appoint Captain Abner Seely Major of the last mentioned department.

Voted, To divide said two hundred and fifty men into four Companies.

Voted, To appoint Mr. Levi Willard, Mr. Oliver Ashley, and Mr. Samuel Paine, to be Captains.

Voted, That the Captains appoint their Subalterns.

Voted, To appoint a Committee of three men to direct and order the affairs of the Newbury department.

Voted, That Colonel Bailey, Colonel Johnson, and Col. Olcott be said Committee.

Voted, That this Committee engage that the Officers and Soldiers in both the aforementioned departments be honourably paid for their services.

Voted, To dismiss this meeting.

It is accordingly dismissed.

A true copy, taken from the Minutes.

Attest per me:

AMOS ROBINSON, Clerk.

ARTHUR LEE TO CHARLES W. F. DUMAS.

London, July 6, 1776.

DEAR SIR: This will be delivered to you by Mr. Ellis, a friend of Dr. Franklin, of liberty, and of America. He is a philosopher, very well instructed on the subject of America, and, I trust, will be both an agreeable and useful acquaintance while he remains near you.

I thank you for your favour of the 21st of last month. By the last advices from America, General Howe was prepared to sail for Halifax, and, it is imagined, to land at New-York, where he will certainly be strongly opposed. He numbers ten thousand regulars, and it will be fortunate for us if he