and consequent poverty, are unable to devote themselves to the defence of their frontiers, unless they should be enabled to hire labourers to carry on the business of their farms in their absence. I could therefore wish that your Excellency might think proper to recommend it to the Continental Congress to order a battalion to be raised and stationed there for the defence of those settlements. It would, I trust, be immediately filled up with a hardy race of men in that quarter, to repel the attacks of the savages, and be ready to join and support the northern Army upon occasion, and who at all times may scour the woods, and furnish intelligence of the enemy's motions.

If these settlers are driven back, besides the loss of their property, a much heavier expense will fall upon some of the Colonies for the support of their families than the charge arising from the raising and maintaining a battalion of Continental troops, and we shall still have a frontier to defend. The anxiety of the friends and relations of many, if not most of those settlers who emigrated from this Colony, and the importance of the matter, will, I trust, be my sufficient apology for wishing to engage your influence with Congress to support the motion I judge advisable, and shall make, to have a battalion raised out of and stationed on these frontiers.

By a letter from General Schuyler of the 1st instant, received last evening, I am advised that Generals Schuyler, Gates, and Arnold, were to set out on Tuesday morning. I trust they are by this time at the end of their journey, and hope their presence may have a happy effect towards affairs in that quarter.

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

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To His Excellency General Washington.

To the Honourable Brigadier-General Lord STIRLING:

The Memorial of the Surgeons' Mates of the several Regiments under your Honour's command, humbly showeth:

That your Memorialists meant to be included in a late Petition presented to your Honour by the gentlemen Surgeons of the several regiments in the brigade under your Honour's command, for an augmentation of their wages, but through mistake of the Mates' signature, or by some other means, no notice has been taken of said Petition in their behalf; and your Memorialists find that, whilst employed in the common service of their country—which service they have and ever want to discharge with the greatest care and fidelity—their present pay will not support them in the character of gentlemen, even if used with the utmost frugality and economy. Your Memorialists, therefore, most earnestly request your Honour to represent their aggrieved state to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, and pray him, in their behalf, to lay the same before the honourable Continental Congress, or take such other measures as in your Honour's wisdom shall be found most expedient. And your Memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

DANIEL MENEMA,

ISAAC LEDYARD,

ASA KINGSBERY,

PRESERVE WARD.

To the Honourable Brigadier-General SPENCER:

The Memorial of the Surgeons' Mates of the several Regiments under your Honour's command, humbly showeth:

That your Memorialists meant to be included in a late Petition, presented to your Honour by the gentlemen Surgeons in the brigade under your Honour's command, for an augmentation of their wages; but, through mistake of the Mates' signature, or by some other means, no notice has been taken of the said Petition in their behalf. And your Memorialists find that, whilst they are employed in the common service of their country—which service they have and always mean to discharge with the greatest care and fidelity—their present pay will not support them in the character of gentlemen, even if used with the utmost frugality and economy. Your Memorialists, therefore, earnestly request your Honour to represent their aggrieved state to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, and pray him, in their behalf, to lay the same before the honourable the Continental Congress, or take such other measures as shall, in your Honour's wisdom, seem most expedient. And your Memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

Dated at New-York, June 26, 1776.

GERSHOM BEARDSLEY,

SILAS HOLMES,

JOHN R. WARTROUS,

ZECHARIAH KEYS,

WILLIAM PRENTICE.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-York, July 11; 1776.

SIR: I duly received your favour of the 6th instant, and return you my best thanks for the attention you have shown at this crisis, in preparing the several regiments of Militia which are nearest this place to be ready for marching, when ordered. Some of the troops have arrived, and I hope the rest will follow without loss of time.

In my letter of the 9th instant I wrote you fully relative to the Lighthorse, which have arrived to the number of between four and five hundred; and have the happiness to acquaint you the officers and men of that corps have manifested so firm an attachment to the cause we are engaged in, that they have consented to remain here till such a body of troops are marched from your Colony as will be a sufficient reinforcement, so as to admit of their leaving this city with safety. I mention this matter with greater pleasure, as they have the additional merit of determining to stay, even if they are obliged to maintain their horses at their own expense. I have also written you with regard to sending any troops from hence to the northward, to be replaced by the Militia from your Province, and have stated the injudiciousness of adopting such a measure. It is indeed a great misfortune that the small-pox is so prevalent in our northern Army: but I conceive it would be highly impoliticly at this important period, to send away troops who have been a considerable time in the service, and to have their places supplied by men of much less experience, who belong to the Militia.

I have only to add, that I am, with much esteem, sir, your very humble servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

To Governour Trumbull, Connecticut.

P. S. I must refer you to my letter above mentioned for my sentiments with respect to removing the cattle from the different places specified. As to the cattle on Montauk-Point, I can only say, some method must be devised to answer the purpose of preventing the inhabitants of Easthampton from suffering on the one hand, and the supply of the enemy with any stock on the other

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

New-York, July 11, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: At a crisis like the present, when our enemies are prosecuting a war with unexampled severity, when they have called upon foreign mercenaries, and have excited slaves and savages to arms against us, a regard to our own security and happiness calls upon us to adopt every possible expedient to avert the blow, and prevent the meditated ruin. Impressed with this sentiment, and impelled by necessity, the Congress have been pleased to empower me, as you will perceive by the enclosed copy of their resolve, which I have the honour of transmitting you, to call to our aid so many of the St. John's, Nova Scotia, and Penobscot Indians, as I might judge necessary. At the same time they have desired that I should request the assistance of your honourable body in carrying their views into execution, and to assure you, that whatever expenses you may necessarily incur in doing it, and as incident to it, they will reimburse. Esteeming their service of much importance, particularly if the enemy should attempt an impression into the interior parts of the country, I must entreat your kind offices upon this occasion, and your friendly exertions immediately to engage, on the best terms you can, five or six hundred men of these tribes, and have them accoutred with all possible expedition, to join the Army here. Having professed a strong inclination to take part with us in the present contest, it is probable they may be engaged for less pay and on better terms than the Continental troops; but if they cannot, they must be allowed it. The term of their inlistment