would not be expedient for great numbers of the Militia to leave their farms at this busy season of the year.

Great attention should be paid to the conduct of the disaffected among us, and care taken to prevent any unusual gatherings of them; and let all such of them be apprehended and secured as may give any aid to the enemy, or threaten to give us any molestation.

Colonel Drake will give the necessary orders for provisions, and we hope the Whigs of this County will distinguish themselves by their zeal and alacrity on this occasion.

We are, sir, your very humble servants.

To Lieutenant-Colonel Hammond.

NEW-YORK CONVENTION TO COLONEL VAN CORTLANDT.

White-Plains, July 13, 1776.

SIR: Be pleased to order such a number of your regiment to guard the stores in which provisions and other effects belonging to the publick are lodged, at and near Peekskill, as you may think necessary. Colonel Drake will afford them the necessary supplies of bread and pork.

As it would not be prudent, on every little alarm, to call great numbers of the inhabitants from their farms, we hope the detachments you may order on service will not be greater than the exigency of affairs may require.

We are, sir, your most obedient servants.

To Colonel Pierre Van Corilandt.

COLONEL JAMES CLINTON TO GENERAL WASHNGTON.

Fort Constitution, July 13, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: Your express of the 12th I just now received, and will endeavour to comply with the contents.

We had a most unfortunate accident happen here yesterday. As Lieutenant Bryant and one Nicoll, both of the Artillery, were scaling out a couple of cannon which we had just mounted, before having flashed a little powder out of one of them, and not spunging her properly, when the Lieutenant was putting in the wad, the cannon went off, shot off his hand, and blew Nicoll several yards, as he was standing by to ram down the charge. Nicoll was mortally wounded; the Lieutenant had his right arm cut off.

We want more officers of the Artillery here very much, as Lieutenant Bryant is a great loss to us. We are scarce of gun-flints and good arms.

I am, your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES CLINTON, Colonel.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO JOHN LANGDON.

Albany, July 13, 1776.

SIR: By Captain Weniworth I was favoured with yours of the 2d instant, who also delivered me £806 9s. 6d., lawful money, for which I have given him duplicate receipts.

Captain Wentworth's immediate return puts it out of my power to pay him that attention which your recommendation, and, I dare say his merit, would entitle him to. I have pressed him, but in vain, to accompany me to a treaty, to be held with the Six Nations, at the German-Flats.

General Sullivan is on his way down. He thinks a slight has been put on him, by appointing General Gates to the command of the troops that were then supposed to be in Canada, and talks of quitting the Army. I should be sorry if he did, because I have reason to believe him a good officer. His retreat from Canada, where he could not possibly have remained with an Army so miserably broken as that he commanded, has been judiciously made, and reflects honour on him.

Adieu, and believe me, with respect, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

PH. SCHUYLER.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO JEREMIAH POWELL.

Albany, July 13, 1776.

SIR: Your letters of the 29th ultimo, and 1st instant, I had the honour to receive at Ticonderoga a few days ago. I deferred answering them until I should be able to give you some account of the measures taken to prevent that dreadful malady, which has so greatly reduced our Army, from infecting the Militia intended to reinforce it.

The main body of the Army is removing to Ticonderoga, when they will be immediately employed in constructing such fortifications on the west side of Lake Champhin as may be necessary to prevent the enemy from drawing over their' boats into Lake George, should they obtain a naval superiority; which, however, I have not the least-apprehension that they will be able to effect this campaign. On the east side of Lake Champlain, and opposite to Ticonderoga, the grounds are remarkably strong; and it is concluded to be the place for a fortified camp, to be occupied by the Militia to prevent the enemy penetrating the Colonies in that quarter; and by means of our batteaus, both bodies may reciprocally support each other, as the distance from shore to shore is only half a mile. This disposition will effectually prevent the small-pox from being conveyed to the Militia by the now infected Army; and we hope that in a few weeks both bodies may join without danger, should there be occasion, as all the sick and infected are removing to Fort George, to which place every one hereafter seized with the small-pox will be sent, and there kept until they are perfectly cleansed.

Our Army is much recovered since their return to Crown-Point, and I hope in a little time to find it healthy and fit to give the enemy a warm reception, should they be able to cross the Lake and attempt an attack.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Hon. Jeremiah Powell, Esq., President of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, &c.

P. S. When I was at Crown-Point, I proposed to a council of officers an expedient to procure the return of the deserters from the northern Army; and it was unanimously agreed that I should write to the different Governments from whence troops had been sent, entreating the Governours and Commanders-in-Chief to issue their Proclamations promising pardon to all such as should return by a limited time, to be fixed by such Governours, &c.; and to require all officers, civil and military, in their respective Governments, to apprehend all such deserters as should not comply with the terms offered. May I be permitted to entreat your Honour to issue such Proclamation in your Colony.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL GATES.

Albany, July 13, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I arrived here at two yesterday afternoon. The latest accounts from New-York are of Tuesday last. The enemy were landed on Staten-Island to the number of about seven thousand, and, it is thought, were waiting for reinforcements. A body of them also debarked on Long-Island, but did not remain long, being apprehensive of an attack from some of our troops who were on their march toward them. A small tender of theirs, in going up the Kills between Bergen-Point and Staten-Island, has been sunk, either by our batteries or some craft we had there.

The Mayor of New-York, Forbes, and the other conspirators, are still confined. I cannot learn what is to be their fate.

I have this morning sent you three hundred and forty-eight felling axes and fifty spades, and have written to Connecticut and the western towns of the Massachusetts, to collect and immediately forward whatever they can. All the blacksmiths are at work in this place and in Schenectady, and I hope to collect some in the country, having given orders for that purpose.

On the 2d instant, Congress declared the American Colonies free and independent States; and it is said that there was not one dissenting Colony.

No lead is yet arrived here. I have again requested General Washington to send whatever he can spare. I have repeated my orders for a full supply of fresh provisions to be immediately sent; pray let the pork be husbanded as much as possible, as I fear we shall not be able to procure much more. Permit me to remind you to order all the brick from Crown-Point, as well those wrought up into chimnies as the others.

The bearer, Major Ely, is sent by the Colony of Connecticut to give his assistance as a physician who has had much experience in the fatal malady which so greatly distresses us. Permit me to recommend him to your attention.