affection of the people of Amboy, and the treachery of those of Staten-Island, who, after the fairest professions, have shown themselves our inveterate enemies, induced me to give directions that all persons of known enmity or doubtful character should be removed from places where they might enter into a correspondence with the enemy and aid them in their schemes. To this end, General Heard had directions to apprehend such persons as, from their conduct, had shown themselves inimical, or whose situations, connexions, or offices, give just cause of suspicion. I have no knowledge of the persons apprehended, but suppose General Heard had good reason for taking hold of them; however, if there are any who, from your personal knowledge and opinion, you think may be permitted to return, I have no objection, and sending the others to Provincial Congress for their disposal; but as to the former, I would suggest to you that my tenderness has been often abused, and I have had reason to repent the indulgence shown them. I would show them all possible humanity and kindness consistent with our own safety; but matters are now too far advanced to sacrifice anything to punctilios.

Brig. General Livingston, Elizabethtown, New-Jersey.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO COLONEI SlLLIMAN.

New-York, July 6, 1776.

SIR: Governour Trumbull having informed me, in a letter of the 3d instant, that he had ordered three regiments of the Militia Lighthorse to march to the defence of this place, tinder the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Seymour, lest the other troops from your Colony should not arrive in time for succour, and at the same time requesting, if their service is unnecessary, or can be dispensed with, that I would signify it to you, I must take this opportunity to acquaint you that the intelligence we have received from three or four prisoners that have fallen into our hands within a few days past, leads me to conclude, that no force that can be collected will be too great to ward off the blow that our enemies mean to strike in a little time. The prisoners say that General Howe has already ten thousand men here, being joined by some regiments from the West-Indies, and part of the Highland troops in his passage, and that he is in daily expectation of the arrival of Admiral Howe with a large fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, with troops on board; that before he left Halifax, a packet had arrived there, giving intelligence that he would be met here by this fleet in a very little time, and that the expectation of them is the only reason why the enemy have not begun their operations.

From these accounts, you will readily conceive the necessity of our most vigorous and spirited exertions, and that there is occasion here for all the men that can be possibly got. But what to do with the horses of this regiment I am at a loss to determine: it will be impossible to support them; and if it could be done, the expense would be enormous. I cannot think myself at liberty to consent to the horses coming; at the same time, I must request your exertions to prevail on the men. They may have it in their power to dismiss their horses, perhaps after bringing them almost here. The exigency of our affairs calls aloud for their assistance, and more especially as there is almost a moral certainty that the battalions which are intended for this place will be some time before they all arrive, and when they do, will not be more than half complete.

Recommending to your and their notice what I have said, and the alarming consequences that may result from not having sufficient and timely succours to repel the enemy, I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

To Colonel Gold Selleck Silliman, Fairfield.

JOHN JAY TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

New-York, July 6, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed memorial was yesterday given me by Mr. Bill, with a request that I would transmit it to Congress. He appears much hurt in being omitted in the arrangements of officers intended for the regiment lately ordered to be raised in this Colony; and I sincerely wish he had less reason to think himself neglected. He is a fine, spirited young gentleman, of one or two and twenty, of an ancient and once opulent family in this Colony. His connexions are extensive in the County, and he seems to possess that generous kind of ambition so essential to the character of a good officer. What renders his case the more unfortunate is, that he is almost the only one of his family who has discovered any great degree of ardour in the American cause. His promotion would have contributed as much to increase their zeal as his being laid aside may tend to diminish it. Nor is this the only instance in which that arrangement has given disgust: among others, Mr. Cortlandt, whose family is not only very numerous, but also respectable and wealthy, entered the service last year as Lieutenant-Colonel; he has done the like this year. Mr. Dubois entered the service last year as a Captain, and this year Captain Dubois is made to command Lieutenant-Colonel Cortlandt. Appointments like these pay ill compliments to those who are thus (as they think unjustly) superseded, and therefore have an unhappy tendency to drive them into a sullen indifference about Congressional measures.

I am, sir, with great respect, the Congress's and your most obedient servant,

JOHN JAY

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

JOHN JAY TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE.

New-York, July 6, 1776.

DEAR RUTLEDGE: Your friendly letter found me so engaged by plots, conspiracies, and chimeras dire, that, though I thanked you for it in my heart, I had not time to tell you so, either in person or by letter. Your ideas of men and things (to speak mathematically) run, for the most part, parallel with my own; and I wish Governour Tryon and the devil had not prevented my joining you on the occasion you mentioned. How long I may be detained here is uncertain; but I see little prospect of returning to you for a month or two yet to come. We have a Government, you know, to form; and God only knows what it will resemble. Our politicians, like some guests at a feast, are perplexed and undetermined which dish to prefer. Our affairs in Canada have lately become much the subject of animadversion; and the miscarriages in that country are, with little reserve, imputed to the inattention of the Congress. Indeed, there is reason to believe that certain military gentlemen who reaped no laurels there, are among the patrons of that doctrine. It is to me amazing that a strict inquiry has not been made into the behaviour of those under whose direction we have met with nothing but repeated losses in that country. Nor is the publick silent with respect to the inactivity of the fleet; and reports have gone abroad that the Admiral has refused to comply with the orders of Congress relative to the cannon taken at Providence. I'll tell you a pretty story of Wooster. While he was smoking his pipe in the suburbs of Quebeck, he took it into his head that he might do wonders with a fire-ship; and, with an imagination warmed by the blaze of the enemy's vessels, sent for a New-York captain, who, it seems, understood the business of fire-ship building. Under the strongest injunctions of secrecy, he communicated to him the important plan, and ordered him to get the ship in readiness with all the despatch and privacy in his power, wisely observing, that if the enemy should get any intelligence of his design, they would carry their vessels out of the way of his fire-ship. The captain accordingly set about preparing the materials, &c., necessary for the exploit which was to heroize his General. Some short time after, Wooster was informed that the time for which the