up as a sacrifice to both Countries. My intelligencer wishes, if this letter should be published, that. . . . .  name might be omitted, as the information was confidential. I shall only add that my Country may be free if she will; and that she may have the virtue to play the man, is the aspiration of, Sir, your most obedient servant.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM LONDON, DATED APRIL 25, 1775.

We have our suspicions and fears on account of Philadelphia and New-York. If the great chain of continental connection is once broken, the consequences may prove very unhappy. It is the union of America which gives it strength. Any defection, especially of such important Provinces, would contribute greatly to encourage our adversaries and check the endeavours of our friends. I am not without hopes that the next Assembly of New-York may be composed of different members from those of the present. The Petition from the Assembly of New-Jersey is arrived, but Lord Dartmouth, on pretence that it would be improper to forward it to the King, without its being brought to him by the Agent of the Province, refuses any attention to it. When Doctor Franklin is here, Ministry will receive no Petition by him. When he is not here, they refuse Petitions because they are not offered by him. However, all this is in perfect unison with the rest of their conduct.

HUGH MERCER, ETC., TO COLONEL GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Fredericksburgh, April 25, 1775.

SIR: By intelligence from Williamsburgh, it appears that Captain Collins, of His Majesty’s Navy, at the head of fifteen Marines, carried off the Powder from the Magazine in that City on the night of Thursday last, and conveyed it on board his vessel, by order of the Governour. The gentlemen of the Independent Company of this Town think this first publick insult is not to be tamely submitted to, and determine, with your approbation, to join any other bodies of armed men who are willing to appear in support of the honour of Virginia, as well as to secure the military stores yet remaining in the Magazine. It is proposed to march from hience on Saturday next for Williamsburgh, properly accoutred as Light-horsemen.

Expresses are sent off to inform the Commanding Officers of Companies in the adjacent Counties of this our resolution, and we shall wait prepared for your instructions and their assistance.

We are, Sir, your humble servants,

P. S. As we are not sufficiently supplied with Powder, it may be proper to request of the gentlemen who join us from. Fairfax or Prince William, to come provided with an over proportion of that article.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES, ON HIS WAY TO THE CONGRESS, TO A FRIEND IN WILLIAMSBURGH, DATED APRIL 25, 1775.

The storm thickens very fast. The New-Yorkers have received Intelligence that their Town is to be fortified, and fourteen Regiments to be sent there to cut off the communication between the Southern and Eastern Colonies; this has united them to a man in the American cause. They are forming themselves, and beg assistance from the Southward, This comes from the Philadelphia Committee. The Bostonians have given a good drubbing to two thousand Regulars,

GLOUCESTER COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At an adjourned meeting of the Committee of Gloucester County, at the Court-House of the said County, on Tuesday, the 25th of April, 1775, they came to the following Resolves:

Resolved, That as an encouragement to the manufacturing Gunpowder in this Colony, we will give a premium of Twenty-Five Pounds to any person who shall produce to the Chairman, of this Committee, on or before the 25th of October next, three hundred pounds of good Gunpowder made in Virginia, which we will purchase at the current price of that commodity; and if it shall be proved to be made wholly of the materials of this Colony, we will give an additional premium of Ten Pounds.

Resolved, That we will give Fifty Pounds to any person who shall produce to the Chairman of this Committee sixty pair of good Wool, and sixty pair of good Cotton Cards, on or before the 25th of October next, with an authentick certificate of their having been made in this Colony, and we will purchase the same at the usual price.

The Committee having received authentick information that last Thursday night an Officer of one of His Majesty’s armed vessels, with a party of armed men, by express command of Lord Danmore, privately removed the Gunpowder belonging to this Colony out of the Magazine, it was unanimously Resolved, That the removal of the Powder from the Publick Magazine on board one of His Majesty’s armed vessels, by order of the Governour, is exceedingly alarming at this time.

Resolved, That his Lordship’s verbal answer to the Address of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Williamsburgh on that occasion, is unsatisfactory, disrespectful, and evasive.

Resolved, That his Lordship, by this and other parts of his conduct which have lately transpired, has justly forfeited all title to the confidence of the good people of Virginia.

Resolved, That the Powder ought immediately to be restored.

Ordered, That the Clerk, send by express copies of these Resolves to each of the Printers, and they are desired to publish them in their next Gazettes.

JASPER CLAYTON, Clark.

BEDFORD COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee for the County of Bedford, at the Court-House of the said County, on Tuesday, the 25th of April, 1775,

JOHN TALBOT, Gentleman, Chairman.

The Resolves of the Convention held at the Town of Richmond the 20th of March, 1775, were read:

Resolved unanimously, That this Committee will strictly observe and adhere to the several Resolutions of the said Convention, and will leave no means in their power unessayed to carry the same into effect.

On motion made that this Committee be dissolved,

Resolved, unanimously, That this Committee do consider their delegation as now at an end, and that it be recommended to the Freeholders of this County to meet at the Court-House, on Tuesday, the 23d of next month, for the purpose of electing Delegates to represent them in Colony Convention for one year, and to elect another Committee.

At which time the Freeholders accordingly met, and unanimously made choice of John Talbot and Charles Lynch, Esquires, for their Delegates., And the following gentlemen were duly elected for a Committee, (agreeable to the Eleventh Article of the General Congress,) to wit: John Talbot, Charles Lynch, William Meade, Richard Stith, Guy Smith, John F. Patrick, James Callaway, Gross Scruggs, David Rice, Edmund. Winston, James Steptoe, John Ward, John Callaway, William Callaway, Jun., John Quarks, Simon Miller, Haynes Morgan, William Leftwich, William Trigg, and George Stovall.

Then the said Committee immediately proceeded to business, and entered into the following Resolves:

Resolved unanimously, That John Talbot, gentleman, be appointed Chairman of this Committee.

Resolved. That Robert Alexander be appointed Clerk of this Committee.

Resolved, That as Gunpowder is much wanted in this County, and finding, from experience, that every article made use of in the manufacturing (except Sulphur, of which we have not made trial) can be easily procured here, we will give a premium of Ten Pounds, current money, to any person who shall first produce to this Committee twenty-five pounds of good Sulphur, with an authentick certificate that the same was refined from materials in this Colony.

ROBERT ALEXANDER, Clerk.