Letter

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A Letter, dated Camp at Cambridge, 8th August, 1775, from George Washington to the Provincial Congress, received and read, and is in the words following, viz:

"It must give great concern to every considerate mind, that when this whole Continent, at a vast expense of blood and treasure, is endeavouring to establish its liberties on the most secure and solid foundations, not only by a laudable opposition of force to force, but denying itself the usual advantages of trade, there are men among us so basely sordid as to counteract all our exertions for the sake of a little gain. You cannot but have heard that the distresses of the Ministerial Troops, for fresh provisions and many other necessaries, at Boston, were very great. It is a policy justifiable by all the laws of war, to endeavour to increase them. Desertions, discouragement, and a dissatisfaction with the service, besides weakening their strength, are some of the natural consequences of such a situation, and, if continued, might afford the fairest hope of success, without further effusion of human blood. A vessel cleared lately out of New-York, for St˙ Croix, with fresh provisions and other articles, has just gone into Boston, instead of pursuing her voyage to the West-Indies. I have endeavoured to discover the name of the Captain or owner, but as yet without success. The owner, it is said, went to St˙ Croix before the vessel; from which, and her late arrival, I make no doubt you will be able to discover and expose the villain; and if you could fall upon some effectual measures to prevent the like in future, it will be doing a signal service to our common Country."

"In Provincial Congress, New-York, Die Sabbati, August 19, 1775.

Resolved and Ordered, That the paragraph of General Washington' s Letter, relative to a Vessel that arrived at Boston with fresh Provisions and other necessaries, supposed to be from New-York, be sent to the General Committee of New-York, and that they be directed to make strict inquiry whether the said Vessel did sail from hence, and who are the owners and master of the said Vessel, and report the result thereof to this Congress.

A true copy from the Minutes:

ROBERT BENSON, Secretary."