A COMMITTEE TO VISIT NOVA SCOTIA.
By His Excellency, Geo. Washington, Esq., Commander-in-Chief of the United Colonies.
To Moses Child:
The Honorable, the Continental Congress, having lately passed a Resolve, contained in the following words, to wit:—“That two persons be sent at the expense of the Colonies to Nova Scotia, to inquire into the state of that Colony, the disposition of the inhabitants towards the American cause and the condition of the fortifications, dockyards, the quantity of the warlike stores and the number of soldiers, sailors, and ships of war there and to transmit the earliest intelligence to Gen. Washington.”
I do hereby constitute and appoint you the said Moses Child to be one of the persons to undertake this business, and as the season is late and this a work of great importance, I entreat and request that you will use the utmost despatch, attention and fidelity in the execution of it. The necessity of acting with a proper degree of caution and secrecy is too apparent to need recommendation. You will keep an accurate account of your expenses, and upon your return you will be rewarded in a suitable manner for the fatigue of your journey and the service you render your country by conducting and discharging the business with expedition and fidelity. Given under my hand this 24th day of November, 1775.
George Washington.
Moses Child, born Waltham, Mass., Apr. 6, 1731; died Feb. 8, 1793.
He was appointed Special Agent of the United Colonies by virtue of the above commission.
The original of the above is in Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass.
[Where can any full account of the results of this mission be found?—Ed.]