combinations and correspondence are formed and carrying on with the enemies of the United American States, by means of persons travelling from one town and part of the country to another, under pretence of selling Indigo, Feathers, Wooden Dishes, Teas, and many other goods and wares of various kinds: Therefore,

Resolved, That no person or persons belonging to said Town of Symsbury, on any pretence whatsoever, shall carry, vend, or offer for sale, any of the aforesaid goods, wares, or merchandise, or any other goods or merchandise whatsoever, from house to house, or from one Town or part of the County to another, or purchase any such goods, wares, or merchandise, or any other merchandise whatsoever, from any such strolling petit chapmen, in like manner, without leave or license first had and obtained from some one of the Civil Authority or Selectmen of this Town, on penalty of being treated as enemies to the interest of the United States of North-America, and dealt with accordingly.

Published by order of said meeting.

Certified from the Minutes.

Test: JOHN OWEN, Clerk.

At a Court of Inquiry held in Symsbury, in the County of Hartford, upon the 19th day of July, 1776:

Present: The Civil Authority, Selectmen, and Committee of Inspection for said Town.

Pursuant to a complaint of the Grand Jurors of said Symsbury, John Moses and Jesse Cosset, of said Symsbury, appeared upon an arrest; and upon examination, and hearing the witnesses, and considering their cases, each of them were found guilty of inimical conduct towards the interest of the United States of North-America; and judgment was rendered that each of them should be immediately disarmed, and also each of them were bound to their peace and good behaviour, and to answer to said complaints before the next Superior Court of this Colony, to be held at Hartford, on the first Tuesday of September next, and be further treated agreeable to the statute of this Colony in such cases made and provided.

Likewise, Ordered, That these proceedings be published in the Connecticut Courant.

Certified from the Minutes.

Test: JOHN OWEN, Clerk of said Court.

BENJAMIN GREENLEAF TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 30, 1776. Referred to the Board of War.]

Watertown, July 19, 1776.

SIR: Your letter of the 25th of June, enclosing a resolution of Congress earnestly recommending it to this State to send immediately two regiments of their Militia to augment the troops destined for the Northern or Canada Department, has been communicated to the General Assembly; and considering the disagreeable complexion of our affairs in that quarter, and the absolute necessity of the measure, they have ordered such a proportion of the Militia of this Government forthwith to be draughted for that purpose as will be sufficient to make up the regiments requested. Since which, General Washington, agreeable to the power vested in him by the Congress on the 4th and 8th of July, has ordered the whole of the five regiments stationed in Massachusetts-Bay to the southward; so that our lines and fortifications in and near Boston are left entirely destitute of Continental troops; for the General Court have been so closely engaged in taking effectual measures for furnishing the troops they were desired to send to New-York and Canada, that they have not had opportunity to raise the two regiments they were permitted to raise upon the Continental establishment for the defence of this Government, and as the General Court is now prorogued, it cannot at present be done. Under these circumstances, the Council have thought it absolutely necessary for the security and protection of this Slate to order such a proportion of the Militia of this Government to be forthwith draughted out, and to march to the lines and fortifications in and near Boston, to supply the place of the Continental troops ordered from thence to the southward; and for their encouragement, have assured them that they will have the same pay and establishment as is allowed to the troops of the United Colonies. They are to tarry until the first of December next, and to be under the same regulations as the Continental troops, and their service is confined to the limits of this Government. We request, therefore, that the honourable Congress would give orders to their Commissary-General to furnish these men with their rations, and to the Paymaster-General to furnish them with their pay as it may become due.

Before we conclude, we beg leave to observe, that besides the six thousand five hundred men lately ordered to New-York and Canada, agreeable to the requisition of the honourable Congress, nineteen regiments raised within this Government have been all ordered out of it, a great number of men have been taken from our sea-coast to serve on board the Continental Navy, and over and above these, we have been obliged to keep a great number of companies in pay for the defence of our sea-coast. All these calls have so greatly thinned us of men, that it has become extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to raise any more, or even to carry on our necessary husbandry business. The Courts have been obliged already to give a bounty of seven pounds lawful money, in addition to which many of our towns have been obliged to give thirteen pounds more, in order to raise their several quotas, and the price of labour is at least double to what it used to be. However, we are engaged in a good and righteous cause, and, heavy as our burdens are, we are determined to exert ourselves to the utmost; but cannot refrain from representing our circumstances to the honourable Congress, and praying their consideration of the same, that so they may, as soon as the general safety will permit it, order a number of the Continental regiments to return to the lines and fortifications in and about Boston, for the security and protection of this Government.

In the name and by order of the Council, I am, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

B. GREENLEAF.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress. (To be communicated.)

BENJAMIN AUSTIN TO THOMAS CUSHING.

Boston, July 19, 1776.

SIR: I have looked over the Court and Council files for October last, and can find nothing of the order of Court for presents to the Penobscot Indians; I am therefore at a loss what to do in procuring the presents for the St. John's and Mickmacks. I beg the favour you would desire the Secretary to examine the files preceding October, and those that follow. I was told they were all in Boston; but it's not so. If these articles are not to be found, I beg the favour that the honourable Board would let me know what articles I am to procure, as I shall wait in town this day for the same. The gorget and heart I have two men at work upon, and hope to have them by Tuesday.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

B. AUSTIN.

To the Hon. Thomas Cushing, Esq.

GENERAL LINCOLN TO THOMAS CUSHING.

Boston, July 19, 1776.

MY DEAR SIR: It is not necessary that the Council should give orders immediately that the Militia in the neighbourhood of Point Shirley, Noddle's Island, Charlestown, Dorchester-Heights, and Nantasket, be detached, and ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march on an alarm to those posts; and that alarm posts be assigned to such Militia; that signals for an alarm should be ordered: and that publick notice be given what they are; and, at the same time, notice be given that, on a certain day, the signals will be made. This will call up the attention of the neighbourhood; the people will make such remarks with regard to them as will probably prevent their being deceived when a real alarm is designed. Also, if the signals agreed on will not sound the alarm so generally as we could wish, further measures may be taken in the matter before it be too late.

Give me leave to propose that one beacon be erected at Cape Ann, one at Marblehead, one at Malden, one at Boston, one at the Blue-Hills, and one at Nantasket; that a sentry be constantly kept at each beacon, whose duty it should be to observe and report when the beacon in the neighbourhood is fired—(the expense of this will be small, as troops are stationed at each of the places, excepting Malden and the Blue-Hills); that an old cannon be carried to the Blue-Hills—such an one there is at Dorchester,