other circumstance necessary to form a judgment of the mode of defending it, will incapacitate me from giving you the assistance and advice you politely ask. I must entirely refer it to your own judgment and skill, only assuring you that it will give me great pleasure if anything effectual can be done, and that I will most readily give all the assistance in my power. I had some intentions of throwing obstructions in the passage at Mount Washington, but so many difficulties and obstacles have retarded it, that I much fear my being able to complete it. However, it is a matter so purely confidential, if it can be effected, that I must desire the most profound secrecy may be observed on the subject. I heartily wish you success in the measures you may adopt; and am, with much truth and esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

GO WASHINGTON.

To Robert Livingston, Esquire, and others, Members of the Secret Committee of the Convention of the State of New-York.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE NEW-YORK CONVENTION.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: By Messrs. Broome and Duer I was yesterday favoured with your several resolves of the 16th instant. The spirit and decision in which they are formed will, I doubt not, appear in their execution; and, as far as I can cooperate, I shall most cheerfully contribute all my aid and assistance. The state of this Army would make it improper for me to send up any General Officer in the Continental service to take the command of the levies proposed to be raised; and, from the nature of the service, I should apprehend a knowledge of the country and its inhabitants would be very necessary. General Clinton, on all accounts, appears to me the most suitable person; and as the appointment is made dependant on me, I shall nominate him, unless Some objection should be made or difficulty arise, which I do not now know of. The Deputy-Commissaries I will take advice upon, and have them appointed as soon as possible.

The state of the pay office here did not admit a full compliance with your request of the loan of £20,000, there not being so much in the Paymaster's hands at this time; however, that so good a work might not be delayed, I immediately gave a warrant for $20,000, and as fast as circumstances will admit, shall make up the remainder.

I have enclosed your resolution to Governour Trumbull, on the subject of forming a camp at Byram River, for the security of the communication with New-York, but at the same time I very much doubt his ability to can it into execution. The quota of troops to be furnished by Connecticut for the assistance of this Army is not half completed, notwithstanding the most urgent and pressing instances on the subject; which affords a very dull prospect of fixing a new camp adequate to the intended design; and I very much fear the attempt would obstruct the raising the levies now ordered, and in the end prove ineffectual. At the same time I most heartily approve the measure, and should rejoice to see it carried into execution in the completest manner.

Since writing the above, your favour of the 18th instant, enclosing Colonel Cortlandt's and Captain Platt's report, is come to hand. The spirit and alacrity of the Militia in so readily turning out at this busy season is a very encouraging circumstance, and does them great honour.

I observe Colonel Fellows, of Massachusetts-Bay, mentioned as having marched in. If his troops compose a part of those destined for this Army, it is my intention that all under that circumstance should come immediately down and properly arranged; and I observe there will be the less in convenience, as Messrs. Van Cortlandt and Plait observe that they had such a surplus of men as to enable them to discharge a number.

I am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect and esteem, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

To the Hon the Convention of the State of New-York.

P. S. With respect to ammunition, I had flattered myself that the Provincial stock would not only have been sufficient for the purposes of its immediate defence, but, in case of necessity, to have assisted us. I shall endeavour, under a late direction of Congress, to procure what is to be had from the adjoining mills.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-York, July 19, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed extract from the proceedings of Congress, which I have the honour to transmit you, will discover their anxiety respecting our Army here, and their wishes to have it reinforced. I shall only add, that the situation of our affairs demands the most speedy succour, and my request that you will use your good offices for expediting the new levies as fast as possible. I have also enclosed you a copy of a letter, and sundry resolutions, which I received yesterday from the Convention of this State. You will perceive thereby that they have been deliberating on sundry important measures, and are exerting themselves, in the most vigorous manner, to defeat the wicked designs of our common enemy and such disaffected persons as may attempt to favour their views. They also contain a request that I should solicit you to devise some mode for keeping up a communication and intercourse between your State and this, and suggest the expediency of your forming a camp of six thousand men about Byram River, to cooperate with those they are collecting, in order to hang on the rear of the enemy in case they land above King's Bridge, and attempt to cut off the communication between the country and this city. As the quota of men requested by Congress for the defence of this place is not yet arrived, I could not conceive myself at liberty to ask of you to furnish such an additional number, although I cannot but observe that the scheme seems well calculated for the purposes they have in view, and might be productive of the most salutary consequences in case of an attempt of that sort. Colonel Broome and Mr. Duer, two members of the Convention, wait on you upon the subject, and will fully point out the object they have in view, and their ideas of the importance and expediency of the plan, and to them I beg leave to refer you.

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

GO. WASHINGTON.

To Governour Trumbull.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL GATES.

New-York, July 19, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I expected ere this to have heard from you; and I will open the correspondence, by expressing my exceeding great concern on account of the determination of your Board of General Officers to retreat from Crown-Point to Ticonderoga, assigning (contrary to the opinion of all your Field-Officers) for reason, that the former place is not tenable with your present force, or the force expected.

My concern arises from information, and a firm belief, that your relinquishing Crown-Point is, in its consequences, a relinquishment of the Lakes, and all the advantages to be derived therefrom; for it does not admit of a doubt but that the enemy will possess themselves, if possible, of that pass, (which is a key to all these Colonies,) the moment you leave it, and thereby confine your vessels to the narrow part of the Lake in front of that post; or, by having them in the rear of it, cut off all kind of supplies from, and intercourse between, your camp and them, securing, by this means, a free and uninterrupted passage into the three New-England Governments for invasion thereof.

Nothing but a belief that you have actually removed the Army from Crown-Point to Ticonderoga, and demolished the works at the former, and the fear of creating dissensions, and encouraging a spirit of remonstrating against the conduct of superior officers by inferiors, have prevented me, by advice of the General Officers, from directing the post at Crown-Point to be held till Congress should decide upon the propriety of its evacuation. As the case stands, I can give no order in the matter, lest, between two opinions, neither of the places should be put into such a posture of defence as to resist an advancing enemy. I must, however, express my sorrow at the resolution of your council, and wish that it had never happened, as everybody who speaks of it also does, and that the measure could yet be changed with propriety.

We have the enemy full in view of us; but their operations are to be suspended till the reinforcement, (hourly expected,) arrives, when I suppose there will soon be pretty warm work.

Lord Howe is arrived. He and the General, his bro-