No 62.

Mr Lord I have the Honor to receive your Lordships Circular letter of the 10th November last informing me, that His Majesty had been graciously pleas'd to appoint your Lordship his Principal Secretary of State, for such business as relates to His Majesty's Colonies, and I take this oppertunity of Congratulating your Lordship, upon your Appointment to so Important an Office. I shall by every oppertunity, rnmmunicate to your Lordship every material circumstance relative to the Affairs of this Colony, and of every Intelligence that may be necessary to be known, in this Critical Conjuncture of Affairs in America. On the 30th March arrivd Fifty Sail of Transports in this Harbour having on board Those Inhabitants of Boston, who have remaind Steady in their duty and Allegiance to the Crown and agreeable to the directions I have receivd from Lord Dartmouth to support such as may necessarily require it, shall take particular Care that His Majesty's Instructions, for their support, be carried into Execution with Prudence and Oeconomy. On the first Instant arrivd the Transports, with His Majestys Troops from Boston, which Post they evacuated the 17th of last Month: The Provision Vessels sent them last Winter, by the great severity of the Weather, were drove to the West Indies, from whence they are daily expected: which Circumstance has left the Army and Fleet with not more than one Months Allowance for both; We are taking every method to secure all the Provision this Province can by any means furnish, and to prevent Extortion ー I have with the Advice of Council settled the prices of such kind of Provision they will stand in greatest need of, and I thought it necessary that the Generals then in Town shoud be present at this Council, and they highly approvd of the Measure.

I have also receivd your Lordships Circular letter of the 23d of December last; inclosing an Act of Parliament, relative to Captures made in America and shall give every Aid & Assistance in my power, to carry it into Execution.

The Measures His Majesty has taken to bring about a Reconciliation between the Rebellious Colonys and Great Britain, I hope will have its desireable effect, and am of Opinion that so benevolent a proposition will have its due weight and Influence.

I have in my last letter to Lord Dartmouth No 61, Duplicate of which I have the honor to inclose your Lordship, given an account of my attention in raising the Regiment Orderd to be raisd here for the defence of this Province, which has in a great measure been impeded by the Liberties Granted by the General to the two other Regiments, the Royal Fensibles & the Emigrants, to Recruit and raise Men within the Limits of this Province: however I have Neglected no means to Levy them, having sent Recruiting Officers into every part of it, as also to Newfoundland, and hope to hear of their success in a Short time. I have the honor to be [&c.]

Fran Legge