be; three companies, for the present, to be employed where, and in such manner as may best answer that important end. We thought it expedient to give you the earliest intelligence of what we have done in this way, earnestly praying, and nothing doubting, but that you will concur in such measures as in your wisdom you shall judge reasonable and necessary for the defence and safety of the back settlements, for whom both you and we must very sensibly feel.

We furthermore think it suitable just to suggest, that we have some apprehension lest our military manæuvres on the frontiers should raise a jealousy in the minds of the Canadians, and awaken their fears of direct intentions of hostilities against them. We should give them the most positive assurance upon this head, that we desire nothing more than our own security, and that it is our most hearty wish to remain on steady terms of friendship with them. And in order to the more regular, harmonious, and effectual prosecution of the important object aforesaid, as also other valuable purposes that we conceive it may answer, we would humbly move for a conference by a Committee, with a Committee. from you, at such time and place as you shall please to appoint, and to consider of an address to be forwarded to the Canadians, and put it in the power of this Congress to join with you, and, if it might be, the other New-England Colonies and New-York, that this negotiation might answer the most effectual purpose.

By order of Congress, I am your most obedient humble servant,

MATTHEW THORNTON, President.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN LONDON TO HIS FRIEND IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED JUNE 4, 1775.

From business you naturally expect I should descend to news and politicks. Of the former we should have had a dearth, had it not been for the arrival of Captain Darby with the account of the Lexington affair, which has greatly agitated the people and confounded the Ministry, who fain would suppress the account, or disbelieve it; but not withstanding standing we are without despatches from General Gage, it has full credit with many, and friends are daily added to the American cause. Even Hutchinson is become a convert. I hope he will live to make amends for all the harsh things he has said and wrote against America.

The virtue and spirit of your City is highly spoken of, and your strict adherence to the rules of the Congress does you honour. The duplicity of New-York will ever render them suspected. The many and repeated assurances given to the Ministry by their quondam leaders, will justify a suspicion, which the conduct of some of the merchants and traders confirms, that they would adopt any means to break through or elude the Association.

One avenue, indeed, seems to have been unguarded by the Congress, through which they may attempt to break the Association with impunity, and that is, by importing goods and manufactures from the Island of Guernsey, where large quantities of goods, suitable to the American consumption, have been landed. Now, as a friend to America, I would fain hold forth to the publick view every secret attempt to frustrate and destroy your present Association, which I consider as your grand bulwark. I would recommend it to the sons of liberty in New-York, to be watchful and circumspect of all arrivals from that quarter, as goods or manufactures imported from thence are as much English as those manufactured in Great Britain itself, to which it is so contiguous. To guard against such attempts you may if you think proper, communicate my fears to the real friends of America and all congressional measures.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation for Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis, on the fourth day of June, 1775, in the said City,

Mr. CHARLES WALLACE, Chairman.

A charge having been made on oath, before the Committee, that Thomas Chipchase, of this City, butcher, on the twenty-third day of May last, had killed several Lambs, he was ordered to attend. He appeared, and confessed the fact, alleging, as an excuse, that he understood that there was no absolute prohibition by the Continental Congress, and that the scarcity of provisions at that time would plead for him, as what he did was from a desire of supplying the many strangers in Town; but as he had since been informed that such procedure was contrary to a resolve of a Provincial Convention, he would take care to offend in that manner no more, and hoped the Committee would forgive him.

The sense of the Committee being taken on the above, they declared it a breach of the resolve of the Provincial Convention respecting the killing of Lambs; but, all circumstances considered, they were of opinion he ought to be forgiven.

Ordered, That these proceedings be published in the Maryland Gazette.

G. DUVALL, Clerk.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, June 4, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: As I am ordered by the Continental Congress to liquidate the accounts of the people employed in the reduction of Ticonderoga, that they may be paid; and as Messrs. Allen and Warner were concerned, there will be money due to them; and as they are in want of some, I could wish you to advance them thirty Pounds, and to make it a Continental charge, for which I shall debit them in their account with the publick.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable Members of the New-York Provincial Congress.

ETHAN ALLEN TO THE CANADIANS.

Ticonderoga, June 4, 1775.

To our worthy and respectable Countrymen and Friends, the French People of CANADA, greeting:

FRIENDS AND FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN: You are undoubtedly more or less acquainted with the unnatural and unhappy controversy subsisting between Great Britain and her Colonies, the particulars of which, in this letter, we do not expatiate upon, but refer your consideration of the justice and equitableness thereof on the part of the Colonies, to the former knowledge that you have had of this matter. We need only observe, that the inhabitants of the Colonies view the controversy on their part to be justifiable in the sight of God, and all unprejudiced and honest men that have or may have opportunity and ability to examine into the merits of it. Upon this principle those inhabitants determine to vindicate their cause, and maintain their natural and constitutional rights and liberties at the expense of their lives and fortunes, but have not the least disposition to injure, molest, or any way deprive our fellow-subjects, the Canadians, of their liberty or property. Nor have they any design to wage war against them; and from all intimations that the inhabitants of the said Colonies have received from the Canadians, it has appeared that they were alike disposed for friendship and neutrality, and not at all disposed to take part with the King’s Troops in the present civil war against the Colonies. We were nevertheless surprised to hear that a number of about thirty Canadians attacked our reconnoitring party, consisting of four men, fired on them, and pursued them, and obliged them to return the fire. This is the account of the party which has since arrived at Head-Quarters. We desire to know of any gentlemen Canadians, the facts of the case, as one story is good till another is told. Our general order to the soldiery was, that they should not, on pain of death, molest or kill any of your people. But if it shall appear, upon examination, that our reconnoitring party commenced hostilities against your people, they shall suffer agreeable to the sentence of a court-martial; for our special orders from the Colonies are, to befriend and protect you, if need be; so that if you desire their friendship, you are invited to embrace it, for nothing can be more undesirable to your friends in the Colonies, than a war with their fellow-subjects the Canadians, or with the Indians. You are very sensible that war has already commenced between England and the Colonies. Hostilities have already begun; to fight with the King’s Troops has become a necessary and incumbent duty; the Colonies cannot avoid it. But pray, is it necessary that the Canadians and the inhabitants of the English Colonies should butcher one another? God forbid. There is no controversy subsisting between you and them. Pray