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May it please your Excellency Yarmouth Nova Scotia 15th Jany 1776

Impelled by the triple tyes of affection for my Country, Attachment to Liberty, and concern for my family Interest and place of residence, I am embolden’d to break thro’ the rules of formality, and inform your Excellency, that at Annapolis in this Government, a schooner with hands impressed, which had two Cask of Powder, and an equivalent in ball, ship’d by some officers in the Governments service, was sent to St Johns river, with [96] orders to put the Powder, Ball, &c. into the hands of the savages there, and stir them up to cut off the inhabitants of Mechias, having an Officer on board to whose care the matter was committed, Thrice they put out of the harbour & by violent winds, were drove back, the last time the vessel narrowly escaped being lost, which adverse Providence has induced them to lay by their design at present. At the sameplace a Ship of Six hundred tons, collecting stores for Boston, was lately cast away with entire loss of vessel & Cargo—This intelligence may be relyed on.

Altho I am from circumstances, disagreably here at Present, my most fervent wishes are, that the noble struggles for American Liberty may be succeeded; That your Excellency may recieve all Wisdom, Valour, and Protection, in your exalted station, from the Supreme Parent of those Blessings, and be the happy Instrument of bringing our present distresses to an honorable, speedy, and effectual close, is the unfeigned prayer, of Your Excellencys most obedient devoted humble servant

Stephen Parker

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Sir— Boston 23d November 1778.

I had the Honour to receive Your Excellencys letter of the 14th Instant with The Resolve of Congress Inclosed; and am happy to have forwarded such Exact, & perfect good intelligence from Canada, as that, which I sent by Mr Dodge, & the Indian Sachem from Quebec; & that, by The Officers who came from Sorel, by Co’os; also General Bayleys, & Col: Bedels letters convey’d by Them.

I have concerted a plan with Monsieur Holker for Obtaining the best intelligence possible from Nova-Scotia, by that, & Other means, I doubt not I shall receive a True State of the Fortifications & Strength of The Enemys Army & posts in that peninsula; when it reaches my Hands I will immediately Transmit it to Your Excellency.

From the Accounts received by Mr Dodge, & Others abovemention’d, so Exactly Corresponding, I have not the least doubt that the Enemys European Force in Canada, consists of between five, and Six Thousand Combatants; & that the Main Body, & General Haldimands [265] Head Quarters are for this Winter, at Sorel. Your Excellency will draw the Conclusion. I am Sir Your most Obedient Humble Servant

Horatio Gates

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Sir January 4th 1779

I beg leave to lay before Your Excellency Copies of Such papers as I have presented to the Right Honourable the Congress, hope it will appear Evident that the People of Nova Scotia are only waiting for Directions from your Excellency what measures to take, for which purpose your Excellency Shall be furnished with a true State of that Colony in a very Short time after my arrival there, provided I be Empowered to give the Boat or Vessel a Protection or Some assureance that they will not be Molested by the United States—I hope your Excellency will See the utility of the Measure so as to recomend it to Congress—I have the Honor to be with due respect, Sir your Excellencys Most Obedient Servant

Alexr McNutt

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Dear General Head Quarters Boston April 10th 1778

This will be presented to your Excellency by Lt Colo. Nevers, of the Province of Nova Scotia, He with a number of other Inhabitants have [456] been Driven from their Habitations by the Iron Rod of Tyranny He is now going to Congress to Implore their advice aid & assistance being Desireous to Wait on your Excellency before He proceeds to Congress and having requested a line from me I have taken the Liberty to give him one well knowing that the distressed ever meet your attention and Sympathy and that advice which is most profitable. I have the Honor to be with great respect your Excellen[c]ys most Obt Servt.

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Sir, Baltimore Jany 10th 1777.

The enclosed Resolves will inform you of the Proceedings of Congress since my last.

I have wrote to the Council of Massachusetts Bay on the Subject of the enclosed Resolve relative to an Attack on Nova Scotia, the Propriety of which the Congress have submitted to that State.

You will please to inform Doctor Morgan, and likewise Doctor Stringer of their Dismission from the Service of these States. I am so extremely hurried in the Execution of the Resolves of Congress, that I have only Time to request your Attention to the enclosed.

The late Movements of our Army have filled us with the most anxious Expectation and we are impatient for the Event. I have the Honour to be with perfect Esteem & Regard Sir your most obed. & very hble Sert

John Hancock Presidt

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Sir Head Quarters Cambridge 1st April 1776

This Letter will be deliver’d you by Jonathan Eddy Esq. the Gentlemen from Nova Scotia who I mention’d to you in mine of the 27th Ulto. He seem’d desirous of waiting on the Honorable Congress in Order to lay before them the state of public Affairs, and situation of the Inhabitants of that Province; and as it might be in his power to communicate many things personally, which could not be so well done by Letter, I incouraged him in his design and have advanced him fifty dollars to defrey his Expences—The Acadian accompanies him, and as they seem to be solid, judicious Men, I beg leave to recommend them both to the Notice of Congress, and am most respectfully Sir Your most obedient humble Servant

Go: Washington

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Sir, White Head 5 Leagues West of Canso In Nova Scotia Novr the 2d 1775

by unfavorable Winds & weather we have been able to make but little head since our last—the 31st of Octobr some way off this Harbour we saw a Vessel standing to the Northward which Capta. Selman & I gave chase to; the Wind Springing up sudingly to a heavy gale, she bore away for this Harbour for safety; we pursued her directly in, & found her to be a Sloop belonging to Enoch Rust of Boston, who last Spring had the Sloop cleard out from Hallifax with Provision for Quebec, the Sloop has since taken a Cargo of Provision from Louisburgh for the west Indies; contrary as we apprehend to the Association of the united american Colonies, the Owner now at Canso we have reason to believe is not a favorer of our Cause as the Capta. (James Hawkins) told us he was lately undetermined whether he should go to Boston this Fall or not; The smallest Intention of going to that Den of Mischievous Violators of the rights of Humanity, must carry in the bosom of it as we concieve the Idea of Friendliness to their infernal Intentions, we upon the whole concieve ourselfes bound in obedience to your Excellencys Instructions to send the Vessel to a friendly port in New England upon her Arrival, your Excellency will have the Vessels Papers laid before you & will do respecting Vessel & Cargo as you may please The Master will be sent to New England the first Opportunity aftr this.

Capta. Hawkins about the Middle of September saw a Ship & a Brigantine going up the River St Lawrence but did not speak with either.

the Master informs that there was no Vessel of Force at Quebec [285] the begining of September & that he knows of none going up since he likewise says that a large Brigantine was lately (& he believes is not yet saild) loading with Coal at Spanish River on the Island of Loisburgh for Boston; & that three or four Score Boston Men have been diging Coal there, for the Ministerial Army for the season. we shall hoist Sail directly the wind breasing rather favorably & pursue our Course from your most obedient & very humble Servant

Nicholson Broughton

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Dear General— Philadelphia 28 Novr 1780.

I ⟨mutilated⟩ to write a Letter which I ⟨mutilated⟩ you to excuse. If I am rightly inform’d of the Situation of the Enemy the Next E⟨m⟩barkation will not leave above 6.000 Men in New York. Supposing this to be the Case I will go on to suppose that the french Troops with 2.000 Militia are throw⟨n⟩ upon Long Island and march Westward. That you move down with 10.000 Men to the Neighbourhood of Kingsbridge and at a proper Moment throw a Bridge over Ha⟨erlem⟩ River at Haerlem and cross to the Island with 8.000 Men leaving 2.000 above King⟨’s⟩ Bridge. That 1500 Militia are assembled at Elizabeth Town Point and ⟨3⟩00 artillery⟨.⟩ In this Situation it appears almost certain that the Enemy would abandon Forts Washington and the adjacent Heights. If so We might take Possession of them, thr⟨ow up⟩ Intrenchments, by Lumber from Albany build Huts, and thus keep Possession of ⟨th⟩at Ground. In this Case The Enemy would probably quit New York and then we ⟨m⟩ight make such powerful Diversions next Year agt Canada and Nova Scotia as ⟨e⟩asily to recover the Southern States almost by their own internal Strength but es⟨p⟩ecially if Spain should send three thousand Men to operate in that Quarter. If ⟨the⟩ Enemy should persist in keeping fort Washington &ca they would loose Staten ⟨I⟩sland & their Fort at Brooklyn. If they abandon Staten Island, ⟨s⟩trengthen themselves at Brooklyn then they would necessarily loose New York. ⟨W⟩hat would be the Effects of a brilliant Stroke at the close of the Campaign I need not ⟨hi⟩nt—believe me yours

Gouvr Morri⟨s⟩

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Dear Sir, Philadelphia October the 5th 1778

I hope the measures you have taken will be effectual to the purpose of reenlisting the Army, because it is an object of great importance; and I readily admit the propriety of first trying those methods which promise fewest ill consequences. Danger will only arise from pressing such too far, and urging the experiment too long. I very much fear Sir, that the knowledge of depreciation has reached the most uninformed, and therefore, that every evil which can, will happen to us from this cause. But I am not without hope that such measures will be adopted as may, before it is too late, restore our currency to its proper value.

It is indeed no easy matter to judge of the designs of the enemy—They have created to themselves a great choice of difficulties. I believe they would willingly change their war of conquest to one of revenge altogether, but revenge must be postponed to safety. Gen. Clintons Army is the only hope of Canada, Nova Scotia, Floridas, the West Indies, and I may safely add, much so of Great Britain and Ireland—Whilst this is the case, altho Boston in its present situation is a very tempting object, I cannot think they will undertake it. However, what can be attempted may be attempted, and wisdom points to precaution. If it be true, and our information comes pretty direct, that Dominica has fallen, that Jamaica and St Kitts are in jeopardy, and that Keppel has fled from the fleet of france, we may suppose that our enemies can [268] make no long stay with us. Distance and Land carriage, distress us greatly in the article of bread provision, to which is added an artificial scarcity created in the midst of plenty, by an infamous set of Engrossers who have raised the price of flour from four dollars an hundred to five and six pounds. I hope the measures we are taking with these gentry will make them suffer in a way most hurtful to them.

Mr Custis had quitted this City before your letter came to hand, and as he is gone to the Army, I have inclosed the letter in this. I am, with much esteem and regard dear Sir your most obedient and very humble servant

Richard Henry Lee

Boston Novr 27. 1789.

To the President the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.

The Petition of James Boyd of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire, Humbly sheweth—

That your Petitioner was possessed from the Year 1767 till the Beginning of our Contest with Great Britain of very large Property in Lands situated on the Eastern Bank of the River Schoodick, granted him by the British Government of Nova-Scotia, and that during said Period he introduced many Families on the same Lands at his own Charge, and expended much Property in getting the same under considerable Improvement and Cultivation; But feeling himself attached to the Cause of America, he took such an active Part in their Favour, that the resentment of the British Subjects in that Province compelled him to leave the Country, and flee to the Protection of the United States; & that in Consequence thereof he has suffered Poverty and Distress from that Day to the present Time, that the said Lands which your Petitioner held, are on the western Side of the River St Croix, and within the Dominions of the United States, but unjustly now held in Possession by British Subjects—That the Facts aforesaid and your Petitioner’s Situation have been particularly set forth to Congress by the Legislature of this Commonwealth, in a Letter of Instruction to their Delegates in the Year 1786, signed and transmitted by the then Governor Bowdoin, and which is now on the Files of Congress, accompanied wth a Number of Letters from Governor Bowdoin, the present Governor Hancock, and others upon the Subject, to which your Excellency and Honours will please to be refered: that your Petitioner by his thus quitting the British and joining the American Interest has been subjected to peculiar Hardships and Difficulties, which with a large Family he has with great Anxiety sustained: But confiding in the Power and Disposition of the present Congress of the United States to do him compleat Justice, he requests them to put him in Possession of his Lands aforesaid now held by British Subjects, tho’ on this Side the Line between the two Dominions, or otherwise recompence your [329] Petitioner who has lost the whole of his Property and Means of procuring a comfortable Subsistence in Consequence of his Attachment as aforesaid.

Your Petitioner begs Leave to add that he is possessed of Papers, and that John Mitchel Esqr. of the State of Newhampshire (now an old Man about 76 Years of Age) is also possessed of Papers, that may be useful in determining the real Situation of the River St Croix, entended by the late Treaty of Peace to be the dividing Line between the Dominions of the United States & Great Britain, as will appear by a Plan taken in the Year 1764 by the said Mitchel, and another taken by the Surveyor General of Nova Scotia the Year following, and now in the Possession of your Petitioner, who, As in Duty bound will ever pray &c.

James Boyd

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