being the opinion of all the officers, that it will be better for the whole, as well the three intended for the northward as those to reinforce the troops here, to take this route in preference to any other. It may turn out the most expeditious, and it is certain the men will be eased from the fatigues of a long and disagreeable march at this hot and uncomfortable season. It will be necessary that you should write Mr. Huntington, at Norwich, to prepare as many vessels as will bring the whole of them. To the Quartermaster and Commissary you will give proper orders, that they may provide, in each of their departments, such supplies of necessaries for the route as may be wanted.

I have just now received your favour of the 4th instant, with its several enclosures. It is extremely unlucky that the small-pox should prevail in the Army at this time; but such is the necessity that every possible succour should be given to the troops here, and to those at the northward, at this critical period, that it is the sentiment of myself and other General Officers, that the whole of the regiments that are not infected with the disorder, should be instantly forwarded. The calamities that would flow from its being communicated to the whole Army are too obvious to need mention. You will therefore direct the utmost care and attention to be used to prevent those that are well from taking the infection, and for this end, that they may be kept separate and apart from those that have the disorder. Every precaution will not be more than necessary to prevent the fatal consequences that will attend their bringing and spreading it at this time. And I trust that nothing in your power to prevent it will be wanting. Such of the men who are down with it, and those you may suspect have received the infection, you will put under a proper officer or officers, to whom you will give orders to proceed with them io this place, as early as possible after they are well and clean of the infection. The company, or such part of the train of Artillery as are there, must remain, in case they should be wanted.

I request that you will have an accurate and exact return made of all the military and other stores belonging to the Continent, that I may be enabled to transmit it to the Board of War and Ordnance, agreeable to their order. You will charge the Commissary or Conductor with the care of them, and that he will remain and guard them in a safe and secure manner. He must be active and vigilant in his duty, that nothing may be lost or injured.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Ward, Boston.

REV. JOHN RODGERS TO GENERAL GATES.

New-York, July 11, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Give me leave to introduce to your acquaintance the bearer, Mr. Tennent, who is my son-in law. He is one of the Chaplains appointed by the Colony of Connecticut for General Waterbury's brigade. I doubt not he will do his duty with fidelity and diligence, and your politeness and benevolence supersede the necessity of my asking your countenance and friendship to him, while he supports the dignity of his character.

For news, I must refer to our good friend Mr. Hazard and the bearer; for I take it for granted Mr. Hazard writes to you by this conveyance.

With every tender wish for your prosperity in your present important department, I am, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JOHN RODGERS.

To General Gates.

EBENEZER HAZARD TO GENERAL GATES.

New-York, July 11, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I intend writing to you the news by the post who sets out for Albany to-morrow, and will very probably reach you sooner than this. My only design at present is, to introduce to you my very particular friend, the Reverend Mr. William Tennent, of Greenfield, in Connecticut. He was solicited by General Waterbury to accept the Chaplaincy of a regiment, and is now on his way to Crown-Point for that purpose. Since the commencement of the present dispute, he has uniformly supported the American side of it, and his zeal has been commendable. For further particulars, I must refer you to a future acquaintance with him, which will give you a more just idea of him than anything dictated by the partiality of friendship.

I am, dear sir, yours affectionately,

EEBENEZER HAZARD

MEMORANDUM

As much depends upon the expedition with which the expresses travel, that matter ought to be particularly attended to; more especially as the expresses in general have not outrode the stated posts.

Private letters (i. e. not on publick business) ought not to be sent by express, as it will lessen the revenue of the Continental Post Office, unless they are delivered to the Postmaster, that postage may be charged on them. As letters from the commanding officer in Canada are carried by the stated posts, free of postage, General Gates will be pleased either to enclose his for his friends in Virginia, &c., to Mr. Hazard, or write his own name at the bottom of the direction, that Mr. Hazard may be able to distinguish them.

GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Long-Island, July 11, 1776.

DEAR SIR: A report was sent in last evening from the outguards at the Narrows, that there were two ships, one brigantine, and one schooner, standing in for the Hook last night.

I was mentioning, some few days past, that a putrid fever prevailed in my brigade, and that I thought it partly owing to their feeding too freely on animal food. Vegetables would be much more wholesome; and by your Excellency's permission, they may be provided for the troops without any-additional expense to the Continent, if the Colonels of the Regiments were allowed to retrench in the article of meat, and that they should draw its value in money, to be applied by the Quartermaster of the regiment to the procuring necessary sauce, the Quartermaster to draw the money weekly and account to the commanding officer of the regiment how it is expended, and for what. This method may be a little more troublesome to the Commissary-General and the Quartermasters of the regiment; but if it will remedy so great an evil as now prevails, I think it worthy your Excellency's attention. The troops cannot complain that they are scanted in their allowance: leaving them at liberty to draw either meat or money, as the inclination of the troops or commanding officer may lead them, puts it out of their power to complain. People often would adopt measures when left to their choice, that they would think a hardship to have imposed upon them.

Cleanliness contributes much to the health of the troops. They now do, and have done, so much fatigue, that the allowance of soap will not keep them clean. Their clothing gets exceedingly dirty, and they wear out twice as many clothes on fatigue as doing other duty. I should think it a piece of justice due to the troops for the extraordinary fatigue, to be allowed a double quantity of soap when they are employed so much on fatigue. This is a grievance I have often heard the officers complain of, that the fatigue wore out the troops' clothing faster than they could get them, and that they made themselves so dirty at work, that the allowance of soap would not clean them.

I have never mentioned anything of a further allowance of soap to any person except the other evening at Head-Quarters. I only beg leave to propose it to your Excellency's consideration, and leave it for your better judgment to determine the propriety and utility of such an establishment.

Believe me to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

NATHANAEL GREENE.

To His Excellency General Washington.

EXAMINATION OF DESERTERS

The Examination of seven Deserters from on board the Enemy's Fleet, JULY 7, 1776.

John Hogan, James Jarras, John Joseph, William Downing, John Bragg, Robert Caswell, deserters from a victualling ship of the enemy's fleet, all taken in different vessels and put on board the fleet, except John Hogan, who was impressed at Halifax, say: That the ship they deserted from