cannon (cast at the Hope Furnace) were discharged, at the Great-Bridge; the ships Alfred and Columbus likewise fired thirteen guns each, in honour of the day. At two o'clock his Honour the Governour, attended and escorted as above, proceeded to Hacker's-Hall, where an elegant entertainment was provided on the occasion. After dinner the following toasts were drunk, viz:

1.The Thirteen Free and Independent States of America,

2.The most Honourable the General Congress.

3.The Army and Navy of the United States.

4.The State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

5.The Commerce of the United States.

6.Liberty to those who have spirit to assert it.

7.The friends of the United States in every part of the earth.

8.General Washington.

9.The Officers of the American Army and Navy.

10.May the Crowns of Tyrants be crowns of thorns.

11.The memory of the brave Officers and Men who have fallen in defence of American Liberty.

12.May the Constitution of each separate State have for its object the preservation of the civil and religious rights of mankind.

13.May the Union of the States be established in justice and mutual confidence, and be as permanent as the pillars of nature.

The Artillery Company, and a number of other gentlemen dined the same day at Lindsey's Tavern, when the following toasts were drunk:

1.The Free and Independent States of America.

2.The General Congress of the American States.

3.The Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

4.His Excellency General Washington.

5.His Excellency General Lee.

6.The brave Carolineans.

7.Success to General Gates and the Northern Army.

8.May the subtilty of the American Standard destroy the ferocity of the British Lion.

9.The State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

10.The Honourable Governour Cooke.

11.May the Independent States of America for ever be an asylum for Liberty.

12.The American Army and Navy.

13.The Providence Independent Companies.

The whole was conducted with great order and decency, and the Declaration received with every mark of applause. Towards evening the King of Great Britain's Coat of Arms was taken from a late publick office, as was also the sign from the Crown Coffee-House, and burnt.

MAJOR MEIGS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Middletown, July 25, 1776.

SIR: I arrived here the 22d instant, after a tedious passage of sixty-six days from Quebeck, on my parole of honour to return when called for, a copy of which, together with my pass from General Carleton, are enclosed, (the original is in the hands of General Howe.)

I am to represent to your Excellency the situation of the unfortunate detachment that were made prisoners on the 31st December last. The number now in Quebeck is about three hundred, including officers. The officers were confined in the Seminary. The soldiers were confined in the Jesuits' College, and were served with the same rations that were served to the garrison after the siege was raised. The officers had liberty to walk in a large garden that is adjoining the Seminary. The officers and privates are in great want of money, as they cannot procure clothing without it, of which they are in great want; the officers are now considerably in debt for necessaries, exclusive of the garrison allowance. Generals Carleton and Howe have given their word for the protection of any private gentleman that may be sent with money, but will not admit that an officer of the Army be sent. The prisoners bear their confinement with becoming fortitude, but are anxious for an exchange of prisoners, if it can be obtained consistently with the interest of their country.

I am informed that Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, of the Highlanders, applied to General Howe for a cartel, and that Major French and others are anxious for an exchange. In February last, the officers prisoners at Quebeck petitioned General Carleton for an exchange of prisoners, provided our country should approve of it. The General received the petition, read it, and told the officer that presented it, that he would consider of it; but returned no other answer. I intended to have waited on your Excellency myself, but was advised by the gentlemen in Hartford and this town not to do it without your Excellency's advice, as it would be undoubtedly known to General Howe, and perhaps even represented that I had joined the Army, or was giving intelligence, for which he might immediately demand me. When I gave my parole to General Carleton, he told me Major Skene, son to Governour Skene, had arrived at Quebeck two days before, and that he should not employ him till he had the advice of the King of England.

I have sent by the bearer a number of unsealed letters, which I brought from the prisoners at Quebeck.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

RETURN JONA. MEIGS.

To His Excellency General Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces of the American States.

JAMES BOWDOIN TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Boston, July 25, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: Last Monday the Militia of this town were called into the field to draught the town's proportion of the last ordered levies. After much uneasiness, between thirty and forty men, I understand, were inlisted, on a promise of extravagant bounties. Some demanded, and I am told were promised, one hundred dollars over and above the Government bounty.

When the resolve for raising these last levies was under consideration of the honourable Board, it was said by several gentlemen, and it appeared to be the sense of the Board, that the men which Boston would have to furnish would not be called for to go either to New-York or Canada, as the draught of every twenty-fifth man from the whole Militia of the Colony would produce a much greater number than fifteen hundred, the number wanted, and that the overplus would be ordered to Boston and its neighbourhood. And after the receipt of General Washington's order for all the Continental regiments stationed there to-proceed to New-York, it was said at Council that it would be proper that the said overplus should be ordered to Nantasket, the Castle, and Dorchester, together with a further number, to replace those regiments. If this were the case, and your Honours continue of the same mind, I beg leave to submit to your consideration whether it would not be proper that the men inlisted in Boston should be ordered here, for the defence of the town, or that your Honours should signify that the said men will not be ordered to New-York or Canada; in which case the payment of the said most extravagant bounties may be stopped, and the town, already almost ruined, in some measure relieved.

If your Honours think proper to do anything in this matter, the relief will depend on its being done immediately; and in that case, I beg leave to suggest whether it would not be proper that one or two of your honourable members should be desired to come to Boston, without delay, to communicate your pleasure.

Enclosed is a letter from the Honourable Mr. Sever, just received. It will be brought by Captain Samson, the commander of the Colony's ship of war, who says the quantity of powder allowed him is too short; I believe it would be proper to enlarge it at least five hundred pounds.

There is an account to the eastward that some of the enemy's small vessels are cruising on that shore, and have taken a number of our coasters. I submit it to your consideration whether Captain Samson should not be ordered to cruise on that shore for some time, and then proceed where it is most likely he may pick up some of their West-Indiamen; and that he be directed to Boston by the middle of September, in order to proceed, with other of our vessels of war, to Newfoundland, to sweep the whole British fishery; and, in the meanwhile, our other armed vessels be ordered to be at Boston at that time.

All which is submitted with great respect, by your Honours' most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES BOWDOIN.

To the Hon. Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay.