which you will see that little more than half are arrived, an event very disagreeable under the present circumstances of our Army. Though I cannot undertake to ascertain its number with precision, having never seen a return of the whole, or been advised thereof minutely by the General, yet I have reason to believe that he most earnestly wishes our battalions complete, and on this ground. If the enemy should attack us, hope, by the blessings of Heaven, to be able to defend ourselves, and defeat the cruel designs of the enemies of the independent States of America.

I am, with great truth and regard, your Honour's most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES WADSWORTH.

To the Honourable Govemour Trumbull.

New-York, July 22, 1776.

On Sunday afternoon, the 14th, a barge from the fleet appeared in our Bay with a white flag, which was there met by the General's barge, with several gentlemen of the Army on board. The flag was sent from Lord Howe, with a letter to his Excellency General Washington. But as the letter was improperly directed, it was not received, though much solicited by the officer, who, we hear, said it contained nothing of a hostile nature; that Lord Howe came over possessed of unlimited power, and was much concerned he had not arrived a few days sooner, which would have effected a reconciliation, &c. However, it seems his unlimited power did not extend even to the necessary preliminaries of a negotiation—an acknowledgment of the right of the persons to whom he came to treat with him.

Indeed, the idea of coining over to propose a plan of reconciliation is, in every view, absurd and ridiculous; for as the Colonies never invaded the rights of Britain, and only defended their own, there was no occasion at all for negotiation. The moment Great Britain receded from her unjust claims, the war was at an end. The very proposition, therefore, of a negotiation, was a proof that Great Britain persisted in her encroachments on the rights of the Colonies, and was, in itself, an act of a hostile nature.

On Tuesday, another flag from the fleet appeared, and was met as above; when a letter from General Howe was again offered, but, for the same reason as the former, was rejected.

On Friday, a third flag from the fleet appeared, which, we hear, brought only an open letter, directed to Miss Margaret Moncrieffe. *

Saturday forenoon, our people discovered a fourth flag of truce, whereupon the Mechanick's barge was sent to meet it, and conducted the officer (said to be Adjutant-General of the forces under the command of Lord Howe) to the dwelling of Colonel Knox, in this city, where his Excellency General Washington, attended by his Body-Guards, waited his arrival, which was a little past one o'clock. The interview was short, and the particulars, we believe, are, as yet, not made known. We can therefore only say, that, at parting, much courtesy was seen to pass between the gentleman who bore the flag and those of the Continental forces who had the honour to be present.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY AT NEW-YORK, DATED JULY 22, 1776.

On Saturday, the 20th instant, came up from Lord Howe a flag of truce, Adjutant-General of the British Army. He was met by Colonel Reed, our Adjutant-General, about two miles from the town, who took him into the General's barge. He landed near our Battery, and passed through the Life-Guards of General Washington. He was introduced to the General by Colonel Reed, and had a private conference with him at Colonel Knox's, for near half an hour, the particulars of which I am just informed by a person of distinction. The main point was, with great politeness and complaisance, to induce the General to receive a letter he had brought from Lord and General Howe, saying it was the customary mode of address even to foreign Ambassadors. He apologized much for General Howe's sending a letter with such an address, and said that nothing was further from his thoughts than any failure in respect to his Excellency; that Lord and General Howe both lamented exceedingly that any misunderstanding should interrupt that frequent intercourse between both armies, which the course of the service might require. He said Lord Howe had come out with exceeding great powers. The General replied, he had heard that his Lordship had come with great powers to pardon, but he could not apply that great power to the Americans, who had never offended, for where there is no offence, a pardon cannot be necessary. Colonel Patterson seemed confused, and made no reply. After many compliments and polite expressions, he departed, with saying: "Has your Excellency no commands to my Lord, or General Howe?" "None, sir," replied the General, "but my particular compliments to both of them."

DUTCHESS COUNTY COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONVENTION.

Dutchess County, in Committee of Safety,

July 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: With pleasure we acknowledge the receipt of the resolution of the Convention, directing the raising of two regiments in the County; and be assured we shall enter upon the business with the utmost alacrity. However, we conceive the levies will be completed with infinitely greater despatch if we can be furnished with money in order to pay the bounty immediately upon inlisting. Indeed, we conceive it will be impossible to procure a sufficient number of volunteers without it. We must, therefore, earnestly entreat that a sum necessary for that purpose may be transmitted to us immediately. We have authorized Mr. Paul Schenck, of Poughkeepsie, to receive it, and we will pledge ourselves that the utmost care and attention will be observed in the disposition of it.

Brigadier Ten Broeck has appointed next Tuesday for the officers and the Committee to meet to fix the quotas of the several regiments. The business would be greatly expedited if we could have the money on that day, to distribute it, and give to each regiment its respective proportion.

I remain (by order of the Committee) your most obedient servant,

EGBERT.BENSON, Chairman.

To the Deputies of the County of Dutchess in the Convention of the State of New-York, White-Plains.

GENERAL SCHOYLER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read August 1, 1776.]

German-Flats, July 20, 1776.

SIR: I am honoured with your favour of the 13th instant, covering the resolutions of Congress of the 6th and 11th instant. I shall take the earliest opportunity of collecting and auditing the publick accounts of the late General Montgomery, and include his pay and table allowance, agreeable to the resolve.

It is with infinite pain that I see no prospect of erecting a fort at Oswego, or building galleys on Ontario, during this campaign. With all the assistance that his Excellency General Washington has been able to afford us, with all the exertions we have been able to make, to procure a sufficiency of intrenching tools for the Army to the northward, we still are greatly deficient of what is absolutely necessary. Nails, carpenters' tools, whipsaws, and a variety of articles that do not now occur to me, and which are indispensably necessary, are not to be procured, at least not in time.

*LETTER FROM GENERAL PUTNAM TO MISS MONCRIEFFE.

NEW-YORK, July 26, 1776.

I should have answered your letter sooner, but had it not in my power to write you anything satisfactory.

The omission of my title in Major Moncrieffe's letter, is a matter I regard not in the least; nor does it, in any way, influence my conduct in this affair, as you seem to imagine. Any political difference alters him not to me in a private capacity. As an officer, he is my enemy, and obliged to act as such, be his private sentiments what they will. As a man, I owe him no enmity; but, far from it, will, with pleasure, do any kind office in my power for him or any of his connexions.

I have, agreeably to your desire, waited on his Excellency, to endeavour to obtain permission for you to go to Staten-Island. He informs me that Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson, who came with the last flag, said he was empowered to offer the exchange of for Governour Skene. As the Congress have reserved to themselves the right of exchanging prisoners, the General has sent to know their pleasure, and doubts not they will give their consent. I am desired to inform you, that if this exchange is made, you will have liberty to pass out with Governour Skene; but that no flag will be sent solely for that purpose.

Major William Livingston was lately here, and informed me that you had an inclination to live in this city; and that all the ladies of your acquaintance having left town, and Mrs. Putnam and two daughters being here, proposed your staying with them. If agreeable to you, be assured, Miss, you shall be sincerely welcome. You will here, I think, be in a mote probable way of accomplishing the end you wish, that of seeing your father; and may depend upon every civility from, Miss, your obedient servant,

ISRAEL PUTNAM.